Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - We Are the Brennans

Another #12BooksRecommendedby12Friends book finished!

B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this; I had gotten We Are The Brennans from BOTM (Book of the Month) a while ago, and honestly other than the family having connections to (and/or living in) Ireland, I didn't remember much about the synopsis.

It's a book about family. The family you're born into, the family you choose, and the family you sometimes have to leave. It was a somewhat weird read, because while I didn't feel myself overly emotionally attached to any of the characters of the plotlines, I couldn't put the book down?

My favorite part of the book was the multiple POV narration, and especially the way the narrators switched off. Whichever character spoke last at the end of a chapter, their quote would be repeated at the beginning of the next chapter and the POV would switch to them. It had this really neat effect of having you follow the story throughout the book in a seamless and (almost interactive?) way that I really liked.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go start planning yet another fantasy trip to Ireland because I have wanted to go since I was maybe 6 years old? And that was 30 years ago? Sigh.

Content Warnings

ifoundcallie's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

lindsayerin's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Title: We Are the Brennans
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: August 3, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Suspenseful • Intriguing • Complex

📖 S Y N O P S I S

It's been five years since Sunday Brennan up and left her home in New York, leaving behind her family and fiancé with little explanation. In the wake of an drunk driving accident that left her in rough shape, she decides to return home with a little encouragement from her older brother, Denny. With her family rallied around her, she hopes to rebuild her life on the east coast. When a man from her past resurfaces, his actions put the family pub at risk, force Sunday to confront her past, and expose decades of family secrets. Now, the Brennans must band together to find a way forward.

💭 T H O U G H T S

We Are the Brennans was not the book I was anticipating, and I was shockingly surprised just how much I enjoyed it! The Brennans sucked me in from the very first page, and I was so intensely invested in how the story would unfold. Exploring the theme of family, there were so many secrets, lots of miscommunication, and so much heart. Each character had their strengths and their flaws, and the variety of perspectives allowed me to really get into their take on what was happening. Despite Sunday's shaky start, I couldn't help but root for her and get to the heart of why she left. Additionally, Kale seemed like such a down to earth and kindhearted person, as did Shane.

The pacing kept me turning the pages with just the right amount of mystery, and I definitely liked the slow reveal of the backstory. The alternating chapter structure worked perfectly for this narrative. And for reasons I cannot pinpoint exactly, the plot just felt like a realistic portrayal of family life, with secrets and high drama.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Tracey Lange's debut novel and this messy, loveable family, especially appreciating the underlying message on the meaning of family and the importance of communication.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who liked Ask Again, Yes and/or Little Fires Everywhere
• fans of domestic dramas
• bookclubs

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"You were my emergency contact because if I ever got into trouble, you're the one I wanted them to call."

"What happened to Sunday wasn't an illness she could get over. It was part of her, part of who she'd become."

"But she was right. They would do everything they could to protect their father, and each other, because that's what family did. They all screwed up, made mistakes, and hurt one another. But in the end they came together."

Content Warnings

achay91's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Content Warnings

amspen's review against another edition

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Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Completely average book. Every common and cliché trope in the book. Sunday was a hot mess. Her family would say she was "strong" since she came home, but she had no character development that I saw. What was her excuse to drink herself to oblivion and get behind the wheel? The twists were predictable. I rolled my eyes so many times. I also hated their mother. Just a bunch of terrible, self-obsessed people who screw each other over constantly and never learn.

Content Warnings

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