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amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was heavily marketed as a comparison to the Shameless family but minus both of them being big and drama infused - I didn’t think the connection made too much sense. Regardless- there was a lot of tension and secrets that eventually were brought to light. The strong victim blaming, especially done by the mother, felt uncomfortable. I do wish we got to know Shane more as a person. I also wish authors would stop explaining and telling some of the important backstory. It felt a little like I dropped into a historical documentary at times. Minus that - this was a decent book. Some of it was a tad predictable but you can’t win them all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
erinhanso's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
kloft1993's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Dementia, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
alimoo511's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Okay so I loved this. Every part of this book was five stars...except the ending...and I will tell you why the ending killed EVERYTHING ELSE
So Kale leaves his stupid wife and is scared about Luke not thinking he loves him and that the Brennans might hate him
Sunday is figuring herself out and is healing WE LOVE A QUEEN
And Mickey killed the bastard Bill.
It ends with Kale and Sunday talking and getting closer, and finding out the Dad used their autistic brother as an accessory for murder and that's it. We don't know how Sunday and Kale are going to recover their relationship IF they are going to recover their relationship.
We don't know HOW the pub is going to stay afloat AND we don't know how they're going to keep their Father and Shane out of jail.
Nothing important got resolved. It feels like I was given half a book and I NEED the other half more than everything.
But seriously everything else was AMAZING the family dynamics? PHENOMENAL the plot? UNMATCHED the characters? I WANNA BE THIS FAMILY
KALE IS A FUCKING SWEETHEART AND BABY I AM ROOTING FOR YOU
This family isn't without its faults but that makes them realistic and lovable. I just wish the ending wasn't the ending.
So Kale leaves his stupid wife and is scared about Luke not thinking he loves him and that the Brennans might hate him
Sunday is figuring herself out and is healing WE LOVE A QUEEN
And Mickey killed the bastard Bill.
It ends with Kale and Sunday talking and getting closer, and finding out the Dad used their autistic brother as an accessory for murder and that's it. We don't know how Sunday and Kale are going to recover their relationship IF they are going to recover their relationship.
We don't know HOW the pub is going to stay afloat AND we don't know how they're going to keep their Father and Shane out of jail.
Nothing important got resolved. It feels like I was given half a book and I NEED the other half more than everything.
But seriously everything else was AMAZING the family dynamics? PHENOMENAL the plot? UNMATCHED the characters? I WANNA BE THIS FAMILY
KALE IS A FUCKING SWEETHEART AND BABY I AM ROOTING FOR YOU
This family isn't without its faults but that makes them realistic and lovable. I just wish the ending wasn't the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Victim blamingabbiesb_read's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was ready to rate this a 3.5/4 but the third act got me sucked in! There are a few lose ends that I think needed a follow up or can definitely open the door for a second book. I would love to know what happens to the Brennans after the events of the final chapter!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Death of parent
grifgirl's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
happiestwhenreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I absolutely loved everything about this book - a strong contender for my final Top 10 List at the end of the year!
Five years ago, the Brennan's are left hanging in confusion as the only daughter, Sunday, packs her bags and leaves for California with no explanation. She leaves behind her fiancé and familial responsiblities. When the phone rings one night, Denny heads to California to retrieve his sister after she has a drunk driving accident. Her return to New York sets the family ablaze and the long buried secrets begin to bubble to the surface. It's complicated and dramatic and the writing is outstanding. I loved the characters and all of their messiness. I loved the pacing and how the secrets brought all the pain and confusion of the past five years to full circle and, ultimately, the whole disaster had a totally satisfying ending for me.
The blurb mentions Ask Again, Yes vibes and I agree. I'd also add The Most Fun We Ever Had and Olympus, Texas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Blood, Dementia, Car accident, and Death of parent
soobooksalot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
We Are The Brennans has been all over Bookstagram, with a lot of hype. And now I know it's all for good reason!
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted copy and Alex @alexatthelake for the group read opportunity!
The Brennans are known for their tight-knit, hard-working family's Irish pub, and they're adding another New York location. When sister Sunday leaves the family for Los Angeles five years prior under unexplained circumstances, brothers Jackie, Denny and Shane can't imagine what will bring her back home. And when she does return, events of the past can't stay hidden for long.
This family drama is layered with secrets and reveals, in a fantastically readable writing style. Debut author Tracey Lange's writing is absolutely absorbing and I can't believe this is her first novel.
Chapters are presented from nearly every character's point of view, an interesting style choice that kept the action moving.
As someone whose main genre is thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't put this book down - I read half in one day alone.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted copy and Alex @alexatthelake for the group read opportunity!
The Brennans are known for their tight-knit, hard-working family's Irish pub, and they're adding another New York location. When sister Sunday leaves the family for Los Angeles five years prior under unexplained circumstances, brothers Jackie, Denny and Shane can't imagine what will bring her back home. And when she does return, events of the past can't stay hidden for long.
This family drama is layered with secrets and reveals, in a fantastically readable writing style. Debut author Tracey Lange's writing is absolutely absorbing and I can't believe this is her first novel.
Chapters are presented from nearly every character's point of view, an interesting style choice that kept the action moving.
As someone whose main genre is thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't put this book down - I read half in one day alone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
madsmcw_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When it comes to family dramas, I'll either really like them or absolutely hate them and there's no in between. This one, I ended up really liking.
Each of the characters are flawed and beautiful in their own way and I loved being welcomed into the Brennan family. They are fiercely loyal and full of love and a little messed up, but then again what family isn't? This was a short book coming in under 300 pages and I think that worked to the story's advantage. Family dramas tend to feel too drawn out and long for me, but this shorter length felt perfect. The ending didn't really do it for my though, I would have liked to see things wrapped up just a little bit better, or at least have an epilogue or something, I needed just a bit more detail there.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. If you like tv shows like Parenthood or This Is Us, I think it would be totally up your alley.
Each of the characters are flawed and beautiful in their own way and I loved being welcomed into the Brennan family. They are fiercely loyal and full of love and a little messed up, but then again what family isn't? This was a short book coming in under 300 pages and I think that worked to the story's advantage. Family dramas tend to feel too drawn out and long for me, but this shorter length felt perfect. The ending didn't really do it for my though, I would have liked to see things wrapped up just a little bit better, or at least have an epilogue or something, I needed just a bit more detail there.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. If you like tv shows like Parenthood or This Is Us, I think it would be totally up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity and Murder