I love a family drama and Tracey Lange delivers! They are messy and flawed, but you couldn't help but root for them. An inspirational family drama, with a whole lot of heart!

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for the digital copy of this book.

From the author of We Are the Brendan's which I truly enjoyed, comes another family drama. It opens with Tara one of 3 siblings getting out of jail. Tara goes back home fresh from jail and this family seems to have such bad luck. Just when something ends, another crisis begins.

This book has a lot of heavy topics which I appreciated, and even though I liked all 3 siblings, I found myself rooting for Tara.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves family drama. Also the narrator, Barry Kreinik did a wonderful job.

The Connellys of County Down was the second book I had the pleasure of reading by Tracey Lange. Just like her first book, We are the Brennans, The Connellys of County Down was about family. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Barrie Kreinik. Her narration was well done. I always enjoy listening to Barrie Kreinik. She has become one of my favorite narrators. The characters were well developed and quite believable. I was drawn into the story immediately and it held my attention until the very end.

The Connelly family was not your typical family. Geraldine, Eddie and Tara lost their mother when they were young. Their father was involved in criminal activity and abandoned his children shortly after their mother died. Geraldine, the oldest, assumed responsibility for caring and bringing up her two younger siblings. Shortly before their father left them, Eddie was in an automobile accident. The accident greatly impacted Eddie’s life. It left him with a brain injury.

Present day, Tara, the youngest Connelly at thirty years old, was being released from prison where she served an eighteen month sentence for a drug charge. As Tara walked out of the prison, she expected that either Geraldine or Eddie would be there to take her home but neither one was there. Instead, Tara discovered Brian Nolan, the police detective who helped put her in prison, was waiting outside the prison. He offered to drive Tara home. Why was he there and at the exact time of her release? With no other options, Tara allowed Brian to drive her home.

When Tara arrived home, she found that the house was empty. When her siblings finally arrived home, Tara was taken aback by how domineering Geraldine still appeared to be even though Eddie and she were adults now. As Tara settled back into her family home and began to involve herself with the logistics of restarting her life, she quickly discovered that that all was not as it appeared to be. Her sister and brother were both harboring secrets. Those secrets threatened the balance and well being of her family. Tara took it upon herself to learn what secrets her family members were trying to hide and to try and fix whatever problems they were facing. Could Tara get her brother and sister to open up to her? Would she be able to discover what was going on before it was too late?

Tracey Lange wove together a family drama with a romance that was destined to be. She sprinkled in elements of surprise, crimes, action, drugs, secrets, sibling relationships, loyalty and obsessions. The Connellys of County Down was a character based novel. Each character was well developed and believable. I really enjoyed the relationship Tara had with Eddie’s son Connor. I found it touching that Tara, although the youngest, tried to take her sibling’s problems and make them her own. She was determined to make sure their lives were secure even if it meant upsetting her own. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Connellys of County Down and recommend it highly.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen the audiobook of The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the author of We Are the Brennans, comes another family drama about loyalty, family, and love. When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving a sentence for drugs, she has to start over and return home to live with her siblings.

As she works to build a new life, secrets start to unravel. I wanted to walk into this book and fix up this trio of siblings myself. I loved the journey they went on as they recalibrated their lives and found peace with themselves and each other.

I really enjoyed this family centered story and getting to know the Connellys. I had the audio version of this book which I listened it to at the gym and I would lose track of time. The plot centers around three siblings who seem to have had a string of bad luck their wholes lives, but just as things begin to look up another crisis looms. I won't give the ending away but it such an enjoyable novel I highly recommend you get a copy yourself.

I listened to The Connellys of County Down this past month. Do you like messy family dynamics? Tara Connelly is released from prison in the opening pages of this book. Her life, living with her siblings in their old family home, is complicated to say the least. While I liked all three siblings, Tara is obviously the sibling you want to root for the most. I appreciated the heavier topics covered within these pages and I really enjoyed how it finished. Also, the narrator for this one did an excellent job: Barrie Kreinik.

While I didn’t have a major rockstar favorite for this past month, I’m certain this one takes that top ranking clearly. The character development and way those heavy topics were addressed were quite good. I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a good women’s fiction genre that includes family drama.

I absolutely loved this book. Family dramas are some of my favorite plot lines. And as an Irish Catholic myself, I loved reading about the Connellys. The characters were likable, even though they were quite imperfect. Tracey Lange has become an auto buy author for me.

Great family drama about generational traumas, loyalty and love of 3 siblings… but I needed just a tad more at the end?! Anyhow, Tracey Lange will be always on my auto buy list.
I would have also loved this audio more with more than one narrator. It is what it is, at the end great novel just as her first one.

Even though I knew what the twist of the story was early on, the character development in the family drama is worth a read. I listen to the audio version of this novel and was very happy with the narration. It was easy to follow and I was intrigued from the very first paragraph! I have not read this author’s first novel, meet the Brennans, but I am definitely interested in doing so now.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲’𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

I loved this book y’all!!!

‘In this moving tale about forgiveness, loyalty, and love's limits, one family tries to keep it together, together.’

All the stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:

‘When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won't be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister's fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now. 

While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys' secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever. 

The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.’

READ IT. Great book for all ages, genders, and walks of life☕️🫶🏼

When a book takes a turn and you’re like, “oh snap- stuffs about to go down” you know it’s gonna be a good book. That was The Connellys of County Down- it was all just a story of a family- until it was woven into lots of little life lessons. Also, Eddie = best brother ever.

**Tara Connolly is released from prison on an eighteen month drug charge. She’s coming home to her brother, nephew, and older sister Geraldine. They’ve been keeping things afloat while she’s been gone and merging back into life at home isn’t the easiest. Things are unturned, secrets come out, and Tara has to work at staying out of trouble or finding herself back in prison.**

Barrie Kreinik did the audio perfectly and I thoroughly enjoyed following the family drama. Each Connelly member had their own crap going on and it all intertwined in a perfect little panic. There’s a bit of romance too and I felt that it was all just the right mix of narrative and character building.

I really liked this one! i liked the aspect of following Tara as she gets out of jail. Especially for a low offender like she was and how the world treated her for it. I liked the little bit of romance we got with her and the cop, there was a forbidden aspect with it and I ate it up. I really loved both their characters and they both had struggles that was really heart touching and I enjoyed their stories. I loved the family aspect of this too, Eddie was my favourite sibling of the group and I felt for him with chronic migraines. Geraldine drove me crazy and I understood why she was the way she was life hasn’t been good to her ever and she did her best to cope with that was thrown at her. My favourite part of this was the family aspect and how even tho when they grew up they still stuck together I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration!

The Connellys of County Down

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Format: Digital and Audio
Length: 288 pgs, 9hr22m
Pub date: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Celadon Books

Can you go home again? At 30? With your two siblings? What if you didn’t have any choice?
Tara Connelly has been released from prison after eighteen months of serving a drug charge. She was a teacher of art, which is now a no-go, so she's moving back home with her big sister, Geraldine, and brother Eddie, a single father to his son Conor. And now the cop who was responsible for her going away keeps turning up and she is wondering what could possibly be next.

I love a good family drama. There's this misnomer that novels have to be fast-paced to be dramatic but really, they just have to have heart and substance. Several character-driven stories have gotten the “but nothing happens” treatment lately (I see you, Hello, Beautiful and Pineapple Street.) But Tracey Lange’s sophomore novel triumphs in matters of the heart and her characters- flawed as they may be- have depth. I really pulled for the Connelly Clan. Especially lovely are the memories of the stories their mom used to tell them about the ‘Connelleys of County Down’ and the magical powers they each had.

Barrie Kreinik’s narration was wonderful for this story because she's a steady and calm force and keeps the pace throughout. Just as the story is one of heart so is she.

Fans of dysfunctional families like those on Shameless, Raising Hope, and Weeds look no further.

Thank you to @celadonbooks for the digital and audio copies to review. I just received a print copy as well, many thanks Celadon!

#CeladonReads
#TheConnelleysofCountyDown

I picked this up as an audiobook and I just couldn't do it. The narrator got to me -- the voices were weird (especially of the younger boy) and distracted me from the story.

With that said, the story just wasn't engaging enough either. It felt like a glorified romance with all sorts of stereotypical bad guys. Characters were pretty two-sided and even as just a fun, guilty read it didn't hold up.

I love a character driven family drama audiobook! The narrator did a great job and I was really interested in the main character’s life as she adjusts from being released from prison.

What a great book! A lot of family dynamics are explored in this story. I loved the narrator and she did a great job bringing the characters to life.

Tracey Lange’s previous book was an immediate hit for me. When I saw a new book by her coming out, I was immediately drawn to it and very excited to dive in. I will admit that I struggled through the first 25% or so, not really connecting or investing myself with any characters or the story lines, but once it took off, it REALLY took off.

It’s hard to decide if you like these characters, feel sorry for them, or see a lot of yourself in them. I think that’s the beauty of Lange’s writing though - the words really make you sit back and think and reflect. This book was quite short, but it packed a lot of punch through the storylines that all intertwined. It was beautiful, raw, emotional and relatable. If you’re looking for a character driven family drama, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for accepting my arc request.

This was such a beautiful book, showcasing love, strength, flaws, and an unbreakable but fragile bond between siblings.

Tara just got released from prison and re-integrating into society is not going to be easy. She starts living with her siblings, Eddie and Geraldine, who have their own struggles they are going through. Eddie is a single father,and has a traumatic brain injury, and with that comes a lot of challenges and cognitive load. Geraldine is the oldest sibling and has a protective trait about her , which comes out as controlling and paranoia, and she has some secrets of her own. The story is about these three and how they solve their own problems, while also sticking together.

The title of the book is actually the story that Tara's mother made up,and the fairytale and real life is interwoven beautifully. We are in a time where sometimes even family does not stand by us, and that's why I really enjoyed this book where even with so many uncertainties, these siblings were fighting with others,and sometimes among themselves, all to help each other out.

Another aspect I liked about the story was the mental health representation. I love reading a book that talks about these issues, and encourages therapy.

I would have loved to read an Epilogue to know more about other characters' ending, and I would not have mind reading another 50 pages. Overall, I truly enjoyed the book and would recommend reading it.

Title: The Connellys of County Down
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: August 1, 2023

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies of this book from Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Mysterious • Relatable • Reflective

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile façade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.

💭 T H O U G H T S

After absolutely loving Tracey Lange's debut, We Are the Brennans, I was super excited to see she was releasing a new novel in 2023. One of my most anticipated releases, I picked The Connellys of County Down as my August pick for my personal book of the month project, and when Celadon offered me an advanced copy I wouldn't click 'yes' fast enough.

Centered around three siblings, the pacing keep me wanting more. The story unraveled slowly with each chapter offering new tidbits of information as to how everything would connect. From the very start, there was an underlying mysterious tone. The siblings were each flawed and relatable in their own way, and their relationships with one another were layered and complex. At various points it was hard to figure out whether to feel sorry for them or to empathize with them. It is clear Lange's background in behavioural science and psychology helped shape the narrative surrounding Eddie's traumatic brain injury, and Geraldine's hoarding. Both of these aspects were handled with care and realistically.

The novel is on the shorter side, and I just couldn't put it down. However, it was the ending that left me slightly dissatisfied. Not only did it end abruptly, but after so much conflict everything ended tied up with a pretty little bow, which just felt unrealistic. There were several other possible endings that made more sense in my head.

I tandem read the digital and audio versions, and I must say the audio narration by Barrie Kreinik really brought the family to life. Each character had a distinct voice, which made following along easy. Pacing was very well done and accents were done with excellent intonation.

Overall, I appreciated the themes of family obligation and starting anew, making The Connellys of County Down a satisfying read. I just would have preferred a different ending. After reading her sophomore novel, it really cements Tracey Lange as an auto-buy author for me, and I will eagerly be awaiting whatever she writes next.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• lovers of the family saga
• readers who like character driven stories
• fans of messy sibling relationships

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, drug trafficking, overdose, incarceration, car accident, injury/injury detail, medical trauma, mental illness, abandonment, cursing, addiction, drug use, drug abuse

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I don’t think you do the rest of us any favors when you don’t let us carry our own burdens."

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was really well written, elicited many emotions, and still has me thinking about the story. I really enjoyed her story telling.