3.75 stars rounded down

A large Irish family owns a pub in New York. Five years ago, Sunday, the sister, left her brothers and fiance with minimal explanation. Now, after a drunk driving accident lands her in the hospital, she returns home for the first time to face the fallout.

This book is told from the perspectives of many characters -- the brothers, Sunday, the ex-fiance, the ex-fiance's new wife, and parents. While this could easily lead to confusion, Lange expertly distinguishes the different narrators. There is far more melodrama in this book than I expected and there was a lot of plot. The plot would feel resolved at points only to have another twist pop up. I was dedicated to the story the whole time, though, and was eager to see how it would end. I love the messy family aspects, the second chances at love, and the ability to move through trauma after taking the time needed to heal on your own.

Recommend for readers of family-focused novels that can appreciate soap-opera-like twists.

We Are the Brennans

This was ok. It wasn't the big family saga I was looking forward to or that this was compared to for me. I enjoyed the family and Sunday's story but felt like there were a lot of characters, a lot of POVs and jumping around, and on one seemed very flushed out to me. It also feels like there could have been conversations to get over the big issue in the book and could have been solved years ago.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this but I really enjoyed the premise of this one and seeing how one night and event can truly change a family forever.

I flew through it on audio and I was so intrigued and invested in all of the characters that were so well developed by Lange! I also throughly enjoyed how the multiple POVs helped getting to truly know each member of the family.

Although I didn’t find it relatable personally, I did enjoy how refreshing it was to read about such a dysfunctional and dramatic family dynamic while still learning how close they were and are!

Overall, it was a compelling family drama that I recommend checking out!

This is a family drama set in a large Irish family on the outskirts of NYC. This book felt absolutely compelling, while slowly revealing drama upon drama as the story unveils over time. Each character, from the mother and father, the three brothers and Sunday, and the add-on family Cale, Vivian and Tracy all have their own drama to add to it, everyone is keeping secrets bigger and smaller - easier to reveal and those that will hurt others. It was amazing how Tracy Lange as a debut author kept all the threads organized while keeping the balls in the air and the story moving forward. The way this story developed felt authentic and real. This book would would make an excellent movie or mini-series, I felt so invested in the characters life and was rooting for the whole family. When I finished I wanted a sequel or longer epilogue I was so sad to leave the Brennan’s !
The audio that I listened to on my morning run (picture is from said morning run - hazy summer morning sky) is narrated wonderfully by Barrie Kreinik.
Thank you to @netgalley @macmillan.audio and @celadonbooks for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of Jimmy Fallon’s summer reads. This book’s similar to one he had chosen previously … Ask Again, Yes.

The psychological manipulation was so precise & came from multiple directions! From people you’d trust & others you wouldn’t. Even the players mention the lies.

This is about an Irish family living in New York, how bad choices change multiple lives, how they come to terms with the fallout & how they fix it.

The chapter titles are the characters names. One chapter’s last sentence is the next chapters 1st sentence & switches perspective. Made it easy to follow the rambling train of thought as it jumps around in time to explain the one big bad choice.

Now the main choice that the book revolves around may frustrate you as you wouldn’t make the same choices but as the story unfolds the mystery of WHY?! Is answered.

This was a mood read for me. A nice switch from my go-to genres. I listened in one sitting. I was captivated. Easy, quick read well worth bumping up your summer TBR!!

The narrator was good & you even hear the occasional Irish accent.

Thank you NetGalley & Mcmillan Audio I had this on my summer TBR & loved it!!

This was wonderfully narrated and the Brennan family sucks you in and you feel everything that they’re going through. Shame and guilt are two feelings that I am astutely attuned to as an Irish Catholic, I swear that we are born with the guilt embedded into our DNA!
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, I love contemporary fiction but this one was a slow burn that I could not put down!
The story focuses on the Brennan’s and Irish American family in New York. The mother passed before the book began and the remaining family contains 3 brothers, 1 sister, 1 father, and a best friend who is actually more like family. When Sunday, the daughter, is in a terrible accident in LA after disappearing 5 years prior the family finally begins to come back together.
This novel takes place through several prospective and I think it gives it such an air of complete understanding of a family dynamic. I found so many ways to resonate with the different characters even though I come from a completely different life. Tracey Lange brings the world of the Brennan’s to life. While it had a wonderful ending like many contemporary fiction novels I just wanted to stay with these characters longer.

I didn't think I would enjoy following another family's drama as much as I did. The Brennans are a hardworking family with enough social status to have their secrets be scandalous. The fallout of past trauma is heartbreaking to listen to, and as someone without a large family, it is nice to see how the family comes together despite the past. Everyone is flawed, everyone has their baggage, and everyone has an opinion.

When Sunday Brennan wakes up after a drunk driving accident, her brother insists she return to family in New York she left five years ago. Sunday reluctantly agrees. When that same brother needs her to help with the books at his pub, it forces her to come face to face with her brother's business partner and her ex-fiance. He's, of course, married to someone else, which complicates matters greatly.

This is the type of novel that reminds us of the importance of familial bonds, and a shared heritage that one can turn away from, but never fully shed. You end up rooting for all the family members as they handle life's obstacles. It's a little awkward to root for Sunday to reunite with her ex, but the spark is undeniable.

This is the perfect book that readers that enjoy Elin Hilderbrand and Kristin Hannah.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced audio edition of We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange.

After hitting what she feels is rock bottom, it's time for Sunday to come home. She's been living in LA and she's loathe to return to the east, knowing that she'll have a lot of questions to answer, the biggest being, why did you abandon the family?

Even though her brothers hold a grudge, and her ex-fiance still keeps in touch with the family, it's apparent that Sunday needs to rebuild her life in her hometown. But secrets loom over all of them, and people still need to know why Sunday run out of them all. But are they ready to open a can of worms that would be impossible to close?

I normally love a family drama, with all of the secrets, feuds, alliances, and past traumas. But I had a toothache most of reading this one.

Overall it was just too "Hallmark" for me. The dialogue was way too saccharine, very idealistic. The characters were cliched, and very black and white. It was a decent story, but I also didn't like the direction it went for a few characters. The whole thing just kind of drove me crazy.

I love character driven stories and We Are the Brennans spoke to me. This novel centred around an American-Irish family had drama, family complications, a mystery, secrets and beautifully narrated how life’s messiness can affect relationships.

The initial protagonist, Sunday, is determined to get back on track with her life back in her hometown and with her family. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how all the siblings banded together against a person who was out to destroy the family business. It was also rich with different points of view that added to the beauty of the story.

I also enjoyed that not every member of the Brennan clan was “perfect”.

Overall, this is a wonderful debut novel by Tracey Lange and the narration by Barrie Kreinik as she was spot on with the Irish accents. We Are the Brennans is comparable to Mary Beth Keane and Cynthia D’Aprix’s writing and I can definitely agree with that statement.

Thank you Celadon Books for the advanced reading copy and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It took me a while to get through We Are the Brennans. Based on the other review, so many enjoyed it much more. But for me, it just wasn't for me.

Sunday Brennan is deemed a hot mess in the beginning of the story. Something terrible happens to get her to go back to live with her family. Then she comes out as a hero because her siblings are also a hot mess. Who will save whom?

There are a lot of different points of view and so this book seems to jump around. Maybe that's why I couldn't stay focused and had to go back to relisten to certain sections. (I did this way too much). So I was either really distracted during the month of July, or just powering through this novel.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with this copy of We Are the Brennans via the NetGalley app. Unfortunately, the narrator, Barrie Kreinik, couldn't save this book for me.

When Sunday is involved in a bad car accident near her home in Los Angeles her brother convinces her to come home to the east coast to be with her family and ex-fiancé she deserted 5 years ago with no explanation. Sunday wants to rebuild her life even though tensions are high. When a dangerous man from the past threatens to derail the family business, Sunday decides to unleash the secrets and reason for her departure. The Brennans will be forced to revisit the past to find a way forward.

I adore when stories are told from multiple perspectives and Tracey Lange is flawless as she shifts perspectives from one character to another. The story is pretty solid too as it contains all the components of a dysfunctional family: secrets, betrayals, and regrets. Despite all that you can tell this family loves and cares for one another and that they will always have each other's backs. The characters were likable and well developed. At times the story felt a bit predictable but overall I enjoyed it. The narration done by Barrie Kreinik made the story come alive for me. If you enjoy stories that contain family drama and secrets then this story is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced reader's copy in audio format in exchange for my honest review. We are the Brennans releases August 3rd.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me the audiobook of Tracey Lange's debut novel - 5 stars!

The Brennan's are a large Irish Catholic family in New York. They were shocked when only daughter, Sunday, suddenly left NY for Los Angeles 5 years ago. When she wakes up in a hospital after a drunk driving accident, her oldest brother, Denny, is there encouraging her to come back home. She swallows her pride and heads back. Back at home, she has to deal with her brothers' resentment for not being there to help out and her ex-fiancee is now remarried with a son and still active in the business. All of the family are keeping secrets and when the business is in trouble, they are forced to reveal them and deal with them together.

I really loved this book! I was drawn immediately into the family saga and loved the interaction between all the characters. This family felt real - they were flawed, resentful, secretive, loving - but they were family above all else. The writer was so skilled at making this novel flow. Each chapter ended with a conversation and a snippet of that conversation was carried over into the start of the next chapter, voiced by a different character. I listened to the audiotape, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, who voiced all the characters so well; I had no issue following along. Her voice was smooth and pleasant and enhanced the wonderful writing. Hard to believe this is a debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author! Highly recommended!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

Thank you so much @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review!

I really, really enjoyed this audiobook. Family dramas aren’t my go-to reads, but I’ve seen many good reviews for this one and wanted to try it.

I loved all the family members and their unique characteristics and personalities. Overall, I thought the storyline was fairly good, and the pacing kept my interesting. I always love when books are told from multiple points of view. I also loved the narration!

My only critique is that the ending felt very rushed and several plot lines were left open ended.

If you enjoy family dramas, I recommend giving this one a try!

I wasn't sure what to expect from We Are the Brennans, but the summary sounded so intriguing and I was so excited to get the chance to listen and review it! This is a character-driven novel and the chapters switch to the various character's POVs. The story starts off with the main character, Sunday, getting into a drunk driving accident out in LA, where her brother Denny heads out to make sure she's okay and convince her to return home to New York, where she suddenly up and left five years prior. When Sunday returns home, the past slowly starts to reveal itself and I was hooked from the first few chapters.

Now, if you're looking for perfect characters, this is not the book for you. These characters all have flaws, make poor choices here and there, and are...well, human. While you may not be able to directly relate to their wealth, family dynamic, owning a bar, etc. it's a story. It's fiction. For me, I didn't find that not being able to relate to any of them or their situation took away from the story at all, as it did some other reviewers. This was an entertaining look into a complex family, where each character has their own agenda and is keeping things from others that really should know about them. The story unfolds beautifully and comes together wonderfully at the end. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good family drama. Barrie Krenik did a fabulous job narrating this tale as well. The performance really brought the characters to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tracey Lange, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title! This audiobook was given to me in return for an unbiased review. We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange. #NetGalley

Reviewing
We Are The Brennan’s
By Tracey Lange

I’m always a sucker for a character driven story so I was excited to get into this one. Readers are drawn in by the complex relationships between the Brennan siblings and the dark secrets from their parents past. Will they pull together to overcome or let history tear them apart?

It’s told in alternating perspectives, and Lange weaves a complex tapestry for readers to drink in. Entertaining and engaging with an ending that was a tad bit too tidy and predictable for me.

Overall I enjoyed the Brennan’s and would recommend it to readers who love a character driven read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5stars for this fun family drama

I love reading books about family and this story about an Irish Catholic family in New York did not disappoint. I may have had the Wahlbergs in my head as I was picturing the men in the family. 😉
After running away from her family and her high school sweetheart and living in LA for five years, Sunday Brennan comes home. She left because of something terrible that happened to her, but when she gets back to New York, she finds out she’s not the only one with secrets. Sometimes books with things left unsaid can drive me a little crazy (just talk!!), but it seems like everyone has a valid reason for holding back.
I loved how this move was told from the perspectives of the different family members. I wasn’t in love with the ending, but maybe it left room for a sequel? Fingers crossed.
This is a brilliant debut for author @tracey_lange and I look forward to more from her. I listened to the audio for this and the narrator did a fantastic job with all the characters.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I completely fell in love with the Brennan family! I was immediately drawn into this family saga! Sunday Brennan, the only girl of the four adult Brennan children finds herself in a mess after an accident. She has been estranged from her family for 5 years. She returns home and we are introduced to the other family members as the story unfolds. I could not put this book down. It was well written, I appreciated the character development even though I didn’t care for all the characters! If you enjoy family drama books with twists and secrets you should pick this book up!!
Thanks to Macmillian audio and NETGALLY for this audiobook advanced copy for my honest review!

I was charmed by this book. Told through multiple narrators, it follows the family through secrets that last for years. It wasn’t groundbreaking or earth shattering, but it was really well done and interesting. The audiobook was incredibly well done! Perfect light Irish accent!