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Member Reviews

Tracey Lange’s debut Meet The Brennan’s I thoroughly enjoyed and was excited to see her latest title and get an ALC… I’ve seen this beautiful cover floating around the booksta universe and knew now is the time!

Do I dare say I love this one just a smidgen more than her last… it was absolutely unpausable! I never wanted it to end. Quick paced. Short chapter. Perfection on the narration.

The Connelly’s of County Down title origin warmed my heart. The characters you could hug. Flaws, secrets and all. The Connelly’s will be on my mind for quit some time and Im so excited for the world to meet them!

The easiest five star!

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I enjoyed this book so much. Most books are about nuclear families or the lack thereof. It was great to read a story where it was adult siblings working together to build their lives back after so much drama. It was easy to cheer for the main characters, and to get invested in their success.

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I read this book via audio. I enjoyed the characters and felt that it was easy to keep up with each character’s story and personality (which is sometimes challenging via audio). I thought the book was more character-development-focused than a solid plot-focus. This book didn’t keep me tremendously engaged- it lacked much of a rising action. I would’ve liked to see more of a solidified plot. However, the characters were very likeable and I enjoyed their personalities. It was also fun to see them grow and evolve throughout their interactions with each other!

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This book sucks you right into a story about a dysfunctional yet supportive family. The author writes with vivid detail making the reader feel like they are a member of the fiercely loving Connelly family. I enjoyed the little mysteries in this novel, but *SPOILER ALERT* was disappointed that the murder was never solved. Themes such as family, mental illness, disability, and addiction are all woven in as well.

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The Connellys of County Down is a heartfelt story of three siblings as one of the siblings is released from prison. I have read from Tracey Lange before and greatly enjoy the way she develops messy character dynamics in believable, flawed families. After loving We are the Brennans, I was eager to see what she would do in her sophomore book.

In this second book, Lange tells us the story of Tara who is leaving prison after 18 months on a drug trafficking charge. But there is information that Tara isn't sharing, and as the reader we are eager from the get-go to find out what she was hiding and who she was protecting. Then there are the other siblings, a brother and sister who both have their own problems and secrets.

I enjoyed the balance of plot and character development in this book and I'm pleased that I went into it without much knowledge. I don't think I even fully read the synopsis, and I think that's the way to go. Trust Lange to take you on a journey with messy but loveable characters who don't make pristine decisions. There's no sophomore slump here and I'll just be here be eagerly awaiting Tracey Lange's third book.

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Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookish First, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a physical and audio ARC of the sophomore book by Tracey Lange, with the audiobook beautifully narrated by a favorite, Barrie Kreinik - 5 sparkling stars!

Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving 18 months on a drug charge. Because of her conviction, her previous dream job of teaching art to children is gone and no good prospects loom. She moves back home with her two siblings who have issues of their own, Eddie is a single dad struggling with traumatic brain issues from an accident; and Geraldine, the one who has always been in control but whose live is now crumbling around her. Then there's Brian, the cop who put Tara in prison, who keeps showing up.

I absolutely loved We Are the Brennans, and Lange's new book is just as wonderful if not more so. She has the sibling rivalry, family loyalty and drama, storyline down pat and each of the main and secondary characters feel completely fleshed out and real. I was rooting for these siblings who had been through so much together to get all the secrets out in the open. With alternating POV from each of the siblings and Brian, we get to learn their secrets and feel the tension and anxiety build. I alternated listening to the audiobook and reading the physical copy - Kreinik's narration was so good that I kept finding reasons to keep listening. This is a must read this summer and count me in on anything Lange writes in the future!

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The Connellys of County Down
by Tracey Lange
Narrated by Barrie Kreinik
Pub Date 01 Aug 2023
Macmillan Audio
Celadon Books

We Are the Brennans was a wonderful read and so I was excited to receive an ARC of The Connellys of County Down. A story about fierce family loyalty and good intentions gone awry.

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. Her siblings have their own challenges and together they hold tight to years of secrets.

The story revolves around three siblings - Geraldine, Tara, and Eddie who live in Port Chester, New York. They are forced to depend on one another while growing up due to lack of parental figures. The author expertly weaves together Irish Catholic elements and sibling frustration with the undertone of unconditional love and support.

What I loved about this book was the depth and development of each character. The reader gets to know each sibling allowing readers a better understanding of their individual perspectives. Each character has their own complexities and I enjoyed following their personal growth and change.

While I found some of the character's traits annoying, they were just another reason to pause and contemplate the sibling dynamics. Who hasn’t been annoyed with their sibling at one time or another while also ready to provide unwavering support?

Readers who enjoyed We are the Brennan's and perhaps even Angela’s Ashes should pick this one up on August 1.

#theconnellysofcountydown #irish #traceylange #siblings #netgalley
#booksaboutfamily
_____

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This was an easy, flowing family drama based on the Connelly siblings in Port Chester, NY. Tara, on parole, is back to living with her siblings and nephew while she reconstructs a new life now that she’s out of prison. Tara’s brother Eddie deals with a past head trauma accident and life as a single parent while her sister Geraldine is having a mental health crisis of her own. The sibling dynamic is tested as they each learn accept their own past in dealing with new challenges.

As a family drama, this novel never felt heavy and it was well paced. The characters are well developed and believable. The only downside of the book is that I felt that at least one or two major plot elements felt unresolved. Maybe the author didn’t intend the reader to focus on those aspects. The narrator did a great job and made for a pleasant audiobook experience. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC.

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All families have issues and they tend to become evident when the whole family is present.

In the Connellys case, that time comes when Tara Connelly is released from an eighteen month sentence in prison for drug possession. She is thirty years old, and has no where to go other than her family where her sister and brother are present.

Her brother had a terrible accident leaving him brain impaired with a son to raise, while her sister a crackerjack organizer is discovered to have her own secret which can ultimately send Tara back to prison and the family into ruin.

A policeman comes into Tara's life frequently and his presence has her on edge as he was the one who put her in prison.

This was a fine family saga about how ultimately the ones who are family often are the ones who rescue one another.

Thank you to Tracey Lange, Macmillan Audio with Barrie Kreinik as the Narrator and NetGalley, for the ability to listen to this tale due out August 1, 2023.

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The Connellys of County Down is about a thirty year old art teacher who finds herself in jail for 18 months. The book starts out with Tara getting out of jail and the detective who placed her there thinks she didn’t really commit the crime. The detective is really trying to figure out why she took the blame. As he is trying to get to know her, I should say fall in love, we also start to figure out the whole story. This book is filled with so much romance, family drama, and true friendships. I loved all the contemporary aspects of this book like the fortnite references and Tara creating the illustrations for two teenage gamers. You can truly love these characters and this story but I felt like the story just ended. As a reader I didn’t feel like I got closure for this story or for Tara. For that reason I had to rate it lower. It also made the ending feel very rushed. I could have done without Geraldine as a character but I guess this means the story is more realistic since we have to deal without people we wish we didn’t everyday!

As an audiobook the narrator did an amazing job with voicing different characters. I felt all the emotions the main character was feeling and to me this is everything. This was my first audiobook by this narrator and I am excited to listen to more of her work as she has narrated many of Sally Hepworth’s novels.

Read this if you like:
➜ dysfunctional family drama
➜ nods to Ireland
➜ mental health rep
➜kid jokes

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Celadon Books, and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Pub Date: 8/1/23

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This was a really good story, family drama.
Three siblings all going through trying times .
Tara connelly, the youngest of the siblings
Is just being released from prison. For something
She was accused of but did she really do the crime. Eddie the brother is a single dad, but also has some issues. And the oldest sister well, she's a keep to herself kinda gal.

These adult children have lost their mom at a young age. There, dad decided to move on.
But holding things together is what Tara's big sister is all about.
But holding on to tight, sometimes can make things worse.



This was the second book I have read by this author. I truly enjoyed it.

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Thank you Macmillan Audio for giving me an opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of The Connellys of County Down. Audiobooks are fast becoming my favorite way of reading! The narrator did an excellent job and although I wasn't familiar with the name - I did see other books I had listened to narrated by Barrie Kreinik. I had not heard of this book and found it very enjoyable.. This was a very good family drama surrounding 3 siblings Eddie, Tara and Geraldine. The story opens with Tara being released from prison for drug trafficking after serving 18 months. As you get into the story we learn a lot about Tara. She loves her family and will do anything to protect them. This book has a little bit of everything in it - family secrets, romance, and just plain family drama. Although I could pretty much predict what was going to happen, I still enjoyed getting immersed into the lives of the Connelly's. This is the first book I have read by this author and look forward to reading more.Barrie Kreinik

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Book review

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 by Tracey Lange
Published: August 1, 2023
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: ALC Audiobook via @NetGalley

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲
✽ Family drama
✽ Tough girl MC
✽ Unlikely romance

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
✽ Drug trafficking/use
✽ Parental death

Thank you to @NetGalley and @celadonbooks for gifting me an audiobook ALC of this book. Ever since listening to We Are the Brennans, I’ve been anxiously awaiting another release from Lange and this one did NOT disappoint! #gifted #netgalley #theconnellysofcountydown #traceylange

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
What a ride! I love love love family dramas, especially when they’re well written, the characters are well-developed, and there is a defined journey that the characters/family go on through the storyline.

This book is exactly that. I will not spoil any of it for you, especially since it’s a BOTM for July - but let me tell you, you’re going to fall in love with every character, flaws and all, and your heart will break the entire time.

You will experience a rollercoaster of emotions through this book. There will be laughs, tears, and moments you will be ranging in anger. It was so well written, and the narrator was the perfect choice — I flew through this audiobook in less than 3 days. If you haven’t picked it up as your BOTM, definitely snag the audiobook ASAP!

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Family is tough, huh? Some are tougher than others. Enter: the Connellys.

Tara is newly released from an 18-month stint in prison, while brother Eddie and sister Geraldine have been struggling with their own problems. All three of them are keeping secrets, and pretty shortly those secrets start to unravel and threaten to cause major problems. The siblings must take a serious look at their priorities and determine how to protect each other without causing the demise of everything else they hold dear.

WHEW what a ride this was! It's honestly so stressful at times to watch these fictional adults make decisions that you, as the reader, simply cannot influence. You just have to sit back and let it all happen. I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of family dramas, but this one was gripping and intense from the beginning. I loved how all the separate issues and mini-dramas converged into one climactic moment in this story, and how Tracey Lange manages to make even the terrible characters at least a little bit sympathetic. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Tracey Lange, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advance audio copy.

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Having enjoyed a previous story from this author I was really looking forward to this story. Don’t let the three stars fool you, it was good and well written but my problem was it didn’t hold my attention well. I found my mind wandering frequently while listening to the audiobook and I couldn’t concentrate on the ebook at all.

The story itself has solid bones and it should have worked for me but it didn’t. With the type of books and writing styles I enjoy, this should have hit the mark but I can’t place my finger on what exactly didn’t.

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I was not expecting much from this book to be honest, but I was completely blown away by this!

Tara has just been released from prison and will be staying with her brother, sister and her brother’s ten year old son. The rest of the novel follows the Connelly’s and their drama.

I really really enjoyed this book!! I found myself so invested in the characters and their lives, especially Tara and Eddie. Geraldine was okay but I didn’t like her as much as her siblings.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I found it really easy to get through, I was always excited to keep going with it.

Overall, definitely recommend if you’re looking for a family drama with a sprinkle of romance subplots.

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This it not normally my kind of book, but my last name is a variation of Connelly so I felt like I had to. And I'm so glad I did! I loved this group of siblings. They had great character development. Despite trials and tribulations there was love and family at the core of this book and that always gets me. The narrator was excellent!

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Tara Connelly, the youngest of three siblings, is serving time in a New York state prison for drug charges. But you’ll quickly realize that Tara doesn’t fit the stereotype of an inmate, and something doesn’t quite add up.

Nothing had gone Tara’s way starting in childhood when her mother was sick and died, her father stole cars for a living, and the three Connelly kids had to fend for themselves.

I enjoyed this complicated family drama with siblings who have been through everything together and, despite not always agreeing, have each other’s backs through it all.

A few noteworthy favorites from the book:
- Barrie Kreinik narrators the audiobook, and is fantastic!
- Gordy and Lance are Tara’s bosses later in the book and are my new favorite minor characters. They’re sweet, quirky young video gamers who look up to Tara and are genuinely loyal.
- The cover is GORGEOUS
- A perfect mix of character development, plot events, mystery, and love interest

I received this as an audio arc but bought a physical copy in my BOTM box because it was so good!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillian Audio, for the advanced audio copy.

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The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange kept catching my eye whenever I read the description, and it was my first novel from the author. In it we meet Tara on the day she is being released from prison and going to live with her sister, brother, and nephew. Each of them is going through their own issues and their family dynamics are messy. Layer in that she is trying to navigate work and relationships after prison and the family drama unfolds.

I love complicated family stories, so this was right up my alley in that sense. The way the siblings navigated each other’s issues with love was well written and had me invested. The plot around Tara having to navigate work and parole after serving time was so interesting to me, but at times felt unrealistic. She was just given so many chances despite messing up repeatedly, I had to suspend reality and focus on the family drama components of the story.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys sinking into a family of flawed people who are working to accept each other and love each other. It’s a touching sibling story and even with a few stretches on the post-prison storyline, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending the digital and audio editions – I loved switching between them, and I appreciate you!

Content warnings: drug addiction, drug use, mental illness, parent death

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This is a new author to me. I was asked by Celadon to do an early read. I really love family based books and this one did not disappoint. Two completely different sisters, a brother, and his son. Very sweet story of how you stick your own neck out to help your family. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend reading or listening to it.

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