This was a good family drama. that sprinkled a little romance and "suspense in. I enjoyed the family in this book and the side romance of it all. Another good Tracey Lange book based on family and life's ups and downs.

I loved and couldn’t put down We Are thé Brennans but found this story mostly boring. I was initially intrigued but the story quickly started to become lukewarm; there was little plot movement and I didn’t find myself caring about or connecting to any of the characters.

It’s a domestic drama in the sense that the story follows a family for a period of time.

SUMMARY: Tara is leaving prison after doing 15 months inside for a drug charge. She’s moving in with her brother, his son, and their sister.

When she gets there she is surprised to learn three things: 1) her sister has been forcing the nephew to go to Catholic Church 2) the sister has become a hoarder and 3) her brother has gained weight. He also has a TBI, though this was from before.

There is one other mystery… when Tara thanks her siblings for all the money they gave her, she finds out they didn’t give her the money. Now she’s wondering who did and why…

The reader also knows, but Tara doesn’t, that the sister is in deep doodoo at work and trying to cover it up.

There’s plenty of interpersonal conflict… Tara wants to throw out the hoarded items, for example. Lots of tension…

Slow burn without much movement. I gave up around 50% because i didn’t care enough to read anymore but I might finish it if I have nothing else and it’s still available

This heartfelt story takes us on a journey with the Connelly family as they navigate the challenges of protecting their loved ones and starting anew. Tracey Lange weaves a narrative that tugs at the heartstrings, immersing listeners in the intricate dynamics of the Connelly clan.

Barrie Kreinik's narration brings the characters to life with skill and emotion. Her portrayal of the story enhances the listening experience, making it even more enjoyable. Barrie Kreinik ability to capture the nuances of the characters' emotions and deliver their dialogues with authenticity is commendable. I teared up multiple times with her emotions. It was truly an immersive listen for me.

Fans of family drama will enjoy this gem. I highly recommend it.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.

The characters in this family drama made this book shine. I loved the sibling dynamics, and I love how they grew and changed throughout the book. The romances the siblings developed throughout the story also made my heart smile. The audio narration was well done. I can't wait to check out more from this author.

Thanks to McMillan audio and NetGalley for providing me with audiobook. My Irish roots are in County Down, which is why I selected this book, but it turned out to be a disfunctional family story set in New England. Three adult siblings lived together along with the brother’s young son. Their mother had died and their father had abandoned them. At the start, the youngest sister, Tara, was being released from prison after spending a two year sentence for drug trafficking. The theme of the book is how the family does everything to protect itself. The reference to County Down was just in a story their mother used to tell.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review. This is narrated by Barrie Kreinik, who does an excellent job! Highly recommend the audio book!!!

I absolutely loved this story and devoured it!!! I loved We Are The Brennans and this book is similar to that but also so different!

Tara is being released from 18 months in prison from a drug trafficking charge. Now an ex-con, she must begin again and rebuild her life. But its hard to move forward when she keeps tripping over reminders of her past. Her sister fails to pick her up on release day and she ends up catching a ride home with the Detective that helped put her in jail. She goes home to live with a brother who has a brain injury from a car wreck and a young son. Also, her sister is an accountant and runs a very OCD tight ship. The 3 siblings live together as a dysfunctional group in the family home despite their mother having passed away and their father being out of the picture.

The character development is fantastic. The many themes and plot lines are woven together so well. While the main character relationships are dysfunctional, you can tell that they deeply care about and love each other....they just have a hard time showing it.

I just loved this and consumed it. Get the audio book - its fantastic!!!! HIGHLY recommend!!!!!

The story moves at a good pace and I liked the narration. I liked Tara’s character arch, but every character, Tara included, is flawed in some way. Tara’s post-prison job and co-workers were my favorite; part comic relief and part much needed humanity.
CW: opioids, hoarding/mental illness, childhood trauma

Thank you #NetGalley for the arc audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Tara is returning home. She's just spent 18 months in prison for drug trafficking and will be moving back home with her sister, brother, and nephew. Things are not at all as she left them, and other than her adoration for her nephew she's working on rebuilding her relationships with her critical older sister and trying to understand why her siblings didn't care to come visit her.

In the meantime, Tara will discover that someone unexpectedly did have her back, and that she's strong and noble and worthy herself.

This was at its core a story of how families lean on one another through good times and bad. And how we gain the hearts of people who see the very best in us.

Barrie Kreinik's narration was superb!

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange
Rating: 5 stars
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Pub Date: 8/1

This book deserves all the stars! After being hooked by Lange's first novel, "We Are the Brennans," I've become a huge fan, and she's now an auto-buy author for me. Her talent for creating stories about fierce family loyalty, good intentions gone wrong, and the unexpected consequences of love is truly remarkable.

The story follows Tara Connelly, who's just been released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge. Starting her life anew at thirty isn't going to be a walk in the park, especially with no money or prospects. So, she heads back home to live with her siblings, who each have their own problems to deal with. Her brother, a single dad, is struggling with the lasting effects of a brain injury, and her sister's calm and orderly facade is cracking under the weight of some serious secrets.

As Tara tries to rebuild her career and hold her family together, she unexpectedly finds love in the most unlikely place. But as the Connellys' secrets start unraveling, their future is at stake, forcing them to face their deepest fears and reveal the truth or risk losing each other forever.

This gripping family drama will tug at your heartstrings from the very first page. I was utterly engrossed in the hardships the Connelly siblings faced, and I loved that, despite their differences and occasional disagreements, they always came through for each other when it mattered most.

I listened to this on audio, and Barrie Kreinik killed this narration, nailing the New York accents and bringing the Connelly family to life.

This book is a slow burn that intensifies with each chapter, thanks to the wonderfully developed characters. You'll fall in love with every single one of them as their pasts and struggles are unveiled. Tara, in particular, is an incredibly strong woman who would do anything for her family, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. I must admit, Geraldine drove me a bit crazy, but that's a testament to Tracey Lange's ability to make you feel the pain and anguish of each family member.

This is a beautiful story about the power of family and the unbreakable bonds that tie us together. Tracey Lange has crafted a truly emotional tale that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. If you're looking for a heartfelt and relatable read, this is the book for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC!

Such a great opening to the story… this was a fabulous and easy read. Following Tara, Eddie, Little Con-Man and Geraldine’s family vibe and relatable sibling quarrels (to an extent of course ~ minus the jail and drugs😂)

Tracey’s writing is smooth, captivating and I’m finding that I am really loving family dramas more than I thought I would. And the cover ~ just simply beautiful! 💜🌿

I was lucky to be selected to participate in a Celadon collab called “Celadon’s Read Together” where I was paired up with 3 other Bookstagrammers to read this advanced printed copy of the novel and chat along the way.

Lucky enough, I was also granted access via NetGalley to both view the ebook galley AND listen to an early audiobook version.

Thank you to Celadon + NetGalley, the author Tracey Lange and the publisher, because I truly enjoyed this book and am writing this review as an unbiased opinion.

I grew up on the East Coast in a town that was split between the Irish, Polish, and Italians. We lived next door to an Irish family that reminded me so much of the Connellys. No one went to jail, though. Tracey Lange is a beautiful writer and has a way of sucking the reader into the story. I loved the character of Tara - she tried so hard to reconnect with her sister and brother after she was released from jail. Tara also wanted to get her life back but her sister was no help and her brother was aloof. Poor Tara, who was at her uptight sister's mercy and she always was attemptying to do the right thing. I love books about familes especially ones who harbor as many secrets as the Connellys.

This book was fantastic!!! Great sophomore novel by Tracey Lange. If you like character driven stories, this one is for you. Tracey has a way with words where the characters come to life and extremely realistic. This story deals with some heavier topics and the way they were discussed was beautiful. Great story of friendships, what you would do for family and second chances.

Thank you for the eALC in exchange for an honest review!

THE CONNELLY’S OF COUNTY DOWN was such a moving and meaningful narrative surrounding family. It explores the bonds, trust, and loyalty of sibling relationships with an emotionally charged plot.

I enjoyed this book and without a doubt will be reading more of the Author’s books. The Author gives life to such big-hearted main characters whom I’d love to know in real life. They deal with conflicts that have consequences; in which they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save another.

It is a read that left me better than I was before reading it and you will love it from beginning to end.

This wasn't my bag--I wanted to get behind it because of all the buzz around her first book We Are the Brennans, but I found the MC to be a trope of the good girl, flawed heroine who was dopey and too good hearted/earnest to be real. As for the detective, I am all here for this breaking rules for love and I can even twist my morals to get behind the romanticizing of the troublesome power dynamic that arises with the nature of the relationship between parolee and arresting officer, but god is this cop dumb. That's what I can't tolerate--all the lack of foresight that is written into this character continually setting up the plot points for sabotaging his own love interests future. It made me feel like the author is underestimating the intelligence of her characters and her readers. The narrator was excellent and provided an engaging performance that carried me through. 2/5 stars

The audiobook was done very well. I enjoyed listening. The characters were very well developed. I feel like there were a lot of details but not much was going on. I prefer books with a problem and and then eventually a solution. This book is just a bunch of family drama with not really anything going on.

It’s Tara’s release day. She’s ready to move on with life and get back to her family. But things aren’t as they were when she left…

Let’s start by admiring that GORGEOUS cover. I mean… 😍😍😍 I want this beauty on my shelf.

I could not put this one down. I was so emotionally involved. I binged it and was sad when it was over. I was routing for each of the Connellys. They all have some trauma to address and with some tough love they are finally ready to face it. Family is front and center of this one with a side of magnetic love.

Seriously, add this to your TBR. Go to your library and place your hold now. Available August 1.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️/5
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧/5

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ALC. I absolutely adored it!

I'm certain there is a family like the Connellys in every town. This incredibly relatable story shares the ups and downs of a family that have been through so much but continue to deft odds to be there for each other. If the reader takes nothing away from the easy pace, solid storyline, or incredible writing, then hopefully they will take this... never assume you know what someone is going through. There is always so much more below the surface. Your decision to let someone show you who they are and to believe them is the greatest thing you can offer someone.

I am so thankful to #netgalley and #MacMillanAudio for approving me for this #arc #audiobook. I will FOR SURE be picking up #wearethebrennans so I can continue my time with the wonderful words of #traceylange.

This was another amazing (heart wrenching) story by Tracey Lange. When we meet Tara she is being released from prison after serving 18 months for a drug charge. We learn pretty quickly that everything isn’t as it seems with Tara and the rest of her family. There are so many secrets. We care a whole lot about them and are rooting for them to succeed. Their relationships and situations are written so realistically.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really loved this family’s story. A family drama with a lot of depth to each character. The storyline of Tara’s return from a stay in prison was told from each perspective and was really well written. I listened to the audiobook and I think this could have been 5 stars for me if I had read it. But I couldn’t stop listening and was rooting for each of the Connellys. Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book.

This was such a great listen! I am a sucker for any story about an Irish family, and this one did not disappoint. In this book, Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving 18 months for a drug charge. She is SO excited to be back with her family and put her life back today. But things do not go as planned, starting with her release.

This story is about family dynamics, loyalty, and siblings that, despite their issues, just want the best for each other. I am an only child but always enjoy reading about exciting sibling relationships. Tara, her sister, her brother, and her nephew each have a unique relationship with one another, and the author does a fantastic job of painting the family picture for you.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was good. They kept me engaged, and I almost found their voice to be soothing - I mean, I finished the entire audiobook in one day :)

I have had We Are the Brennans by Lange sitting in my #TBRpile for a while now, and I am definitely going to be bumping it up now! I am excited to see more of what this author has to offer.