Tara Connelly is released from prison for a cover up drug related crime she committed to keep someone she loves safe. As she starts to rebuild her life, she finds herself falling for the man that arrested her. Living with her brother, sister, and nephew, she is able to find a job, making connections again, working hard not to break parole. What she doesn't realize is that other she loves are also in trouble, and she needs to decide whether she is willing to risk going back to prison to help again.

The audio for this was good and enjoyable!

Overall, I found the story to be kinda bleh. I didn’t love the relationship aspect of this and the characters weren’t the most likable, even though I think they were intended to be.

Book Title: The Connellys of County Down
Author: Tracey Lagne
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Day: August 1, 2023
Format: Audio Book
Rating: Story Line 4.5 ⭐️ Narration 5⭐️

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 puts 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.

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this story and truly fell in love with the FMC Tara. This is a heartwarming story of perseverance and full of family drama. The supporting characters have their own secrets that start to unravel in this ponient story of family and the bond of siblings. This had me rooting for Tara within the first chapter.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio book edition of this fantastic book.

There's nothing quite like a good family drama, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

The Connellys of County Down focuses on three siblings — Tara, Eddie and Geraldine — who essentially had to raise themselves after their mother passed away and their criminal father disappeared. Geraldine, being the oldest, took on the brunt of that work, especially after an accident left her brother Eddie with a head injury. But at the center of this story is their sister, Tara, who just got released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence on a drug trafficking charge.

The story weaves each of their stories - plus some others - as we learn more about Geraldine's anxiety issues and who Tara was really protecting when she went to prison. Plus, Eddie's 10-year-old son Connor shares some truly hilarious jokes to help Tara quit smoking. There's also Brian, the cop that helped put Tara in prison but has regrets.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this audiobook. I couldn't wait to learn more about their family drama and how they were going to band together as a family and get Tara out of her latest pickle.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy of this book.

If you like family dramas packed with secrets and lies, this book is right up your alley! It was like watching a train wreck— you immediately suspected what was going on and it was quite emotional watching it all play out. I found it stressful at times, hoping that things wouldn’t happen as I predicted along the way! No spoilers here- you’re best of going into this without any preconceptions. Kudos to the narrator on a job well done. I’m not used to listening to her with an American accent!
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook copy for review.

I tried to love this book. It's well written, and the characters are engaging, but, unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with it. I will still definitely pick up the next novel of Tracey Lange.

I am officially a HUGE fan of Tracey Lange! What a rollercoaster of a family drama!

The Connelley’s of County Down had my heart from the start and I absolutely loved Tara’s character. There are secrets, betrayals and unconditional love that made for the perfect read! This story is told from multiple POV and that is my favorite. There is also layered character development and such rawness and complexity in the characters that is so relatable. I really could not get enough of the Connelley’s. I am really looking forward to reading Lange’s, We are the Brennans too.

Also, I highly recommend the audio. Barrie Kreinik’s narration is stellar and perfectly captivated this amazing family drama!

If you are a fan of redemption and loving but crazy families, read this one NOW!

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillian.audio for the ALC. Thank you @celadonbooks for the early copy

This one came out this week!

4.5 stars

Do you love a good family drama??

This is my first book by this author, and I found it utterly impossible to put down. It's a hard one to nail down genre-wise - I'd put it firmly in a domestic drama genre a bit like Liane Moriarty or Sally Hepworth but without QUITE as many intense twists or violent crime (Which honestly, as a reader, was a relief, because it allowed me to really enjoy some of the characters and other themes of the book). It moves pretty quickly, and is relatively short, or at least feels like it, so I think it would make a great vacation read. I consumed the entire book yesterday with no regrets at all :)

I truly feel like a book where you can just get right into a nitty gritty life situation like Tara being released from 18 months in prison here makes it easy to immerse yourself entirely in the plot and I was very curious about their family relationship, past crimes and history, and how the story could unfold. This book wrapped up quite neatly overall, and again, I really appreciated that, but others might find it to be a bit too unrealistic. Since my view of the world is quite optimistic I like to think it could all work out in a way as well, and I enjoy that in my fictional life too. There's also an excellent child character in this story and a little bit of romance and a lot of family loyalty. It just worked really well.

The audiobook was excellently narrated by Barrie Kreinik and I recommend that format without a doubt.

Thank you to MacMillian Audio for this gifted copy of The Connellys of County Down!

First of all, I want to state that I’m an idiot. I started reading this book and wrote down “if you liked We Are The Brennans, you’ll like this book.” Literally the same author. I knew that and had a nice brain fart. Needless to say, I really liked We Are The Brennans, and I liked this one, and they’re in the same world. Lol

I felt like this was a great example of your classic family drama book. Siblings who refuse to be honest with each other, have lots of miscommunication, but are ultimately just trying to do what’s right and look out for one another. Is a great story of family, love and sacrifice.

There were a few storyline pieces that I wasn’t too fond of (don’t won’t to spoil the plot line) that made me struggle at times, but overall I really enjoyed this book. I found myself wanting to read it to find out what happens next. Tracey is a wonderful author, and a great storyteller.

Would like to start off by saying Thank You so very much, Macmillan Audio, for allowing me the opportunty to listen to this audiobook. I have found a new Auto Buy Author who I will be adding to my list.

Barrie Kreinik did an amazing job with narration. Her voice pulled me in, head first, and created the ultimate experience. You can have the best story, but if you can't connect with the narrator, it just won't work, at least not for me. Can't tell you all, how much I enjoyed this book.

This family may seem to some, as if they have deep, heavy issues but when you dive in and peek behind the curtain, it all changes. I fell in love with them. I think each of us can relate to the family dynamic in some way. The chips are down and they come together. They are loyal, supportive and the way the story unfolded was captivating. Ended really well and made me want to get in the car and go home with them.

Tara is the main character and we travel thru the story with her, most of the time. We dive into the other siblings every so often and they are all an integral part of the story. You could feel their emotions, as if you were going thru each motion with them. It was so well written and I look forward to the next book by Tracey Lange!

Highly recommend this book. And, suggest you go with the audiobook.

Complicated family drama and loyalty woven into unexpected romance is how I’d summarize this book. I’ve never read a book about reentry from being convicted and totally sympathized with Tara the whole way. I loved that we got a glimpse of the whole family’s perspective over time that you could see everyone’s struggles simultaneously. I really enjoyed it!

Family dramas always get me. The difference in every family member always is so interesting to me. And this story is no different. I enjoyed every moment. Also, the audiobook was so nicely done.

*Thank you @macmillan.audio for the copy in exchange for an honest review.*

The Connellys of County Down is the first novel I have read by Tracey Lange, and I have already looked her up to see what else I can read. I plan on reading her debut "We Are The Brennans" next because I thoroughly enjoyed the realistic tale of the Connelly family. The story begins with the youngest sibling, Tara, being released from prison after an eighteen month sentence for drug charges. As the story unfolds, we meet her two older siblings, Geraldine, who cared for middle-sibling Eddie, and Tara, after the death of their mother. Where is their father? He left his children to fend for themselves. Now as adults, Lange peels away the exterior behaviors and emotions of each character as they recognize the effects of their childhood traumas.

Lange created realistic, yet complex, characters and I honestly learned quite a bit about the scars left by abandonment and how those vary depending on where you fall in the birth order. I do not want to give too much away! Kudos for Lange for also including a character with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and addressing the struggles a person with TBI faces not only in the workplace but in their daily living and relationships.

Finally, I really wish there was an epilogue! I want to know more about the Connellys!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance audio book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Tracey Lange's previous novel, We Are the Brennans, and couldn't wait to dig into her newest family drama, The Connellys of County Down. Tara is released from prison after serving out a drug trafficking conviction and she returns home to try and start over while also juggling family/sibling dynamics. This story felt a little slow and while I enjoyed the family tensions, I was left wanting there to be more to the story. Those who enjoy family dramas (and who doesn't?) should give this a try. I definitely will continue to read whatever Tracey Lange is writing.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC.

Author of We are the Brennans returns with a small town fable of family loyalty and regrets. At the start of the novel, Tara Connelly is released from prison and returns home to her siblings, the only real family she has ever known. Her brother is a single dad, raising an awesome young boy and her sister has let her responsibilities and controlling ways actually rule how everyone in the house lives their lives. Still, they are family and they will make it work. Even when the cop that arrested her two years ago turns up and keeps turning up.
If you love a family tale, this is a great one!
#MacMillanAudio #Netgalley #TheConnellysofCountyDown #TraceyLange

I’m glad this audiobook shared the same narrator as the Brennans. She’s very engaging!

As for the story…
Although I loved the Brennans, the Connellys just didn’t capture my interest in the same way. The characters were well developed, but none of them were likeable, especially Brian. I think the story wrapped up nicely, but I would have enjoyed more storyline being devoted to the dad and his possible reunion with the family.

THE CONNELLEYS OF COUNTY DOWN review

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🪻I read and enjoyed this author’s debut novel (We Are the Brennans) earlier this year and knew I wanted to request her latest when it was available on NetGalley! Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much.

🪻Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Tara has been released from prison after serving a year and a half for a drug charge. While trying to rebuild her life, she moves in with her brother and sister in their childhood home. Tara has to keep herself squeaky clean to stay within the limits of her parole. But her family’s secrets are coming to light, and if uncovered could send Tara right back.

🪻I thought this story had a lot of potential! I liked the family drama/secrets. 🫢 But the pacing of this one was a bit off for me. I felt like the story was draggggging for most of the book. The ending wrapped up nicely but I wanted more action/drama spread throughout! Overall, this wasn’t my fave but still worth checking out if you enjoy family dramas!

🪻Thanks @macmillan.audio for my advanced copy of this one!

This is a family drama about three siblings and the love, loyalty and sacrifices between them. Having loved Lange's debut novel, I jumped into this one head first. This one is more slow moving, focusing more on character development and the family dynamics between the three siblings. Although the romance theme was sweet, I was left feeling like I wanted/needed more. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job.

The reason for my rating is that the story moved slower than I would have liked, it was a bit all over the place, I really wanted more romance, a WOW moment, and I didn't exactly connect with any of the characters.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

After serving 18 months on a drug charge, Tara Connelly is released into the custody of her overbearing sister, and her brother, a single dad struggling with an old brain injury. To make matters worse, one of the officers who put her in prison is tailing her, determined to figure out what she knows, as the other struggles to make amends with her.

There is just something so intriguing about a story involving a flawed family, their messy dynamics, and the backstory that led them to that point. Tracey Lange does an excellent job of giving us characters with incredible death and nuance, whom you cannot help but root for, whatever their circumstance and the Connellys are no exception.

While this is a slow burn story (character driven novels tend to be this way), I found myself completely immersed in their lives, their struggles to survive the day to day, and so desperately wanting them to find their way out of the hole they seemed to be in, particularly Tara, who is simply seeking a fresh start.

An inspirational family drama, with a whole lot of heart, this is one to add to your TBRs, especially as we head into Autumn.

Read if you like:
•character driven stories
•family dramas
•messy, flawed characters
•emotional reads
•stories of hope
•Irish rep

Thank you Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

Happy Pub Week to my new favorite dysfunctional family, The Connellys of County Down.

These Connellys make you want to simultaneously hug and strangle them. (especially Geraldine) They engendered both my empathy and scorn and made me think of my own family with their many good and bad qualities.

There in lies the brilliance of this book. Most of us can relate to having deeply flawed and infuriating family members that we can't help but love and sometimes sacrifice for. That is the heart of this book. The Connelly siblings Tara, Geraldine and Eddie love and sacrifice for each other.

When Tara is released from prison, she joins her siblings back in their family home. She soon discovers Geraldine, a religious, rule following bookkeeper, has been ,living in a prison of her own design. As she did with her brother Eddie, Tara sets out to solve her big sister's problems. This time however, it may cost her so much more, including her heart..

This book was wonderfully narrated which made it all the more a pleasure to listen to.

Thank you Celadon for my ALC.