Genre Fiction
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The Connellys of County Down: A Novel
From Tracey Lange, the New York Times bestselling author of We Are the Brennans, comes The Connellys of County Down: a story about fierce family loyalty, good intentions gone awry, and the consequences of improbable love.
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.
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.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Connellys of County Down
"This emotionally charged story delivers the goods."
―Publishers Weekly
"A compassionate look at family dynamics and a reminder that it's never too late to heal."
―Kirkus
"Lange's strong follow-up to her debut, We Are the Brennans (2021), explores how family dynamics are both created and sustained. "
―Booklist
Praise for We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
"When we leave the Brennans, they are perhaps more flawed than they were at the start. But that, to my mind, is what makes them feel human, and what makes the book feel real......[A] confident, polished debut novel..."
―The New York Times
"Lange's engaging family drama is fueled by secrets and full of heart."
―People
"In Lange's accomplished debut… she keeps all of the Brennans sizzling with humanity while they grapple with familial loyalty. Fans of intense family dramas are in for a treat."
―Publishers Weekly
"Reading this novel is like getting a view through a lighted window on a family sitting around a table after dark. Who are they? What are they talking about? All families have their own story and the ways they tell it to themselves, and untangling the many strands of this one was deep and richly satisfying. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I read it in one long delicious slide."
―Sarah Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Book
"In We Are the Brennans, Tracey Lange expertly captures the way one harrowing night can forever change a family. The Brennans are a tight-knit Irish family, carrying enough secrets to topple most families. Instead, Lange offers them a chance to heal, reminding us that it's never too late to mend old wounds and that the things that tear us apart can...
"This emotionally charged story delivers the goods."
―Publishers Weekly
"A compassionate look at family dynamics and a reminder that it's never too late to heal."
―Kirkus
"Lange's strong follow-up to her debut, We Are the Brennans (2021), explores how family dynamics are both created and sustained. "
―Booklist
Praise for We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
"When we leave the Brennans, they are perhaps more flawed than they were at the start. But that, to my mind, is what makes them feel human, and what makes the book feel real......[A] confident, polished debut novel..."
―The New York Times
"Lange's engaging family drama is fueled by secrets and full of heart."
―People
"In Lange's accomplished debut… she keeps all of the Brennans sizzling with humanity while they grapple with familial loyalty. Fans of intense family dramas are in for a treat."
―Publishers Weekly
"Reading this novel is like getting a view through a lighted window on a family sitting around a table after dark. Who are they? What are they talking about? All families have their own story and the ways they tell it to themselves, and untangling the many strands of this one was deep and richly satisfying. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I read it in one long delicious slide."
―Sarah Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Book
"In We Are the Brennans, Tracey Lange expertly captures the way one harrowing night can forever change a family. The Brennans are a tight-knit Irish family, carrying enough secrets to topple most families. Instead, Lange offers them a chance to heal, reminding us that it's never too late to mend old wounds and that the things that tear us apart can...
Readers Top Reviews
bridgette
The Connelly's of County Down by author Tracey Lange is an adult fiction contemporary book set in Ireland. This author previously wrote we the the brennanas, which I have yet to read. I might go back and read it after having read this. This author does a great job of portraying family dynamics at different stages of life. This book follows our main character Tara who goes back home to live with her siblings after getting released from jail. Tara was the most interesting to me and I found the backstory of why she was in jail and what happened to be what really kept me wanting to read. The relationship she had with Brian the detective was also interesting. This book was a little complicated with so many perspectives and the different family members, but once I got further into it I started to understand and piece things together. I would recommend
openmypagesbridge
I really enjoyed last year’s We Are the Brennans, so I was excited to receive a review copy of this new novel from the same author. She definitely knocks it out of the park again! The complexity and depth of emotion that she’s able to convey in what are equally regular and unusual stories is amazing. At its core, this is a story of siblings who grew up in an unstable family. their interactions are regular, they annoy each other the champion each other, and most of all they’re just trying to survive. And yet, when life throws them curve balls, their trajectory is so unique and shows the depth of sibling love. The story starts as the sister is released from prison, after being convicted on a drug charge. She has to move back in with her brother and sister, who live together while raising her brother’s son. Cue the friction. The siblings have to learn to live together again, and as they re-integrate their lives, there are several revelations that are revealed. I thought that all of the central characters were really well developed, and the story was like a gut punch at times. I found myself really rooting for them all even though they made a lot of choices that I never would. I struggled between four and five stars for this one because I actually want it so much more of where these characters lives go. Honestly, I would love a long running television series about these people! Thanks to Celadon books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Kpatopenmypagesbr
Having read and thoroughly loved Tracey Lange’s debut novel, WE ARE THE BRENNANS, I was excited to get my hands on her new novel, THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN. Lange has again written a book about a family that has problems, but is united in love for each other. The book opens with Tara, a former art teacher, being released from prison after serving time for transporting drugs. She is returning home to her family consisting of an older sister, Geraldine, who runs the show, her older brother Eddie, who suffered an injury which has lingering brain trauma, and his ten-year-old son, Conor. Their mother passed away, and their dad is estranged from the family. Add to this picture,the cop who arrested Tara just happens to be at the prison and gives her a ride home. I was a little frustrated with how slowly the story seemed to develop; however, around the thirty-five percent mark, it picked up and I found myself thoroughly engaged. I loved how Conor was called on to interject a joke when someone was out of sorts. I loved how this story came together in the end. I might have shed some tears several times! I do wish there had been an epilogue added—maybe five or ten years in the future. Or, could we see these characters in a sequel. My thanks to Celadon Books, Bookishfirst, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
