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stephmcoakley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bringmybooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this; I had gotten We Are The Brennans from BOTM (Book of the Month) a while ago, and honestly other than the family having connections to (and/or living in) Ireland, I didn't remember much about the synopsis.
It's a book about family. The family you're born into, the family you choose, and the family you sometimes have to leave. It was a somewhat weird read, because while I didn't feel myself overly emotionally attached to any of the characters of the plotlines, I couldn't put the book down?
My favorite part of the book was the multiple POV narration, and especially the way the narrators switched off. Whichever character spoke last at the end of a chapter, their quote would be repeated at the beginning of the next chapter and the POV would switch to them. It had this really neat effect of having you follow the story throughout the book in a seamless and (almost interactive?) way that I really liked.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go start planning yet another fantasy trip to Ireland because I have wanted to go since I was maybe 6 years old? And that was 30 years ago? Sigh.
Graphic: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy
cassielaj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Violence, and Pregnancy
magicschooltokoro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
alisonreadsitall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Multiple POV ✔️
Family Secrets✔️
Strong Family Bonds ✔️
A Touch of Romance ✔️
What more could you ask for?
Graphic: Miscarriage and Blood
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Emotional abuse and Murder
jmariereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Dementia, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Death, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kloft1993's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Dementia, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
alimoo511's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
So Kale leaves his stupid wife and is scared about Luke not thinking he loves him and that the Brennans might hate him
Sunday is figuring herself out and is healing WE LOVE A QUEEN
And Mickey killed the bastard Bill.
It ends with Kale and Sunday talking and getting closer, and finding out the Dad used their autistic brother as an accessory for murder and that's it. We don't know how Sunday and Kale are going to recover their relationship IF they are going to recover their relationship.
We don't know HOW the pub is going to stay afloat AND we don't know how they're going to keep their Father and Shane out of jail.
Nothing important got resolved. It feels like I was given half a book and I NEED the other half more than everything.
But seriously everything else was AMAZING the family dynamics? PHENOMENAL the plot? UNMATCHED the characters? I WANNA BE THIS FAMILY
KALE IS A FUCKING SWEETHEART AND BABY I AM ROOTING FOR YOU
This family isn't without its faults but that makes them realistic and lovable. I just wish the ending wasn't the ending.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Victim blaminggrifgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
naomidanae's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness, Murder, and Gaslighting