A review by claudiaslibrarycard
We Are the Brennans, by Tracey Lange
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
We are the Brennans was a fast and compelling family drama that focused on sibling dynamics in an Irish Catholic family. Told from multiple perspectives, the story begins with the daughter, Sunday, getting into a serious car crash in LA. Her emergency contact is her brother, Denny, whom she hasn't spoken to much since she moved away from the Northeast five years ago.
Denny comes to Sunday's rescue and convinces her to come back home to New York. When she returns, we slowly learn what events drove her away and what feelings that created for the family and love that she left behind. This book is full of family dynamics, messy and realistic characters, and far more twists than I expected. Those aspects together create a well paced, enjoyable read even when the subject matter gets dark at times.
I can't believe I put off reading this book for so long because of other reviews. If you have loved other family dramas, please pick this one up. The use of so many perspectives was so effective here, bringing us into to the strengths and flaws of each character and creating so much empathy in the reader. This book had me rooting for the Brennans, mad at the Brennans, and everything in between. I can't believe how Lange has packed such a special story into a tight 260 pages. This is well worth a read.
Denny comes to Sunday's rescue and convinces her to come back home to New York. When she returns, we slowly learn what events drove her away and what feelings that created for the family and love that she left behind. This book is full of family dynamics, messy and realistic characters, and far more twists than I expected. Those aspects together create a well paced, enjoyable read even when the subject matter gets dark at times.
I can't believe I put off reading this book for so long because of other reviews. If you have loved other family dramas, please pick this one up. The use of so many perspectives was so effective here, bringing us into to the strengths and flaws of each character and creating so much empathy in the reader. This book had me rooting for the Brennans, mad at the Brennans, and everything in between. I can't believe how Lange has packed such a special story into a tight 260 pages. This is well worth a read.