A novel full of tension, secrets, and drama? Yes, please. We Are the Brennans is a story about a large dysfunctional Irish family. The story begins with Sunday getting into a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles. The cops contact the eldest brother in the Brennan family living in New York. When Denny arrives in California, he learns his sister’s life is anything but a Californian dream.
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I found myself invested in the story of this family from page one. The characters are all flawed individuals that must come to terms with the secrets and the decisions they made. The ending wasn’t my favorite, but I enjoyed reading the character development throughout.
But my favorite part of the book has nothing to do with plot, drama, or characters. I loved the way Tracey Lange wrote We Are the Brennans. Each chapter is from the point of view of the Brennans and the people closest to them. The way Lange transitioned from character to character at the end and the start of each chapter was creative and unique.
Overall, We Are the Brennans is full of flawed characters making terrible, terrible decisions. Is the book a little melodramatic? Yes. But what story about a large dysfunctional family isn’t?
But should you read it?
If you like plot-heavy books, We Are The Brennans will probably not be for you. Character development drives this story to its ending. Even though I loved the writing and the characterization, I still felt there was something was missing, like we were just invited to the surface of the drama. I think I wanted more scandal, more juicy situations, more drama, and fighting between family members.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
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