We Are the Brennans

This book sucked me in and I wasn't expecting it to. Family drama isn't a genre I usually go for. I liked how the chapters fed into each other when switching pov and I liked how easy it was to fall into the next character's head. The ending felt abrupt and I wanted an epilogue or something. Even though I can infer what will play out next for the Brennans, I wanted the satisfaction of the children's book being published, Sunday and Kale getting together again, Jackie selling his art, and Theresa and Molly moving back in. I wish that Maura and Vivienne had at least some redeeming qualities. They were so 2 dimensional and irredeemable. Conversely, I wish that Sunday had at least one negative trait. Just being selfless the entire time is boring. The male characters at least were fleshed out more realistically. It was an okay read.

This was pretty meh for me.
I kept waiting for something unpredictable to happen, or a big twist, but it just never came.

The characters are flawed (which was very promising) and there certainly are family secrets and drama, again something that usually draws me in, but I just felt pretty bored and exasperated by the whole story and the ending just didn't do anything for me.

I think most people would probably enjoy this one enough to rate it higher than I have.

Audiobook narration from Barrie Kreinik was good, and definitely helped me keep listening even when I was rolling my eyes.

***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.

4.5 ⭐

Wow this was a phenomenal debut. I was a little iffy as to if I would like this book and it surpassed all my expectations.

The characters were so well written I feel like I know them personally. You really got in their head as to why they thought the actions they were making were what they thought the best actions given the circumstances.

There were quite a few twists in this book. The twist that was really the main defining moment in this story probably could have delved deeper into what actually happened or been a bigger to do, but that's my only complaint at all.

The author also tied every chapter together seamlessly by picking up where the last character left off in a way you don't see often. Each chapter ended with a quote from the coming character and started with that characters quote from the end of the previous chapter. It was all very well thought out and I appreciated the style more than I would have thought

Every once in a while, I like to read a good family drama, and this book definitely delivers in that category. The Brennans are a complicated, but loving family. I fell in love them from the start of the book.

Sunday Brennan left home years ago, but after an accident decides to return to her family and help out with the family business. Being back home among her family and her ex-fiancé is not easy, but she is happy to spend time with them again and rekindle her relationships with each of them. However, she has a secret she is keeping that throughout the course of the story must come out. This secret, plus some financial problems, threaten to ruin the family. They must come together to find a solution to save the family business.

The characters in this book are relatable and have real life problems, though a couple of their issues are exaggerated for plot purposes. As a family, they are close and very dedicated to each other. They are not perfect, especially in relation to keeping secrets from each other, but they are there for each other when necessary. I especially like the character Kale who is not a Brennan by blood, but is just as much a part of the family as any of the Brennan siblings. He is a genuinely nice guy with a big heart.

One of my favorite aspects of the book besides the characters is the setting. I love the Irish pub backdrop of the story. It feels very homey and makes me think of places I've been in Boston and New York City. The author does a good job of creating an atmosphere that feels inviting.

The plot of the book moves at a nice pace. Much of the story focuses on the family reconnecting, but there are enough dramatic events and revelations to add some action to the story and quicken the pace when needed.

Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience and would recommend the book to readers who enjoy a family drama involving secrets and reconnecting.