We Are The Brennans: Book Review
Family dramas have quickly become one of my favorite genres—and honestly, the messier, the better. Call me crazy, but there’s something irresistible about stepping into the fictional chaos of other people’s lives. The secrets, the tension, the emotional unraveling—I love it all. We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange is a perfect example of a layered, complicated family story that pulls you in and keeps you invested. If you enjoy stories full of emotional depth and tangled relationships, keep reading—this one might be right up your alley.
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Quick Look
- family drama
- contemporary setting
- small-town setting
- sibling story
Published June 14, 2022
Publisher's Synopsis
When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it’s not easy. She deserted them all―and her high school sweetheart―five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.
Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family’s pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets―secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes―and ultimately find a way forward, together.
My Review
We Are the Brennans wasn’t my favorite read of the year, but there were definitely aspects I appreciated. This novel has a lot of potential, which is why I’d still recommend it to fans of character-driven family dramas. While the suspense builds steadily toward the end, I felt the final reveal didn’t quite deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for. That said, where this book truly shines is in its exploration of family dynamics.
What I enjoyed most was the layered, complicated relationships between the Brennan family members—and even the outsider, Kale, who felt just as integral to the story. Tracey Lange does a great job portraying a large Irish American family with nuance and heart. The characters are distinct, flawed, and deeply human, which kept me turning the pages. The cultural elements—family secrets, generational tension, religion, and class—felt authentic and gave the story a grounded, relatable feel.
Now, I can’t talk about We Are the Brennans without addressing what didn’t work for me: the central mystery. Throughout the novel, we're led to believe that Sunday’s sudden departure years earlier was triggered by something deeply traumatic. I was expecting a major, gut-wrenching secret—something that would justify her decision to run from what seemed like an ideal life and relationship. But when the truth is finally revealed, it felt... underwhelming. Not implausible, but not the emotional bombshell I was led to expect. Maybe I'm cynical, but I wanted more weight behind that choice.
Still, this is a solid debut with strong character work and themes that will resonate with many readers. If you enjoy slow-burn family dramas with emotional depth and a touch of mystery, We Are the Brennans may be worth adding to your list.
My Rating
Overall, We Are the Brennans was an enjoyable read, even if it didn’t quite blow me away the way I’d hoped. While the ending fell a bit short for me, the compelling character development and layered family drama more than made up for it. If you’re a fan of emotional, character-driven stories about complicated families, I think this one is still worth your time.
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