★★★☆☆
The Brennans are a close Irish Catholic family with lots of secrets. Oh, so many secrets.
This family drama opens with the normally conscientious Sunday Brennan being hospitalized after driving under the influence and having a car accident. Her brother, Denny, fulfills his duty as her emergency contact and flies to L.A. to bring her home to New York despite her having left five years earlier with little explanation.
As Sunday recovers, she discovers how much her brothers need her to stay – and how much she’s missed home. As the story unfolds, we learn what caused Sunday to flee, how destructive secrets can be, and whether any of the damage can be repaired.
Lange’s debut novel, We Are the Brennans was a layered, compelling read. Lange does a great job writing the characters in a way that makes us root for them despite their flaws, questionable choices, and mistakes. She also lets us see that not everyone in town believes the Brennans are the upstanding citizens they see themselves as. I enjoyed how each chapter was narrated by a different character, with the next chapter starting with the last quote of the previous chapter. It was an engaging way of showing the interconnectedness of the characters while highlighting their unique perspectives.
“Like so many other times he’d given in when it came to the family. And it had cost them so much. Everything.”
Tracey Lange, We Are the Brennans
My only quibble with the book is how abruptly the story ends – I would have liked a more complete wrap-up. Instead, the reader is left with uncertainty and questions. I felt sure there was another chapter after I reached the end.
Fans of books like We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates and Ask Again Yes by Mary Beth Keane will enjoy this one.