We Are the Brennans

Tracey Lange
56 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2021

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

Tracey Lange

We Are the Brennans

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Romance

•

Modern Classic Fiction

•

Dramatic Literature
Setting

New York • Contemporary

Theme
Family

•

Shame & Pride

•

Truth & Lies
First Publication Year

2021

Publisher

Celadon Books

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange, Sunday Brennan returns to her tight-knit Irish American family in New York after a drunk-driving accident in Los Angeles, uncovering long-held secrets and stirring old emotions with her ex-fiancé, Kale Collins, forcing the family to confront their past and seek redemption and forgiveness amidst financial struggles and interpersonal conflicts. This novel contains themes of trauma and pregnancy loss.

Emotional

Contemplative

Melancholic

Nostalgic

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

3.8

90,813 ratings

67%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Tracey Lange's We Are the Brennans delivers a compelling family drama filled with secrets and redemption. The characters are deeply developed, providing an engaging read that captures the complexities of familial bonds. However, some readers found the plot predictable and the pace uneven. Overall, it's a heartfelt exploration of forgiveness and resilience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Are the Brennans?

Readers who enjoy We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange likely appreciate multifaceted family dramas filled with secrets and redemption. Fans of Ann Patchett's The Dutch House and Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere will be drawn to this compelling exploration of familial bonds and the complexities of loyalty.

3.8

90,813 ratings

67%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

The protagonist and second-oldest Brennan sibling, she is a writer who took on domestic responsibilities for her family, supporting her brothers and caring for their mother during her illness.

The oldest Brennan sibling and co-owner of the family pub, Brennan’s. He feels a strong sense of responsibility for his family’s happiness but struggles to balance his personal and professional challenges.

Denny’s childhood best friend, co-owner of Brennan’s, and Sunday’s ex-fiancé. Close to the Brennans, he grapples with his feelings for Sunday upon her return to New York.

The third Brennan sibling and an artist who is especially close to Sunday. He works on rebuilding his life and managing the family pub alongside his brothers.

The Brennan family patriarch and a Northern Irish immigrant who values his children’s achievements and has a strong bond with his only daughter, Sunday.

Kale’s wife and the mother of his son, Luke. She feels the Brennans are pretentious and struggles with insecurity about her role in Kale’s life.

The late matriarch of the Brennan family who emphasized common-sense parenting influenced by her strict upbringing. Her relationship with each of her children shaped their family dynamics.

A former classmate of Denny’s who becomes an antagonist to the Brennans due to personal vendettas against the family.

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Romance

•

Modern Classic Fiction

•

Dramatic Literature
Setting

New York • Contemporary

Theme
Family

•

Shame & Pride

•

Truth & Lies
First Publication Year

2021

Publisher

Celadon Books

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 10,950+ additional titles.