Ever done a buddy read with a small group, but it’s part of a national buddy read? I hadn’t before getting a spot in Celadon’s Read Together program. They sent us all a free advanced copy of The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange. My group wasn’t super chatty about the book since we couldn’t find a common free time to discuss it, and I ended up having to work during the author chat part, so my experience with the program wasn’t complete. However, my group and I still enjoyed the book.

The Connellys of County Down [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM] follows the Connelly family from perspectives of different members of the family. The story picks up with Tara as she’s getting out of jail. She spent 18 months behind bars on a drug charge which really wasn’t her fault. Her brother and sister didn’t really visit her during that time, which is definitely in her head a bit, but she tries to let it go due to their own issues.

Tara returns home (thanks to a very interesting ride from jail) to live with her older sister, her brother, and his son. But things are in a different state than when she left. Her sister is struggling with hoarding and her brother has secrets of his own. Tara is trying to rebuild her life, but it’s an uphill battle due to her criminal record. There are several situations that will test this family’s loyalty

This story touches on several social issues beyond the family dynamics, including mental health, the justice system, stigma from incarceration, how loss of a parents impact kids later in life, and so much more. There’s a ton of depth to The Connellys of County Down, which make it a great choice for a book club selection.

For me, this was a pretty solid read. It’s not my normal vibe, so it took me a little bit to get into it. After about 60 pages, I was sucked in and flew through it. However, the plot twists are highly predictable, so that took away some enjoyment for me.

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