THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN

Working-class siblings in Port Chester, New York, struggle to face down secrets and family demons.

If the grown Connelly siblings confided in each other, there wouldn’t be much of a plot for Lange’s novel, which unfolds in the same Hudson Valley universe as her first book, We Are the Brennans (2021). But like many of us, instead of talking honestly, the troubled Connellys nurse grudges and hide their shame, though they’re bound together by surviving a tough childhood (their mother, who loved to tell them fairy tales about her native Ireland, died young, and their criminal father abandoned them). Impetuous Tara, the youngest, has just been released from prison after an 18-month sentence for drug trafficking. She has moved in with her sister, Geraldine, a bookkeeper for a local business; their brother, Eddie, a single dad; and his young son, Conor. Returning to her old life has left Tara reeling, and the attentions of Brian Nolan, one of the detectives who arrested her, are unsettling. She knows she should hate him, but she’s attracted instead. Brian’s partner, who’s also his uncle, is sure Tara will end up back in prison, but Tara isn’t a criminal. She’s got a secret, just like Eddie, who’s still suffering the repercussions of a traumatic brain injury, and Geraldine, who is overwhelmed at work and shops to console herself. Lange offers a window into these messy, error-prone Connellys, understanding their flawed humanity and the fact that their Westchester community isn’t merely a haven for wealthy commuters, but also an increasingly difficult place to live for working-class families. With compassion and insight, she explores the loyalties and frustrations that ebb and flow among siblings, especially those who have suffered trauma, and she reminds us that no matter how deep the wound, it's always possible to follow your heart.

A compassionate look at family dynamics and a reminder that it's never too late to heal.