Publisher: Celadon Books

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Length: 289 pgs.

I received the e-version of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Celadon Books and Tracey Lange!

Tara Connelly has been serving 18 months in prison for a drug charge. She is released and no one from her family shows up to drive her home. She ends up getting a ride with one of the officers that put her in prison! Home is the family home that she grew up in, living with her sister, Geraldine, her brother, Eddie and Eddie’s son, Conor. Entering the empty house, she notices some changes. It seems that Geraldine has embarked on a “collecting” spree, there are knick-knacks on every surface. Tara’s room is locked with a padlock. What on earth could be in there that needs to be locked away from family? When Geraldine comes home, she nervously explains that Tara’s room is now where Geraldine stores the things she is planning to sell on an online store. Geraldine has moved Tara’s belongings into the attic. Tara does receive a proper welcome from her brother and nephew. They all seem to be nervous around each other. When Tara visits her parole officer, she learns that the parole officer is skeptical of Tara’s declaration to stay away from drugs. She reminds Tara that she needs to find a job. This proves to be more difficult than she anticipated. It seems no one is interested in redeeming a convict. Since everyone is interested in judging her, how will she ever move forward? This is a dysfunctional family, with Tara’s return, the family has stressed to the point of breaking.

Initially, the Connellys were a close family. The death of both parents caused, Geraldine to assume a parental role over her siblings. She left her carefree young adult years behind and had to support and raise her siblings. Tara’s incarceration has stressed Geraldine and the odd collecting is a sign of trouble. Tara has always known her big sister to be the rock of the family and fails to recognize the stresses Geraldine has. Tara does pick up on the strained relationship with Eddie. He makes every effort to assist Tara. All she wants is for things to return to how they were before she went to jail – but that’s not possible.

Tracey Lange shows the impact of prison on all the Connellys. There is a true price that they have all paid and each of them needs help healing. How can a family overcome something so traumatic? At times it is almost uncomfortable to see the struggles but Lange guides us to a satisfying conclusion. This is a story that is equally realistic, gritty, and heart-wrenching. At the end of the day, the Connellys still have each other.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻/5