Readalong: The Connellys of County Down

November 2023 Readalong

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange

Are you ready for another readalong? We had an absolute blast this summer with our very first readalong, and we’re thrilled to announce that another one is on the way this fall!

This November we will be reading The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange!

One of our main goals at The 52 Book Club is to read new authors and books — and we’re excited to mix this readalong up with a new genre. The Connellys of County Down is contemporary fiction / literary fiction, featuring themes about family secrets, loyalty, and unlikely love. It is a beautiful story with characters that absolutely grabbed my heart, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

What is a readalong?

A readalong means that we read the same book together at the same time. There is a variety of ways to do this. For November, our readalong will look a little more like a traditional book club. Over the course of the month, you’ll read the book at your own pace. We’ll have discussion questions to chat through on Discord throughout the month, and then an online, live wrap-up event at the end. You can find all the details below!

Giveaway:

To kick off the readalong fun, the publisher, Celadon, has graciously provided THREE COPIES for a giveaway (along with a signed bookplate from the author!) The giveaway closes Saturday, September 30, so be sure to enter the giveaway below now!

Author Chat:

We’re also THRILLED to announce that as part of this readalong, all participants will be invited to join a group Zoom chat with the author, Tracey Lange! This chat will be hosted by The 52 Book Club and will take place on December 1, 2023 at 5pm PT (Pacific Time.) We’re super excited that Tracey will be joining this book club chat with us, and we think it will be the perfect way to conclude our month of reading together. The Zoom link will be sent out closer to the date, so don’t forget to sign up for the readalong in order to join in for this amazing event!

Readalong Guidelines:

  • Reading: Over the course of November 2023, we will be reading The Connellys of County Down. For this readalong, you’ll read on your own schedule and at your own pace, anytime from November 1 – 30, 2023.
  • Discussion: The book has been divided up into five sections. Once you finish reading a section, you can pop over to our Discord server to chat through discussion questions for those chapters. Again, this will be at our own individual pace — you’re welcome to chat through any of the discussion question sections at any time throughout the month.

    The Discord server will be the same as the one we used for our previous readalong, so if you’ve already joined, you’re in the right place. (The Connellys discussion questions will appear at the top. You can minimize the previous readalong chats to keep it neater, if you like.) Even if you already have the Discord link, be sure to register for the readalong below, so you can receive links to the author chat and other important readalong information.

    If you do not yet have the link to the Discord server, the link will be sent out once you register for the readalong below.
  • Book: Readers will need to source their own copy of the book for this readalong. You can purchase a copy here. (Note: For content warnings, please feel free to reach out. The book does contain some strong language, as well as discussion about drug abuse and mental illness.) See below for a quick blurb about the book!
  • Sign up! Want to join? Sign up at the bottom of this page.

Reading Schedule:

Section 1: Chapters 1-5
Section 2: Chapters 6-11
Section 3: -Chapters 12-16
Section 4: Chapters 17-22
Section 5: Chapters 23-28

Join the Discord

Book Blurb:

When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.

While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.

The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.

Giveaway

To kick off the readalong fun, we’ve partnered with the publisher, Celadon to give away three copies of The Connellys of County Down AND a bookplate signed by Tracey Lange. One copy has already been won by Amy G. (all who participated in our previous readalong were entered into that first giveaway) but TWO COPIES are still available to be won!

Giveaway rules: This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. Two winners will receive a copy of The Connellys of County Down book, along with a signed bookplate from the author. Copies have been graciously provided by the publisher. Giveaway will end on Saturday, September 30th at midnight PT.

40 thoughts on “Readalong: The Connellys of County Down”

  8. MeganV

    I have never done a read a long before but I seriously love the 52 book club so much and I’m SO excited to give this a go! I’ve read so many new types books since starting in March and it’s been so worth it’s so I’m ready for another new experience!

    Reply
  9. MeganV

    I’m so excited for this! I joined the 52 book club in March and it’s forced me to try so many new books, I love it. I’m excited for another new experience with a read along, I’ve never done one before!

    Reply
  21. Beatriz Viveros

    I’m looking forward to participating in this readalong as it will be my first! I haven’t completely finished a book in a while so I hope this will encourage me to start reading more.

    Reply
  37. Linda

    I was going to try to read along however I started the book yesterday and finished it this morning! What an amazing book.
    Not only did I get an amazing story but this book showed me how I was stuck in a genre and needed to move beyond what I was reading to enjoy novels like this.
    I’m looking forward to 2024’s 52 week challenge!

    Reply
    1. Liz Mannegren

      Love that so much, Linda! That’s one of my favorite things about readalongs and buddy reads like this. Sometimes the books are a hit, sometimes a miss, but it does really help us to branch out and try something new. Thanks so much for sharing that with us, and we’re thrilled you’re planning on joining in for 2024!

      Reply

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