Fathers’ Day, Brennan’s award-winning debut novel, takes place in a central Pennsylvania town and tells a tale of family tragedies, resilience and hope.
At times laugh-out-loud funny, Fathers’ Day is the story of Victoria and her student Francis whose year-long journey helps each deal with the burdens of shared loss.
It’s the story of a woman, barely more than a child herself, trying to save her student who may know more about love and consequence than she does. Fathers’ Day paints a life slightly to the side of the one we thought we knew, but is infinitely more sorrowful, more delightful and more filled with transformative potential.
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“Brennan has masterfully planted seeds throughout the tale that bloom in unexpected places…well-plotted and rendered with care, for readers who like complicated characters.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“H J Brennan has the ear of a jazz musician and the voice of a poet, and somehow manages to bring these gifts to the page as the author of riveting, page-turning fiction like you’ve never encountered. His unique, flawed and memorable characters become as real as the people in your life and stay with you long after you finish the last page. I can’t recommend Fathers’ Day highly enough.”
– Malena Watrous, contributor to The New York Times and author of If You Follow Me
Beautifully written, Fathers’ Day engages with the moving story of first-year teacher Victoria and her student Francis, whose year-long journey helps each deal with the burdens of shared loss and move toward hopeful transformation. The novel is poetic in its language but also laugh-out-loud funny, filled with vividly-drawn, compelling characters who advance the story, some in unexpected ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and my time in the world of Fathers’ Day, and eagerly await HJ Brennan’s next novel.
– Mary Leigh Hennings, critical reader
This was a thoroughly engrossing read for me. I cared about Victoria and Francis. The ending hung with me for days and I really wanted to talk with someone about it. I am recommending this for my book club. It touches on the themes of law vs morality, the nature of heroism, and how we can be forever marked by the people in our lives.
– Patti Walker, Editor, Obstinate Daughters Press
HJ Brennan, A Work in Progress 