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Brooklyn '76
In the heart of Bensonhurst, an Italian American family struggles to survive one explosive day—the nation’s Bicentennial.
The Agnello family wakes Bicentennial morning to the sound of fireworks. Outside their apartment, block party preparations are already underway. Paulie, husband and father, has been out on strike with his union and is desperate to make ends meet. Dee, wife and mother, is overprotective of her children and a stern judge of character, particularly when it comes to Paulie. Tony, the dutiful elder son who is fast coming of age, now obsesses over his first girlfriend and stands ready to defy his parents to spend the Fourth with her. Alex, the younger son, still sees the world through innocent eyes, a perspective unlikely to survive the day.
As the neighborhood celebrates, a string of public missteps drives the family apart, forcing each Agnello to face their own insecurities and regrets. At nightfall, the fireworks extravaganza draws the scattered family back together—but celebration soon turns into tragedy, and one life is left hanging in the balance. Funny, dark, and unsentimental, Brooklyn ’76 is an urgent family drama set against the backdrop of a working-class neighborhood—and a country—on the brink of transformation.
The Agnello family wakes Bicentennial morning to the sound of fireworks. Outside their apartment, block party preparations are already underway. Paulie, husband and father, has been out on strike with his union and is desperate to make ends meet. Dee, wife and mother, is overprotective of her children and a stern judge of character, particularly when it comes to Paulie. Tony, the dutiful elder son who is fast coming of age, now obsesses over his first girlfriend and stands ready to defy his parents to spend the Fourth with her. Alex, the younger son, still sees the world through innocent eyes, a perspective unlikely to survive the day.
As the neighborhood celebrates, a string of public missteps drives the family apart, forcing each Agnello to face their own insecurities and regrets. At nightfall, the fireworks extravaganza draws the scattered family back together—but celebration soon turns into tragedy, and one life is left hanging in the balance. Funny, dark, and unsentimental, Brooklyn ’76 is an urgent family drama set against the backdrop of a working-class neighborhood—and a country—on the brink of transformation.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2024
18 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2023
This was a fabulous book. The characters are so well developed that even when they infuriate you, you get where they are coming from.
January 26, 2024
Girl Friday Productions provided an early galley for review.
I instantly could relate to this author's story, having grown up in an Italian family in the 70's (though I was living on the far end of the state from Ausiello). I remember the excitement surrounding America's 200th birthday as well as extended family activities. In so many ways, this was like going back home again.
I like the way we are presented with the key characters - the four Agnello family members. I also like the way Ausiello built out the world around them - with extended family, co-workers, friends, etc. My gut instinct suggests to me that this story has some autobiographical roots from the author's own life growing up at the time. I say that because everything comes across as very organic - to how people talk, act, etc.
One touch I especially liked: the elderly aunt Zizi only speaks Italian so I had to use an online translator for her dialogue. I appreciated that it was not automatically translated for the reader, giving an extra bonus for a little effort on the reader's part.
All in all, I really enjoyed Brooklyn '76 a lot. While it was a self-contained, day-in-the-life snapshot of a family, this is a group of characters I would welcome a revisit with again should Ausiello decide to do a sequel.
I instantly could relate to this author's story, having grown up in an Italian family in the 70's (though I was living on the far end of the state from Ausiello). I remember the excitement surrounding America's 200th birthday as well as extended family activities. In so many ways, this was like going back home again.
I like the way we are presented with the key characters - the four Agnello family members. I also like the way Ausiello built out the world around them - with extended family, co-workers, friends, etc. My gut instinct suggests to me that this story has some autobiographical roots from the author's own life growing up at the time. I say that because everything comes across as very organic - to how people talk, act, etc.
One touch I especially liked: the elderly aunt Zizi only speaks Italian so I had to use an online translator for her dialogue. I appreciated that it was not automatically translated for the reader, giving an extra bonus for a little effort on the reader's part.
All in all, I really enjoyed Brooklyn '76 a lot. While it was a self-contained, day-in-the-life snapshot of a family, this is a group of characters I would welcome a revisit with again should Ausiello decide to do a sequel.
December 7, 2023
I loved this book so much. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. It’s about 1 day in this family’s life, but this particular day everything just seems to unravel and go wrong. Each one of the characters is dealing with their own problems but those problems are also part of this web that connects to another character’s problems and it just snowballs.
What I loved the most though was the imagery. I could picture every single character, I could picture the Agnello family’s apartment and neighborhood. I could smell the hot dogs cooking on the grill and feel the sticky sweat that you always get on the 4th of July. Talk about a completely immersive experience.
And lastly, the tension that slowly builds up in this story and leads to this explosive conclusion, it’s just *chef’s kiss*. All of that packed into less than 300 pages! So good. Can't recommend it enough.
If you’re into family drama stories, coming of age, historical fiction, I think this will be the book for you.
What I loved the most though was the imagery. I could picture every single character, I could picture the Agnello family’s apartment and neighborhood. I could smell the hot dogs cooking on the grill and feel the sticky sweat that you always get on the 4th of July. Talk about a completely immersive experience.
And lastly, the tension that slowly builds up in this story and leads to this explosive conclusion, it’s just *chef’s kiss*. All of that packed into less than 300 pages! So good. Can't recommend it enough.
If you’re into family drama stories, coming of age, historical fiction, I think this will be the book for you.
January 8, 2024
This is a fantastically immersive family drama that follows the Agnello family - parents Paulie and Dee, and their sons Tony and Alex - on a long, hot, sticky, and tumultuous 4th of July as their Italian-American neighborhood celebrates the US Bicentennial.
Each of them has their own problems, their own wants and fears and goals, and each of them is plagued by Murphy's law as things go from bad to worse over the course of the day, building like a fireworks display to a catastrophic crescendo that is at once poignant and ultimately hopeful. The characters are messy, unique, and richly developed as we spend the day with them, and each of their individual arcs is engaging and layered.
The period vibes are IMPECCABLE. The setting and descriptive writing are vivid and tangible - the pages are cast in the slightly golden glow of a 1970s show from a walnut-cabineted television on a shag carpet, perfectly at home alongside Welcome Back Kotter, All In The Family, Sanford And Son, and Starsky And Hutch. It's more than authentic, it's a time machine. (Then fast forward and add a dash of The Sopranos.)
I didn't know what to expect when I began reading this book, and halfway through I still wasn't sure what to think. The pacing is leisurely and unhurried, with quirky twists and turns along the way, at times comical and at times heartbreaking, but definitely worth sticking with it. As soon as I let the story sweep me along with the characters I was able to fully appreciate it for what it is - a colorful, Kodachrome slice-of-life snapshot of a moment in time for one family on the brink of change.
It reads with period-authentic sensibilities too, which, while the author never pushes the envelope too far, can feel somewhat uncomfortable or insensitive at times in the ways characters speak or are described.
I enjoyed reading this book, and the colorful characters, setting, and story will stay with me for a long time and would make an intriguing screen adaptation.
I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Each of them has their own problems, their own wants and fears and goals, and each of them is plagued by Murphy's law as things go from bad to worse over the course of the day, building like a fireworks display to a catastrophic crescendo that is at once poignant and ultimately hopeful. The characters are messy, unique, and richly developed as we spend the day with them, and each of their individual arcs is engaging and layered.
The period vibes are IMPECCABLE. The setting and descriptive writing are vivid and tangible - the pages are cast in the slightly golden glow of a 1970s show from a walnut-cabineted television on a shag carpet, perfectly at home alongside Welcome Back Kotter, All In The Family, Sanford And Son, and Starsky And Hutch. It's more than authentic, it's a time machine. (Then fast forward and add a dash of The Sopranos.)
I didn't know what to expect when I began reading this book, and halfway through I still wasn't sure what to think. The pacing is leisurely and unhurried, with quirky twists and turns along the way, at times comical and at times heartbreaking, but definitely worth sticking with it. As soon as I let the story sweep me along with the characters I was able to fully appreciate it for what it is - a colorful, Kodachrome slice-of-life snapshot of a moment in time for one family on the brink of change.
It reads with period-authentic sensibilities too, which, while the author never pushes the envelope too far, can feel somewhat uncomfortable or insensitive at times in the ways characters speak or are described.
I enjoyed reading this book, and the colorful characters, setting, and story will stay with me for a long time and would make an intriguing screen adaptation.
I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 19, 2024
4.75- Taking place over the day the United States celebrated its 200th birthday Brooklyn ‘76 follows the Agnello family through their day, which goes quite differently for all of them. Paulie, husband and father, has been out of work because of a strike and is contemplating on how to make ends meet; Dee, overprotective mother and judgy wife, just wants to make it through the day with her children intact- she knows of too many mothers whose sons have lost their hands on Independence Day in years past and it won’t be her boys. Tony, 14, wants to spend the day with his girlfriend who has been gone for ten days and will risk the wrath of his parents should they find out he defied them. Then there’s 9 year old Alex who has been looking forward to this day for what feels like forever. All of the Agnellos start their day together but over the next 16 hours July 4, 1976 will play out differently for all of them.
Anthony Ausiello has written a character driven drama that is moving in all the right ways. The amount of insight he gives us into all 4 of the Agnellos makes this book truly something special and it gives a certain depth to the story, elevating it from mere fiction to something even deeper. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think perhaps this is a recount of his July 4th in 1976.
This book won’t be for everyone. While it’s short, it isn’t fast paced and is mostly told in the narrative (which I think works perfectly). Every few paragraphs jump to another of the Agnello family, sometimes repeating a scene from a different character’s vantage (again, it works perfectly).
The character development is superb, but not in the way you might expect. 16 hours doesn’t give a lot of time for growth, but Mr. Ausiello has given us real people, not just fictional characters, and the day they’ve had will stick with you for a long time to come. Thank you to NetGalley and South Allen Street Press for an advanced copy of this. Brooklyn ‘76 hits the shelves on February 20th.
Anthony Ausiello has written a character driven drama that is moving in all the right ways. The amount of insight he gives us into all 4 of the Agnellos makes this book truly something special and it gives a certain depth to the story, elevating it from mere fiction to something even deeper. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think perhaps this is a recount of his July 4th in 1976.
This book won’t be for everyone. While it’s short, it isn’t fast paced and is mostly told in the narrative (which I think works perfectly). Every few paragraphs jump to another of the Agnello family, sometimes repeating a scene from a different character’s vantage (again, it works perfectly).
The character development is superb, but not in the way you might expect. 16 hours doesn’t give a lot of time for growth, but Mr. Ausiello has given us real people, not just fictional characters, and the day they’ve had will stick with you for a long time to come. Thank you to NetGalley and South Allen Street Press for an advanced copy of this. Brooklyn ‘76 hits the shelves on February 20th.
January 19, 2024
July 7, 1976. America's bicentennial. It was the part of the year - the entire country was celebrating. It was no different in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The Agnello family wakes up in their apartment and no one knows how the day will go.
Dee is in the kitchen, working on her ziti. She's tired, she's hot and she's smoking cigarette after cigarette. Paulie has been on strike from the phone company and is anxiously waiting for an update. He's worried about the kids tuition for the next year, but not worried enough to NOT visit the neighborhood OTB. Tony, 14 years old and full of teenage angst, has his first girlfriend and is trying to think about how he can spend the holiday with her. Alex, the baby of the family, is still innocent enough to just be excited about the fireworks and maybe eating a hot dog.
Anthony Ausiello has taken one single day and one family and created a world full of characters, love, anxiety, and heart. He's captured the essence of summer in Brooklyn, of street closings, of knowing every single neighbor, of first girlfriends and of family. The Agnello's all have a day that they could never imagine.
The writing is fantastic. There is a vintage feel to the book, it reminds me of books I've read before, but not in a bad way. It's the type of storytelling that is rare these days.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
Dee is in the kitchen, working on her ziti. She's tired, she's hot and she's smoking cigarette after cigarette. Paulie has been on strike from the phone company and is anxiously waiting for an update. He's worried about the kids tuition for the next year, but not worried enough to NOT visit the neighborhood OTB. Tony, 14 years old and full of teenage angst, has his first girlfriend and is trying to think about how he can spend the holiday with her. Alex, the baby of the family, is still innocent enough to just be excited about the fireworks and maybe eating a hot dog.
Anthony Ausiello has taken one single day and one family and created a world full of characters, love, anxiety, and heart. He's captured the essence of summer in Brooklyn, of street closings, of knowing every single neighbor, of first girlfriends and of family. The Agnello's all have a day that they could never imagine.
The writing is fantastic. There is a vintage feel to the book, it reminds me of books I've read before, but not in a bad way. It's the type of storytelling that is rare these days.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
February 19, 2024
A big thank you to Netgalley and South Allen Street Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review Brooklyn '76. I found this short novel an intriguing read. A snapshot into an ordinary family's life, on an extraordinary day in Modern American History, Brooklyn '76 follows the four members of the Agnello family on the USA's Bicentennial celebrations - July 4th 1976.
There were elements of this book which I really enjoyed, particularly the character focused plot. I appreciated the detail which was given to each of the Agnello family members. They all came to life as fully formed people, with hopes, dreams, frustrations and disappointments which felt entirely human and relatable. Their interactions with each other and their neighbours were written well, taking the reader by the hand through a Comedy of Errors which weaves together in a clever and believable way.
Although I did enjoy these elements, I did find the overall story fell a little flat, with the plot falling short of my expectations. I kept anticipating that the day was building to something bigger, and more explosive, and personally I felt the payoff didn't quite hit the mark for me as a reader. I'm unsure as to whether this was a conscious decision by author Anthony Ausiello, to keep the tale realistic, or whether I should have managed my expectations better.
I think this book would be much enjoyed for casual Historical Fiction readers, but personally I found it slightly lacking in delivery.
There were elements of this book which I really enjoyed, particularly the character focused plot. I appreciated the detail which was given to each of the Agnello family members. They all came to life as fully formed people, with hopes, dreams, frustrations and disappointments which felt entirely human and relatable. Their interactions with each other and their neighbours were written well, taking the reader by the hand through a Comedy of Errors which weaves together in a clever and believable way.
Although I did enjoy these elements, I did find the overall story fell a little flat, with the plot falling short of my expectations. I kept anticipating that the day was building to something bigger, and more explosive, and personally I felt the payoff didn't quite hit the mark for me as a reader. I'm unsure as to whether this was a conscious decision by author Anthony Ausiello, to keep the tale realistic, or whether I should have managed my expectations better.
I think this book would be much enjoyed for casual Historical Fiction readers, but personally I found it slightly lacking in delivery.
February 21, 2024
This novel takes place in one day and follows the Agnello family as they prepare for the Bicentennial. From the teenager who wishes to spend the day with his girlfriend to the younger son who still has an innocence about him but will soon learn how cruel the world can be, to their parents struggling to maintain a household for them while trying to make ends meet.
An interesting take on an Italian-American family. I loved how each story seamlessly transitioned from one family member to the next as the day progressed. Weaving an intricate tapestry of their lives in a matter of hours was brilliantly accomplished. I really got a sense of how strong this family seemed on the outside, with all their hidden secrets and regrets threatening to tear them apart.
A somewhat dark yet honest look at a family as they struggle with new emotions, money problems, coming-of-age, and tragedy.
Wonderful read.
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting take on an Italian-American family. I loved how each story seamlessly transitioned from one family member to the next as the day progressed. Weaving an intricate tapestry of their lives in a matter of hours was brilliantly accomplished. I really got a sense of how strong this family seemed on the outside, with all their hidden secrets and regrets threatening to tear them apart.
A somewhat dark yet honest look at a family as they struggle with new emotions, money problems, coming-of-age, and tragedy.
Wonderful read.
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2024
I loved this life-in-a-day, nostalgia-laden account of the July 4th. 1976 American bicentennial celebrations on a single block in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It's told through the experiences of one family - Dee (mother), Paulie (father), and Tony and Alex (teen and pre-teen sons) as well as touching on the lives of their extended family, friends, and neighbors.
This feels like a story written partially from memory and recollection, a love letter to the author's childhood in Brooklyn. It's not universally happy - there's a lot of strife and stress wrapped up in that one day, filtering in from the real world and real-life experiences. Familial tension, childhood-based trauma informing adult behaviors, financial woes, gambling all make an appearance and have an impact but the overall feeling I got from this novel is one of a time and lifestyle loved and missed.
I'd love to see someone making a film of this book. It wouldn't be a blockbuster but it would be very enjoyable.
This feels like a story written partially from memory and recollection, a love letter to the author's childhood in Brooklyn. It's not universally happy - there's a lot of strife and stress wrapped up in that one day, filtering in from the real world and real-life experiences. Familial tension, childhood-based trauma informing adult behaviors, financial woes, gambling all make an appearance and have an impact but the overall feeling I got from this novel is one of a time and lifestyle loved and missed.
I'd love to see someone making a film of this book. It wouldn't be a blockbuster but it would be very enjoyable.
January 15, 2024
Author: Anthony Ausiello
Started: January 14, 2024
Finished: January 14, 2024
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Kindle
July 4, 1976, the Bicentennial, and all of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is out in the street to celebrate. The Angello family has their own issues that day: Paulie, who is on strike, has gambled away his son's tuition, Dee is beyond an over protective mother, Tony just wants to be with his girlfriend, and Alex just wants to throw his snaps since he can't have fireworks. No one will get the day they want.
I waited for something, anything to happe and it never did. I found nothing endearing about any of the characters. The father, Paulie, reminded me of those guys in my old neighborhood who will never grow up and the mother was a helicopter parent before the title existed. I really did enjoy this book.
Started: January 14, 2024
Finished: January 14, 2024
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Kindle
July 4, 1976, the Bicentennial, and all of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is out in the street to celebrate. The Angello family has their own issues that day: Paulie, who is on strike, has gambled away his son's tuition, Dee is beyond an over protective mother, Tony just wants to be with his girlfriend, and Alex just wants to throw his snaps since he can't have fireworks. No one will get the day they want.
I waited for something, anything to happe and it never did. I found nothing endearing about any of the characters. The father, Paulie, reminded me of those guys in my old neighborhood who will never grow up and the mother was a helicopter parent before the title existed. I really did enjoy this book.
October 7, 2025
Quirky story about an Italian American family celebrating the American Bicentennial in Brooklyn. The course of that day changed their lives as they knew it.
January 2, 2024
There’s alot to like here! Brooklyn ‘76 oozes 70s vibes in this slice-of-life novel, following an Italian-American family of four at a block party to celebrate the bicentennial. The witty banter and relatable internal dialogue are reminiscent of A Christmas Story. But on this hot summer day, Paulie, Dee, and their 2 sons are under pressure all for their own reasons- and their lives will never be the same again.
February 1, 2024
In the heart of Brooklyn, the Agnello family experiences the tumultuous landscape of Bicentennial morning, marked by the crackle of fireworks and the anticipation of a neighborhood block party. The backdrop of celebration, however, conceals the cracks in the Agnellos’ lives, exacerbated by Paulie’s desperate struggle amidst a union strike and Dee’s unyielding protectiveness over her children, particularly when it comes to her husband.
“Brooklyn ’76” unfolds as a captivating family drama, with Tony, the elder son, navigating the complexities of adolescence and budding romance, ready to challenge his parents for independence. It also navigates the origin story of the parents with Chapter 17 talking about Paulie and Johnny, his best friend, I believe the moment that Paulie also had his life changed leading him to where he finds himself on the bicentennial day. When we learn about Dee in Chapter 23, it gives you the background of what makes her hardened and maybe sad. Meanwhile, Alex, the younger son, views the world through innocent eyes, a perspective that is poised to be shattered by the end of the day.
The author skillfully captures the urgency of the family’s struggles, drawing readers into the intricacies of each character’s journey. And although their parts in Brooklyn ’76 are not in-depth, the characters of Zizi and Richie, deserve honorable mentions.
The story culminates in a fireworks extravaganza that, instead of sealing joyous memories, transforms into a tragic event, leaving one life hanging in the balance.
With a perfect blend of wit and gravity, this urgent and thought-provoking tale is a must-read for those seeking a compelling narrative that resonates long after the final page.
“Brooklyn ’76” unfolds as a captivating family drama, with Tony, the elder son, navigating the complexities of adolescence and budding romance, ready to challenge his parents for independence. It also navigates the origin story of the parents with Chapter 17 talking about Paulie and Johnny, his best friend, I believe the moment that Paulie also had his life changed leading him to where he finds himself on the bicentennial day. When we learn about Dee in Chapter 23, it gives you the background of what makes her hardened and maybe sad. Meanwhile, Alex, the younger son, views the world through innocent eyes, a perspective that is poised to be shattered by the end of the day.
The author skillfully captures the urgency of the family’s struggles, drawing readers into the intricacies of each character’s journey. And although their parts in Brooklyn ’76 are not in-depth, the characters of Zizi and Richie, deserve honorable mentions.
The story culminates in a fireworks extravaganza that, instead of sealing joyous memories, transforms into a tragic event, leaving one life hanging in the balance.
With a perfect blend of wit and gravity, this urgent and thought-provoking tale is a must-read for those seeking a compelling narrative that resonates long after the final page.
December 11, 2023
If you have not already read Brooklyn 76, I highly recommend you add it to your reading list. It is an amazing book.
The strength of Anthony Ausiello’s writing is his ability to create characters with a great deal of emotional depth. By the end of the novel, the reader feels as if they have spent time with real people–not characters–and they truly come alive in the streets of Brooklyn which are vibrant with celebration. Ausiello also has a gift for creating realistic dialogue, which draws the reader in and heightens their interest.
While the novel takes place in a single day, the pacing is perfectly balanced with chapters ending in just the right place so the reader is propelled forward. Themes of family, coming of age, and immigrant communities permeate the novel, allowing readers to connect not only with the characters but with the events throughout.
The strength of Anthony Ausiello’s writing is his ability to create characters with a great deal of emotional depth. By the end of the novel, the reader feels as if they have spent time with real people–not characters–and they truly come alive in the streets of Brooklyn which are vibrant with celebration. Ausiello also has a gift for creating realistic dialogue, which draws the reader in and heightens their interest.
While the novel takes place in a single day, the pacing is perfectly balanced with chapters ending in just the right place so the reader is propelled forward. Themes of family, coming of age, and immigrant communities permeate the novel, allowing readers to connect not only with the characters but with the events throughout.
September 28, 2024
This book will have you sitting around the dinner table with an Italian American family lured in by their life challenges, frustrations, hopes, dreams and disappointments. The author puts you there with a cast of deeply complex but compelling characters and vivid descriptions. Centered around a 1970s Fourth of July celebration in an Italian section of New York’s Brooklyn borough, it reminded me of the Cher/Nicholas Cage movie Moonstruck and the dinner table scenes of Saturday Night Fever. The well-crafted story exposes interfamily friction, neighborhood rivalries and disputes, and the quest to get ahead amid obstacles. It will have you laughing on one page and crying on the next page during its emotional roller coaster ride. You’re rooting for the characters one minute then questioning their judgment the next. This book is simply an entertaining read. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews