The Great Dempseys (Paperback)

Description

Dark family secrets. Class differences. First love. Dive into the first entry of this 10-time-award-winning YA/NA romance series that has received 5-star reviews from Online Book Club, Readers’ Favorite, Literary Titan, and Reader Views!

“From Greenwich Village to the Upper East Side, The Great Dempseys is also a touching tribute to 1970s New York City, with frequent references to period-appropriate politics and culture that resonate. MacMahon tackles weighty themes, but YA readers will find this a cozy, late-20th-century fairy tale with surprising depth.” -BookLife Reviews from Publishers Weekly

AWARDS WON: WINNER of the 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award! WINNER of the 2025 Reader Views Bronze Medal for YA Fiction (16+)! FINALIST in the 2025 National Indie Excellence Awards for the Romance Genre! 1st PLACE WINNER in Fiction for Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio! 1st PLACE WINNER in Coming-of-Age Fiction for Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio! 1st PLACE WINNER in Young Adult Fiction for Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio! 1st PLACE WINNER in New Adult Fiction for Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio! WINNER of the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Young Adult Romance. WINNER of the 2025 NYC Big Book Award for New Adult Fiction. WINNER of the 2025 NYC Big Book Award for Romance.

Thanks to a generous scholarship, fifteen-year-old Audrey Nielsen is able to attend Great Gray, a prestigious private high school on the Upper East Side, as a member of the Class of 1981. Though uncomfortable in this new environment, Audrey quickly adapts, and at Great Gray, she meets Bobby Dempsey, the sole heir to his family’s fortune. Everyone knows about the Dempsey family; the patriarch, Robert Dempsey, is the CEO of Dempsey Corp, one of the largest, most influential conglomerates in the United States. Bobby is expected to someday follow in his father’s footsteps, but perhaps he has his own aspirations…

Instantly, sparks fly between Bobby and Audrey, and their relationship piques their peers’—and their families’—interest. Together, they do their best to navigate class differences, family drama, and the difficulties of teenage romance. Nevertheless, near the end of their senior year, something happens that shatters the euphoric bubble they had been living in. In the aftermath, dark family secrets resurface, threatening to topple the great Dempsey dynasty.

Bobby and Audrey are thus forced to make a decision: a decision that will change the trajectory of their entire lives…

Genres: Young adult, new adult, romance, coming-of-age, family saga

Book Length: 326 pages

Be warned, there are trigger warnings for the book. Topics such as abuse, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide are discussed throughout the book. Please read with care.

 
 
 
 
  
 
Good4.4171 reviews
 
4.4
 
Good171 reviews
 
 Check out more reviews! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Víctor 
 
19 July 2025
 
 
 Verified 
excelente the great dempseys me atrapo desde el principio audrey y bobby tienen una quimica preciosa y la historia mezcla romance juvenil con drama familiar de forma muy realista esta llena de emociones secretos y decisiones dificiles ya quiero leer el resto de la saga y ver como evolucionan con los anos
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Isaias C 
 
30 June 2025
 
 
 Verified 
A Sharp, Heartfelt Coming-of-Age That Stays With You I was amazed by how much The Great Dempseys moved me. It's not just a typical teen romance; it delves into themes like privilege, identity, and family pressure. Audrey and Bobby's sweet relationship is complicated by real-life challenges that really drew me in. Set in 1980s Manhattan, the nostalgic vibe is complemented by the author's subtle and engaging writing.What stood out to me was Brianna MacMahon's portrayal of growing up. Audrey, a scholarship student, faces challenges in a wealthy world, while Bobby struggles with his responsibilities and desires. The pacing kept me hooked, and the dialogue felt authentic, though some side characters could have been developed more.Overall, this book starts off like a classic romance but transforms into a deeper story. If you enjoy coming-of-age tales with heart and drama, it's definitely worth picking up.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Alf Creativity 
 
18 June 2025
 
 
 Verified 
All good! All good!Beautiful settings and atmosphere. A novel that particularly thrilled me because it is set in the New York elite of the 80s, which I love. A reading full of emo is brilliantly written. I certainly recommend reading it.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 K.E. Wilde 
 
14 June 2025
 
 
 Verified 
A Love Story and a Legacy Reading The Great Dempseys felt like watching two young people carry the weight of two very different worlds on their backs. Audrey and Bobby, their story is real. It’s emotional. It’s complicated in the best way. And it doesn’t shy away from what it means to grow up when life expects too much too soon.What I loved most is that this it’s about navigating expectations, pressure, and privilege, especially when you come from opposite sides of the table. As someone who’s seen both ends of that, it hit home.Brianna MacMahon wrote this with heart. The characters stay with you. The dialogue feels true. The struggles are personal but speak to something bigger. There’s pain in these pages, but there’s also resilience. Strength. Growth.It’s a powerful read for anyone who’s ever had to find their voice in a world that tried to speak for them.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Lewis Charles 
 
18 May 2025
 
 
 Verified 
Engaging and Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Story! The Great Dempseys" is a beautifully written novel that masterfully explores themes of love, family, and societal expectations. Audrey's journey at Great Gray and her blossoming relationship with Bobby Dempsey are captivating and filled with heartfelt moments. The author does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs feel real and relatable. The story is well-paced, with unexpected twists that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy stories about young love, family secrets, and personal growth, this book is a must-read!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Elly 
 
24 April 2025
 
 
 Verified 
Secrets and scandals This story pulled me in right from the start. The characters felt incredibly real, and I was especially drawn to the contrast between Audrey’s humble background and Bobby’s privileged world. Their relationship felt raw and authentic, and the emotional highs and lows were deeply moving. The way the narrative handled themes like class, identity, and family secrets was thoughtful and layered. The writing was vivid, and the emotional moments really hit hard. It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after finishing.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Bob Orney 22 
 
22 March 2025
 
 
 Verified 
I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series! This book was such a heartfelt and captivating read—I couldn’t put it down. I loved the chemistry between Audrey and Bobby, and the way their relationship navigated class differences and family expectations felt so real and relatable. The tension of their senior year, with all its drama and secrets, kept me hooked, and I was completely invested in their choices. That said, I wish some of the side characters had been more developed—they sometimes felt like they were just there to move the plot along. Still, it’s a beautifully written, emotional story that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good mix of romance, drama, and coming-of-age struggles.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Giovanni 
 
6 March 2025
 
 
 Verified 
A Captivating Tale of Love, Secrets, and Social Divide "The Great Dempseys" is an engrossing coming-of-age novel filled with romance, family drama, and deep social commentary. Audrey and Bobby’s love story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, with twists that will keep you hooked until the very end. A must-read for fans of emotional and thought-provoking fiction!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Daṇḍin XY 
 
2 March 2025
 
 
 Verified 
Navigating a World Not Designed for You From start to finish, set against the glamorous backdrop of the Upper East Side in the late '70s and early '80s, this novel gets into the messy, beautiful world of young love, class struggles, and complicated family drama. Audrey’s a scholarship student thrust into an elite school where she's always navigating a world that wasn't designed for her. Her strength, independence, and authenticity made her super relatable. Bobby, the wealthy heir battling his family’s immense expectations, added layers of depth to the classic rich-boy/scholarship-girl trope, making their romance feel genuine and beautifully complex.The chemistry between Audrey and Bobby is intense—sweet, messy, and honestly so realistic that it kept me invested in their story. But it's not just their relationship that pulls you in; the family drama, hidden secrets, and the pressure of societal expectations add incredible depth and tension. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, another shocking revelation popped up, making it impossible to put down.Brianna MacMahon’s writing is elegant yet super accessible, capturing the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence, love, and identity without ever feeling preachy or overly sentimental. She masterfully tackles heavy themes like privilege, identity, abuse, and societal pressures without sacrificing character development or narrative pace. And I loved how the side characters, like Florie, Charles, and Loretta, weren't just fillers—they were vibrant, intriguing, and genuinely contributed to the storyline.Sure, at times it dipped into melodrama, and some plot points wrapped up a bit too neatly, but honestly, that's part of the charm. This book isn't afraid to swing big, exploring the intense highs and lows of love and family in a way that's both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.If you’re into coming-of-age stories with authentic characters, emotional depth, romance that genuinely touches your heart, and twists that'll keep you glued to the page, The Great Dempseys is a definite must-read.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Book Bard 88 
 
5 February 2025
 
 
 Verified 
A Beautifully Written Story of Love, Secrets, and Social Class Audrey’s journey really resonated with me. As a scholarship student at an elite private school, she constantly has to navigate a world that wasn’t built for her, and I admired her strength and independence. Her relationship with Bobby felt so real—full of passion but also the weight of their different upbringings. Bobby, despite being the heir to a powerful empire, struggles with his own identity, and I found myself rooting for both of them as they tried to carve out a future together.But what I really loved was the way the story kept surprising me. Just when I thought I knew where things were headed, shocking family secrets came to light, changing everything. The writing is elegant yet engaging, balancing romance, drama, and social commentary in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish.If you love coming-of-age stories with deep character development, a romance that tugs at your heart, and twists that keep you turning the pages, The Great Dempseys is a must-read. I highly recommend it—it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve finished!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Stephen Ford 
 
31 January 2025
 
 
 Verified 
Excellent read, highly recommend This captivating coming-of-age novel delves into family, identity, and love while addressing themes of privilege and personal growth. It follows the relationship between two teenagers from vastly different worlds, portraying both the sweet and challenging moments they face. As secrets come to light, the story navigates the tension between societal expectations and personal desires. With rich emotions and thoughtful social commentary, this book is a compelling read for anyone who appreciates heartfelt stories of love, struggle, and resilience.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Amazon  
 
  
 
 
 Anton  
 
24 January 2025
 
 
 Verified 
Engaging Story with Romance and Drama This book is a captivating coming-of-age tale that pulls you into the world of Audrey and Bobby, two teenagers from vastly different backgrounds. Audrey’s journey as a scholarship student navigating the elite world of Great Gray High School feels authentic, and her relationship with Bobby, the heir to a powerful family, is filled with chemistry, challenges, and heart.The story beautifully blends romance, class struggles, and family secrets, keeping you hooked from start to finish. The Dempsey family drama adds depth and suspense, and the shocking twists near the end make it impossible to put down. If you love stories about first love, ambition, and the weight of family expectations, The Great Dempseys is a must-read. A heartfelt, dramatic read that lingers with you!