Press & Reviews
Winner of 12 Awards!
Critics have been raving about The Great Dempseys, praising its polished writing style, realistic dialogue, solid pacing, and thoughtful social commentary. In total, the book has won an impressive twelve (12) awards. (Not bad for an indie author!)
People have really been connecting with Audrey and Bobby, and they can’t help but root for their relationship. If you’ve been looking for a new book that will keep you turning pages until late in the night, then this is the book for you!
Literary Titan Gold Book Award
In February 2025, The Great Dempseys officially became an award-winning book! Literary Titan awarded The Great Dempseys the 2025 Gold Book Award in Fiction! This award “honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.”
Reader Views Bronze Medal
In March 2025, The Great Dempseys officially became a multi-award-winning book! Reader Views awarded The Great Dempseys the 2025 Bronze Medal for Young Adult (16+) Fiction! According to Reader Views, “This achievement is a testament to [an author’s] extraordinary talent and the innovative spirit [they] bring to the world of literature, especially within the vibrant community of self-published authors. The Reader Views Literary Awards were established to honor the talent and creativity of authors who publish independently—whether through self-publishing, small presses, university presses, or subsidy publishers. [Their] mission is to showcase fresh, compelling voices that contribute to the diverse world of literature.”
National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
In June 2025, The Great Dempseys won yet another award! The National Indie Excellence Awards has listed The Great Dempseys as a Finalist in the Romance Genre for the 19th Annual Contest! According to the National Indie Excellence Awards, “Your work exemplifies the passion, creativity, and excellence this award was established to recognize. In a highly competitive field, your book truly stood out, earning the admiration of our expert panel of judges.”
Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio
In July 2025, The Great Dempseys won four more awards! Firebird Book Awards and Speak Up Talk Radio awarded The Great Dempseys 1st Place for Overall Fiction, 1st Place for Coming-of-Age Fiction, 1st Place for Young Adult Fiction, and 1st Place for New Adult Fiction.
Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal
In September 2025, The Great Dempseys won its next award. Readers’ Favorite awarded The Great Dempseys the 2025 Gold Medal for Young Adult – Romance! In a crowded field of fantastic books, The Great Dempseys stood out as a thought-provoking, emotional read.
NYC Big Book Awards
In September 2025, The Great Dempseys won two more awards, bringing the total number of awards won to ten (10)! NYC Big Book Awards listed The Great Dempseys as the winner for both the New Adult Fiction and Romance genres!
American Writing Awards
In December 2025, The Great Dempseys won its next award. American Writing Awards recognized The Great Dempseys as a 2025 Finalist for the Romance genre! In a crowded field of fantastic books, The Great Dempseys stood out with its character-driven story and high emotional stakes.
Independent Press Award
In January 2026, The Great Dempseys won another award, bringing the total number of awards won to twelve (12)! Independent Press Award recognized The Great Dempseys as a Distinguished Favorite in the Romance genre!
Reviews
What the Critics Have Been Saying
Learn what professional critics have said about The Great Dempseys.
“The Great Dempseys by Brianna MacMahon explores the complex dynamics of family, love, and self-discovery. [. . .] While emotionally intense, the story features touches of humor and warmth that offset the serious themes. Its engaging pacing is captivating, and the world-building is vivid. It’s a compelling read for those who enjoy stories about family, identity, and navigating life’s complexities. MacMahon’s writing is heartfelt and thought-provoking, making this book a worthy addition to any reading list.” -Carol Thompson from Readers’ Favorite
“Brianna MacMahon’s The Great Dempseys is a nuanced tale of ambition, privilege, and identity through the eyes of Audrey Nielsen, a teen thrust right into the middle of Manhattan’s elite. [. . .] The characters are meticulously developed, with Audrey’s internal struggles and Bobby’s search for self-determination driving an immersive plot. The pacing alternates between tender, self-reflective moments and sharp, dramatic turns, creating a balance that keeps readers connected and invested. Fans of new adult fiction will find much to admire in The Great Dempseys. Its blend of romance, social commentary, and suspense offers a multi-layered narrative with broad appeal. Brianna MacMahon does a skillful and creative job capturing the intensity of teenage relationships while probing deeper issues of privilege, legacy, and personal freedom, making this a poignant and unforgettable read.” -Demetria Head from Readers’ Favorite
“If coming-of-age romance novels are your flavor, you will love The Great Dempseys. Sprinkled with a healthy dose of romance, family drama, and shocking reveals, this is a tale of first love between two teenagers from very different backgrounds. [. . .] The author ensures the two protagonists have well-developed personalities and traits that endear them to the reader. It makes them likable and easy to root for.” -Pikasho Deka from Readers’ Favorite
“The Great Dempseys is a gentle, easy read that will appeal greatly to true lovers of romance. Being a sucker for a good romance myself, I found the maturity and poise of these two young people endeared them to me as characters. Author Brianna MacMahon has taken a common literary trope of rich boy/poor girl and put her own decidedly unique spin on it. I found the underlying messages of family, love, attention, and abuse to be beautifully handled. It is first and foremost a teen romance and in that role, it is superbly written.” -Grant Leishman from Readers’ Favorite
“The Great Dempseys is suitably complex for this difficult time in any high schooler’s life. I found myself completely absorbed by the depth of the character development, which allows readers to empathize deeply with the protagonists’ struggles and triumphs. The narration is up close and personal to keep readers locked in with Audrey and Bobby, and the prose strikes an elegant balance between heartfelt emotion and sharp social commentary, exploring themes of privilege and personal identity with remarkable sensitivity and insight.” -K.C. Finn from Readers’ Favorite
“In many ways, this book is an excellent coming-of-age novel as Audrey and Bobby grow throughout their high school years. I also appreciated that MacMahon did not limit the novel to a short time span. The book starts in Audrey’s second year of high school and goes beyond graduation. This allowed the characters to be well-developed as the reader can watch them grow up.” -Laney K. from Online Book Club
“Brianna MacMahon’s The Great Dempseys offers an engaging and heartfelt love story that’s as accessible as it is thought-provoking. [. . .] The characters in this book are one of its greatest strengths. Each one is distinct, well-rounded, and brings a unique perspective to the story. MacMahon explores the dynamics of economic disparity among the students at Great Gray, giving readers a glimpse into how different backgrounds shape worldviews. What makes The Great Dempseys stand out is its underlying message of resilience. It beautifully illustrates that love, while not without its challenges, has the power to overcome obstacles.” –Literary Titan
“The Great Dempseys tells a poignant love story about two teenagers grappling with the complexities of their lives, which feel at odds with one another. [. . .] Brianna MacMahon has crafted a powerful novel for teens, young adults, and anyone who values a heartfelt story. She bravely addresses serious issues like suicide, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy, illuminating crucial topics for our youth.” -Shawna Thompson from Reader Views
“The Great Dempseys is a swoon-worthy coming of age romance set in the late 1970s that you should definitely check out. [. . .] [The book] can be heart-wrenching, yes, but it can be heartwarming too, especially the lovely young couple and the times they connect with their chosen family. Audrey finds her way into a fantastic friend group. Together they balance out the ups and downs of the other relationships. MacMahon does an excellent job of keeping her characters grounded and not letting them get too swept up in each other. [. . .] Reading this book is a whirlwind. It softens you with true love and great friends but adds the weight of parental expectations to it. The possibility of Mr. Dempsey’s disapproval is always looming but so is the possibility of a brighter future. This is the kind of book that will give young people hope that true love really exists.” -Jaylynn Korrell from Independent Book Review
“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
“With its irresistible blend of first love, dark family secrets, and sharp social commentary, The Great Dempseys is a poignant coming-of-age romance that will captivate fans of The Notebook and Gossip Girl alike.” -NewInBooks
“With the story’s backdrop set against the corporate world of Manhattan, MacMahon explores universal themes of ambition, power, and sacrifice, portraying the often unseen costs of wealth. The Great Dempseys ultimately invites readers into a world where the pursuit of one’s identity collides with the expectations of family and society.” –Digital Journal
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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 anosA 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.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.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.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!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.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.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!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.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!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.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!
