The Bright Years

by Sarah Damoff

One family. Four generations. A secret son. A devastating addiction. A Texas family is met with losses and surprises of inheritance, but they’re unable to shake the pull back toward each other in this big-hearted family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo.

Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.

When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.

Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Family

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2025

About the author

Sarah Damoff is the author of debut novel, THE BRIGHT YEARS, published by Simon & Schuster on April 22, 2025. Her writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. She holds a degree in Family Studies and a Child Protection Certification from Harvard University. A Texas native, Sarah lives in Dallas with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I haven’t been so connected to characters in a while…and this one was just so beautifully done, with such an emotional story

We follow Lillian & Ryan - both with generational trauma & secrets from the other - fall in love and how these secrets break their family

The writing was quick, beautiful, painful & the story was so fast-paced I never wanted to put it down (but I did many times to savor it) (& bc tears were flowing). I need more from this author! Immediately!

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even see what I’m typing—my tears are pouring like a torrent. I’m crying like a baby with colic, and one thing is for sure: I just finished the BEST DEBUT FICTION of the year. The other thing? My heart is completely shattered.

One family. Three perspectives—mother, father, and daughter. Broken hearts, grief, abuse, resentment, secrets, forgiveness, addiction, second-chance love, pain, sadness, invisible scars, child abandonment, teen motherhood, hope, promises—this book tackles so many triggering yet deeply thought-provoking themes through the epic, dramatic, raw, and profoundly emotional story of the Bright family.

Ryan and Lily Bright’s first meeting in a library feels like the perfect rom-com "meet-cute," the beginning of a love story between two flawed people, each hiding secrets that will shape their future in unexpected ways. Ryan comes from a broken home; his mother escaped an abusive relationship and raised him alone. He’s a photographer with big dreams of opening an art gallery, and though he vows to be a better man for Lily and a better father to their daughter, Georgette (aka Jet), he eventually falls into the same destructive patterns as his own father. Alcoholism steals him away from the life he tried to build, and one tragic mistake forces him to step back from his family.

Lillian, too, carries a heavy secret—she gave up a child for adoption as a teen mom after her first love chose music over fatherhood. She thought she’d found her second chance with Ryan, but now watches helplessly as the man she once loved disappears into someone unrecognizable.

Georgette is mostly raised by her Nana Elise, Ryan’s mother, and harbors deep resentment toward her parents for the secrets they kept. When she meets Davis—her mother’s adopted son—she begins to see the bigger picture and discovers the possibility of creating her own chosen family. As she begins to understand the weight of her parents’ decisions, her perspective begins to shift.

No words I write here can truly do justice to how powerful this book is. It turned me into a red-eyed, heart-wrecked mess. I deeply empathized with Lillian, Ryan, and Jet—their mistakes, pain, love, and longing—and it all resonated with my own feelings, regrets, and hopes. This story reminds us that no family is perfect, and no parent has all the answers. But love means showing up, trying again, and holding on, even when it’s hard.

What more can I say? I’m speechless. I wholeheartedly loved every chapter, every character, every ache, and every word in this book. It’s already etched into my heart, and without a doubt, it’s my pick for Best Debut of the Year.

Ten gazillion stars.

Endless thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this stunning debut in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m beyond grateful.

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[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book destroyed me💔

The Bright Years is a debut novel that tells the story of four generations over three parts and the span of six decades. I loved how each part came with a change in narration so we get to see their lives, in that moment, from a different perspective.

Coming from someone who lives in Fort Worth, this story definitely feels like a love letter to the city. So many familiar mentions that made me wish I'd have known Cowtown at the same time as Ryan and Lillian Bright, and their daughter Georgette "Jet" Bright.

I went into this one blindly so I don't want to give away too much. Just know that you will feel like your hearts been ripped out, more than once, but will see that under all the heartbreak that life can throw at you, hope often remains. "Loss keeps a tight grip when there's hope left"

I just finished but I already want to do a reread, this time with a highlighter ready for all the quotes and moments that hit me so hard. Beautifully written characters that you'll think about long after the book ends.
5 stars. All the stars. Cannot recommend this one enough. Read it!

•Debut
•Multiple POV
•Past + Present timelines
•Found family
•Second chance romance

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

💝😭I didn't know happiness could feel so sad💝😭. The Bright Years written by Sarah Damoff broke my heart and shredded it to pieces. I don't think I will ever be able to recover from this heart shattering novel. I had so many emotions while reading this beautiful yet gut wrenching story, it's a bit hard to describe, but I ugly sobbed, I laughed, I smiled, I was angry. The Bright Years was the BEST debut novel I have ever read. If you haven't read this book yet, please go do so immediately because you definitely won't want to miss out on having your heart broken, by the half way point I honestly lost count of how many times I was ugly sobbing. Despite how heart breaking this book was, there was so much love, compassion, and light shining through the pages. The Bright Years is a two hundred and eighty-eight page love story that is filled with triumphs and tragedies. The snot bubbles were bubbling. I have seen so many reviewers saying this book destroyed them, I can say it destroyed me too, but I don't think you can understand this type of pain until you read this book. The Bright Years will definitely hold a special place in my heart forever. Six decades of love, pain, joy, tragedies, and triumphs, what more could you want? Please do yourself a favor, if you haven't already go pick up this book immediately because I think it will become a favorite for so many people in 2025, I also wouldn't be surprised if this book makes it to the Goodreads challenge at the end of the year because it was just that damn good. I think my messy bun and tear stained face have seen better days, but while I was reading this book I was an ugly sobbing mess. I could go on and on about how much I absolutely loved this book, but I want other people to experience the pain that I felt while reading this heart stopping story.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND SIMON & SCHUSTER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Alcoholism~
~Miscarriage~
~Death of a Parent~
~Emotional Abuse~
~Physical Abuse~
~Substance Addiction~

"You don't have to be a baby to want your mom".

"📢Let's leave behind what we need to leave behind📢".

"😭👯Motherhood makes women ache for their moms😭👯".

"❌Hate is anemic when love hangs around like turpentine in the upholstery❌".

"💯Monsters are myths and men are complicated💯".

"💅💘I can love someone in a stranglehold with a disease, but I will NOT love a liar💅💘".

"💗💯Beginnings aren't blank canvases💗💯".

Grandma Elise:"💅💃A woman should always consider both fashion and comfort💅💃".

"😭💖Even the best parent can't replace the first parent😭💖".

The Bright Years begins in 1958 and continues through 2019 which is sixty-one years and four generations of one Texas family that have so many obstacles to overcome. The Bright family consists of Lillian, Ryan, and their daughter Georgette. Before Lillian Bright was a married woman and mama, she was a bare faced back teller who usually kept to herself. Lillian lost her mom to cancer and she lost her father to a T-boned accident caused by a drunk driver. Between 1973-1974, Lillian decides to get intimate with Zack Melendez who is a country singer that's always on the road. In 1974, Lillian gives birth to Zack's baby and gives the baby up for adoption, meanwhile Zack had no clue about Lillian's pregnancy nor about her placing their child up for adoption. During her days as a bank teller, Lillian meets Ryan because he's amazed by her beauty. In February 1982, Lillian and Ryan get married and become the Brights. During their newly wed years, Lillian gets pregnant again, but soon has a miscarriage. In 1986, Lillian gives birth to a baby girl, Georgette. Ryan Bright has dreamed of owning an art gallery as a very young child. Six months into their relationship, Ryan was the first one to say "I love you" to Lillian. In 1987, Ryan starts drinking alcohol, but insists he's not an alcoholic because he never wants to turn out like his abusive father. There were so many secrets between Ryan and Lillian.

Ryan becomes abusive one night after throwing a beer bottle at Lillian, he decides to move out and live a double life. Ryan chose alcohol over his own family, he's living a part time fatherhood, he shows up drunk to events and celebrations, but as the alcohol consumes his life, Ryan misses out on so much of his own daughter's childhood. Ryan and Lillian never filed for divorce despite living separate lives from each other. In 2000, Ryan becomes nine months sober. In 2001, Ryan continues to be twenty months sober and still lives in a separate apartment because he doesn't want to disappoint his wife and daughter. In 2001, Ryan re-proposes to Lillian on their daughters fifteenth birthday and the Fourth of July because he wants to make his family happy again, meanwhile they were never divorced. When Ryan picks up drinking again, he starts becoming emotionally abusive towards Georgette. In 2019, Ryan is five years, seven months, and two hundred and ninety one weeks sober. It was so hard to watch the Bright family crumble, but it was even harder not to celebrate their milestones despite everything they have been through. Throughout the years, the Brights story unspools, and their story is one of secrecy, denial, truths, revelations, many regrets, so much redemption, inheritances along the way, and the Bright family legacy. Despite their mistakes, the Bright family will forever hold a special place in my heart, I wish all of them the best of luck in this world. Excuses can't be made for abusers, but the growth Ryan did was truly inspiring in so many ways.

Georgette Bright is named after Lillian's mama and her middle name Elise is named after Ryan's mama and of course her nickname is Jet. It was so hard watching Georgette tackle her childhood with her part time father, but Georgette and Lillian were the best mother-daughter duo. During her childhood, Georgette gets a border collie mix, and of course she names him Stethoscope because she wants to be the best doctor in the world, this part was just the absolute cutest. in 2000, Georgette gets into photography just like her father. During her childhood years, Georgette earns the nickname "Curious Georgette" because she was always curious about everything and her favorite show was Curious George. Between the years of 2001 and 2002, Georgette moves in with her nana Elise because of some very terrible news. in 2009, Georgette gets a random email from someone named Davis Condie, well fast forward in 2009, Georgette and Davis decide to meet, these two are a mirror image of each other, Davis and Georgette are half siblings. In 2010, Georgette gets accepted into nursing school, YOU GO GIRL!!!!!! I absolutely loved watching Georgette grow up and become the young woman that she is, she never let anything deter her despite the rough childhood she had to endure, she was just a shining light. I know this is just a book, but I feel like the Bright family can be so inspiring to so many people. It's truly the hardest thing ever not to root for someone despite the mistakes they made along the way while trying to be better for themselves and those around them. Anything is possible if you put your best self, trust, and mind into it from the beginning.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets. Addiction. Trauma...
And, the sustaining power of love and forgiveness...

The Bright Years begins in 1958 and continues through 2019, sixty-one years and four generations of one Texas family. It is written primarily in the first-person voices of each Bright family member, Lillian, Ryan, and their daughter, Georgette—six decades of love, joy, and pain.

There is deep emotion packed into the 288 pages of this novel, and I lost count of how many times I ugly cried. Be warned, this family story is heartbreaking, but as heavy and dark as it gets, light, compassion, and hope shine through.

What also shines through are the characters and how well this debut author draws each one. Don't be fooled like I was by Damoff's writing style. It isn't purple prose, but Southern speech, with extra metaphors, and once I figured this out, the writing clicked, and I saw stars—all of them.

The Bright Years is a book I almost skipped, and it has turned into one of my favorite reads of 2025. This is an impressive debut novel, and I look forward to more from Sarah Damoff!

5⭐

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, for granting my wish, and Sarah Damoff for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story wrecked me; ripped me in half.

For Ryan and Lillian the first 7 years of their relationship are the brightest. But secrets from the past come to haunt and threaten what was thought to be an impenetrable love with something raw, dark and ugly.

Damoff writes a damn fine debut with characters who want to be perfect but are perfectly flawed; with the destructive power of addiction on those we love most; the suffering of miscarriages; and the consequence of miscommunciations. How we carry the grief; the powerlessness; the walls we put up to protect ourselves. Then the realization that life won’t be as we hoped. A continuum of heartbreaks and heartaches.

This story spoke to me of the pain of loss. The loss of missed opportunities; the loss of relationships and even the loss of life. Do we choose one pain to avoid another? To suffer less but actually suffer more? The debilitating fear of choosing and making the wrong decision because of the fear of being hurt.

Healing can come in the form of small joys that can be life saving. They can be here, there and everywhere - and they can be bright.
5⭐️

Thanks TGH for gifting & sharing this emotional buddy read together 🙏

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outlier review here- I saw so many wonderful reviews, so I thought for sure this was going to be a 5 star book for me, but it sadly was not even close.

I could not enjoy the writing style. It felt like there was no emotion behind the words. Maybe it was the huge jumps in time as every chapter is a different year or sometimes an even larger jump in time. But I really don’t think that was the whole problem as I felt just a whole lack of emotion in the writing.

The topics themselves should have been emotional, but they weren’t at all for me.

If you’ve read this then you know about halfway through there is a significant moment that is supposed to be sad and shocking, but I felt nothing. I was just kinda like “oh”. I kept waiting for it to get better and feel the emotions that others felt, but nope.

I even took a break and came back, but this still was not for me. Pretty disappointed, but happy for those of you that did enjoy it. I probably would not read this author again personally.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please God 🙏, please send me a good book to get me out of this horrible book slump that I can’t seem to get out of.

Yes, you guessed it. I have an outlier opinion for this book in which it seems that everyone has loved. I was so bored throughout this story, I COULD NOT wait until it ended. In fact, I could have saved myself lots of time if I had just read Part Three of this book, which was Ryan’s story (at only 34 pages). Part Three finally narrowed the whole book down, and brought me the emotion I was looking for throughout this whole book.

This story starts off with Lillian and Ryan falling in love and getting married. They have a daughter, Georgette. One violent incident makes Ryan leave his family, never to return again. Then we have a bunch of incidents along the way that probably should have made me cry or feel deeply moved- but they didn’t. The chapters were so clipped and ended so abruptly, that I just couldn’t connect with this story or any of the characters (or maybe it was the time jumps between chapters 🤷🏻‍♀️).

This is a book about alcoholism and the effects of it. I have been around alcoholics my whole life and people that partake in other activities besides drinking, and I just could not connect with this story. In reality, life with an alcoholic (or other kind of addict), is very ugly. They never just leave you alone (no matter how much you love them or not). I also felt like this book was throwing in a few little side stories for extra “shock” or emotional value, and it just didn’t work.

As you can see this book did not quite work for me, but others have certainly loved this- so I say to give this book a shot as you may get more from this than I did.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. Heart-wrenching and poignant, The Bright Years had me crying real, unstoppable tears. A story of love, loss, and everything in between, these well-developed characters were the special sauce in a novel that touched me more deeply than any other that I can recall. Thanks to true-to-life personas, serious themes, and a plot that grabbed me and didn’t let go, there wasn’t a thing I could do but hold on for dear life. You see, this book was a love letter to living and loving, with morals and lessons sprinkled in amongst the dual timelines and multiple POVs.

A family saga for the ages, I honestly can’t imagine a single person that won’t be affected by this novel. Surely there’s something in here that will resonate for each and every reader. Exploring regret, grief, trauma, hope, love, and redemption, it was riddled with real-life situations that I felt down to my bones. Even the way it was written was completely original. With individual chapters outlining a stretch of years, we got an overview of these characters’ lives that only truly hit home in the last half of the novel. From there, though, all bets were off as I raced through the pages.

The original structure, however, just happened to be my one issue with this page-turning stunner. Initially giving me a detached feel despite the first-person narration, the lack of truly connected, play-by-play chapters put me off just a bit. Quite frankly, for a while it felt more like a short story rather than a full-blown, in-depth novel. About halfway through, though, I was so wrapped up in Lillian, Jet, and Ryan’s lives that every concern flew right out of my mind. After all, you can’t physically sob and not be touched down to the bottom of your heart, body, and soul.

All in all, from the evocative descriptions to the found family vibe, the palpable emotions had me in the palm of Ms. Damoff’s talented hand. With multiple secrets, relatable characters, and plenty of thought-provoking insights, this debut novel is sure to stick with me for quite some time. The perfect pick for a book club read, I can promise you’d have plenty to talk about with this humdinger of a generational family drama. So if you love character-driven plots that you feel down to your toes, grab this book now as it’s sure to be a winner for you too. Rating of 4.5 stars.

P.S. Please, please, please go into this one blind! The synopsis gives enough away that it could ruin the plot if you read it prior to diving in. All you need to know is that a young woman meets a man and they fall in love. Life for them becomes rocky and leaves them living apart after the birth of their daughter. From there, we follow the daughter’s life and see the repercussions on her from her parents’ decisions and actions. Needless to say, there’s no deep mystery or driving suspense, but there’s plenty of emotion that will having you bawling for sure.

Thank you to Sarah Damoff, Simon Books, and the Simon Books Buddy Influencer Program for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: April 22, 2025

Content warning: miscarriage, domestic violence, alcoholism, adoption, death of a parent, grief, depression, mention of: eating disorder

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful!
Dealing with themes of love, loss, alcoholism, trust..
It is written in three parts by the members of this family..
The mother, Lillian… the daughter, Georgette.. and the father, Ryan.
Ryan got his start in life with an alcoholic father and after he is an adult, falls in love, marries, and has a child of his own, he falls into the same habits as his father with serious consequences for the entire family…however “love is patient, love is kind”
A beautiful story!

Also the Beatles song….Here, There, and Everywhere …
will forever now remind me of Ryan Bright and his daughter Georgette (Jet). 💗

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing book filled with first loves, regrets, hurts hopes, grief and despair. I absolutely loved how the author interwove different years into this book and from different points of view. It wasn’t a lineal path nor was it a “before and after” it was just chapters of different years going back and forth in people’s lives and then it becomes lineal. An abusive husband, a wife who runs away, a son grows up, a daughter loses both parents, alcohol and addiction are heavy themes here.

So many meaningful quotes in this book and hard life and love lessons. This book takes you on a journey of life. From “Will I ever meet the right person” to butterflies to hopes and dreams that are realized to hopes and dreams that are lost and crushed and how to go on. Wow this book made me really feel a lot of emotions bc this book has it all. It’s best read slowly alone when you can really feel the magnitude of what words and actions can do to someone and the reverberating actions they can have.

This debut author hit it out of the park with this deep emotional heart-wrenching book about normal people and normal lives that so many of us are and have been.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Damhoff and Simon & Schuster for this beautifully written book about love, in all its messiness.

[lauren‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5💫

the quote on the cover of this book says it perfectly- heartbreaking and heart-mending.

this book actually broke me. the writing was descriptive, moving, and brought about so many emotions in me. every event in this book is so sad and hits out of nowhere.

lillian was such a strong mother figure and represented the strength and courage it takes to be a single mom. everything she did was for jet, even if it was so hard for her to do. her and jet had such a beautiful relationship, and i hate the cards she was dealt in life.

jet's story was so heartbreaking. her happy life was completely ripped out from under her in an instant, and it was so sad to see how she navigated the world and her relationships after what had happened.

ryan was the worst- sorry not sorry. even when we were in his pov, i couldn't understand his actions and where he was coming from because his actions were extremely selfish. lillian deserved more.

I wish we got more scenes with their son and jet because I thought he would have more of an impact on her life, but he did help start the process of jet mending her relationship with her dad in a way.

this was her debut novel, and it was such a good debut. i will definitely read more by this author.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STAR

When it comes to a family drama that's under 300 pages, The Bright Years was phenomenal. And as with shorter family dramas, I always wish there were 100-150 more pages because the development always feels limited, but still great. Does that make sense? The descriptions and plot points are shorter, but they still pack a punch. I think my only critique is that the blurb for the book talks about the son, but his role in the book was very minimal. I loved the story and the Bright family and everything about the way this story developed. My heart hurt pretty much start to finish, but there were some moments of hope and promise which let's be honest, families aren't always sunshine and rainbows. In reality, there is a lot of miscommunication, hurt feelings, and broken hearts and I think Sarah Damoff did an excellent job portraying that through her words.

The Bright Years does have some sensitive topics: alcoholism, addiction, bulimia, miscarriage, adoption

[Adam Kynaston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Guys. What the hell is wrong with everyone? This is not good. The ending was slightly moving, everything else is very rote, unimaginative, dime store romance novel without the sex. The characterizations are not deep or flawed or interesting in any way, which is a shame because the premise is great. It was full of tropes and cliches.

Not good. How so many people have given this 5 stars is enormously shocking to me.

[Lindsay L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

Overhyped and underwhelming.

One family. Addiction. Loss. Generational trauma.

I wanted to love this. The writing was simple and easy to fly through. I think this could easily be read in one or two sittings.

What should have been a heartbreaking, emotional, impactful reading journey, left me feeling extremely underwhelmed. I did not connect with this story as I would have expected. It wasn’t “bad” but there wasn’t anything that truly worked for me. There was something lacking from the writing overall for me. I found it missing a realness, authenticity, natural ease. Yes, there were some very heavy scenes, but they didn’t impact me in a way that was lasting or emotional. I found a slight preachiness to the writing, especially toward the end. The author was trying too hard to teach the reader a lesson which is usually a turn off for me. Obviously this is what (most) writers aim for, but it felt so deliberate and planned. There was also a cutesy tone to the writing scattered throughout which I do not care for.

Overall, the writing was a lot of “tell” and no “show”. Instead of experiencing the journey alongside the characters, I felt like the story was being told from a surface level viewpoint. Some plot points were thrown in out of nowhere, while other major storyline pieces were extremely predictable. Grief is a main theme, but it failed to connect with me. The best part of the story involved the adoption of a dog, but even that had unrealistic elements.

Upon finishing this novel and rereading the synopsis, I feel like it gives too much away. So, I would suggest going into this one without reading the synopsis if possible.

Overall, this was just an ok reading experience that was extremely overhyped. I am an outlier with my thoughts, so I suggest you try it out for yourself.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has gushing reviews...what am I missing? The pacing of the story was soooooo slooowww. Every sad thing that could happen, happened. I didn't feel moved to tears at all. The middle of the book gave me a literal out loud "what the heck just happened?!" in a "why should I bother reading more?!" kind of disbelief. I didn't get the appeal of sober Ryan at all. This was a passive action style so I really wasn't connecting with characters or decisions. I really wanted to like this book...I should have liked it so I can't say it just wasn't for me. This is exactly the kind of family saga/drama story I am drawn to. So I will have to say the writing style did not match my reading style.

[emilybookedup · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! this was an easy quick read and i did enjoy it, but was expecting a bit more based on early reviews i saw

i listened on audio and didn’t honestly love the narrator so that may be effecting my POV a bit. i’d reco the physical copy!

this is the definition of a family drama! it has a ton of trigger warnings around addiction so please beware going in. candidly i thought 1-2 of the “omg” twist moments happened SO quickly it was like “ok wow!” while reading and felt a bit out of left field.

what i enjoyed most was the various POVs. i’m really happy we got those and were able to see how addiction impacted everyone in the family differently and how they handled and coped with it. my favorite POV was sweet Jet!

tbh i was expecting to cry (yall know i love emo books / ones that make me cry lol!!!) but i did struggle to get to that point. that said, my heart is with everyone who can “relate” to this story ❤️

i’d certainly read more of this author’s work as i enjoyed her writing style!

TLDR; a quick and good read, but might be forgettable for me long term.

[JanB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan and Lillian meet, fall in love, and marry. Both are keeping secrets from each other: Lily has a son she gave up for adoption years ago and Ryan has an addiction problem. (This is not a spoiler. The reader knows this from the beginning.)

Told in a non-linear format, from the perspectives of Ryan, Lillian, and their daughter Georgette, the story covers the effect these secrets have on the marriage and on their daughter Jette.

This redemption story is sad, profound and emotional but never without hope. The author conveys so much within a short 288 pages. A buddy read with Marialyce, it’s not a story I will soon forget.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting to love this as much as I did! This is such a complex story that deals with grief, addiction, heartache, hardships, and family. Although I enjoyed reading all 3 perspectives (Lillian, Jet, and Ryan), what really sold me was Lillian's story. This book touched my heart in so many ways and had so many beautiful quotes about life. Such a deep and meaningful story that will bring you to tears!

[taylor tippett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had the right words to bottle up the way I feel about this book because I would keep them in my pocket to carry around with me everywhere. I’ve never felt so seen in a book. Safe. Understood. I cannot believe this is a debut novel - it’s a true work of art. I’m going to carry this story, this family, these words, how much this book means to me; for a very long time. This is a story for those of us who grew up with addicts - specifically alcoholics. This story is for you and will touch some of the most tender parts of your soul.

This is a generational family drama with addiction, secrets, grief, growth, healing; all the things. The story opens up with the Mom’s POV, then the daughter’s POV, and then last ending the story with the Father’s. I think I experienced every human emotion possible while reading this one. Please please please read this book. Truly one of a kind.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning debut! This book is a triumph and a brilliant family saga told over the course of 65 years from the perspective of three members of the Bright family. It beautifully tells their story that is caught in the repercussions of alcohol addiction. There is beauty, hope, redemption, and love threaded throughout and woven into their hearts. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I loved the many insights about life, love, family, and more sprinkled throughout the narrative like confetti. I will be thinking about these relatable characters for a long time. This is a must-read that I highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Sarah Damoff for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ⭐️ This is the Best Debut Novel of 2025.

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff is a multi-generational story that involves addiction and family secrets. Lillian thinks she has found the perfect husband in Ryan. Their early moments are so sweet and poignant. They have a daughter, Georgette and it seems life could not be better. Lillian has survived the death of both her parents at a young age. Then she met a man who she thought would bring her joy, but instead fills her with devastating disappointment. She is pregnant and decides to give her son away for adoption. She has kept this a secret from Ryan. Ryan, also has had a hard time in life. His father was an abusive drunk who forced his mother to flee their marriage. Little Ryan would be so scared, he would hide under the table while his father raged at his mother. Ryan does not drink since he never wants to be like his father and cause that type of pain on anyone.

So, this one really pulled me in. So much so, that at times I resented that. It made me think and re-think for a long time. It is told by Lillian, Jet, and finally Ryan. This is a very honest accounting of alcohol addiction and how devastating an impact it can have on anyone who dares to love that person. Yet, Lillian can leave Ryan when he falls into anger and severe addiction, but she can’t ever forget the perfection of their early years and holds that love tight. It made me think so much about what we owe another person and how much understanding must be given. Jet, growing up without her father feels this loss her entire life. She is angry. Why, can’t Ryan ever do the necessary work and start recovery? Why, must Lillian understand and Jet have to try and come around and all forgive. This includes, Ryan’s mother, Elise who loves Ryan dearly, but puts Lillian and Jet first.

This feeling of pain, hurt, understanding, forgiveness, and hoping for a better future I certainly felt. The characters do as well. It shows how difficult this journey in life can be. It made me sad, mad, and happy. I felt like I wanted to have a say and control the story. Yet, life of course does not work that way. I don’t really know how I would have done this differently. I wanted more than just wonderful moments, even if pieced together that is what makes a life.

The author shows the story from every side and leaves each character to figure out how much to let a deeply wounded and self-destructive person in. She does a beautiful job here. Life is long and feelings change and probably all of us deep down want to be perfect for those we love and love us back, yet we often don’t reach that. I also think we scream when we want to cry and hate to have a feeling of not knowing which side of an addict will be showing up. The desperate, selfish, self-loathing, and fearful one or the honest, decent, talented, and loving one. That duality is hard to live with. Probably, most dealing with this want the person to finally heal and recover. Then having a life together is possible. Yet, it might not be permanent and leaves one to figure out some boundaries to hold so a relationship is possible.

Ultimately, this is a story about living. Death is going to be there for us all. It is all the small moments that make up relationships that matter. The author has profound hope that love can shine through the darkest times and it is something of tremendous value. So, hold your family close and respect yourself in the process, too. This one made me cry for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[Brandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five star reads have been few & far between this year and I’m happy to report The Bright Years is a new addition to the club.

The Bright Years is the story of a family, drawn together then torn apart by major, long-held secrets. Set in Texas, it’s a multigenerational family drama, with characters who felt authentic and faced real challenges. I liked the Bright family. Even when I didn’t agree with their choices, I was rooting for Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette.

I didn’t see everything coming in this story and I really enjoyed the journey, blinking back tears on a flight home as I finished it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance reader copy of The Bright Years in exchange for an honest review.

[Destiney Bomberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOBBED!!!!! I’m actually not okay

[Marialyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was fabulous!

"omnia vincit amor.".....love conquers all

But does it? Can it conquer desertion, can it conquer heartbreak, can it conquer addiction and lies?

There are secrets in the love marriage of Ryan and Lillian Bright. Lilian previously had a child who Ryan knows nothing about and Ryan is addicted to alcohol. They have a daughter, Georgette and as she grows she witnesses the destruction of her parents' marriage, the down slope tread of her father, and the life she and her mother have been forced to live without Ryan around.

Georgette (Jet) has a friend a young boy and they both travel the single parent life their moms have. .....and the years go by.

Luckily Jet has a devoted Nana, (Ryan's mother) who through it all helps Jet survive the shocks in her life, the feelings of being alone, of being rejected. There does arrive a ray of hope when Jet's parents get back together but then as if this girl has not been through enough, she is hit with another devastating loss.

How much can a person stand and still keep moving forward? However Jet does just that realizing that her father's actions are ones he tries numerous times to overcome but can't. Is it because his father was awful and an alcoholic, is it because of being weak, or is it because the taste for liquor is what makes him able to move forward, but that moving is towards the next drink?

Such a sad story but one that millions have gone through hoping and praying for the success of their loved ones to beat this monkey that is on their backs. What becomes of them all is the impetus that moves this story and this reader to make that emotional tie to the story that makes the story special and earnest. After all we probably have someone, a loved one perhaps, who is an alcoholic. The negative effects and the destroying of what should have been is vividly drawn in this poignant stoy.

Such a fine effort by Sarah Damoff! Jan and I were so moved by her book.

[Keri Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of family… how they are made, how they sometimes fall apart, but hopefully find ways to heal. Ryan and Lillian Bright fall in love, get married, and have baby Georgette. Ryan’s father was an abusive alcoholic, so Ryan stays away from alcohol… until he doesn’t. Lillian also has a secret, a baby she previously put up for adoption. When their relationship falls apart, Ryan’s mother is there for Lillian, as well as a friend who becomes like a sister.

We follow this family… through love and heartbreak, hope and despair, good times and bad. We see that love is not always enough to fix problems, but if love remains, hope remains. Georgette navigates the dynamics of her family as she grows up and becomes a woman. And she discovers that second chances are not for the other person, but for yourself.

This was a lovely book, sometimes haunting, but also full of joy and love. 💗

[Kelsey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: This story will hit close to home for many readers—especially those that have loved and been loved by an alcoholic. Highly recommend the audiobook. This book *may* make you cry, so grab some tissues.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 🎧Audiobook (Multiple narrators. Rating: 5/5)

╰┈➤ ❝There are two things that I want you to plainly know: first, alcohol is a big part of my life; second, alcohol is a small part of me. Addiction is only one section in the textbook of a human.❞

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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: A layered and emotional saga spanning generations. This story follows three members of the same family (wife, husband, and daughter) through various milestones: new marriage/love, strained marriage, hidden truths, addiction, loss, healing, and forgiveness. It explores family patterns, but also how breaking the cycle can happen at any stage of life and is never too late.
– Location: Texas (various towns and Dallas)
– POV: Multiple first-person (spans several decades: late 1950s—2010s)
– Spice: A few closed-door scenes. Sex is talked about but not super descriptive
Tropes, triggers, and representation are provided at the bottom of this review, but are considered as spoilers.


─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Here, There and Everywhere by The Beatles

╰┈➤ ❝ Knowing that love is to share; Each one believing that love never dies; Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there; I will be there and everywhere; Here, there and everywhere❞

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★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Having your heart ripped out, but only slightly put back together
➼ Movies like When a Man Loves a Woman, A Star Is Born, and Rachel Getting Married
➼ TV shows with either a plot or sub-plot of recovery, like Euphoria, Friday Night Lights, and Breaking Bad
➼ Bittersweet stories

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy—————————✧——Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

What a stunning debut novel packed with emotion. I went into this book with very little knowledge of what it was about and was blown away with how relatable the characters are. It isn’t often that you get a story that has so many perspectives of the same issue, and this wove them together beautifully. There was no villain (except maybe addiction itself), just cyclical hurt and healing.

Lillian’s POV was heart breaking. For so many reasons. The life she lived was painted so realistically for women who get more than they sign up for in life. She wasn’t flawless, she also didn’t claim to be, but she was a woman that stood up for herself, for her daughter, for her husband. I was so proud of her.

I also loved Jet’s POV. As an 80s baby myself, it was nostalgic to grow up alongside her and learn the shadows that life brings while she did. Many of us have loved an alcoholic similar to her and Lillian, and many of us have been loved by an alcoholic. It was cathartic to experience their love, loss, and healing.

But what really stole my heart in this book was Ryan’s POV. I won’t say more than I just appreciated the author including this not only because it rounded the story, but because I think that many readers will find it healing.

Some of my favorite quotes:

╰┈➤ ❝Sometimes a woman's choice is between impossible and impossible and impossible, and she just has to make it. Survival calculations become more urgent than rightness.❞

╰┈➤ ❝This is where it starts. We begin to say goodbye as soon as we say hello. Death is a corollary of birth, and to welcome life is to guarantee loss❞

╰┈➤ ❝There are two kinds of grief at a wake: grieving the loss of what was and grieving the loss of what wasn’t.❞

╰┈➤ ❝A man can be sorry from any height or depth, and he had better say it while he can.❞

The following are tropes, triggers, and representation in this book and likely includes spoilers.
– Tropes: healing journey, family secrets, generational trauma, marriage in crisis, coming of age in the 90s, childhood friends to lovers
– Triggers: giving a child up for adoption, miscarriage, grief (death of loved one), alcoholism/addiction, child abuse, physical/emotional abuse, domestic abuse, eating disorder, suicidal ideation, cirrhosis
– Representation: loving an alcoholic (parent, child, spouse), recovery, midwifery

[NZLisaM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are the Bright family destined to repeat the cycle of addiction?

Ryan swore he’d never be like his alcoholic father. But when cracks form in his perfect life with Lillian, one drink turns into many – and he loses everything. Years later, sober and filled with regret, Ryan wants his family back. But is he too late?

Lillian still holds the memories of the love they once shared, but trusting Ryan again could come at a cost – to her, and to their daughter Georgette (Jet). Does he even deserve a second chance after what he’s put them through?

The Bright Years was a raw and unflinching portrayal of the physical, psychological and emotional effects and impact of alcoholism on generations of one family. It was an impressive piece of story-telling, and I fully connected with the characters and their journeys, and was emotionally invested right from the start. The way it was written was beautiful, moving, and unique – so much so that I found myself highlighting passage after passage. The author also used a lot of common idioms, and I love figurative expressions in writing – use them a lot myself.

There was one twist especially that really shocked and threw me as I had no inkling that’s where the plot was going. I enjoyed how it was divided into three parts, and that each was narrated by three people shaped by the events of this novel. For a family saga, encompassing four decades (1979-2019), as well as including a 1950’s prologue, and flashbacks to the 70’s, it was fast-paced, and at under 300 pages I read/listened to it in under a day.

There were quite a few trigger warnings, most of which I consider spoilers, so they’re tagged accordingly below. Just to reassure you though, nothing violent happend to the dog, Stethoscope (Seth), as I admit I did have a mini freakout when Jet got a pet, given the serious subject matter of this book.

The audiobook read by Ferdelle Capistrano, Joy Osmanski, and Lee Osorio was incredible. Thanks Libby Overdrive, it was worth the wait. Ferdelle Capistrano’s reading of child and tween Jet’s dialogue was a particular highlight, but all three narrators were amazing.

There was so much to love about The Bright Years – I’d definitely read more by Sarah Damoff. This author has been compared to Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo – I haven’t read the latter yet but I could definitely spot similarities between Damoff and Keane.

Trigger Warnings: Alcoholism, addiction, and domestic violence, death of a parent, eating disorder, miscarriage, teenage pregnancy, and the pain of having to give up a child for adoption, death of the dog Seth through natural causes/old age.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

the setup…
Lillian Wright and Ryan Brighton meet in a library and before they know it, are deeply in love and marry. They want to combine their names but it sounds comical so they become the Bright family. They open his art gallery and she leaves her bank job to help manage the marketing. Later comes daughter Georgette who they call Jet and then things begin to unravel. Lillian shares a big secret with Ryan who later turns to alcohol, a legacy from his father he’d vowed to never repeat.

the heart of the story…
This is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I can remember reading in a long time. Both things are true at the same time, which makes it remarkable. The writing is exquisite as Lillian, Jet and Ryan share their life experiences against the backdrop of alcoholism. It’s tough to not resent the alcoholic and remember it’s a disease, not a choice between loved ones and the bottle. Lillian puts the first strokes on the canvas of the Bright family’s life, with all the “bright” times and dark ones, followed by Jet and Ryan.

the narration…
If any story needed multiple narrators it’s this one. Ferdelle Capistrano, Joy Osmanski & Lee Osorio graced these characters with terrific performances, especially Osmanski who gave Lillian a wistful quality that made her story powerful.

the bottom line…
First, don’t read the synopsis because it gives away too much. Next, it’s inexplicable that this is Damhoff’s debut novel because it reads like it was crafted with a seasoned hand. Lastly, it’s a raw look at the destructiveness of alcoholism, one I experienced with a beloved uncle who I never saw sober. I felt every high, low and things in between and was crying at the end, something rare for me. Treat yourself to the most powerful reading experience, elevated even more on audio.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Bright Years”, a debut novel by Sarah Damoff

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a book about a family saga, a generational trauma and the choices we have.

For some readers this was a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, a rollercoaster of emotions.

The 5 stars reviews are amazing! The 1 star reviews are brutal.

I picked this book with very high expectations, as I love stories involving family and friends.

The concept was good and the writing was very simple and easy to follow. The timeline structure was also very simple.

The story, told in first person, is divided into 3 parts, each representing the perspective of one character.

The opening of the book gripped me immediately and I loved the first POV.

The second POV was a miss for me. There were some interesting moments, but I was bored most of the time.

The third POV was too short, and perhaps a bit manipulative.

Anyways, I must be honest.

I did enjoy the writing and the story, but there was nothing, in my opinion, exceptional or new, as I have read many books about the same type of characters and situations.

The development of the story was interesting, but she gave me just glimpses of the drama without giving me the emotional depth that I wanted. Yes, there were heartbreaking moments, but the telling lacked impact. And the story involves serious topics such as unplanned pregnancy and parenthood, miscarriage, alcoholism, emotional abuse, death, suicidal ideation and even eating disorders. But most of the chapters were choppy and read like a draft.

Don’t get me wrong. It was still a good read, but it didn’t deliver what I expected.

ebook (Kobo): 288 pages (default), 77k words, 48 chapters (too many for such a small book, but that’s my opinion)