The Bright Years

By Sarah Damoff

Book Overview

A National Bestseller

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 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 debut 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1668061449
• ISBN13: 9781668061442
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

4.25 stars

THE BRIGHT YEARS by Sarah Damhoff If you’re in the mood for family saga that explores generational trauma, addiction, secrets, love and loss this is the one. This follows the Bright family; mom Lillian, dad Ryan and their daughter Georgette (Jet). It unfolds in three parts spanning decades. I went into this blind and I experienced a roller coaster of emotions that I was unprepared for. Lilian’s chapters were especially intense and devastating. I loved Jet’s perspective and even shed a few tears for/with her (and Kendie). Ryan’s chapters fill in the unknowns of the previous chapters and give you a front row seat to the horrors of growing up with an alcoholic parent. It’s a lot! I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. These characters are messy, flawed, and so incredibly human —I adored them. Overall an excellent character study that’s heavy, raw, and captivating. There were several poignant quotes/lines that I was compelled to write down. I will be thinking about this one for a while. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook! “Love is worth the losing of it.” 🖤 Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐️