A review by astoriareader
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

SYNOPSIS
  • A sweeping multigenerational story that spans from 1958 to 2019 and follows the Bright family through love, addiction, secrets, and redemption.
  • Lillian and Ryan fall hard for each other, but both carry heavy baggage—he struggles with alcoholism, and she hides the existence of a son from a previous relationship.
  • Their daughter, Georgette, grows up in the shadow of her parents’ unraveling marriage. As an adult, she must confront her family’s past when long-buried truths resurface.
  • Told through the intimate, rotating perspectives of Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette, this is a story of inherited trauma, devastating choices, and the enduring pull of family.

MY THOUGHTS
  • This is Sarah Damoff’s debut? Seriously? The writing is polished, emotionally intelligent, and just gorgeous.
  • The way Damoff explores addiction, regret, and love without ever tipping into melodrama is impressive. It’s raw but never gratuitous.
  • Told from three POVs, the narrative structure adds real depth. Each character feels distinct and heartbreakingly real.
  • The emotional arc is beautifully layered—there’s grief and heartbreak, but also resilience and hope woven through every page.
  • It hit on so many universal themes: first love, the weight of secrets, the messiness of parenting, and the ways trauma trickles down through generations.
  • I felt everything while reading this—anger, sorrow, frustration, tenderness, and above all, empathy.
  • Jet’s journey especially stayed with me. Watching her navigate the emotional wreckage left behind by her parents was quietly devastating and profoundly moving.
  • This is one of those books I’ll carry with me for a long time. It made me feel, and isn’t that the whole point?

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A stunning, emotionally rich debut that explores love, addiction, grief, and generational trauma with grace and compassion. Beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, and a story that lingers.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on April 22, 2025.
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