Such a beautiful story! Sarah Damoff has deftly captured love and joy, disappointment and heartbreak, gain and loss in this wonderful book. Loved it and did not want it to end. Looking forward to more from this talented author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC.

I'm truly a fan of a gripping family drama, especially those that weave through the intricate tapestry of multiple generations. Sarah Damoff's debut novel, *The Bright Years*, captures this essence beautifully. It invites readers into the early life of Lily and Ryan, allowing us to experience their profound journey before, during, and after they find one another. Stretching across 50 impactful years, the story unfolds through the eyes of both Ryan and Lily, as well as their daughter Jet, creating a rich narrative tapestry. If I had to place *The Bright Years* into a genre, I'd undoubtedly choose literary fiction. It's deeply character-driven and resonates with raw emotion. A word of caution, though: if you are sensitive to themes of alcoholism, addiction, miscarriage, or adoption, tread carefully. The only aspect that kept this from being a five-star experience for me was my yearning for more!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this amazing ARC.

3.75 stars

_The Bright Years_, at first blush, is a deeply ironic title, since there's so much darkness throughout this book. But there are glimmers of hope through the Bright family's traumas and triumphs, and that's what makes this book most worth the read.

Four generations rise through a relatively brief narrative, and Damoff's greatest feat is making these characters feel really developed in such a short space. With an early _Game of Thrones_ style brutality, Damoff lets readers in on an important concept from the jump: no one is safe here. That includes readers. I was not ready.

I enjoyed the character development and plotting, but any faltering happened for me when things got too dark. There are certain motifs, particularly around pregnancy (and various results of that) and death, that may be too much for certain readers, especially at more vulnerable times. Folks who even question that vague warning should probably read elsewhere. Even readers with a high emotional pain threshold should tread carefully into the depths with this family. There are redemptive arcs and, as noted, hopeful moments, but like actual life, there's a lot of pain here, too, and that isn't why everyone comes to fiction.

Reading this book made me excited for Damoff's next effort, particularly if it comes with a lighter, actually brighter touch. In the meantime, if you're looking for a good excuse to purge some tears, this may be your jam.

I would say this is a pretty solid debut novel. I enjoy reading books about normal people, living normal lives that are relatable in way that they could be someone in your real life. The book was told from multiple perspectives within different timeframes, which I enjoyed. The book definitely makes you feel your feels. I recommend reading the author's note before you begin if you have any sensitivity to substance abuse, abuse, divorce, and/or death. I would recommend this book.

Title: The Bright Years
Author: Sarah Damoff (Debut Author)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Mystery Thriller,
Pub Date: April 22, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 302

Story is told from the POV of several characters over several years, spanning from the 1959 to 2019.
It starts in 1959 when Ryan Brighton was a young boy. His father is an abusive drunk and often comes home angry. One night his mother Elise had enough and snuck out of the house with young Ryan.

Book One 1979 ~ Ryan meets Lillian who is a bank teller. Ryan wants to get a bank loan to open an art gallery but finds he is attracted to Lillian. Turn out the feeling is mutual.

In 1974 Lillian had another love. His name was Zack Melendez, a musician. One day Zack tells her it is best that they part ways. His group ’The Blacktoppers’ are going on tour. Her baby will never know his dad. Plus she knows she cannot raise a baby on her own so gives up her baby.

1979 Ryan Wells Brighton and Lillian Irene Wright plan to get married and decide to do something unusual and combine their last names and be married as Mr. & Mrs. Bright.
They marry and soon are parents to a baby girl. They name her Georgette Elise Bright after their mothers and all her Jet).

As much as Ryan and Lillian love each, Lillian finds out that Ryan has an alcohol addiction and things start to fall apart. Ryan seeks treatment and wants get back together.

Book Two 2001 ~ Jet is now fifteen and is watching her parents reunion and wonders if it is the right thing for her mom, even though her mom seems so happy.
Then something tragic happen and Jet’s world is upside down. She is contacted by Davis Condie who has been searching for his birth family.

Needless to say, this story kept me reading and wondering- what’s next?
Story turned out to be a truly wonderful read!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Debut Author Sarah Damhoff, and Simon & Schuster for this early eGalley.
Publishing Date Scheduled for April 22, 2025,

Ryan and Lillian Bright are newly married parents to Georgette in this tumultuous multigenerational family story that follows them through the throes of alcohol addiction. Told from the points of view of the three family members, we witness them trying to stick together after tragedy hits.

I grabbed The Bright Years because its writing had been compared to one of my favorite authors Claire Lombardo and this book did not disappoint. The representations of grief in this story tugged at my heartstrings repeatedly in a profound way. With well defined characters and difficult circumstances well represented here, I rate this book 3.75 (4) stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I finished this book almost a week ago and had to sit with it before I could write the review. I knew I would rate it 5 stars but wasn’t sure what I wanted to say about it.
This book was amazing and heartbreaking and so real to life. As someone who has lived a similar situation to Lillian and Ryan, I felt their story in my bones. I loved that it was told from the 3 viewpoints and thought it captured the idea of loving someone and seeing those glimpses of what had been but could no longer be. I really appreciated the author showing Ryan’s point of view. It’s easy to villainize someone because of their behavior and actions but hearing his side showed the struggle and gave an explanation but not an excuse for his life.
I have never wanted to reach out to an author and tell them thank you for writing their book but this one made me want to do just that.
I will say if you haven’t lived in or been closely exposed to these situations, it might not resonate as much but it is still a phenomenal book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC ebook. I’ve already told multiple people about it!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 is an impressive debut novel from Sarah Damoff that will appeal to those interested in reading multigenerational family sagas. The Bright story spans over sixty years and is told primarily from three points of view: quietly resilient Lillian, a woman who has experienced loss after loss and desires a simple, stable life; her husband Ryan, an artist who grapples with his past and his own demons; and their daughter Georgette, a witness to the ups and downs of their relationship.

The novel is well-written with beautiful prose, solid characterization, and an honest depiction of alcoholism and its ripple effects on a family. But at times, I found it difficult to connect to the story—not because I found the characters unrelatable or unlikeable, but because the disappointments and adversities they experienced seemed relentless and never-ending. It was hard for me to fully immerse myself in the narrative when it seemed like darkness lurked around every corner. Nonetheless, I recommend 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 for its skillful and moving exploration of love and loss, failure and forgiveness, and the hardships of addiction and generational trauma.

4.25 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! I am absolutely blown away in a hurricane of emotions. I want to begin by saying that when I picked up this book to read I saw HOPE...the title The Bright Years and the (what I saw as) uplifting cover with hope written all over it, I was definitely not expecting what I got. I need to read the synopsis more often.

I first read the author's note that was to her readers in which she told about her kindergarten friend, a little boy, who became her friend of 15 years. Sarah Damoff went to the hospital when he was only 18 years old to see his baby daughter who was just born, but only 4 years later she sadly attended his funeral. He died from his addiction. At that time, Ms. Damoff was a social worker. In her note to her readers she said she chose that line of work because of "the same two realizations that would lead [her] to write <I>The Bright Years</I>: The first is this: what happens in childhood matters. The second: even for those who suffer in childhood, there is hope yet" (loc. 34). OK, so now I know that the book will be heavy and yet end with hope.

The story revolves around a family of three: Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette (aka Jet). Lillian and Ryan start off with HUGE secrets they have kept from each other, even though they've just gotten married. They have Georgette who grows up in a home that is led by secrets, so it's no shock when their family falls apart and they're all separated. The realistic characters are so flawed and I'm sure relatable in some way(s) to anyone who reads the book. In this day and age, I am sure there are few, if any, people who haven't dealt with addiction themselves, or of a loved one, or. at least someone they know like a coworker. So the story likely resonates with most every reader. For me, it resonated because of years of a loved family member and the way it tore my family's hearts to pieces and how he became the elephant in the room. I can't say this is an easy read, but the way that Ms. Damoff broached the subject with the insight she must have is amazing. I highly recommend it.

This book is about love, addiction, and family!

Ryan and Lillian Bright seem to have a perfect life - they're in love, newly married, and raising their baby girl, Georgette. But, underneath it all they're keeping painful secrets. Lillian has a son from a past relationship and Ryan is battling a struggle with alcoholism. As Georgette grows up, she watches the highs and lows of their marriage, witnessing the toll addiction and secrecy take on their family.

When a devastating event happens, their bond is shattered and Georgette distances herself. But, year's later Lillian's long-lost son reappears, forcing "Jet" to return home and confront the truths she tried to escape.

I really enjoyed how this was split into three perspectives (Lillian, Georgette, & Ryan) and paints a raw and honest portrait of addiction - not just on the person struggling but on everyone who loves them. The writing allows us to connect with each character's pain, resilience, and hope.

If you enjoy family dramas that tackle real-life struggles with honesty and grace, I highly recommend you pick this one up!

I usually don't read literary fiction but I wanted something different after months of reading only romance / fantasy books. I saw this, I loved the cover and how short it looked and immediately picked it up (spoiler alert: it was the best decision.)

I can't believe this is a debut. It was so well done, it pulled at my heart strings and made me felt emotions that I didn't even knew I had in me. I felt so much empathy and love towards every single character and it was enthralling to learn and see how the story continued to develop through every generation. I don't have the right words to explain how much this story meant to me, even though I couldn't even relate to any of it. By the end, I was holding at my chest to calm my self down because I was crying my eyes out and that's how you know that the author did a marvelous job. This book was in fact, a very bright one.

❣️A book with the setting in my sweet ol’ Texas❣️

This story bloomed a crescendo of emotions in me as I read it. It portrayed how devastatingly powerful love can be. I loved the metaphors and the beautifully pinned similes. The POV shifts were perfectly catered to each character.

It takes a certain type of bravery and lots of hope to see past people’s flaws/addiction/bad habits ❤️‍🩹 I hated that I couldn’t control the actions of the characters because this generational suffering feels like it should be avoidable, but just like in real life, we can’t control the choices people make while grappling for control.

I really loved this book and I can’t wait to see it out on the shelves

Sarah Damhoff’s debut novel The Bright Years is a beautifully written story that is both painful and full of hope. At its heart is Jet’s coming-of-age journey, set against the backdrop of her parents’ tragic love story. The characters are flawed, real, and relatable. Damhoff explores multigenerational addiction, grief, difficult choices, and the bonds of family with depth and honesty. I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of The Bright Years.

The Bright Years tells the tragic love story of Ryan and Lillian Bright, who share a strong love and one daughter but never seem to be able to have a happy ending. Throughout we are shown again and again that what makes a family isn't necessarily a blood bond but a chosen love of support and friendship.

4.5 Stars

A story told from three points of view. - a woman, her daughter, her husband. A love that seems like it will be a happily-ever-after, until it isn't. Love turned to despair turned to hope turned to forgiveness, not always in that exact order. This was a really beautiful story, and a sad one at the same time. I cam away from it with tears in my eyes for all that was lost and found again .

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review..

This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. It tells the story of the Bright family and the ups and downs of sharing your life with someone struggling with addiction. A powerful and moving narrative, it weaves together themes of hope, pain, and resilience in a way that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. This deeply emotional tale is one that everyone should have on their TBR list. I know I’ll carry this story in my heart for a long time to come.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Major trigger warnings on this book: domestic abuse, alcoholism, loss of a parent. I could tell this book was going to be an emotional ride from the start. I actually found myself reading and dreading...something bad is going to happen again. But I kept going.
Lillian was such an engaging character. She wanted family so badly, she had to make such difficult choices (believe an addict?), and she worked so hard to give her daughter a strong foundation.

Jet knew what she wanted from a young age. The first part of the book we really got to know her as a child and see how she became who she became. Being strong and determined doesn't mean that tragedy or heartbreak can't happen though. She grows and learns to admit she’s in love and I was so relieved for her.

I read a lot of romance coms because I love happiness and I like know things will be ok. The Bright Years, like life, gives no guarantees of that. The characters are realistic and well written, they have strengths and flaws and I keep hoping for all of them. Ryan’s depiction of alcoholism was so real and raw and upsetting. That’s the biggest warning I have in this book.

Great study in humans, relationships, love, and how to tackle things you do not expect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

Oh man this one had me in my feels. Character driven stories about flawed humans are some of my favorite reads, so when I read the synopsis of this one, I knew I needed more. This story of family, and the secrets, grief, struggles, and generational trauma within it, drew me in from the first page. The writing was engrossing, and the topics were challenging. I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters, and loved how well developed each of them were. My only real complaint is that I wish it had been longer. I feel like with more time, the characters could have been explored even more deeply, which I would have loved.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was so pleased to read this novel by a debut author whose writing in this book is just beautiful, I couldn't believe this was her first published book. My heart broke multiple times reading this, and although the tears readily flowed, they were warranted. I fell in love with the characters and the family, despite the tragedies that they endured. Again, beautiful writing and character development. Truthful and poignant. This is by far one of my favorite novels of 2025!

This is a beautifully written story about family and friendship, love and loss, and ultimately forgiveness. It’s hard to believe that this is Sarah Damoff’s debut novel.

This story was told from the point of view of the three main characters, spanning six decades. It deals with some pretty heavy themes, including adoption, alcoholism, domestic violence, and unexpected death. However, among these themes, there is a still a sense of love and hope that keeps these characters going.

I loved the main characters, flaws and all, and through this beautiful narrative, felt everything they were feeling. I also adored the cast of side characters, and the love and support they shared throughout story.

Ultimately, I love how the author tackled the complexities of generational trauma and the messiness of life. This story was both heartbreaking and uplifting up until the very last page.

I am look forward to reading any future novels by Sarah Damoff!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book.