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.

THE BRIGHT YEARS by Sarah Damoff

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC ebook of this brilliant story.

This is Sarah Damoff’s debut and I have to say I was impressed by her incredible writing skills of telling this beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspirational story. Starting in 1958-2019 and told from three intimate points of view, of a Texas family of four generations; dealing with real life experiences and how these experiences impinge upon their lives. Ryan and Lillian are deeply in love, but each harbor secrets that impact the relationship. Years later their daughter, Georgette, unearths her family’s history and has decisions to make.

This is a well paced multigenerational story with themes of addiction, secrets, trauma, grief, love, choices, heartbreak, and joy. I will be eagerly awaiting Sarah Damoff’s next book.

5 ⭐️ I loved this debut novel by Sarah Damoff. A real tear jerker! Told from three POV of the Bright family, Lillian, Jet, and Ryan.

I fell in love with the Bright family, Lillian, wife of Ryan, mother of Jet, orphaned at a young age, keeps a secret. Georgette “Jet”, Lillian and Ryan’s daughter. Jet deals with loss and grief and an alcoholic father. Ryan, Lil’s husband, Jet’s father, alcoholic, son of an alcoholic. Each of their chapters is a strong voice to the many aspects of love and addiction.

The writing is beautiful, brought me to tears time and time again. Subjects of death, loss, grief and alcoholism are captured perfectly and realistically. Though death and loss are heavy in this book, the triumphs of family and love overcoming addiction is touching and uplifting.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars for this one. I love the cover art, and there were many lovely passages in this book, especially Ryan's final letter at the end. This wasn't a 'can't put it down' for me but I enjoyed it. I liked that this book showed many variations on family and "the village." Fortunately, I don't have history with alcoholism but can imagine this story being so meaningful and realistic to those who do. The character of Nana, her warmth and her love of Blue Bell ice cream and rhubarb pie resonated with me and I could feel the gratitude Jet had for her upbringing with her. The strong female characters appealed to me, and the author did a great job of portraying struggling Ryan making difficult choices time and time again, grappling with his past.

58 % in and Wow...my heart has been shredded!
5+STARS!!!
This is hands down one of the most beautifully heartbreaking stories I have ever read!!
It has been a few weeks and books since reading this novel and it still sits in a special place within my heart.
It is hard to believe that this is Sarah Damoff's debut novel.
She has earned herself a forever reader that will pick up anything else she publishes.
"The Bright Years" is a character-driven novel. It shifts through perspectives of Lillian, Georgette, and Ryan over the course of time. The characters expose the raw truths of how addiction and trauma affects a family. The rawness of this story shattered my heart, inspired me and blew me away all at the same time.
Each character is so well developed that you feel like you personally know them or someone like them or someone deep in their shoes. OR maybe it's you you're seeing in one of them?

Throughout the book, found myself sobbing while being uplifted and inspired.
Sarah Damoff does an amazing job at exposing the multi-layers of addiction, trauma, grief, while also reminding us that life is tender, resilient, forbearing, and forgiving.
Many people will pick up this novel and feel "seen" for the first time.
It's okay to be seen! We see you! I see you!!

Sarah Damoff has written a book that will stick with me and many readers for a lifetime.
I will be pushing this beautiful masterpiece to the HIGH HEAVENS and into the hands of EVERYONE!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for a free ebook in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced digital copy of this book.

The Bright Years tells the story of one family through four generations, inviting the reader on a journey with them as they tackle life’s highs and lows and the trials and tribulations that were thrown in their path. At its core, it is a story about love, and not just romantic love, but love of all kinds.

I was not expecting the wealth of emotions this book evoked within me, but I was drawn to the characters immediately and very quickly became highly invested in finding out what happened to them. From the butterflies of early love, to the devastation of betrayal, to the unyielding bond of parents and their children, this book portrayed it all with realism and empathy.

The depiction of alcoholism within this novel was particularly raw and heartbreaking, but also was so honest and believable. While the level of angst and drama was significant, the general feeling left behind after reading it was hopeful. Overall, this was an excellent debut novel, and I look forward to whatever Sarah Damoff has in store for her readers next.