The Bright Years hit me right in the feels!

I devoured this novel in 24 hours and laughed, cried, and hoped along with all the characters. This is realistic story of families struggling with the long lasting impacts of alcoholism and abuse. I appreciated reading the story from the different points of view of the main characters. There was character growth but not without pain and setbacks. It was a sad tale but this was always tinged with hope.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories of families dealing with difficult situations and strong female characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bright Years is one of those rare novels that feels like it’s looking right into your soul. There is incredible depth to this story that had me re-reading paragraphs to let the words fully sink in with how they felt like the author was giving words to thoughts and feelings I've had throughout life that I would never have been able to put words to.

Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette (Jet) are unforgettable. Each character feels like someone you know—or someone you’ve been. Lillian’s role as a new mother (while grieving the child she gave up for adoption) hit me hard. And Ryan’s struggle with addiction was raw and authentic, showing the difficult reality of living with—and loving—someone fighting a silent battle. Georgette, or "Jet," truly stands out. Watching her come of age, shaped by her parents' struggles and torn between resentment and love, was a powerful journey that felt so very real.

This book moved me in ways I didn’t expect. While reading, I was sobbing and feeling uplifted all at once. The writing is introspective, and I was particularly moved by how the author portrays grief and growth which we can all relate to. The Bright Years is an absolute must-read. Just be prepared to have your heart both ache and feel full by the time you turn the final page.

The Bright Years is a sad but honest depiction of alcoholism and what it does to families. I found it well written and enjoyed it but I couldn’t relate to it. I liked the three points of view to organize the storyline and found that interesting. I recommend it to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ryan and Lillian Bright are happy newlyweds in Texas. Both come from difficult families and are so happy to have found each other. Tainting their joy are the secrets they fail to disclose. They open an art gallery and both enjoy their jobs. The family expands with the addition of their daughter Jet. Their happiness is shattered by addiction. Lillian, Jet, Ryan, and Ryan’s mother all work to mend their shattered family. Though the characters are not always likable, their portrayal is believable. Damoff touches on many issues that impact society today. This was a great debut and I look forward to future books from her. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A really impressive debut, but not sure it’ll be one that sticks with me. I enjoyed the different POVs and the shifts through the generations and good writing that let me speed through it in a day. A quick read and one that I’m sure will be a good “mom” book

I have mixed emotions about this book. About 20% in I almost stopped reading it. I thought it made a too abrupt shift in the story but after a day I returned and kept reading. And after a bit it got better. By the last third I really enjoyed. Overall I’d recommend it. It is just that I thought some parts were significantly better than others. I would definitely try this author again and most others have had a much stronger opinion of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley. This book is about addiction and how even if you are trying your hardest to avoid it, it can sneak up on you. I liked Nana and Lillian and Jet. There were some surprises, but it kept my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff due to be published April 22, 2025.

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. Told from Lillian’s, Ryan’s, and Georgette’s point of view, we learn much about marriage and its ups and downs.
What a beautiful book Sarah Damoff has written – and a debut novel. The words and phrases were so profound sometimes that I went back and reread them several times for their wonderful meaning. Although heartbreaking at times, it was still an exquisitely written work of art. I cannot wait for her next book!

#NetGalley #Sarah Damoff #Simon&Schuster #TheBrightYears

I’ve read a lot of books this year and this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. That this is the author’s debut makes me so happy about her future work.

I cried and I smiled throughout this whole book, and will forever hold these characters close to my heart.

If you enjoy complex family stories and different POVs, read this!

Told through three different viewpoints (mother, father, and daughter), this is a moving story of the impact of alcholism and secrets on a family over the generations. Overall, an excellent debut novel.

Successfully straddling the line between literary and commercial, THE BRIGHT YEARS should appeal to a wide range of readers.
At its heart, this novel is a family saga. I enjoyed how the author juggled multiple generations. She does so in a way that introduces the reader to so many characters but she is careful about not being repetitive, which I appreciate. I particularly enjoyed Lillian and Georgette. The narrative explores the impacts of addiction in a powerful and moving way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

NetGalley early release
Publishing date: April 2025
4 ⭐️

I really liked the storyline of this book. The growth and the character development were out of this world and I appreciated everyone’s mistakes and growth. I don’t understand why the mom’s son, Davis, was made out to be this huge part of the story when in actuality he wasn’t. I would have liked to explore that storyline more. I knew Kendi and Jet were going to get together, it was so obvious. I was so sad for
The dad Ryan the whole time. He grew but it took him too long and that was sad to read. I feel like there could be triggers in this book if you aren’t careful or if you’re easily triggered.

I finished THE BRIGHT YEARS in tears and in awe of Sarah Damoff’s strong, compassionate storytelling. She writes beautifully and with stinging truthfulness about sobriety and addiction, guilt and atonement, love, friendship, redemption and the strength of family (all kinds: by genetics and by choice).

Told over decades, THE BRIGHT YEARS follows a family through four generations. When Lillian meets Ryan, she allows him to heal the scars left on her heart when she gave a child up for adoption years before. Ryan allows Lillian to heal the scars he has from an abusive father. When alcohol addiction comes between them, their daughter, Georgette, must learn how to navigate the beauty of life, even when it’s ugly.

The characters are intimately drawn, and the story is told from three different viewpoints. Most impactful to me, Damoff explores the idea that sobriety - and all of life, for that matter - isn’t all or nothing. Everything is a process and life isn’t perfect, but even so, it is worth living.

I loved this tender book, which gives me Ann Napolitano/Mary Beth Keane/Wally Lamb vibes and is set to be published on April 22, 2025. I’m impressed that this is Damoff’s debut novel and believe there’s going to be quite a buzz surrounding this incredible novel.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an early digital copy of THE BRIGHT YEARS in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Bright Years
As others have said, it’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. The story of multiple generations in a family affected by alcoholism is beautifully written. I loved every small detail of the writing, felt with Jet and her Mom. The character development is excellent, I loved Nana Elise who was an escape not only for Jet, but also for Jet’s Mom, Lillian who was her daughter in law. Overall, this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, definitely 5 stars. Those of you who have read my previous reviews must know how stingy I am with 5 stars. I wish the author much luck in promoting and selling this novel.
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy, opinions are my own.

This book was a hard read for me. It took forever for me to get into it, but I'm so glad I pushed through.

It gives a glimpse into the lives that surround Jet (Georgette). Her life has been filled with loss, and because of that she's hardened her heart.

Alcoholism is a main character in the story, told unflinching but necessarily so, to really make you understand. It hurt to read about it but man, it would've hurt more if the author had just skirted over it.

I feel like a better person for having read this book. My eyes will now be more open to the pain alcoholism can bring to a person. A family. A life.

Please read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an amazing gut-wrenching book and the first novel by this author. It is told from the perspective of three family members—husband, wife, daughter. It covers the emotional toll of alcoholism and how it affects not only the alcoholic but family members as well. The entire book is so well written I could feel the heartache of each of the narrators. Their thoughts and actions are well presented and very realistic. I would recommend this book to any adult. I can’t wait to see what this author gives us next! I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

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. Wow, a story of reconciliation, I like this genre.

Sarah Damoff's heart-first debut novel will strike a lot of chords for readers. It's primarily concerned with secrets held by parents Lilian and Ryan and how they impact their daughter Georgette.

Damoff handles the damage from these hidden decisions with delicacy and strength. She has an assured hand for a first time novelist, and readers will respond to the emotional rawness of her story. What would have happened if Ryan and Lilian had been honest with each other? Would the outcome have been different? This is a writer to watch.

I received a digital review copy iof this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This is a beautiful book about family, friendship, and love. It tackles some heavy subjects in a tender and thoughtful way, including generational trauma, addiction/alcoholism, death and grief. I read that the author works as a social worker in addition to being a writer, and that made perfect sense considering the subject matter of this book. I found it easy to read. The characters are likeable and the story felt full and rich. There were some sections that felt rushed, but I thought it was well done overall.

Since I attended college in Texas, I’m often drawn to books set there. The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff is a complex, multi-generational Texas family drama that deals with alcoholism, marriage, secrets, and loss. It spans the years 1958 to 2019 and is told from three points of view--husband and wife Ryan and Lillian Bright and their daughter Jet.

The characters struggle with the complications of keeping secrets from each other and with addiction, among other issues. So, no, it’s not a light read. The book gives keen insight into human behavior motivated by shame, regret, fear, and feelings of victimhood. The author also explores friendships, choices, forgiveness, and redemption along the way. It’s painful, touching, and often downright sad, but ultimately hopeful.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonbooks for an advance reader copy. The book will be published April 1, 2025.