This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. I was worried that it would be too "depressing" and difficult to read, but Sarah Damoff's writing makes you not want to put it down. We follow four generations of addiction, with highs and lows weaved in.

The Bright Years seemed like it would be right up my alley, but the writing was a little simplistic and the characters didn't seem real.

I wholeheartedly loved this book. This book moved me in ways I didn’t expect. From the first page to the last, it pulled me into an emotional and deeply introspective journey. The writing was exquisite—delicate, deliberate, and full of grace. The author treated every character and storyline with such care, particularly in exploring how our choices, secrets, and addictions ripple beyond ourselves, shaping not only our personal path but the lives of those around us.

What struck me most was the powerful reminder that we are not defined by our failures. The story beautifully wove themes of redemption, second chances, and the ability to rewrite our narratives. It gave me space to reflect on my own life, my decisions, and the legacy I hope to leave behind.

By the end, I was in tears—not just for the characters, but for the parts of myself that the book helped me uncover. It was a cathartic experience, and one I will carry with me for a long time. This is more than just a novel—it’s a mirror, a guide, and a gentle nudge toward grace.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC.

This book was readable, & the writing was decent but it’s the sort of contemporary book that most of us have read many times over about dysfunctional families with problems like alcoholism, abuse, infidelity, secrets, history & distance between relatives & all the various ways these things continue to come to light thru out their lives. Sound familiar lol? It’s nothing novel, it’s been done 467953489545 times before, but it’s not boring or overtly bad in any way so it’s 3 stars for Bright Years!

It is so hard to believe this is a debut novel, Damoff took such obvious care with a tough story. Her background as a social worker shines through in the nuance she gives each character in this story.

The novel follows Ryan and Lillian Bright and their daughter, as they come together in a new marriage that is then destroyed by alcoholism. And how alcoholism can have such a negative impract on a family, but doesn’t destroy the love you have for a person. At one point in the story Lillian has been separated from Ryan for a few years and she says that she doesn’t want someone new to love, she simply wants a version of Ryan that no longer exists. I thought how hard that must be, to love someone who is still with you, but not the version you loved.

I am not normally a big highlighter in books, but there were so many beautiful passages in this book. One of my favorites was “there are two kinds of grief at a wake: grieving the loss of what was and grieving the loss of what wasn’t”.

“If there’s any liar bigger than an alcoholic, it’s the alcohol, saying, All there is is now and It won’t hurt anyone and This is the last time.”

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

The ending of this book gave me literal chills. Woah. I am moved. Truly.

If you have ever experienced alcoholism, loved someone who has it, or have been hurt by its ripple effects…oomph. This book hits. Hard.

This is a deep dive into a family fighting its demons, living ferociously, healing, forgiving, drinking, evolving, and surviving. This is a five ++++ star book, man. Oh my.

“It always surprises me how much space emptiness can take up.”

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the free copy for review.

We follow four generations of one family as they attempt to break the cycle of generational trauma. Sarah does a great job representing alcoholism and the effects.

I have a hard time rating books like this. The writing is excellent. Especially the sentence level writing. But it wasn't exactly a fun read. There is definitely hope woven in, so that helps.

Sad but beautifully written story about a family dealing with various addictions. This is definitely a book that is tough and talks about lots of hard topics.

Is it really a debut novel when the words flow so magnetically off of each page? Yes it is. And an impressive one at that.

This is such an emotional story about family, love, loss, regret and redemption.

The Bright Years broke my heart so powerfully for each of the characters while harboring hope in the deepest parts of my being for a happy ending.

This immersive story, told through multiple points of view, took me through every facet of joy, heartache and pain that love brings. The story is told through the perspectives of Lillian, Ryan and their daughter Georgette Bright.

This is a well developed, character-driven, must-read. I devoured it in a day. And don’t be fooled, this just shy of 300 page book packed a hearty punch. Less really is more when the right words are used. Full of flaws, regret, absence and addiction, this book encapsulates the most profound parts of life and the beauty and complexities of forgiveness.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author for an early digital copy.

Sarah Damoff’s debut novel, The Bright Years. It follows the multigenerational story of Lillian and Ryan and how their relationship develops from a love story to a marriage of secrets, addiction and tragedy. I am a few chapters in and already in love with the characters and rooting for their love to prevail. I have a feeling this story will pull at my heartstrings. ✨Thank you to @netgalley @simonandschuster @sarahdamoff for the advanced ebook of The Bright Years, out April 22, 2025.✨ #books #booklover #bookstagram #bibliophile #netgalley #simonandschuster #thebrightyears #sarahdamoff #noseinabook

I am very impressed with this debut novel by author Sarah Damoff. Damoff really delivered powerful storytelling with this multigenerational drama. The Bright Years deals with addictions, abandonment, trauma, and the power of forgiveness. I had no idea what this book was about before reading it, but I am so glad I picked it up. The author did a great job developing the characters and I was just really sucked into this story. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This novel is refreshingly quiet and mundane (ie not explosive and overly dramatic) for being centered around alcoholism and spousal abuse. It was interesting to see the generational patterns and impacts. But I particularly appreciated the way that the author explored how subsequent generations in this family partially heal some of their inherited trauma while continuing on with smaller residual unhealthy coping mechanisms. I think this novel would be very popular with book clubs.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff is one of the best books I’ve read this year—hands down. I devoured it in a single sitting and was an absolute mess by the end. I highlighted passage after passage, my heart breaking and swelling for these characters. I already know I’ll be pressing this book into everyone’s hands.

This sweeping, multigenerational debut traces the lives of Lillian, Ryan, and their daughter Georgette over six decades. It’s beautifully written, deeply emotional, and unflinching in its depiction of addiction, abandonment, regret, and the long shadows they cast across generations. But despite its heaviness, The Bright Years also pulses with love, resilience, and moments of light that cut through the dark.

Lillian, Ryan, and Jet felt so real to me—flawed, aching, tender. I loved them fiercely and felt such sorrow for all they carried. Sarah Damoff brings each perspective to life with quiet power and an emotional truth that floored me. This is a story about second chances, found family, and the slow, painful work of forgiveness. It will leave you gutted and grateful.

I truly can’t believe this is a debut. Sarah Damoff’s prose is clear and evocative, and the structure—shifting points of view across time—adds layers of insight that deepen the emotional resonance. I’m still thinking about these characters and suspect I will be for a long time.

5 stars. All the stars. Read it.

All of the stars for this one. It broke my heart into a million pieces and gets bonus points for bringing me to tears. Addiction, heartache, generational trauma and so much love fill these pages. This is a beautifully written family drama. I’m already eager to see what this author does next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Trigger warning: Alcohol addiction, brief pregnancy loss.

I sobbed at multiple points in this story. What an emotional, beautiful ride! The Bright Years tells the story of Ryan and Lillian and their daughter Jet. The parents' marriage is torn apart by Ryan's alcohol addiction. This is a character-driven story that follows the family from the beginning to the end, and it does so beautifully. The writing was perfect and the story was thoughtful and deep. I didn't want to put it down. Even when there is grief it is beautiful.

The Bright Years is a debut novel that delves deeply into the multi-generational effects of alcoholism. I typically enjoy books that focus on generational trauma, and this novel held my interest for the first third or so. However, it then seemed to stall and coast to the end. The Bright Years isn't a fast-paced book, but more of a character study. The writing was generally good and descriptive. The exception was the continual dropping of era-relevant food or decor items, which felt, to me, forced.

If you have a strong interest or curiosity about alcoholism, particularly in a cross-generational context, you will appreciate this book. I'm an outlier in not loving the novel, and I'm not entirely sure if it was the book or me - I liked the writing enough to anticipate reading Damoff's next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-book in exchange for a review.

This novel showcases extraordinary storytelling, weaving a moving, tender, and uplifting tale. Spanning from 1958 to 2019, it follows four generations of a Texas family through three deeply personal perspectives. It captures how real-life challenges shape and shadow their journeys. Ryan and Lillian share a profound love, yet both conceal truths that cast long shadows over their bond. Decades later, their daughter Georgette uncovers the layers of her family’s past, forcing her to confront pivotal choices.

Richly layered and perfectly paced, this multigenerational saga explores powerful themes — addiction, buried truths, loss, resilience, heartache, and hope — all with emotional depth and authenticity.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in exchange for this honest review.

I love a good generational family drama, and this book was absolutely stunning. The writing is beautiful—so much so that I’m planning to buy a physical copy just to annotate it. Be prepared to get unreasonably invested in the lives of these characters; I gasped, I cried, I laughed, and I deeply felt every moment. What an incredible read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Trigger warning: addiction

The Bright Years is a tender, thoughtful novel about the complexities of family, the weight of secrets, and the long road toward forgiveness and is a book I know I will think about, long after finishing it.

Ryan and Lillian Bright seem to have built a beautiful life together with their young daughter, Georgette. But beneath the surface, each carries a secret—Lillian has a son she has never told Ryan about, and Ryan struggles with alcohol addiction. As Georgette grows up witnessing the cracks in her parents' marriage, a devastating event tears their family apart. Years later, when Lillian’s first son comes searching for his birth family, Georgette is forced to confront her past and decide what place love and forgiveness will have in her future.

Told through the alternating perspectives of Ryan, Lillian, and Georgette, this story captures the quiet heartbreak and hope that ripple through generations. Sarah Damoff writes with honesty and restraint, never over-dramatizing the pain these characters carry, but instead showing how small choices—and moments of grace—can shape a life.

While parts of the story are heavy, it never feels hopeless. The Bright Years is a moving reminder that even families that feel broken can sometimes find a way forward, and that sometimes healing is not about fixing the past, but about choosing to move your way thorough it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free review copy.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review! I was super excited to get this ARC and immediately dove in. The story primarily follows a family of 3 where the dad’s side struggles with alcoholism. The book is split into the mom, child’s and dad POVs. This is very much a character study in grief, addiction and familial bonds both blood and found, but the perspectives varied for me. I really enjoyed the moms and found some lines that blew me away but the child’s and fathers felt much immature and I was not as plugged in. This writer has a lot of potential but it should’ve been a longer book with tighter editing. I’m a maybe if you’re a fan of family dramas!