The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

From debut author Sarah Damoff, The Bright Years is a luminous and meditative novel spanning decades. In 1958, a young boy named Ryan and his mother flee their abusive home. Almost twenty years later, Ryan meets Lilian, a woman he falls deeply in love with. They appear to be the perfect couple, soon marrying and becoming parents to a baby girl called Georgette. 

The cracks begin to show when Ryan turns to alcohol to cope with the trauma caused by his father’s violence. Meanwhile Lilian, still grieving the death of her parents, is left to care for their daughter who reminds her of the secret child she gave up for adoption years earlier.

The already crumbling family structure is damaged further when a tragic event occurs, followed by Lilian’s son tracking her down. A teenage Georgette is then forced to reckon with the effects of her upbringing. 

The beauty in this novel lies within its prose, and in the seamless execution of a well paced multigenerational story. With themes of addiction, trauma, and the power of a loving family, both biological and chosen, this is not to be missed. The Bright Years is on sale April 2025 and is available for pre-order now. 

Sarah Damoff by Kaylynn Krieg

Sarah Damoff lives in Texas with her husband and children, where she works is a social worker. Her work has appeared in Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. The Bright Years is her debut novel.

The Bright Years is releasing April 2025 and is available for pre-order now. Check Bookshop.org or Libro.fm to support an indie year you.

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