by: Sarah Damoff
Goodreads Synopsis:
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.
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.
When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.
Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love.
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓
This is on a lot of “must read” lists. I was very attracted to the cover art and book jacket blurb (dysfunction is my favorite!). The beginning was good…a conventional love story…I had read there was a big plot twist halfway through so that had me hooked…I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book didn’t really do it for me…overrated.
Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓1/2
I actually liked this one, too. It is also quite depressing – there is an overabundance of secret-keeping in this story, and some of the characters are just very sad, but somehow the completely dysfunctional relationships continue. I do think there are many realisms of life with an alcoholic partner/parent. Read it.
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 