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The Bright Years
By Sarah Damoff
Table of Contents
About The Book
A National Bestseller
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 family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo.
“Outstanding...through Damoff’s beautiful, at times almost poetic narrative, we see hope through the darkness, and how love—and forgiveness—can make us whole.” —Elle
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, debut 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.
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 family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo.
“Outstanding...through Damoff’s beautiful, at times almost poetic narrative, we see hope through the darkness, and how love—and forgiveness—can make us whole.” —Elle
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, debut 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.
Reading Group Guide
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What other novels do you think The Bright Years is in conversation with? In what ways?
Why do you think Lillian withheld the reality that she had placed a baby for adoption from those closest to her? Do you think she was wrong to do so?
When Lillian miscarries, there is a passage (p. 41) where time is moving backward. Why do you think the author chose to do this here? Were there other instances in the book when the treatment of time stood out to you?
Lillian tells Jet that “love doesn’t always feel like we expect.” How does this come up in the parent-child relationships? How does it come up in the romantic relationships?
On page 66, Lillian thinks, “I hate him. But hate is anemic when love hangs around like turpentine in the upholstery.” And on page 97, Ryan begs Lillian to hate him. She replies that she does, but she also loves him. How does this complexity of heart follow them throughout the story?
Which character did you relate to the most?
On page 203, Jet thinks about how Elise’s love “is composed of practicalities.” How did Elise’s choices impact the generations after her? Why do you think grandmothers are so often a stabilizing force in a family?
Jet observes her dad and wonders, “What’s the difference between an excuse and a reason?” What do you think the answer to this question is?
Which relationship did you see as central in the book? Why?
How did the ending of the story impact you? In the classic sense, would you call this book a tragedy or comedy? Did the ending make you see anyone or anything differently in your own life?
Why do you think Lillian withheld the reality that she had placed a baby for adoption from those closest to her? Do you think she was wrong to do so?
When Lillian miscarries, there is a passage (p. 41) where time is moving backward. Why do you think the author chose to do this here? Were there other instances in the book when the treatment of time stood out to you?
Lillian tells Jet that “love doesn’t always feel like we expect.” How does this come up in the parent-child relationships? How does it come up in the romantic relationships?
On page 66, Lillian thinks, “I hate him. But hate is anemic when love hangs around like turpentine in the upholstery.” And on page 97, Ryan begs Lillian to hate him. She replies that she does, but she also loves him. How does this complexity of heart follow them throughout the story?
Which character did you relate to the most?
On page 203, Jet thinks about how Elise’s love “is composed of practicalities.” How did Elise’s choices impact the generations after her? Why do you think grandmothers are so often a stabilizing force in a family?
Jet observes her dad and wonders, “What’s the difference between an excuse and a reason?” What do you think the answer to this question is?
Which relationship did you see as central in the book? Why?
How did the ending of the story impact you? In the classic sense, would you call this book a tragedy or comedy? Did the ending make you see anyone or anything differently in your own life?
About The Author
Photograph by Kaylynn Krieg
Sarah Damoff lives in Texas with her husband and children, where she 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. Visit Sarah at SarahDamoff.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 21, 2026)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668061459
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Bright Years Trade Paperback 9781668061459
- Author Photo (jpg): Sarah Damoff Photograph by Kaylynn Krieg(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
The Bright Years
By Sarah Damoff
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