12 Must-Read Books If You Loved The Bright Years

Of course I had to include Sarah Damoff’s second novel, The Burning Side. Just like her debut book, this one evokes emotions that resonate deeply with readers as we witness all the big and little bits that make up a life. New premise, new characters, but still she writes about life, love, and the pain and joy that are inescapably intertwined in both. Or, as the publisher describes this book: “It is, above all, about the meaning of home and the costs of long love.”

Bonus: Damoff’s third book is in the works! At the time of this writing, State of Care does not have a publication date, but keep an eye out.

One friend called this book disturbing, another called it incredible. I’d say both, but worth it. This story follows a family whose life changes in an instant, and the tragedies that ripple outward from that one moment. It’s a story of love, resilience, and sacrifice. It’s a family trying to do the right thing when everything feels broken. 

Some of what happens in these pages is hard to sit with. It helped me to remember the characters weren’t so much doing these things as having them done to them, the unthinkable fallout from one tragic event. If you stick with it, you will be rewarded.

A sweeping love story with the twists of a thriller, this is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences. While reading this book, I wondered how Claire Leslie Hall could end it in a way I would find remotely satisfying, but then she landed it flawlessly. Though there were pieces of the story that troubled me deeply, this novel was a 5-star reading experience. I don’t want to say too much, but I will say Ms. Hall knows how to write emotion. This would be a perfect book club pick with so much to talk about.

If you knew then what you know now, would you make the same choice? This is the story of Evie, a young woman struggling to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragic accident. Secrets emerge that might shatter her world and make Evie question every decision she has ever made. This time around, she’s seeing all the things she missed – and the life she gets to choose…again.

This book was inspired by a lifetime of conversations with female friends and also by the work of Emma’s daughter Hannah Robertson, who recently completed a PhD researching gendered violence. She has fictionalized the themes of both into this story.

When you care enough for someone to follow them to the edge of civilization, it’s hard to know how close you are to tumbling over the precipice. This is another book that explores the difficult choices love demands.

1974 Alaska. As Ernt battles postwar volatility, Cora clings fiercely to love, and young Leni searches for belonging. They are struggling to survive the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, but the most frightening dangers are within their own walls. Another searing novel by Kristin Hannah, this one will have you feeling all the feels.

For 70 years, Abe and Ruth Winters have fallen in and out of lockstep, and from their haunting losses and guarded secrets, a dependable partnership has been forged. Exploring a lifetime of big moments in subtle ways, this book is a reminder that true love lives in small, everyday moments.

I haven’t read this one yet, but have it on good authority (many fellow readers 😉) that this is a perfect choice.

Dominick Birdsey finds his subdued life greatly disturbed when his identical twin brother Thomas, a paranoid schizophrenic, commits a shocking act of self-mutilation. Forced to confront dark family secrets and his own buried pain, Dominick embarks on a journey of the soul that takes him beyond his blue-collar New England town to Sicily’s Mount Etna, the birthplace of his grandfather. Coming to terms with the generational trauma of his lineage, Dominick struggles to find forgiveness and rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his troubled twin.

This book is classic uplit: hard topics are treated with handfuls of grace and buckets of humor. Two estranged sisters. A mother concealing a terminal illness. One A-Z scavenger hunt to heal old hurts. 

This easy-to-read story is witty and insightful, but be warned, letters “T” and “Y” are going to break your heart.

The beginning of the book was setting the stage for the story of a marriage grown strained and nearing its end…I thought. But I was wrong. This is a story about deep, sacrificing love. About grief. About second chances. The characters were not perfectly lovable (some not even likable at times), but they were relatable. It’s hard to say more without giving away too much.

If you’re a sensitive reader, do your research before picking this one up. There are lots of big events and emotions here. I won’t spell them out because of spoilers.

This is the story of a beautiful person torn between worlds. Gabriel is born to an excommunicated Amish woman who dies delivering her 18-pound baby boy (you read that right). Raised by his Amish grandparents, Gabriel grows to eight feet tall and possesses extraordinary athletic abilities. With conflicts between faith and the secular world, the exposition of dark family secrets, and the effects of the world’s adoration showered on a gentle giant, you will have plenty to struggle with as well as embrace.

You’re not supposed to like the deceiver in a domestic thriller, right? Rosie Walsh throws that convention out to sea when she creates the characters in this book, and she does it brilliantly. As with other books by this author, this story doesn’t fall into a single genre, and while that may bother some readers, I find it to be a reflection of, well… life.

Moral dilemmas abound in this book, and the author hopes to open discussions around those topics. This would be another great book club book (and I wrote questions for you!)

Despite being marketed as a “thriller,” this is a slow-burn, atmospheric novel, heavy on the character development. It’s a story of tragedy and its aftermath: the loss of a son, the unraveling of a family, the death of a town, the struggle to find a way forward.

This is a mystery — two, actually — and there are twists, but you won’t get whiplash. You will get emotion, reflection, and a well-told, really good story. Take your time as you read this, because grief should not be rushed. Neither should the truth.