the setup� Lillian Wright and Ryan Brighton meet in a library and before they know it, are deeply in love and marry. They want to combine their names bthe setup� Lillian Wright and Ryan Brighton meet in a library and before they know it, are deeply in love and marry. They want to combine their names but it sounds comical so they become the Bright family. They open his art gallery and she leaves her bank job to help manage the marketing. Later comes daughter Georgette who they call Jet and then things begin to unravel. Lillian shares a big secret with Ryan who later turns to alcohol, a legacy from his father he’d vowed to never repeat.
the heart of the story� This is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I can remember reading in a long time. Both things are true at the same time, which makes it remarkable. The writing is exquisite as Lillian, Jet and Ryan share their life experiences against the backdrop of alcoholism. It’s tough to not resent the alcoholic and remember it’s a disease, not a choice between loved ones and the bottle. Lillian puts the first strokes on the canvas of the Bright family’s life, with all the “bright� times and dark ones, followed by Jet and Ryan.
the narration� If any story needed multiple narrators it’s this one. Ferdelle Capistrano, Joy Osmanski & Lee Osorio graced these characters with terrific performances, especially Osmanski who gave Lillian a wistful quality that made her story powerful.
the bottom line� First, don’t read the synopsis because it gives away too much. Next, it’s inexplicable that this is Damhoff’s debut novel because it reads like it was crafted with a seasoned hand. Lastly, it’s a raw look at the destructiveness of alcoholism, one I experienced with a beloved uncle who I never saw sober. I felt every high, low and things in between and was crying at the end, something rare for me. Treat yourself to the most powerful reading experience, elevated even more on audio.
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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)...more
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