The Bright Years

Newly married and deeply in love, Ryan and Lillian Bright seem poised for a joyful future with their baby daughter, Georgette. But beneath the surface of their fresh start lie two truths neither has shared: Lillian once gave up a son for adoption, and Ryan is quietly battling a devastating addiction. As Georgette grows up in the shadow of her parents’ unraveling marriage, she watches love become strained and fragile, shaping her understanding of trust, belonging, and resilience.

Years later, after tragedy splinters their already fragile trio, Georgette distances herself from the wreckage of the past. But when the son Lillian gave up returns in search of his family, Georgette is drawn back to the very history she tried to escape. Confronted with long-buried truths and unexpected connections, she must decide whether she can let love—and her family—back in before it’s too late.

Told through the intimate voices of Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette, The Bright Years is a deeply moving novel about the legacies we inherit, the pain we carry, and the grace that can bring us back home. Heartfelt, wise, and full of emotional insight, this is a story that reminds us that even in our most fractured moments, healing is still possible.