There are two books that I didn't get to feature this summer, but I realize that they actually are perfect for the fall season. One is a heartfelt family drama and the other is a murder mystery that involves influencers.
Goodreads says, "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."
It's 1979 in Texas, and bank teller Lillian Wright meets Ryan Brighton. After a lengthy courtship and despite all his complicated family history, Lillian marries Ryan. But she has a secret about a pregnancy she had before she met Ryan. This will come into play later in the novel when her son comes back into the picture. Also, Ryan's life wasn't easy in a family that struggles with alcohol, and then Lillian finds out that Ryan also has issues with alcohol. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, they have daughter, Georgette. But Ryan never chooses his family over alcohol, and the vicious cycle continues for generations with long-lasting impacts. Sarah Damoff's debut novel, The Bright Years, is a heartfelt story that was moving, poignant, and oftentimes very sad.
The Bright Years alternates points of view between Georgette and Lillian (and later Ryan), which really offers readers a perspective and insight into these characters and how Ryan's choices have a rippling effect on the lives of the people he loves. Damoff is a social worker, and readers can tell how she obviously has experience with this topic and can truly illustrate how addiction impacts families. The story felt like it rang true, and while I found it heartbreaking and depressing, the final pages did leave me with hope. If you enjoy moving novels about generations of people and families, look no further. Damoff's debut is well-written and memorable.
Goodreads says, "Lizzie and Bex were best friends in college. After graduation, Bex vanished, leaving Lizzie confused and devastated.
Fifteen years later, Bex is now Rebecca Sommers, a “traditional” Instagram influencer with millions of followers who salivate over her perfect life on her ranch with her five children and handsome husband, Gray. Lizzie is a struggling magazine writer, watching reels while her young children demand her attention.
One night out of the blue, Bex calls Lizzie with a career-making proposition—an exclusive interview with her about her multimillion-dollar business venture and an invitation to MomBomb, the high-profile influencing conference.
At the conference, Bex goes missing and Gray is found brutally murdered on their ranch. Lizzie finds herself plunged into the dark side of the cutthroat world of social media that includes jealousy, sordid affairs, swingers, and backstabbing. She must learn who her old friend has become and who she has double-crossed to try to find her, clear her name, and maybe even save her life.
Piazza’s master storytelling and razor-sharp insight into the world of social media brings us a pulpy, juicy, and cleverly plotted read that will have you guessing all the way through and leave you gasping for more."
I am always a fan of Jo Piazza's novels, and Everyone is Lying to You was no different. The story felt like readers were peeking behind the curtains at not only the type of women that are featured on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Duggars, etc, but also influencers that come across your feed on Instagram. I like how Piazza peels back the layers in that none of this is real. These influencers are a business, and while they are trying to tell women to just bake cookies at home or milk their own cow, they are actually raking in the dough with endorsements, partnerships, etc. While this message felt a little preachy over and over again, I was still invested in what happened to Bex, her husband, and I wanted Lizzie to uncover not only what happened, but also what Bex's life is actually like on the farm with her sexist husband and her gaggle of kids. Originally pitched as a summer read, I am glad I left this book for September, because it's the perfect fall read, especially with the murder mystery.
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