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The Burning Side
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 269 hours
From the author of The Bright Years, the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.
When April and Leo’s house burns in the middle of the night, they escape with their two young children and the quiet knowledge that the fire is not the only thing threatening their family. They retreat to April’s childhood home in Dallas, where her spirited parents and siblings provide both comfort and complication.
As the family reckons with the aftermath—grief, guilt, logistics, and memories scorched and intact—the fire exposes the cracks already forming in April and Leo’s marriage. The novel unfolds in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here.
A family saga suffused with humor, longing, and heartbreak, The Burning Side is about what we inherit and what we choose, about forgiveness and the ache of being known. It is, above all, about the meaning of home and the costs of long love.
From the author of The Bright Years, the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.
When April and Leo’s house burns in the middle of the night, they escape with their two young children and the quiet knowledge that the fire is not the only thing threatening their family. They retreat to April’s childhood home in Dallas, where her spirited parents and siblings provide both comfort and complication.
As the family reckons with the aftermath—grief, guilt, logistics, and memories scorched and intact—the fire exposes the cracks already forming in April and Leo’s marriage. The novel unfolds in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here.
A family saga suffused with humor, longing, and heartbreak, The Burning Side is about what we inherit and what we choose, about forgiveness and the ache of being known. It is, above all, about the meaning of home and the costs of long love.
9 pages, Audiobook
Expected publication May 19, 2026
About the author
Sarah Damoff
5 books1,713 followersSarah Damoff is the author of the debut novel, THE BRIGHT YEARS, published by Simon & Schuster on April 22, 2025. It was a national bestseller; a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist; Southern Literary Review Book of the Year; and it is being translated into twelve languages. Her writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. She holds a degree in Family Studies and a Child Protection Certification from Harvard University. A Texas native, Sarah lives with her husband and children in Dallas, where she has been a social worker. Her second novel, THE BURNING SIDE, is forthcoming in May 2026.
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April 8, 2026
I know it’s way too early to declare that I’ve found the best book of 2026, but I’m going to say it anyway—and I will stand by it. This book is a MASTERPIECE.
The characterization is so flawless, so deeply human, that every single character feels like someone you know—someone you love. They feel like family members you want to spend time with: firing up the grill for a backyard barbecue, dancing in the kitchen to “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” devouring the pastries Deb lovingly bakes, doing puzzles with Sadie, belting out “Summer Nights” from Grease with Josie, or cuddling sweet little Otto. These people crawl into your heart and stay there.
This book will tear you apart, shatter your heart into a million sharp glass pieces, and leave you crying until you’re certain there can’t possibly be a single tear left to shed. And yet—somehow—it is also comforting, hopeful, and deeply affirming. It reminds you of love, tenderness, and self-worth. It paints a breathtaking portrait of a family that is far from perfect but achingly real: messy, warm, silly, supportive, deeply flawed, and endlessly kind.
The story opens with pure devastation. In the middle of the night, April flees her burning house, clutching her baby in one arm and the book her husband has written in the other. Moments later, Leo emerges from the flames carrying their daughter. Everyone is safe—but nothing else is. April is in shock, because the fire is her fault. She had been boiling pasta when Leo asked for a divorce. In that moment, everything inside her froze. She forgot the stove. She forgot herself. She floated outside her own body and watched as the home they built, the life they shared, and the marriage they nurtured went up in flames together.
With nowhere else to go, April and Leo move into her parents’ home while dealing with the aftermath. Leo hesitates. Living with the Russo family—Deb and Billy—means confronting a truth he’s been avoiding for years: they are the only real family he’s ever known. His own parents abandoned him, leaving him to be raised by an aunt before cutting ties completely. Deb and Billy never treated him like a son-in-law—they treated him like their fourth child, offering unconditional love, protection, and belonging. Walking away from April means walking away from all of them: from Deb, Billy, and from April’s siblings, Josie and Cameron, who became his own family along the way.
As April and Leo try to maintain appearances for the sake of their children, buying time while waiting to learn whether the house can be salvaged, Leo remains determined to end the marriage. April, desperate and heartbroken, begs him to see things from her side. During this fragile time, Deb quietly carries the weight of a painful truth—a serious health issue affecting Billy that she has been shielding the family from in an attempt to protect them. When this reality finally surfaces, it shakes everyone to the core and forces each character to confront what truly matters.
Life, as this book so beautifully reminds us, doesn’t deliver pain or joy in neat packages. Triumphs and tragedies arrive side by side: new job opportunities, unexpected successes, marriage proposals, a child’s magical first visit from the tooth fairy—alongside heartbreak, illness, loss, and unbearable truths. Yet through it all, the bonds of family are tested, stretched, and—sometimes—made even stronger.
Houses can burn. Marriages can fracture. Hearts can break. Memories can fade. Tears will fall. But real love—the kind rooted in trust, loyalty, and deep understanding—can survive even the fiercest storms. The question is: will they survive this one?
There were moments when I wanted to shake both April and Leo and scream at them to stop being so stubborn—especially Leo. I rooted for them with my whole heart. Deb and Billy absolutely stole the show for me: watching them grow, support one another, and face life with quiet strength was profoundly moving.
The final chapters broke me… and then gently put me back together again. I felt everything at once: sorrow, love, reality’s harsh truths, illness, healing, trust, loyalty—and life itself, with all its brutal beauty and unexpected grace.
No more words. This isn’t just my favorite book of 2026 so far—it has already secured a place among my all-time favorite books.
If you don’t read this book—if you don’t buy a copy immediately or at least add it to your TBR—I will personally come to your house and sing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” at full volume until your ears bleed. (I have a lot of travel miles and an Uber discount.) Trust me, my voice is terrible. To avoid this fate, please just buy the book.
(That last sentence was delivered in my most professional customer-service tone.)
Millions of thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this MASTERPIECE’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The characterization is so flawless, so deeply human, that every single character feels like someone you know—someone you love. They feel like family members you want to spend time with: firing up the grill for a backyard barbecue, dancing in the kitchen to “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” devouring the pastries Deb lovingly bakes, doing puzzles with Sadie, belting out “Summer Nights” from Grease with Josie, or cuddling sweet little Otto. These people crawl into your heart and stay there.
This book will tear you apart, shatter your heart into a million sharp glass pieces, and leave you crying until you’re certain there can’t possibly be a single tear left to shed. And yet—somehow—it is also comforting, hopeful, and deeply affirming. It reminds you of love, tenderness, and self-worth. It paints a breathtaking portrait of a family that is far from perfect but achingly real: messy, warm, silly, supportive, deeply flawed, and endlessly kind.
The story opens with pure devastation. In the middle of the night, April flees her burning house, clutching her baby in one arm and the book her husband has written in the other. Moments later, Leo emerges from the flames carrying their daughter. Everyone is safe—but nothing else is. April is in shock, because the fire is her fault. She had been boiling pasta when Leo asked for a divorce. In that moment, everything inside her froze. She forgot the stove. She forgot herself. She floated outside her own body and watched as the home they built, the life they shared, and the marriage they nurtured went up in flames together.
With nowhere else to go, April and Leo move into her parents’ home while dealing with the aftermath. Leo hesitates. Living with the Russo family—Deb and Billy—means confronting a truth he’s been avoiding for years: they are the only real family he’s ever known. His own parents abandoned him, leaving him to be raised by an aunt before cutting ties completely. Deb and Billy never treated him like a son-in-law—they treated him like their fourth child, offering unconditional love, protection, and belonging. Walking away from April means walking away from all of them: from Deb, Billy, and from April’s siblings, Josie and Cameron, who became his own family along the way.
As April and Leo try to maintain appearances for the sake of their children, buying time while waiting to learn whether the house can be salvaged, Leo remains determined to end the marriage. April, desperate and heartbroken, begs him to see things from her side. During this fragile time, Deb quietly carries the weight of a painful truth—a serious health issue affecting Billy that she has been shielding the family from in an attempt to protect them. When this reality finally surfaces, it shakes everyone to the core and forces each character to confront what truly matters.
Life, as this book so beautifully reminds us, doesn’t deliver pain or joy in neat packages. Triumphs and tragedies arrive side by side: new job opportunities, unexpected successes, marriage proposals, a child’s magical first visit from the tooth fairy—alongside heartbreak, illness, loss, and unbearable truths. Yet through it all, the bonds of family are tested, stretched, and—sometimes—made even stronger.
Houses can burn. Marriages can fracture. Hearts can break. Memories can fade. Tears will fall. But real love—the kind rooted in trust, loyalty, and deep understanding—can survive even the fiercest storms. The question is: will they survive this one?
There were moments when I wanted to shake both April and Leo and scream at them to stop being so stubborn—especially Leo. I rooted for them with my whole heart. Deb and Billy absolutely stole the show for me: watching them grow, support one another, and face life with quiet strength was profoundly moving.
The final chapters broke me… and then gently put me back together again. I felt everything at once: sorrow, love, reality’s harsh truths, illness, healing, trust, loyalty—and life itself, with all its brutal beauty and unexpected grace.
No more words. This isn’t just my favorite book of 2026 so far—it has already secured a place among my all-time favorite books.
If you don’t read this book—if you don’t buy a copy immediately or at least add it to your TBR—I will personally come to your house and sing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” at full volume until your ears bleed. (I have a lot of travel miles and an Uber discount.) Trust me, my voice is terrible. To avoid this fate, please just buy the book.
(That last sentence was delivered in my most professional customer-service tone.)
Millions of thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this MASTERPIECE’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster. All opinions are my own.
Some novels move you while you're reading them. Others linger long after the final page.
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff firmly belongs to the latter. All the stars! 😭
Opening with a devastating house fire that irrevocably alters the lives the Russo/Torres family- the novel traces the emotional aftermath through three alternating perspectives, Leo, April and Deb.
What unfolds is not simply a story about tragedy, but about consequence — how grief reshapes relationships, how families fracture and endure, and how love persists even when understanding feels out of reach.
Damoff's greatest strength lies in her character work. Each perspective is rendered with such depth and compassion that the characters feel believably real.
I found myself thinking about Leo and April even after picking up another book, mentally returning to their choices and emotional journeys as though they existed beyond the confines of the story.
Deb's chapters resonated especially deeply with me. Her portrayal captures, with remarkable honesty, the quiet emotional weight mothers often carry - so much given, so much absorbed, often without recognition.
Reading her perspective left me reflecting on and appreciating my own mother in ways I hadn't expected.
One of the novel's most impressive achievements is how it gently dismantles the reader's instinct to judge. I initially struggled with certain decisions - particularly April's actions and Leo's reactions — yet as the narrative expands, understanding replaces certainty.
Damoff allows space for contradiction and humanity, reminding us that people are rarely defined by their worst moments. By the novel's midpoint, I wasn't evaluating these characters anymore; I was rooting for all of them.
Though sparked by a singular tragedy, the emotional core of The Burning Side feels profoundly universal: life happens, mistakes happen, and love ultimately becomes a choice made repeatedly in imperfect circumstances.
I cried and sobbed throughout much of this story— not from manipulation, but from recognition. ❤️🩹
My digital ARC from Simon & Schuster is heavily highlighted, and I'm already looking forward to revisiting it in physical form.
With back-to-back five-star reads, Sarah Damoff has secured a place on my auto-read author list. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.
Yeee! Simon and Schuster how I loveeee theee! I HAD plans for another book tonight lol but getting this arc might have changed them… 💖
Expected pub date - 5/19/26
The Bright Side review
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Some novels move you while you're reading them. Others linger long after the final page.
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff firmly belongs to the latter. All the stars! 😭
Opening with a devastating house fire that irrevocably alters the lives the Russo/Torres family- the novel traces the emotional aftermath through three alternating perspectives, Leo, April and Deb.
What unfolds is not simply a story about tragedy, but about consequence — how grief reshapes relationships, how families fracture and endure, and how love persists even when understanding feels out of reach.
Damoff's greatest strength lies in her character work. Each perspective is rendered with such depth and compassion that the characters feel believably real.
I found myself thinking about Leo and April even after picking up another book, mentally returning to their choices and emotional journeys as though they existed beyond the confines of the story.
Deb's chapters resonated especially deeply with me. Her portrayal captures, with remarkable honesty, the quiet emotional weight mothers often carry - so much given, so much absorbed, often without recognition.
Reading her perspective left me reflecting on and appreciating my own mother in ways I hadn't expected.
One of the novel's most impressive achievements is how it gently dismantles the reader's instinct to judge. I initially struggled with certain decisions - particularly April's actions and Leo's reactions — yet as the narrative expands, understanding replaces certainty.
Damoff allows space for contradiction and humanity, reminding us that people are rarely defined by their worst moments. By the novel's midpoint, I wasn't evaluating these characters anymore; I was rooting for all of them.
Though sparked by a singular tragedy, the emotional core of The Burning Side feels profoundly universal: life happens, mistakes happen, and love ultimately becomes a choice made repeatedly in imperfect circumstances.
I cried and sobbed throughout much of this story— not from manipulation, but from recognition. ❤️🩹
My digital ARC from Simon & Schuster is heavily highlighted, and I'm already looking forward to revisiting it in physical form.
With back-to-back five-star reads, Sarah Damoff has secured a place on my auto-read author list. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.
Yeee! Simon and Schuster how I loveeee theee! I HAD plans for another book tonight lol but getting this arc might have changed them… 💖
Expected pub date - 5/19/26
The Bright Side review
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
March 30, 2026
5 beautiful aching speechless stars 😭 get your libby holds in and your tissues ready!
i must admit i went into this one with some walls up because while i really respected the bright years, i struggled to fully connect with the characters at times. but THIS! this really made sarah damoff click for me!
what sarah damoff does so well is she takes the most everyday parts of life and puts them under a microscope. marriage, family, caregiving, guilt, resentment, memory, are masterfully plucked out & pulled apart & put back together in such a simple but striking way.
this is the kind of book where seemingly nothing happens, but emotionally everything is happening. the chapters are quick, the pacing is strong, and i could not put it down because i just needed to keep understanding each character a little more.
i also really loved the wider cast of characters here because it made the story feel much richer. having all these different perspectives made it easier to find someone to connect to in every corner of the book. deb’s POV might have been my favorite, but i honestly grew attached to all of them. everyone felt so flawed and frustrating and caring and real.
april and leo’s lack of communication definitely got to me at times, but it felt believable in a way that worked. the emotional baggage, the housing situation, the responsibility of the children, the grief, all of it made their disconnect feel so honest rather than contrived. and i loved the way their burned house really parallels their relationship throughout the story, both of them having to sort through what was lost and what was still worth saving.
this book hurt in the best way. it broke my heart and stitched it back together and ripped it up again. just a really beautiful reminder that the human experience is both devastating and remarkable.
p.s. content warning for alzheimer’s, which plays a significant role in the story. it was incredibly sad to read, but felt like it was handled with a lot of care and honesty.
thank you to simon & schuster and netgalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review 💌
i must admit i went into this one with some walls up because while i really respected the bright years, i struggled to fully connect with the characters at times. but THIS! this really made sarah damoff click for me!
what sarah damoff does so well is she takes the most everyday parts of life and puts them under a microscope. marriage, family, caregiving, guilt, resentment, memory, are masterfully plucked out & pulled apart & put back together in such a simple but striking way.
this is the kind of book where seemingly nothing happens, but emotionally everything is happening. the chapters are quick, the pacing is strong, and i could not put it down because i just needed to keep understanding each character a little more.
i also really loved the wider cast of characters here because it made the story feel much richer. having all these different perspectives made it easier to find someone to connect to in every corner of the book. deb’s POV might have been my favorite, but i honestly grew attached to all of them. everyone felt so flawed and frustrating and caring and real.
april and leo’s lack of communication definitely got to me at times, but it felt believable in a way that worked. the emotional baggage, the housing situation, the responsibility of the children, the grief, all of it made their disconnect feel so honest rather than contrived. and i loved the way their burned house really parallels their relationship throughout the story, both of them having to sort through what was lost and what was still worth saving.
this book hurt in the best way. it broke my heart and stitched it back together and ripped it up again. just a really beautiful reminder that the human experience is both devastating and remarkable.
p.s. content warning for alzheimer’s, which plays a significant role in the story. it was incredibly sad to read, but felt like it was handled with a lot of care and honesty.
thank you to simon & schuster and netgalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review 💌
March 25, 2026
Absolutely incredible.
April 11, 2026
5++++ stars!
You know how it is when you love a book so much that you don’t even know what to say about it because whatever you say will be inadequate?
This is that book for me. It’s the type of character-driven story that makes you pause and reflect, a book that grabs you and doesn’t let go, even after the last page is turned.
The authors debut, THE BRIGHT YEARS, was a 5 star read for me and now the author has done it again.
Sarah Damoff has a background in social work, and it shows. She shows such tender loving care and understanding toward her characters.
The author has a keen insight into human behavior and writes beautifully. it’s the type of writing where one powerful line can say so much and evoke such emotion. Were I to use my highlighter nearly every line would be highlighted.
I loved each and every character. I cared about them deeply, and was completely invested in their stories. There’s heartbreak here but also hope.
Also….how have I lived so many years and not heard this song by Ben Folds? It’s achingly beautiful, much like this book! (The song plays a part in the book)
https://youtu.be/f9bRmuP-kQY?si=g1MT1...
I won’t repeat the synopsis of the plot here. This book is so much more than that, it can’t be reduced to a paragraph.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
You know how it is when you love a book so much that you don’t even know what to say about it because whatever you say will be inadequate?
This is that book for me. It’s the type of character-driven story that makes you pause and reflect, a book that grabs you and doesn’t let go, even after the last page is turned.
The authors debut, THE BRIGHT YEARS, was a 5 star read for me and now the author has done it again.
Sarah Damoff has a background in social work, and it shows. She shows such tender loving care and understanding toward her characters.
The author has a keen insight into human behavior and writes beautifully. it’s the type of writing where one powerful line can say so much and evoke such emotion. Were I to use my highlighter nearly every line would be highlighted.
I loved each and every character. I cared about them deeply, and was completely invested in their stories. There’s heartbreak here but also hope.
Also….how have I lived so many years and not heard this song by Ben Folds? It’s achingly beautiful, much like this book! (The song plays a part in the book)
https://youtu.be/f9bRmuP-kQY?si=g1MT1...
I won’t repeat the synopsis of the plot here. This book is so much more than that, it can’t be reduced to a paragraph.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
REVIEW TO COME😭😭!!!!!!!
🌅✨🌻⏳After loving The Bright Years, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of my most anticipated reads of 2026🌅✨🌻⏳!!!!!!!!
🌅✨🌻⏳After loving The Bright Years, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of my most anticipated reads of 2026🌅✨🌻⏳!!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I feel so incredibly lucky to be living in a world where I get to experience stories like these. I was lucky enough to arc read Sarah Damoff's debut, The Bright Years, last year (please go read it) and it was my top read of 2025. So imagine my EXTREME excitement when the publisher sent me The Burning Side to arc read as well. I had a little cry and immediately dived back into the world and writing of one of my favorite authors. I know we are only in January but I'm telling you right now, The Burning Side will be in my top books of 2026. This book was everything to me. This book reminded me why I love reading so much and the portrayals of love, grief, happiness, sacrifice, and vulnerability made me sob so many times. This book is a true treasure.
The Burning Side is the story of a married couple, April and Leo, who are on the brink of collapse. The books begins with gut-wrenching devastation as their family home burns in the middle of the night. The scenes of April and Leo running out of the house clutching their children were so visceral and heartbreaking. In the aftermath, April is stuck in time after the fire because she blames herself. The night before Leo tells her he wants a divorce and in a daze of shock April forgets to turn off the stove. One small mistake turns into everything they knew into flames. Now forced to abandon their home, the family finds themselves retreating back to April's parents house in Dallas as they try to salvage not only their home but their marriage.
This book shines in its characterization and the synopsis says it best. "Told in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here." Living with April's parents brings a whole new set of challenges, tension, and complications to the family but I loved getting all the context to each of the characters through their perspectives and the flashbacks.
In the wake of Billy's diagnosis, the family begins to confront and question what really matters. This book reminds us just how fragile, beautiful, and devastating life can be at times. It captures both the complexities and still moments of familial relationships: grilling in the backyard, quiet sacrifices, mornings with the tooth fairy, and unimaginable hardships. Sarah's writing was so honest and respectful to the topics in the book and filled with emotion on every page. The ending chapters absolutely broke me but also made me feel so hopeful. We only get one life to live and this book is a gentle reminder to do just that, live.
Where The Bright Years feels like hit after hit leaving you in a sobbing mess, The Burning Side is a quiet heartbreak that unravels over the course of the book. It is a breathtaking portrayal of a family that is deeply flawed, messy, real but also comforting, warm, silly, and so so supportive of each other in every avenue. It is a beautifully written book that will stay with my forever.
Thank you endlessly to Simon & Schuster and Sarah Damoff for the eARC in exchange for my review. I already have my copy pre ordered and I truly cannot recommend this book enough! Sarah Damoff has solidified herself as of one my all-time favorite authors with The Burning Side and I feel so lucky I got to read this early 💖
-----------------------------------------
update: I GOT THE ARC gonna go sob and read now🥹🥹🥹
SARAH PLEASE IM BEGGING FOR AN ARC!!!
also if you haven’t read her debut, The Bright Years, go do it right now!!!
The Burning Side is the story of a married couple, April and Leo, who are on the brink of collapse. The books begins with gut-wrenching devastation as their family home burns in the middle of the night. The scenes of April and Leo running out of the house clutching their children were so visceral and heartbreaking. In the aftermath, April is stuck in time after the fire because she blames herself. The night before Leo tells her he wants a divorce and in a daze of shock April forgets to turn off the stove. One small mistake turns into everything they knew into flames. Now forced to abandon their home, the family finds themselves retreating back to April's parents house in Dallas as they try to salvage not only their home but their marriage.
This book shines in its characterization and the synopsis says it best. "Told in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here." Living with April's parents brings a whole new set of challenges, tension, and complications to the family but I loved getting all the context to each of the characters through their perspectives and the flashbacks.
In the wake of Billy's diagnosis, the family begins to confront and question what really matters. This book reminds us just how fragile, beautiful, and devastating life can be at times. It captures both the complexities and still moments of familial relationships: grilling in the backyard, quiet sacrifices, mornings with the tooth fairy, and unimaginable hardships. Sarah's writing was so honest and respectful to the topics in the book and filled with emotion on every page. The ending chapters absolutely broke me but also made me feel so hopeful. We only get one life to live and this book is a gentle reminder to do just that, live.
Where The Bright Years feels like hit after hit leaving you in a sobbing mess, The Burning Side is a quiet heartbreak that unravels over the course of the book. It is a breathtaking portrayal of a family that is deeply flawed, messy, real but also comforting, warm, silly, and so so supportive of each other in every avenue. It is a beautifully written book that will stay with my forever.
Thank you endlessly to Simon & Schuster and Sarah Damoff for the eARC in exchange for my review. I already have my copy pre ordered and I truly cannot recommend this book enough! Sarah Damoff has solidified herself as of one my all-time favorite authors with The Burning Side and I feel so lucky I got to read this early 💖
-----------------------------------------
update: I GOT THE ARC gonna go sob and read now🥹🥹🥹
SARAH PLEASE IM BEGGING FOR AN ARC!!!
also if you haven’t read her debut, The Bright Years, go do it right now!!!
April 2, 2026
Really really solid! I loved The Bright Years so my expectations were probably high going into this one. The story was complicated and there was a lot going on with the extended family. I think my holding back of 5 glowing stars was not seeing enough Leo and April. The story was about them primarily, but they weren’t in it enough for me.
Other than that, there was so much heart in this book and I think this is an impressive second book from Sarah Damoff!
Other than that, there was so much heart in this book and I think this is an impressive second book from Sarah Damoff!
Want to Read
October 20, 2025Straight to the top of my TBR!!!
February 9, 2026
I loved Damoff's debut novel,The Bright Years so I was excited to dive into her sophomore effort, The Burning Side
Imagine this: the very same day your husband asks for a divorce, your house burns down. This catastrophe forces April, Leo, and their two young children to move in with April’s mother in Dallas to essentially rebuild their lives from scratch.
The story follows April and Leo as the fire exposes the deep-seated issues they’ve been grieving, along with the past family traumas Leo has never quite overcome. The contrast between them is stark: It’s such a poignant touch to have the physical "burning" of the house mirror the internal "burning" of their marriage.
April has lived an idyllic life raised by two amazing parents. Leo, conversely, was handed off to an unloving aunt and uncle at a young age.
The narrative jumps back and forth, allowing us to discover the genuine love they once shared, and the eventual blow-up that tore them apart.
This is a fairly well-written tale of family, love, and the fragile nature of happiness. My only issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I found it resolved rather quickly and personally wanted a little more "burn" to the resolution. However, it remains a quick, engaging read for anyone who loves a solid family drama!
Imagine this: the very same day your husband asks for a divorce, your house burns down. This catastrophe forces April, Leo, and their two young children to move in with April’s mother in Dallas to essentially rebuild their lives from scratch.
The story follows April and Leo as the fire exposes the deep-seated issues they’ve been grieving, along with the past family traumas Leo has never quite overcome. The contrast between them is stark: It’s such a poignant touch to have the physical "burning" of the house mirror the internal "burning" of their marriage.
April has lived an idyllic life raised by two amazing parents. Leo, conversely, was handed off to an unloving aunt and uncle at a young age.
The narrative jumps back and forth, allowing us to discover the genuine love they once shared, and the eventual blow-up that tore them apart.
This is a fairly well-written tale of family, love, and the fragile nature of happiness. My only issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I found it resolved rather quickly and personally wanted a little more "burn" to the resolution. However, it remains a quick, engaging read for anyone who loves a solid family drama!
April 21, 2026
I’ll admit I was a bit nervous about starting THE BURNING SIDE, given that The Bright Years was my top read of 2025 and easily one of the best books I have ever read. And now, looking back having just finished it, I am laughing at myself for ever having doubted Sarah Damoff and her writing prowess. One hit can be a fluke, but her sophomore novel should prove to all that Damoff is as skilled as they come.
While she does literally every thing right, what I am most floored with is her ability to write relationships so real you can palpate the heartbeat. Never saccharine in nature, these deeply meaningful connections, whether between spouses, parents and children, or siblings, are as lifelike as our own. And because of that, it’s hard not to feel emotionally attached to all involved. After all, is it even an SD novel if we don’t spend the last 20% of it in complete tears? I think not.
Similar to The Bright Years, this is a story of a family in motion. Focusing on both the matriarch who must come to terms with her husband’s rapidly progressing dementia and her eldest daughter and her husband, on the precipice of divorce, we are quietly and intricately woven back and forth through time to where it began, how it developed, and how it will end. If you are someone who craves a family drama rich with characters and emotions, and wants to feel connected to the story on a visceral level, this is for you.
In short, this is an absolute must read if you are looking for something that will make you feel …
🎧 One final note, the audiobook is absolutely incredible narrated by a full cast. However, for the ultimate reading experience, I highly recommend doing an immersive read using both the physical and audiobook in combination.
“The air is filled with sickness while the roadsides are filled with wildflowers.”
Read if you like:
▪️multi-generational family dramas
▪️stories of love in all forms
▪️flawed and broken characters
▪️marriage in crisis
▪️reflections on growing older
▪️eloquent writing
▪️multiple POVs and timelines
▪️Anne Tyler & Catherine Newman
Thank you Simon Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
While she does literally every thing right, what I am most floored with is her ability to write relationships so real you can palpate the heartbeat. Never saccharine in nature, these deeply meaningful connections, whether between spouses, parents and children, or siblings, are as lifelike as our own. And because of that, it’s hard not to feel emotionally attached to all involved. After all, is it even an SD novel if we don’t spend the last 20% of it in complete tears? I think not.
Similar to The Bright Years, this is a story of a family in motion. Focusing on both the matriarch who must come to terms with her husband’s rapidly progressing dementia and her eldest daughter and her husband, on the precipice of divorce, we are quietly and intricately woven back and forth through time to where it began, how it developed, and how it will end. If you are someone who craves a family drama rich with characters and emotions, and wants to feel connected to the story on a visceral level, this is for you.
In short, this is an absolute must read if you are looking for something that will make you feel …
🎧 One final note, the audiobook is absolutely incredible narrated by a full cast. However, for the ultimate reading experience, I highly recommend doing an immersive read using both the physical and audiobook in combination.
“The air is filled with sickness while the roadsides are filled with wildflowers.”
Read if you like:
▪️multi-generational family dramas
▪️stories of love in all forms
▪️flawed and broken characters
▪️marriage in crisis
▪️reflections on growing older
▪️eloquent writing
▪️multiple POVs and timelines
▪️Anne Tyler & Catherine Newman
Thank you Simon Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
February 22, 2026
4.5 out of 5 stars 😭
Sarah Damoff is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. This story was heartbreaking, yet so human and so beautiful. I couldn’t put it down. The Bright Side is still my favorite, but if you enjoyed her debut you’ll love this one as well. Her writing is poetic and emotional, which packs quite the punch.
🧑🧑🧒🧒Multigenerational stories
📚Multiple POVs
🤠Texas references
😭Emotional reads
This book has some content warnings, so take care if needed. It deals with a marriage in crisis, Alzheimer’s, and some other tough topics. I do feel they were all handled with much care, however.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my eARC! The Burning Side is out 5/19/26!
Sarah Damoff is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. This story was heartbreaking, yet so human and so beautiful. I couldn’t put it down. The Bright Side is still my favorite, but if you enjoyed her debut you’ll love this one as well. Her writing is poetic and emotional, which packs quite the punch.
🧑🧑🧒🧒Multigenerational stories
📚Multiple POVs
🤠Texas references
😭Emotional reads
This book has some content warnings, so take care if needed. It deals with a marriage in crisis, Alzheimer’s, and some other tough topics. I do feel they were all handled with much care, however.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my eARC! The Burning Side is out 5/19/26!
February 24, 2026
finished with tears in my eyes!!!
April 19, 2026
All the stars for this beautiful story of marriage, love, family and the mistakes we make that sometimes help the broken pieces fall into place.
This will be the book of the year. It broke my heart and put it back together in 318 pages.
“I pull out my phone and text Mom. I love you. Despite the hour, she responds right away. Love you too. What’s this for? I exhale, my gratitude as heavy as sorrow. It’s for every day of my entire life.”
I adored so much about this story, but the part that stays with me after reading the last page has to be the generational love in many different forms, but at its core, love all the same.
Deb & Billy
April & Leo
Rico & Ana
I loved them all so very much for different reasons.
“Strange how suffering can make beauty more beautiful”
I smiled through some tears and then there were those other tears that take your breath away and make you stop as a long forgotten memory washes over you.
“In a flash, I’ll be gone, my own children recalling their favorite things about me in some new house at some new table with some new iteration of family.”
Get your hands on this book. Comes out on May 19th ❤️
This will be the book of the year. It broke my heart and put it back together in 318 pages.
“I pull out my phone and text Mom. I love you. Despite the hour, she responds right away. Love you too. What’s this for? I exhale, my gratitude as heavy as sorrow. It’s for every day of my entire life.”
I adored so much about this story, but the part that stays with me after reading the last page has to be the generational love in many different forms, but at its core, love all the same.
Deb & Billy
April & Leo
Rico & Ana
I loved them all so very much for different reasons.
“Strange how suffering can make beauty more beautiful”
I smiled through some tears and then there were those other tears that take your breath away and make you stop as a long forgotten memory washes over you.
“In a flash, I’ll be gone, my own children recalling their favorite things about me in some new house at some new table with some new iteration of family.”
Get your hands on this book. Comes out on May 19th ❤️
Want to Read
April 10, 2026only one more month of me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for this book
April 10, 2026
4.5 rounded up💫
January 11, 2026
The Burning Side will without a doubt be one of my top (if not THE top) reads of 2026. This was one of those reading experiences that reminded me just why I adore reading so much. Everything felt so authentic, and depicted so many unique forms of grief, happiness, and vulnerability that made me sob. I rarely say this, but I will 100% reread this because I need more time to sit with all of the profound moments tucked into this treasure of a book.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster for the ARC of Sarah’s masterpiece ✨ please, everyone - read this when it’s released in June!
Thank you, Simon & Schuster for the ARC of Sarah’s masterpiece ✨ please, everyone - read this when it’s released in June!
February 11, 2026
Wow! One thing Sarah Damoff clearly wasn't going to do was fall victim to the sophomore slump, because man this was good! The Bright Years was one of my top 2025 reads so I knew I had to read this book immediately. Zero regrets, would do again.
I loved everything about this - the drama, how messy and imperfect the characters were, the supportive family and just how real every person in this novel felt. April and Leo had their problems and while I often wanted to shake them, I wanted to hug them even more. I really liked that this book switched between the past and present because we got their full story and dug that much deeper. I also loved the chapter's from April's mom's perspective and how we got her history and present state as well - it didn't take away from April and Leo at all and actually added a lot of value to their love story.
Read this the second you can.
I loved everything about this - the drama, how messy and imperfect the characters were, the supportive family and just how real every person in this novel felt. April and Leo had their problems and while I often wanted to shake them, I wanted to hug them even more. I really liked that this book switched between the past and present because we got their full story and dug that much deeper. I also loved the chapter's from April's mom's perspective and how we got her history and present state as well - it didn't take away from April and Leo at all and actually added a lot of value to their love story.
Read this the second you can.
December 16, 2025
This was another beautiful novel by Sarah Damoff and once again she explored themes of family and love with remarkable depth and sensitivity. The story captured the complexities of familial relationships—the quiet sacrifices, enduring bonds, and inevitable hardships that families experience over time. The writing was beautifully crafted, both honest and compassionate, and it conveyed emotion with a subtlety that felt deeply authentic. I found the book profoundly moving and was brought to tears on several occasions. It is a powerful and thoughtfully written reflection on love, loss, and the shared human experience within families. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
January 2, 2026
Beautiful and devastating. Pre-order this ASAP!
April 10, 2026
There are some books that are so special they imprint themselves on a tiny piece of your soul. This was one of those books for me that I think on re read will be even more meaningful. The writing shined with beautiful honest simplicity among a complicated family landscape.
This is a poignant and heartfelt story that follows a family from new first impressions to the deepest of cuts. In sickness and in health. It is a story about loss and longing and all the tiny decisions in between. What I loved most is that these characters felt like real people. They are flawed and messy....learn to loathe and then forgive. In summary this is a story about how love and the tiniest bit of hope can heal, even if it feels like there isn't much love left.
April is someone who I related to immensely as she navigates postpartum depression while keeping her marriage and identity afloat alongside of it. It is a love story to the endless sacrifice we give our children while losing and reframing parts of our own identity along the way.
There were so many wonderfully fleshed out relationship dynamics thats its is hard to pick a favorite. They all culminate in a wonderful mash up of what it means to be complicatedly human. This is a book that will make you cry, and make you introspective about the people in your own life.
A definite highlight for my 2026 reading year.
This is a poignant and heartfelt story that follows a family from new first impressions to the deepest of cuts. In sickness and in health. It is a story about loss and longing and all the tiny decisions in between. What I loved most is that these characters felt like real people. They are flawed and messy....learn to loathe and then forgive. In summary this is a story about how love and the tiniest bit of hope can heal, even if it feels like there isn't much love left.
April is someone who I related to immensely as she navigates postpartum depression while keeping her marriage and identity afloat alongside of it. It is a love story to the endless sacrifice we give our children while losing and reframing parts of our own identity along the way.
There were so many wonderfully fleshed out relationship dynamics thats its is hard to pick a favorite. They all culminate in a wonderful mash up of what it means to be complicatedly human. This is a book that will make you cry, and make you introspective about the people in your own life.
A definite highlight for my 2026 reading year.
February 7, 2026
BEAUTIFUL WOWEEE
March 8, 2026
I fell in love with Sarah Damoff’s writing when I read The Bright Years, so I was incredibly grateful to receive an ARC of The Burning Side through NetGalley and the publisher.
This book is filled with absolutely hard-hitting quotes about time, the weight of memories, and the complicated love of family.
I finished this book with such a heavy heart. There’s a lingering sadness that settles once the story ends, that only comes from characters who feel deeply real. April, Deb, Billy and Leo I want to give you a hug. I didn’t always agree with the choices they made, but that honestly made me love them more. Their decisions felt messy, human, and authentic in a way that mirrors reality.
The characters and their relationships will stay with me for a long time. I truly feel like I could have read another 100 pages just living in this world with the Russo’s and Torres’s. I can’t wait until my grandma’s read this so we can talk about this story.
Another beautiful & emotional story from Damoff, one that reminded me how fragile time is and how much our memories and families shape who we are and who we are yet to become.
This book is filled with absolutely hard-hitting quotes about time, the weight of memories, and the complicated love of family.
I finished this book with such a heavy heart. There’s a lingering sadness that settles once the story ends, that only comes from characters who feel deeply real. April, Deb, Billy and Leo I want to give you a hug. I didn’t always agree with the choices they made, but that honestly made me love them more. Their decisions felt messy, human, and authentic in a way that mirrors reality.
The characters and their relationships will stay with me for a long time. I truly feel like I could have read another 100 pages just living in this world with the Russo’s and Torres’s. I can’t wait until my grandma’s read this so we can talk about this story.
Another beautiful & emotional story from Damoff, one that reminded me how fragile time is and how much our memories and families shape who we are and who we are yet to become.
March 13, 2026
The Burning Side completely captivated me. There’s so much I could say about this book and yet it feels impossible to fully capture what makes it so special.
I won’t go into many details because this is the kind of story that’s best experienced firsthand. It’s highly emotional, beautifully written, and deeply moving.
What makes Sarah Damoff’s writing stand out is her ability to take a small, everyday moment and magnify it, revealing just how monumental those fleeting moments can be. She explores both sides of the coin, the beauty and the pain, with remarkable nuance. The result is a cast of complex, deeply human characters and a story that feels intimately familiar, like it could belong to you, someone you love or someone you once knew. Her words transcend the page and resonate in a visceral way.
Some stories simply settle into your bones. This is one of them.
I won’t go into many details because this is the kind of story that’s best experienced firsthand. It’s highly emotional, beautifully written, and deeply moving.
What makes Sarah Damoff’s writing stand out is her ability to take a small, everyday moment and magnify it, revealing just how monumental those fleeting moments can be. She explores both sides of the coin, the beauty and the pain, with remarkable nuance. The result is a cast of complex, deeply human characters and a story that feels intimately familiar, like it could belong to you, someone you love or someone you once knew. Her words transcend the page and resonate in a visceral way.
Some stories simply settle into your bones. This is one of them.
January 27, 2026
Sarah Damoff, quite simply, has a gift.
As she showed us in The Bright Years, she can take a simple, every day story of a family, and turn it into something remarkable. She does it again in The Burning Side, a book that had me up sobbing past my bedtime as I contemplated death and youth and aging and sickness and health and sacrifice and misunderstanding and love and LIFE and all the choices that we make along the way.
April and Leo are young parents on the brink of divorce when they wake to their house in flames. They make it out with their children, then we come alongside them as they consider rebuilding or walking away. As they literally and figuratively sort through the pieces of their life, they also have to face April’s dad’s recent diagnosis with early onset Alzheimer’s and how that impacts the entire family, especially April’s mom, Deb.
This is all woven together seamlessly through POVs from April, Leo, and Deb (past and present) to make a beautiful, thought-provoking story. The characters feel so realistic, the circumstances relatable, the conflict authentic. The writing itself is perfect. The nods to fire throughout the book were BRILLIANT because of course they are (HELLO it’s Queen Sarah we are talking about here).
In short - an incredible book. I (obviously) loved this one and highly recommend pre-ordering it now so that you can have it in your hands the second it comes out in June.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
As she showed us in The Bright Years, she can take a simple, every day story of a family, and turn it into something remarkable. She does it again in The Burning Side, a book that had me up sobbing past my bedtime as I contemplated death and youth and aging and sickness and health and sacrifice and misunderstanding and love and LIFE and all the choices that we make along the way.
April and Leo are young parents on the brink of divorce when they wake to their house in flames. They make it out with their children, then we come alongside them as they consider rebuilding or walking away. As they literally and figuratively sort through the pieces of their life, they also have to face April’s dad’s recent diagnosis with early onset Alzheimer’s and how that impacts the entire family, especially April’s mom, Deb.
This is all woven together seamlessly through POVs from April, Leo, and Deb (past and present) to make a beautiful, thought-provoking story. The characters feel so realistic, the circumstances relatable, the conflict authentic. The writing itself is perfect. The nods to fire throughout the book were BRILLIANT because of course they are (HELLO it’s Queen Sarah we are talking about here).
In short - an incredible book. I (obviously) loved this one and highly recommend pre-ordering it now so that you can have it in your hands the second it comes out in June.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was an amazing story about family, love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. I loved hearing from all the different characters'and going back and forth in time to give context. I loved the lessons about family and love and how a different perspective can change a story for better or worse.
I loved everything about this book. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
This was an amazing story about family, love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. I loved hearing from all the different characters'and going back and forth in time to give context. I loved the lessons about family and love and how a different perspective can change a story for better or worse.
I loved everything about this book. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Want to Read
November 16, 2025How do I apply to get an ARC? I don’t know that I’ve ever been so excited for a book to come out. I read The Bright Years earlier this and it is still my top read of all time!!!
Sarah, you commented on my review of that book and it made my whole year! I would be the happiest reader of all time to even be considered for an ARC!
Either way, I CANNOT wait to read this book!!
Sarah, you commented on my review of that book and it made my whole year! I would be the happiest reader of all time to even be considered for an ARC!
Either way, I CANNOT wait to read this book!!
March 25, 2026
MAY 19, people. MAY 19. PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.
The sophomore slump couldn’t afflict Sarah Damoff even if it tried with all its might.
If you’ve read THE BRIGHT YEARS, or even if you’ve caught some reviews, you know Sarah has a gift for writing emotional, engaging, and authentically human stories that elicit a range of emotions from the reader, oftentimes within the same sentence. THE BURNING SIDE is another standout example of that gift.
This book has everything I love in a book: intricately human characters, an engaging storyline, rich setting details, complex character dynamics, emotional pulls, and more. No one tackles character development (both individual and relationally) in such a succinct, yet powerful way like Sarah does. Sometimes I feel it can take chapters upon chapters to really know the characters, but Sarah does so much in just over 300 pages — and that truly is a gift in and of itself.
This is the story of April and Leo and their tragic house fire and all that the fire symbolizes in their marriage, yes, but it’s so much more: It’s also the story of Leo’s past, April’s parents, her father’s Alzehimer’s diagnosis, its ripple effect on their family, and how we manage to hold it all together when it would make sense to completely fall apart. There is beauty in the mess, hope in the despair, and joy in the heartache — I felt all of it.
So much of this book resonated with me, too. From having a young child during COVID and all the difficulties that brought, to navigating Alzheimer’s in my family, to teaching (and looking like a student — I LOLed at that part), to the very real depictions of the ebbs and flows of marriage, I think every reader will see *something* of themselves within these pages.
My only critique is that it ended. Why did it have to end?
Thank you for my early copy, Simon Books. And thank you, Sarah Damoff, for sharing your gift with us.
The sophomore slump couldn’t afflict Sarah Damoff even if it tried with all its might.
If you’ve read THE BRIGHT YEARS, or even if you’ve caught some reviews, you know Sarah has a gift for writing emotional, engaging, and authentically human stories that elicit a range of emotions from the reader, oftentimes within the same sentence. THE BURNING SIDE is another standout example of that gift.
This book has everything I love in a book: intricately human characters, an engaging storyline, rich setting details, complex character dynamics, emotional pulls, and more. No one tackles character development (both individual and relationally) in such a succinct, yet powerful way like Sarah does. Sometimes I feel it can take chapters upon chapters to really know the characters, but Sarah does so much in just over 300 pages — and that truly is a gift in and of itself.
This is the story of April and Leo and their tragic house fire and all that the fire symbolizes in their marriage, yes, but it’s so much more: It’s also the story of Leo’s past, April’s parents, her father’s Alzehimer’s diagnosis, its ripple effect on their family, and how we manage to hold it all together when it would make sense to completely fall apart. There is beauty in the mess, hope in the despair, and joy in the heartache — I felt all of it.
So much of this book resonated with me, too. From having a young child during COVID and all the difficulties that brought, to navigating Alzheimer’s in my family, to teaching (and looking like a student — I LOLed at that part), to the very real depictions of the ebbs and flows of marriage, I think every reader will see *something* of themselves within these pages.
My only critique is that it ended. Why did it have to end?
Thank you for my early copy, Simon Books. And thank you, Sarah Damoff, for sharing your gift with us.
March 29, 2026
Truly speechless! Beautiful… just beautiful! 🥺💙
February 23, 2026
THIS BOOK. Deserves. All. The hype.
It’s the kind of sweeping family saga that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. And that ending? Have tissues within arm’s reach.
The writing is absolutely phenomenal. It’s immersive, layered, and beautifully crafted. Every character feels real and fully formed, with motivations and flaws that make the drama hit even harder. The emotional range is unmatched. One chapter will have you smiling at tender, quiet moments; the next will leave you blinking back tears.
This is 100% a “read-with-a-friend” kind of book. I’m so grateful to my friend for buddy-reading this with me because I needed someone to process all that chaos and heartache in real time.
It’s the kind of sweeping family saga that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. And that ending? Have tissues within arm’s reach.
The writing is absolutely phenomenal. It’s immersive, layered, and beautifully crafted. Every character feels real and fully formed, with motivations and flaws that make the drama hit even harder. The emotional range is unmatched. One chapter will have you smiling at tender, quiet moments; the next will leave you blinking back tears.
This is 100% a “read-with-a-friend” kind of book. I’m so grateful to my friend for buddy-reading this with me because I needed someone to process all that chaos and heartache in real time.
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