The Burning Side: A Novel

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.

Sarah 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 fourteen languages. Her writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. A Texas native, Sarah lives with her husband and children in Dallas, where she has worked in child welfare. Her second novel, THE BURNING SIDE, is out now.

"Detailed in three different perspectives, the familial and romantic intricacies are ripe for discussion (and tons of tears)...a tender family saga."—Martha Stewart, The Best Book Club Books of 2026

"[A] layered family saga... Damoff skillfully paints a picture of April and Leo’s rich, complex marriage...in The Burning Side, family—however unwieldy and difficult—is too precious a thing to throw away lightly."—Bookreporter

"One of my all-time favorites...The Burning Side is just perfection. I feel more connected to all of humanity after connecting so deeply to this family—and feel honored to have spent time with these fictional souls."—Zibby Owens, Totally Booked with Zibby

"Following the breakout success of her debut, The Bright Years, Damoff continues to explore the interplay of the many relationships that make up a family with rare sensitivity."—Oprah Daily

"[A] heartbreaking tale of a family contending with its fractures in the wake of a devastating house fire...This will stay with readers."—Publishers Weekly

"Rich in poignant moments and nuanced characters...Damoff writes with lyrical precision, weaving fire imagery throughout the novel as both literal catastrophe and emotional metaphor. Her characters feel achingly real in their flaws and vulnerabilities...a compelling choice for book clubs."—Southern Literary Review

"A deeply human story about marriage, caregiving, and the fragile ways families hold each other together."—Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper

“Sarah Damoff has a rare gift for creating endearing characters who are recognizable human beings, flawed people striving to do their best for those they love.”—Dallas Morning News

Praise for The Bright Years

“Sarah Damoff’s debut novel, The Bright Years, carries the sensitivity and knowledge of her years of experience as a social worker...Damoff’s careful approach to depicting alcoholism, and her expressions of what it means to love (and be loved) amidst the wreckage of addiction, set this tender novel apart.”—Elle

"The Bright Years is more than just a good novel. It is so masterfully constructed and so sensitively, satisfyingly written that one finds it hard to believe it is a first novel. It contains all the realism of everyday life for millions of everyday people: passionate romance, betrayal, abandonment, survival and overcoming the odds. It's a family saga filled with heart and hope, pain and joy, love and grief."—Dallas Morning News

"In Damoff's heartfelt debut, which spans four generations, the impact of addiction is threaded tightly into a family's story. The novel examines the joys and sorrows of Lillian Bright and addresses a timeless theme: how alcohol decides what to destroy and what to leave alone."—People

"Unforgettable characters and life-affirming moments shine in this powerful debut novel."—Woman's World