The Burning Side
by Sarah Damoff
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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.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781668085011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Authors
- Sarah Damoff
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster
- Published Date
- May 19, 2026
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 336
- Physical Info
- 1.21 in H x 9.29 in L x 6.39 in W (1.13 lb)

A happy ending that didn’t feel earned. Easy read, really enjoy the main and supporting characters, but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if there was more heartbreak.
Beautifully drawn characters one will remember long after the book is finished. Generations painted truthfully with all their happiness and heartaches. So many life lessons to be absorbed and treasured.
This is a lovely story about family. The good and memorable times along with the heartbreak of bad times. This book is a nostalgic journey in the life of this family throughout the years. April and Leo are the main characters in this saga but their parents, children and siblings are all welcome and interesting character additions that made this story so realistic and believable. The Burning Side deals with true life happenings such as unplanned pregnancy, depression, marital infidelity and elder memory disease. These true to life experiences are all interwoven in this interesting and moving story.
The Burning Side was heartbreaking, emotional, and yet somehow uplifting at the same time. I’m not sure I have the right words to fully do this book justice. It’s a powerful reminder that our past is always a part of us, but we still have a choice in who we become and how we move forward.
The warmth of the Russo family will take hold. You’ll embrace Leo as they did, and feel the pangs of relationships in a million moments. Outstanding writing and loved the surprises along the way!
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