"The Burning Side" by Sarah Damoff. After reading Sarah Damoff's "The Bright Years" and realizing it was a debut novel I was so thrilled to know she had another book already published, "The Burning Side" which I loved just as much. A story of a family, of secrets, love, pain with love being the most important. I was teary at times and worried. I wanted to write the ending myself all through the book. I could not put it down and now sad I don't have another day with "them". To say this may be my new favorite author. Can definitely say my favorite "new author". I look forward to everything she will write. I just LOVED it!

This is *The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff* - the bestselling author of _The Bright Years_. It came out *May 19, 2026*.

Here is a summary in English:

*The Story:*

April and Leo Torres are a young couple living in *Argyle, Texas* with their two little kids, toddler Sadie and baby Otto. Their marriage is already on the brink of collapse.

One night in June 2022, Leo asks April for a divorce. That same night, after they fight, their house catches fire in the middle of the night. April was distracted cooking dinner and left the stove burner on. They escape with the kids, but the house is destroyed.

With nowhere to go, they move into *April's childhood home in Dallas*, with her parents Deb and Billy Russo and her siblings Josie and Cameron.

*The Three Voices:*

The book is told from 3 alternating perspectives, jumping between past and present:

*1. April -* A young mother drowning in the weight of motherhood, marriage, and guilt. She blames herself for the fire and for her marriage failing.