The Burning Side

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff is out now (published May 19, 2026).

See if this book is on Audible (Free Trial)

The Burning Side
Check availability on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
The Burning Side Release Date: May 19, 2026

Published

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.

Reader Anticipation Rating:
[Average Rating: 5]
Check availability on Amazon

Book Club Journal: Reading Log For Adults & Kids Who Love Books!
Book Club Journal: Reading Log For Adults & Kids Who Love Books!
Check Latest Price
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Sarah Damoff

More books from Sarah Damoff

🎧 While You Wait for The Burning Side

Prefer audiobooks?

Check Audible to see if The Burning Side is available to listen to.

Start a free trial and get your first audiobook free.

✔ Listen while commuting or relaxing
✔ Your first audiobook is free with the trial
✔ Cancel anytime

Start Audible Free Trial

Book Club Journal: Reading Log For Adults & Kids Who Love Books!
Book Club Journal: Reading Log For Adults & Kids Who Love Books!
Check Latest Price
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Recommended Book Release Guides

Similar Books Liked By Our Readers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *