Sarah Damoff’s The Burning Side is a beautifully layered family drama about marriage, memory, and what survives after disaster. After a house fire forces April and Leo and their young children to move in with April’s family, old wounds and buried secrets rise to the surface, testing not only their marriage but their understanding of home itself. Told through multiple points of view and woven with flashbacks, the novel explores parenthood, generational burdens, forgiveness, and the quiet ways people fail and show up for one another. It’s heartbreaking and tender, full of humor and ache, and asks what is worth salvaging when everything feels on the brink.

I loved this book. The portrayal of parenting, especially young motherhood, felt so honest and raw, and as a mom of three toddlers, a full-time working mom, and the default parent, I related deeply to April’s exhaustion and emotional load. The family dynamics and struggles felt incredibly real, and I loved how the multiple POVs and flashbacks deepened the story rather than interrupting it; the structure made everything feel lived-in and emotionally immediate.

And Leo… whew. Don’t hate me, but Leo needs therapy. He’s not a bad guy, but he is SO frustrating. He’s so caught in his own trauma and so terrible at communication that I often wanted to shake him. Maybe that’s what made him feel real, too. I found myself firmly in April’s corner, though I appreciated how the novel let Leo remain complicated rather than villainous.

I also loved learning about Beth and Billy. Their relationship added so much heart, and their origin story was both sad and hopeful in a way that lingered with me. This is such a beautifully written story, full of longing and truth, and I definitely recommend it if you love family dramas with emotional depth.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★★

The Burning Side comes out May 19, 2026. Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.