Bright Burning Things

A Novel

By: Lisa Harding

Narrated by: Lisa Harding

A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY * A PEOPLE MAGAZINE PICK * AN INDIE NEXT PICK * A LIBRARYREADS PICK *AN AMAZON EDITORS PICK

“On every page there are little shimmering bombs. Like Room, where parenthood is at once your jail and your salvation, it is almost claustrophobic—but in the most glorious way.”—Lisa Taddeo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Women and Animal

A rising international literary star makes her American debut with this visceral, tender, and brave portrait of addiction, recovery, and motherhood, as harrowing and intense as Shuggie Bain.

Sonya used to perform on stage. She used to attend glamorous parties, date handsome men, ride in fast cars. But somewhere along the way, the stage lights Sonya lived for dimmed for good. In their absence, came darkness—blackouts, empty cupboards, hazy nights she can't remember.

What keeps Sonya from losing herself completely is Tommy, her son. But her immense love for Tommy is in fierce conflict with her immense love of the bottle. Addiction amplifies her fear of losing her child; every maternal misstep compels her to drink. Tommy’s precious life is in her shaky hands.

Eventually Sonya is forced to make a choice. Give up drinking or lose Tommy—forever.

Bright Burning Things is an emotional tour-de-force—a devastating, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful look at an addict’s journey towards rehabilitation and redemption.

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FROM: Washington Post, The Millions, PopSugar, Shondaland, Good Morning America, Nylon, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country

Wonderful!!!

Go ahead and listen to this beautiful story. It will touch your heart in so many ways.

True addicts tale

A lot of reviews dislike the fast paced narration and to be honest, at the beginning i listened at .85 speed, but it’s intentional and gets across the chaos in yaya’s brain. It’s a great story that tears at the heart strings and brings insight into the life of an addict.

It’s hard to listen sometimes

The abuse and neglect of a child are hard to listen to in the beginning. But the story rights it’s self soon enough.

Felt like I crawled into an addict’s mind

The fast paced, stream of consciousness style is difficult at first, but stay with it! This isn’t meant to be an easy read. The style is meant to demonstrate the lack of rationality and order that comprises an addict’s mind. Not since Crime and Punishment have I felt the same physiological experiences as a book character. Yes, I just compared Harding to Dostoevsky. I truly gained a better understanding of and empathy for addicts by reading this book. That is the whole point of literature.

This book is kinda crazy

But honestly in the best way. I read a bad review and listened anyway, getting curious at the unimaginable story. Loved it. Don’t know if I can recommend it to anyone 🤣 but it was great.