Book Review: ‘Bright Burning Things: A Novel’ By Lisa Harding

Sonya use to be an actress and was use to the good things. Somewhere along the way it ended, she got pregnant and now has a four year old son Tommy, who she loves a lot and a mutt dog. She also has a bad drinking problem and it’s come to the point where her estranged father has to step in and force her to rehab for three months. It kills her to do it but she goes and struggles and worries about losing Tommy, who is now with a foster family. When she gets out she meets up with David, a very controlling man, who she met before rehab. She’s slowly able to get together with Tommy and then gets him back as well as getting her dog back. But it’s not easy. The call of the bottle is strong, she has to rebuild her relationship with Tommy and David is trying to control her life. It she doesn’t get it together, she could lose her son forever.

This is the debut American Novel for author Lisa Harding and it’s an intense novel and sometimes hard to read. But she doesn’t pull any punches with how bad an addiction alcohol can be. You really feel for Tommy as you read the book as he loves his mom so much (and she loves him as well) and you want to scream at Sonya to stop drinking. A powerful debut in America.

You can pick up Bright Burning Things in stores on Tuesday, December 7th from HarperVia.