Rather disturbing story about a young single mother who is an alcoholic. Sonya is pretty much alone in the world and in charge her young son, Tommy and a dog called Herbie. Sonya was an actress on the stage with all the glamour and socialising that goes with it. She is now on her own trying to look after her son but has so many demons to face that it makes the task impossible and she goes from one crisis to the next until eventually her father intervenes and sends her to rehab in a convent for three months. I really wanted Sonya to come out of rehab as a different, more responsible person. She loves Tommy passionately but does not always seem to be able to do what’s best for him and constantly makes poor choices in life. Sonya is a great animal lover – she is a vegetarian and will not even drink milk. When she is in rehab she ends up adopting a kitten, yet another creature to take care of when she can barely look after herself. This book is quite a difficult read in many ways – it made me want to reach out to Sonya as she desperately needs someone to watch over her, but in many ways this is exactly what she rails hates as she wants to be independent. It’s not perhaps the easiest book to read but I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to make sure that everything turned out alright in the end. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Bright burning that ns is a book about a women dealing with addiction and the consequences that has on herself and her family.

I really wanted to finish this book before it was released but it was so hard hitting I had to have a break!

It is full of sadness and a difficult read but it also has hope and love.

Sonya was once a theatre actress so there are a lot of references to Playwrights which some may from and boring or not fully understand, but stick with it! It's such a good book

Bright Burning things follows Sonya - a former actress turned single mother to her four year old Tommy and rescue dog Herbie. The story begins in Sonya's heightened stage of a drinking problem, and we see her absent father step in to ensure Sonya gets the help she needs.

This is a heartbreaking story of love and addicition, Sonya never comes across as a bad person - but one who makes bad choices due to her past. She loves her son so much and the prose really excentuates them feelings.

This was a quick read for me - but I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved it and felt so connected to the characters, on the edge of my seat waiting for something bad to happen. I attended Bloomsbury's Night In on zoom previously where I heard about the book, and it definitely lived up to expectations.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in return for a review. Bright Burning Things is out now and definitely worth a read!

This story was well written and hard hitting, bringing home the importance of seeking help if you gave a problem.
Sonya struggled with her addiction and her actions, whilst sometimes very annoying to me, were understandable in her state of mind.
The character descriptions were good and made me feel for the small family and what they were going through.
I was satisfied with the novel on a whole, loved the title, but wished there was a bit more documenting Sonya’s life towards the end of the book.

A story of a woman's struggle with alcoholism.
Sonya finally has to ask for and accept help for her drinking. A single mother with a chaotic life, her life seems to become harder during her recovery and her relationship with David.
This is a disturbing read, and difficult to finish, it therefore took me sometime to finish.

Unusually told from the first person point of view, I found this a difficult read due to the difficult subject matter of alcoholism. We follow her story as she tries to overcome her addiction. Simply put, this is a strong story told well, but difficult to read, which is why it took me a while to finish. My thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the reading copy.

The title of this book was very apt as it put me in the mind of a firework - something beautiful but fleeting followed by an inevitable burn out. In fact, towards the end of the book, fireworks do play a part!
As I began reading, I immediately felt that something about Sonya was off kilter and disturbing, and this feeling stayed with me throughout the novel.
It is an uncomfortable read because of the author's ability to convey the difference between Sonya's reality and the actual reality of her situation - an alcoholic, single mother with a young son and a rescue dog. Sonya loves her son and her dog, but her inevitable and eventual downward spiral sees her go into rehab. This has obvious consequences for their small family unit as she comes to terms with her emotions and her addiction. It is heart breaking to see the effect this has on Tommy.
It is a painful and sometimes desperate read, but there are also moments of magic and redemption. I thought this was a beautifully crafted and well written book.

WIth thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for a copy in return for an honest review.

This was such an unusual, poignant book. Sonya is a troubled woman who is trying hard to manage being a single mother to her young son Tommy. All while being an alcoholic. Most people have known someone who is, unfortunately, and this is a heartbreaking approach to Sonya's struggles. Tommy is an adorable character, who has a stark understanding of his mother and to follow them trying to make their way in life together was deeply brutal to read. The reader is shown a dark side to alcohol and at times makes for very grim reading.
The writing style took a while to get used to, at first I saw the perspective as 'drunken ramblings' but as it continued it became more obvious that Sonya had other difficulties to face and this book does an extremely powerful job at displaying Sonya's personality and her role as Tommy's mother.
It was a quick read, but certainly not an easy one. This one will stay with me for sure.

For me this was such a thought provoking and difficult read. As a mum myself I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Mom, Sonya and her 4 year old Son, Tommy. The story follows Sonya on her journey with alcohol addiction and this sad issue really is made better by her and Tommy's relationship.

I do not normally read books like this but from reading the blurb I felt compelled to read it. I read this over a longer period of time as I did find myself moved by the story and the characters within it. Thanks Netgalley and Lisa Harding for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a really difficult read. Maybe it is because 202o/21 has been a difficult year, that reading trauma was just a little too much.

I can't deny that it is a well-written powerful book about addiction and motherhood, told from the point of view of the protagonist Sonya, which has you immersed from the get-go.

It is a quick but difficult read emotionally, so be prepared to be taken on a journey.

The writing was lovely but unfortunately this one just felt a bit 'one note' for me and I found it hard to get into.

I found this book deeply affected me. Sonya Moriarty is a single mum to 4 year old Tommy and their dog hewbie she is also an alcoholic and suffers from being too overly protective of her son
Her father steps in says she needs sort herself out before Tommy is taken off her so she goes into a rehab facility and believes he is looking after Tommy
She finds it so hard to fight her demons in this place even though every one else is in same position. She struggles and fights and then is furious when her father doesn’t visit her when she can have visits
The emotion is raw the description is realistic on every level
Will she complete her rehab? Will she get Tommy back?

Definitely a 2* OK read for me.

Sonya is an alcoholic and is struggling to look after her little boy, Tommy and their dog, Herbie. It's an emotional, disturbing read about a mother who desperately loves her son, but, who is sinking further into the mental illness that comes with alcohol abuse.

There are some bright flashes of beautiful writing, it's just, overall, there's no real story or plot line except for this sad, dispiriting tale that ends abruptly with no real conclusion - I actually wondered if, perhaps, there was a few missing 'end chapters'?

Overall, if you enjoy an Angela's Ashes type read, this is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding

This is an extraordinary rollercoaster of a book and it is also deeply unsettling. In the beginning, everything whirls along. Sonya is a single mother who lives with her son Tommy and a dog, and she likes a drink and, sometimes, doesn't quite seem in control but, then, aren't we all a bit like that sometimes? And, after all, women who aren't in control of their lives and like a drink are stock characters of modern fiction and what is deprecatingly called chick-lit so aren't we, as readers, accustomed to being in this kind of area?

The answer to both questions is a resounding no. Sonya is an alcoholic and the mad cascade which passes for her life, together with some emergent mental instability is both brilliantly described and frightening. At times, she just about holds it all together while, at others, she falls apart. That means doing dangerous things, seriously neglecting her child and abusing anyone who tries to help.

The weird thing about the book is that this is just how it is, because this is how Sonya lives and it's her story and she's telling it. Of course, her life hits the buffers and her very distant and almost abusive father has her eased into an addiction therapy centre with religious overtones while Tommy is taken into care. She comes through this and the second half of the book ought to be about how she conquers her addiction, gets her child back, meets Mr Right and finds out from her father about some trauma visited upon her in childhood which explains everything.

Unfortunately, this story is too authentic and bruising for any such fantasies and the rollercoaster, which has slowed briefly, speeds up again. There is a nasty intervention by a smoothie called David Smythe who you'll have to make up your own mind about at the end, except there isn't really one provided and you can choose your own.

What are we to make of all this? You might read it as a startling voyage of self-discovery, an intimate portrait of stress, alcoholism and mental illness, a critique of social services and support or even as an uncompromising account of unkindness visited on a young child.

The pace of the writing is impressive throughout and the description of Sonya's confused mind is skilful - and it feels lived and experienced - but, in the end, I think I mostly just felt sorry for Tommy!

Thank you @netgalley and @bloomsburypublishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was written as a first person narrative of Sonya, an aspiring actress and single mother, with a history of difficult relationships and alcohol abuse.

The writing style was intense and gripping at times and I really wanted to find out what happened next, if only for the sake of the child, 4 year old Tommy. We only see Sonya’s perception of all the characters and even then it feels as though we see them through her paranoia, not getting to know them for who they really are.

Even though I couldn’t relate to Sonya, it was clear to me that she could be an amazing mother if she had the right support and guidance to sift through the voices in her head.

Things which happen in our past can have a profound impact on what happens in our future and the choices we make... having support and accepting support is also very important and sometimes that’s not always easy, especially if there is pain clouding judgement and thoughts. Having faith in a higher being can also be instrumental in overcoming distress and that is something I could relate to.

I kept thinking I didn’t like what I was reading but I didn’t want to stop. I think that is a testament to the author to be able to make the reader feel this way. The descriptions of alcohol abuse were very vivid and some scenes may be distressing and triggering.

It did make me wonder how many cases of child neglect slip through the net, and the reasons why people turn to alcohol as a source of comfort for their pain.

I wasn’t expecting the ending... and I don’t want to give anything away but I was left with too many unanswered questions which might be what the author was intending. This would be a good book club read as there are so many topics for discussion.

If you like books where a lot is left to the readers imagination then this one is for you... I would have preferred to find out more about some of the other characters but it was still an immersive and thought provoking read.

TW: child neglect, animal neglect, alcohol abuse

‘These men, their lives seemed inevitable, their destinies charted from the moment they were born to their crackhead fathers, criminal mothers, junkies, alcos, selfish, stunted, addled parents. Like me. These men were born to mothers like me.’

This is a truly is a compelling and beautifully written story about a woman’s battle with addiction and motherhood that I found extremely hard to put down. The writing style is so unique, a monologue, it may take you a moment to get used to it - but trust me when you do, you will be swept off your feet and truly captivated!

Our protagonist Sonya seems to live a carefree, somewhat ‘wild’ life alongside her 4 year old son, Tommy and their dog Herbie. From the onset, Harding’s writing portrays a somewhat hazy vision of the events taking place and instinctively you know something is not quite right. Sonya, once an actress in dazzling London, is battling alcoholism and faces the biggest hurdle to date when confronted by those around her who care and are concerned for her son’s welfare. We follow Sonya’s remarkable journey, one that will leave you desperately rooting for her as she strives to face the ‘bright burning creatures’ stirring inside her, its clear only one thing matters to her - Tommy and that for me was the most compelling aspect of this novel, the immense unadulterated love she has for her son.

I find this to be quite a difficult one to describe, however that is meant in the best possible way - this book has taken my breath away. Harding truly brought these characters to life in a way I haven’t experienced before, alcoholism is a very big trigger for me and never before have I resonated with a 4 year old character quite so fiercely!

I’m choosing to keep this one short and sweet as I fear I may let a spoiler slip and feel the beauty of this story is going in ‘blind’ and allowing yourself to get swept away in Harding’s captivating writing and raw emotion that pulses through the pages.

A very big thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the e-arc in return for an honest review.

Out now in UK and already optioned for a film!

Bright Burning Things is a raw and very powerful story of a mother’s love and her determination to do the best for her son, despite the many demons which she has to fight.

Sonya Moriarty once had a fairly successful acting career in London but after a failed relationship she has returned to Ireland and now lives with her four year old son Tommy and their huge hairy hound Herbie in a run-down flat. Sonya’s mother died when she was young and her father is emotionally distant so she doesn’t have any strong family role models, hence her rather eccentric and bohemian parenting style which attracts disparaging looks and condemnation from neighbours and passers-by. To add to this there are undercurrents of mental illness and addiction in Sonia’s past which regularly rear up and jeopardise the close and very loving bond she has formed with her son.

The story is narrated by Sonya and it’s a heartbreaking one, but throughout it, and despite her erratic and at times terrifyingly dangerous behaviour, her love for her adorable son shines through. Because of his claustrophobically close relationship with his mother, Tommy is a cautious and self-contained little boy, disturbingly wise beyond his years, and my heart ached for this fractured and very vulnerable little family.

I feel like I’ve been through an emotional wringer reading this beautifully written and compellingly honest, story but it was well worth it.

As ever Lisa is the writer all of us readers want to be. She is riveting in her storytelling, always giving you a character that you fall so deeply for and wish you could give them everything.

Happy Pub Day 😀

Bright Burning Things ~ Lisa Harding

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sonya 'Yaya' is a mother to 4 year old Tommy, and a dog mum to Herbie. Tommy and Herbie are best friends.

Before Sonya devoted herself to motherhood she was a successful actress. However, she had Tommy and now she finds her life escalating into Alcoholism. She can't stop herself the urge to drink is too great. She needs help! She won't admit it but things must change in order for her to be Functional and supportive for her child and her beloved pet. Sonya's dad hads to step in and make her see sense. Make her get the help she desperately needs.

This is a very moving and emotionally fuelled novel. The characters are believable. I was gripped from beginning to end. A very talented author.

Thankyou Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing PLC for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautifully written story about one woman’s struggle to be a good mother and beat her addictions.

Sonya was an actress with her life of glitz and glamour mapped out in front of her but then she became pregnant and had her son, Tommy. Since then her life has spiralled downwards. She has blackouts, her cupboards are bare and her father wants nothing to do with her.

Mrs O’Malley, who lives over the road has seen too much and decides enough is enough and Sonya is faced with either losing her son or going to rehab and sorting her life out. Will she succeed ? Can she earn her sons trust back ?

This is a great book about one woman’s fight to keep her son. Although at some points I really wanted to dislike Sonya you can’t help liking her and hoping that she can save herself !!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.