The Bright Side by Lucy Bexley is a comedic novella that’s like a breath of fresh air.
Jane Darby lives life with a big dollop of positivity and a big heaping of care for the people around her. She’s perfectly happy with her best friends and their successful business; she doesn’t need a girlfriend.
Astrid West doesn’t put down roots. She’s getting by just fine with three jobs and a stray cat named Meatball (the closest thing to commitment in her life).
A chance meeting between Darby and Astrid on New Year’s Eve turns into a beautiful friendship (and maybe more), as Darby helps Astrid to see that sometimes settling down and letting people in isn’t all that bad at all.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Let me start off by saying that I loved this book. It’s a novella so it doesn’t quite have the character depth that Bexley’s debut novel does, but Darby in particular is so adorable and engaging that it more than makes up for how little we ever find out about her past.
I’ve been in a reading slump for the last couple of months, and this was the book that was able to pull me out of it. If that doesn’t tell you just how awesome it is, let me add a few more. Meatball, the cat. I’m always a sucker for a book with a pet in it, especially if they have a cute name. Also, Darby in general. It’s impossible to read this book and not get a little mood lift from Darby’s positivity.
Finally, the way the three authors of the series have managed to weave all the books together (admittedly, I’ve only read two so far) is so smooth that each feels like it’s building on the others and offering a slightly different look at some of the same moments.
Cons And Heads Up
There is a very brief mention of a minor character’s past alcohol addiction.
The Conclusion
This is a short read that I can see myself reading again and again. It’s light and fluffy and will leave you feeling good. I think that’s something we could all do with a little more of right now.
Excerpt from The Bright Side by Lucy Bexley
“I’m going to have to ask you to do that 100 feet from the entrance.”
Darby startled and looked up to see an apologetic smile softening the features of the bouncer’s face. She was standing just outside the light of the door, and in her night watchman garb, Darby had missed her completely. The calm she’d felt at stepping outside wound itself into a low anxious knot like nerves before a performance.
“Oh, um, okay.” Was it a fire code thing, not having people near the entrance? She glanced around but didn’t see anyone else on the street. Not surprising, as her breath was all but crystalizing in front of her face. Darby took a few distracted steps away from the door as she continued ransacking her bag. Was it possible James had the right idea with her pockets only shtick?
“Do you need a light? I think there are matches inside, though good luck with this wind.”
“Oh, no, I’m not—” Darby interrupted her own train of thought by pulling out her inhaler and triumphantly holding it up in the air for the bouncer to see.
The woman let out a laugh. “You know, I think those are still legal to use indoors.”
“True, but hard to recover from, socially speaking.” Darby took a deep hit from her inhaler, holding the medicine in.
“Oh right, speed dating’s tonight. How’s that going? Did you meet anyone interesting?”
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Series
Against the Grain by Bryce Oakley
Collide by Stephanie Shea
The Bright Side by Lucy Bexley
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: B08VZHBNCW
Publisher: Indie
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