Standalone Sunday || The Bright Effect

Standalone Sunday is a weekly meme created by Megan at Bookslayer Reads which aims to showcase standalone books (books not a part of a series) which you loved or would recommend. 

The Bright Effect by Autumn Doughton and Erica Cope

“Maybe promises are supposed to hurt a little.”

Amelia Bright has lots of plans for the future, and none of them involve falling for a guy like Sebastian Holbrook. With a questionable reputation and an attitude to match, he’s exactly the kind of guy Amelia promised herself she’d avoid. But after an encounter that leaves her charged and breathless, she can’t stop wondering about him and the secrets he keeps hidden behind that tough exterior.

Sebastian knows first-hand that every single choice has a consequence and how a fragile promise can shape a life. Now that his mother is gone and he’s raising his little brother on his own, he’s all but given up on a future for himself. Struggling to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads, Sebastian doesn’t have time for games or girls. So why can’t he shake thoughts of beautiful, smart Amelia Bright from his mind?

Equally devastating and heartfelt, Amelia and Sebastian’s story of a rare and unexpected connection is one that will stay with you long after the last page is read. Full of wit and tenderness, The Bright Effect is an unforgettable journey of expectations, regrets and discovering just how far love can carry us in the face of heartbreak.

The first time I read this book, it immediately went down on my all-time favorites list. It’s long, and can essentially be thought of as two books, because both have such different moods.  The first half of the book is a sweet falling in love story, between two people of opposite socioeconomic status. The second half is recovering from a tragedy, and testing their love. Family plays a huge role in this book, for both Bash and Amelia. It is a heavy, dark, and sad novel, but written reply well with a lot of humor. I highly recommend this novel, and any other by Autumn Doughton (although this one is my favorite of hers).