This Bright Beauty

Written by Emily Cavanagh

Narrated by Cristina Panfilio

A long-buried secret changes everything two sisters thought they knew about each other.

Franci and Lottie may be identical twins, but that’s where the similarities end. Franci has always been the stable one, while Lottie has bipolar disorder, constantly battling depression and mania. After years of taking care of her sister, Franci moves across the country to build a life for herself. Now, all the two share is distance.

But when Lottie gets in an accident, Franci reluctantly steps back into her familiar role as protector. She returns to find her sister’s life in complete disarray and makes a shocking discovery: Lottie has an infant daughter she never told Franci about. Although Franci swore she wouldn’t get sucked back in, she can’t leave the baby alone in Lottie’s care.

As Lottie further unravels, a secret is revealed that she has kept since childhood—one that has the power to reframe the sisters’ entire relationship, forcing Franci to ask herself if the secret was too much for Lottie to bear. Was the accident really an accident, and who has been protecting whom all these years?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543626735

Emily Cavanagh

A teacher as well as a writer, Emily Cavanagh lives with her husband and two daughters on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. She is also the author of The Bloom Girls. Read more about Emily’s work and life at www.emilycavanaghauthor.com.

Reviews for This Bright Beauty

[Suze Lavender · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Franci and Lottie are identical twins. While in the beginning Lottie was the stronger one, later in life the balance shifted. Lottie's constant struggle with bipolar disorder and her reluctance to stay on her medication are making it difficult for Franci to stop worrying about her sister. Lottie stops taking her pills because she doesn't feel like she can be herself and she misses the manic periods, but being without her medication also brings the inevitable blackness of depression. Franci used to watch her sister's every move, however they have lost their closeness. First in distance and then a terrible incident caused a rift between them.

When Franci finds out Lottie was in an accident she rushes to the other side of the country to be there for her sister. She's stunned when she finds out Lottie has a daughter. Franci didn't know her sister was pregnant and never knew she had a baby girl. She has to take over the care while her sister is recovering. When she enters Lottie's apartment Franci finds a big mess. Franci should let Lottie lead her own life, but can she do this when she knows her sister isn't as stable as she should be, now that there's a child involved? When secrets of the past come to the surface the relationship between the sisters and their careful balance is being tested once more. What will happen when a terrible truth comes to light?

This Bright Beauty is a beautiful poignant story about two very different sisters. Franci and Lottie are twins and they look the same, but their personalities aren't very similar. Franci is levelheaded and craves stability. She finds it hard to be social, she doesn't easily make contact with others and she prefers to be invisible. Lottie gets along with everyone, she's outgoing and adventurous. When she wants something she goes after it. Franci and Lottie love each other unconditionally, but they have many issues. Lottie's illness and the consequences of her unwillingness to keep taking her medication are putting pressure on their relationship. Franci can't let go and wants to tell her sister how to live her life, which constantly causes friction. Their basis is a fierce love from both sides and the sisters try to protect each other, even if they don't get along. I love stories about siblings and was captivated by their complex bond from the start. Franci and Lottie clearly want to be individuals, but they have a connection that will never break. This makes fascinating reading and it kept me glued to the pages.

Emily Cavanagh writes about the emotional effects of being ill and watching a loved one struggle with a terrible illness in a fantastic emphatic way. She thoroughly explores every single layer of the feelings that are involved and the result is a terrific story. This Bright Beauty is heartbreaking and I often had tears in my eyes while reading this novel. I love it when I feel so much and This Bright Beauty impressed me on many different levels. I was mesmerized by the compelling relationship between Franci and Lottie from the start. I highly recommend this amazing book.