Review: The Bright Side of Going Dark

The Bright Side of Going Dark by Kelly Harms
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Kelly Harms’ previous novels have been fairly light-hearted fare with lots of heart; this newest one is considerably heavier, dealing with matters of depression, suicide, mental health, the effects of social media on the mind and our lives, and the screen-shaped walls we have put up between ourselves and the real world.
Despite the weight of the subject matter, Harms does an excellent job of blending in her characteristic wit and realistic yet likable characters. I wasn’t crazy about either Mia or Paige at first but I quickly became endeared to them, especially Paige with her unique voice and the big heart she won’t admit she has. These two are surrounded by a cast of wonderful characters that guide them through some pretty tough times.
The story of Mia, a social media influencer who goes dark in dramatic style after a crisis of conscience when she must decide between being honest or keeping her sponsors’ support, and Paige, who works in a little known department of the site that made Mia famous is sometimes slow but it is thought-provoking and heart-warming, complete with tears and some laugh-out-loud moments.

If you enjoy this novel, I highly recommend Harms’ other novels, particularly The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane and The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. Another good read about the ways we try to protect ourselves from pain is Katherine Center’s What You Wish For.



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