"Home is where the heart is" is the theme of this book.

It was clear that Ariel's mother ran the sanctuary with love although it was also clear that she was in over her head financially and struggled not only with taking care of the place but giving her time to her husband and daughter. That would cause very stressful issues in the family.

Thanks to my ever present library for a copy for my review. ( )

Most of this book was excellent with beautiful prose and engaging, flawed characters; however, the ending is not so much of an ending as it is just merely stopping the story. As a result, there's no real character resolution and so many threads left dangling. I was ready to give Bright Side 5 stars, but man, that ending was so unsatisfying. ( )

I read this book a while ago, the author had an ARC sent to me, and somehow did not post my review! So with that being said, the book was published this week and I need everyone to know if you ever wondered what it's like try to save them all you need to read this. Shelters and animal sanctuaries have little place in our world today, unfortunately, and it's one of the toughest but most rewarding jobs on earth. Becky Mandelbaum can only have written this because of life experience, coupled with the fact it is dealing with the political turmoil we are in, she did a wonderful job putting the story to paper. I will always look for anything more by this author. ( )

My feelings are mixed about this book. I loved the characters but struggled with an animal sanctuary owner could allow such filth to accumulate. I can’t imagine living in a home filled with the smell of cat pee. The storyline kept me going, though. When Ariel, who is estranged from her mother, Mona, who runs the sanctuary in western Kansas, discovers that the barn of her mom’s farm is burned in a hate crime, she leaves Lawrence Kansas and her boyfriend to try and help her mom. Relations are strained (as well as covered with animal hair). Her mother is resentful of Ariel leaving for college several years ago. Then when Ariel’s boyfriend shows up unannounced, things really go haywire. I enjoyed the insights about Kansas and the well-developed characters, but at the end I hope for the closure of the Bright Side Academy. ( )

The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals by Becky Mandelbaum is a big emotional journey. I loved the idea of the sanctuary and hoped for both Mona the mother who ran it and her daughter who ran away from it.

I could understand both of them. Mona had a bad childhood and realized that she could get unconditional love from animals. She could relate to them with love and patience and could never harm any animal. But the job of taking care of the dogs, cats , horses and other animals was too much for one person. The sanctuary getting by on meager donations, little help and she or anyone could not do what she did without losing time for herself, time and comfort her daughter, A labor of love was becoming a monster.

Her daughter, Ariel, remembered the early days before her father left the family and was in pain because her mother was there for her less and less. Ariel wanted a mother and her father and friends at school. Ariel felt that her mother did not love her as much as the animals. She felt abandoned. Yet Ariel loved animals too.

The above is one part of the complex story, there is much more, humor, violence, sorrow, forgiveness. This book meant so much to me. I am an animal lover too and a long time ago I to turn down a gift of love of dog I would have loved dearly but I knew that I we had move after our retirement and I would not be able afford care for it. When I turned the offer of a very large and beautiful puppy, my heart broke because the woman who wanted to give me the puppy was exactly like Mona, she loved dogs more than people and would never understand. I love both animals and humans like Ariel.

I received an Advanced copy of this book from the Publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review. ( )