Ryan is the point-of-view character for Part 3, Lillian’s love interest, and Jet’s father. His trajectory over the course of The Bright Years is largely complicated by the legacy of his father Barton. Ryan begins drinking to prove to himself that he is not like Barton but soon discovers that his relationship with alcohol closely resembles that of his father. When he begins believing that he is a mirror to his father, he decides to leave for his family in a way Barton could not: “What hurts most about his shove is its purpose. He’s giving himself permission, proving to himself that this is who he is, his only option is to leave, and we’ll all be better for it” (65). Ryan himself implies that his violence was a way to make the break with his family more certain and final. However, his actions are complicated by the way they allow him to avoid accountability and processing his feelings about his father’s abuse and his own addiction.

Ryan proves to be a dynamic character by seeking forgiveness in his relationships and doing the work to take accountability for his addiction and responsibility to his recovery. With Apricity’s birth, he commits to his sobriety and finally fulfills his lifelong desire to prove to himself that he is not his father. As he looks back on his life, he realizes that Jet was his reason to live, and now, because of her, he has Apricity: “In those days, I would crave death and then see a flash of Jet’s face. She couldn’t be my reason for sobriety—she was my reason to live […] and then fast and scorching as a lightning strike, I’m holding a granddaughter instead of a daughter” (256). Ryan commits to his sobriety because of his love for Jet, and his relationship with Apricity just strengthens his commitment to his recovery. He becomes the foil to Barton in the end, being present as a father and grandfather in a way that his father never was.

Jet, short for Georgette, is Lillian and Ryan’s daughter and the point-of-view character for Part 2 of the novel. Her journey is filled with tragedy and trauma that she struggles to overcome, but because of her kind and healing nature, she does eventually triumph. As a child, Jet demonstrates care and compassion for others, always wanting to help. She carries around a first aid kit, hoping to do good if the moment arises: “Inside are bandages, topical antibiotic, and gauze in case she should come across anyone who needs help. Some people’s hearts shrink as their eyes open to the pains of the world, but not Georgette’s” (105). Though Lillian hopes that Ryan’s absence won’t dampen her daughter’s spirits, her own death and Ryan’s abandonment change Jet in her adolescent years. Jet closes herself off, overcome at times by her losses, and refuses to lean on others, not wanting to open up to the possibility of being hurt again.

Jet proves to be a dynamic character, however, as she matures and realizes that she is not the only person to struggle or feel pain. She also realizes that her attempts to protect herself may actually hurt her, a revelation that arrives while she photographs a wedding and hears the bride speak about how the groom helped her overcome pain: “I do not, it turns out, have a monopoly on pain. It’s not some secret knowledge of mine […] They know if hurts whether promises are broken or kept—they make them anyway. I’m the one left out of a secret. And for the first time, I want in” (219). Jet comes to realize that people take the risk to love each other even though it will almost inevitably bring pain, because if they do not, they cannot have love. She realizes that this love is not diminished by pain and realizes that she wants it. Her reconnection with Kendi illustrates her willingness to take this risk, and the end of the novel, in which she is in a healthy romantic relationship and has a happy child, highlights the fulfillment to which taking this risk leads.

Elise is Ryan’s mother, though her most prominent role in The Bright Years is that of mentor to both Lillian and Jet. Both Lillian and Jet lose their mothers at crucial points in their lives, and Elise adopts that role for them. She is a strong woman who holds those around her accountable, looking out for those she loves, even if it is painful for her. When Jet is young, she refuses to let her see Ryan intoxicated, kicking him out and shocking Lillian with her strength: “It requires strength enough to distance from a husband; it’s an entirely different strength to distance from a son” (81). Elise’s priorities are with her family, and though she loves her son, she has no illusions about the effects of his alcohol addiction on his family and works to protect and support Jet and Lillian. Lillian looks to Elise for strength and is always thankful for her influence, particularly when it comes to Jet.

Elise’s guidance and support are instrumental to Jet’s growth, and Jet views her as a mother and an integral part of her family. She refuses to let Elise remove herself or lessen her role in her life when Davis enters Jet’s life. Throughout The Bright Years, Jet often struggles to understand her family, but she always knows the value of Elise: “When I told her that Davis is bringing his family over, she offered to scoot […] I told her absolutely not, that Mom loved her like a mother and we both know it” (202-3). Elise is at the center of the unconventional family dynamics of the novel: She is a mother to Ryan, Lillian, and Jet, guiding and supporting each of them as they grow and maneuver through difficult situations.

Shauna is Kendi’s mother and Lillian’s best friend. Like Elise, she occupies a unique role in Jet’s life, becoming a family member and additional mother figure. When Jet is a child, Lillian often reflects on how thankful she is that Shauna is in her and Jet’s life, seeing how her presence is a positive influence for Jet: “Shauna gives Jet a handmade card too, hers with a cardinal sketch on it. Jet hugs her with the full hanging weight of a happy child. She might not have a dad around, but in Shauna, she has a loyal auntie” (70). Shauna is one of a handful of characters who help make up for Ryan’s absence when Jet is a young child. She, Kendi, Jet, and Lillian make up their own chosen family unit. Her life has a close parallel to Lillian’s, with loss in their past and a desire to make the best lives for their children despite such losses.

After Lillian’s death, Jet avoids Shauna because of how much she reminds Jet of her mother. However, Shauna is instrumental in catalyzing Jet’s maturity, as her constant support allows Jet to realize that Shauna mourned Lillian too, and despite this pain, chose to still be present in Jet’s life: “And in realization that I remember nothing about how she handled Mom’s death. She must have been devastated […] I find her after the service and tell her as much. I thank her, for the first time, for being family when I had so little of it” (209). Shauna is family to Jet and stays by her despite Jet’s coldness after Lillian’s death. She demonstrates steadfast commitment to her loved ones, even through hardship, offering Jet a positive model that she can use in her own relationships.

Kendi is Jet’s childhood friend and adult love interest. In the same way that Shauna’s history mirrors Lillian’s, Kendi’s mirrors Jet’s. Both Jet and Kendi lose their fathers: Kendi’s dies before his birth, and Jet’s is largely absent. They grow up best friends in the same apartment complex with their single mothers, who are also best friends and work together to give them happy lives. Despite this, their friendship suffers after Lillian’s death, as Jet secretly blames him for not saving her mother, projecting her grief and loss onto him. She pushes him away, not recognizing his sorrow and regret until he reveals that, in many ways, he felt like he lost a parent as well. Their shared grief, now in the open, brings Kendi closer to Jet.

Kendi is a static character, faithful to and supportive of Jet from childhood into adulthood. He loves Jet, and when he proposes to her, he highlights their connection while also supporting her individuality: “We share more with each other than with anyone else in the world. I don’t need another me. I need you” (229). He loves her despite their similarities and wants her to be herself, no matter what. For Jet, Kendi offers steadfast friendship and understanding, as well as an example of how to be vulnerable for love.

Michael Darnell is Shauna’s love interest and a foil to Ryan. He is supportive and present in Shauna and Kendi’s lives, even taking her first husband’s last name when they marry, to honor the man and their relationship. He also plays a very supportive role in Jet’s life, contributing to her tuition when she is accepted into nursing school: “I find a sizeable check. Squeezed onto the memo line, A gift, not a loan. All the doctor questions Michael has put up with over the years, and now this payment toward my tuition” (201). Like the other Darnells, Michael is instrumental in showing Jet what family can be, and he also offers a different example of who a father could be. His relationship with Shauna and his treatment of Kendi and Jet demonstrate to Jet how people can help those they love overcome challenges and trauma to find happiness together.

Davis is Lillian’s first child and Jet’s half-brother. His primary role in the novel is helping Jet mature and showing her another model for family. He also acts as a foil to Jet—he also struggles with his relationship with his biological parents, but he has gained closure and finds purpose and fulfillment in the family he creates. Jet observes, “Somehow, despite his unsent mother letters and a father whose life doesn’t have space for him, Davis bends low and patiently maneuvers his son’s fingers to the tune of Bunny ears, bunny ears, playing by a tree” (206). The love and patience Davis shows for his son helps Jet look outward and understand how other people work through the tragedy and trauma in their lives. Meeting him gives her the feeling of having a sibling and the hope of what could be with more people in her life. He overcomes the challenges in his life caused by his family, becoming a role model to Jet by offering a glimpse of what could be.