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On the Bright Side is an ambiguous title. It most often refers to Anna Sortino’s contemporary YA romance or Hendrik Groen’s humorous diary-style novel. Two separate podcasts use the near-identical title The Bright Side, including Hello Sunshine/iHeartPodcasts’ women-focused show and The Bright Side with Kevin & Jason.
Why “On the Bright Side” can mean different works
The author or host is essential when searching, buying or discussing this title. Anna Sortino’s novel follows teenagers navigating Deaf identity, illness and love. Hendrik Groen’s novel is an older narrator’s comic diary about life in a care home. Neither book is connected to the other.
The podcasts are separate productions again: one is an uplifting women’s interview and conversation show, while the other is a Society & Culture series about human mistakes and the possibility of hope.
#1 Best Overall
On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino
Story and characters
Ellie is Deaf and has been attending a boarding school designed for Deaf students. When that school closes, she must return to her hearing family and enter a mainstream school. A guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, a student whose legs have become numb after a soccer injury. As their relationship develops, Jackson’s symptoms lead to a life-changing diagnosis.
The novel’s concerns
Sortino frames the story around fear of the unknown, community, ableism, audism, self-determination and unexpected love. The romance is central, but the book also asks who gets to define a person’s needs and future when institutions, family members or medical professionals make assumptions for them.
Penguin Teen’s published praise from Kirkus Reviews calls it “A sweet, well-written romance with just a touch of drama for excitement.”
Edition information
Penguin Books Australia lists a paperback edition published on 23 September 2025, ISBN 9780593697887. Search for the full name On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino to avoid confusing it with Groen’s book.
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Story and setting
Groen’s narrator resumes his secret diary after grieving Eefje. He and the Old-But-Not-Dead Club pursue mischief and friendship both inside and outside their care home while responding to fears that the facility may be demolished.
Tone and themes
This is a comic novel, but its humor sits alongside ageing, bereavement, institutional restrictions and the uncertainty of losing one’s home. The diary format lets everyday incidents, friendships and acts of resistance accumulate into a portrait of later life rather than presenting a conventional romance or coming-of-age plot.
Rank #4
Edition information
Penguin Books Australia records an audio publication dated 11 January 2018, ISBN 9781405936835. Search for On the Bright Side by Hendrik Groen when you want the care-home diary novel.
The two books compared
| Work | Audience and form | Protagonist and life stage | Primary setting | Central perspective | Tone | Edition detail documented here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino | Young adult contemporary romance | Ellie and Jackson, teenagers | Deaf boarding school, hearing family and mainstream school | Deaf identity, disability, diagnosis and self-determination | Heartfelt romance with dramatic pressure | Paperback, Penguin Books Australia, 23 September 2025; ISBN 9780593697887 |
| On the Bright Side by Hendrik Groen | Adult comic novel in diary form | An older care-home resident | Care home and the wider community | Ageing, grief, friendship and institutional power | Satirical, mischievous and bittersweet | Audio publication, Penguin Books Australia, 11 January 2018; ISBN 9781405936835 |
The Bright Side from Hello Sunshine and iHeartPodcasts
What the show is
This is not either book. iHeartMedia describes The Bright Side as a quick 30-minute program designed to “inspire, educate, and uplift,” bringing together community, joy and thoughtful conversation. Its format centers on women’s stories, insight and encouraging conversation.
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Hosts and release history
The show launched on 25 March 2023 as a daily morning-style program co-hosted by Danielle Robay and Simone Boyce. A new season returned on 27 May 2025 with Simone Boyce as host, with weekly episodes distributed by iHeartPodcasts and major podcast platforms. Those dates describe the documented launches and season return; they should not be read as a guarantee that every episode remains available in every country.
The Bright Side with Kevin & Jason
Kevin Held and Jason T. Gaffney host a separate Society & Culture podcast. Apple Podcasts describes the series as an examination of humanity’s blunders in search of reasons for hope. Apple lists 125 episodes and an active period of 2018–2021 (Apple Podcasts, accessed 2026), so it is distinct from the iHeart show’s later season.
Quick Recap
How to find the version you mean
- For the Deaf-student and diagnosis romance, search “On the Bright Side Anna Sortino.”
- For the care-home diary and Old-But-Not-Dead Club, search “On the Bright Side Hendrik Groen.”
- For the women-focused iHeart program, search “The Bright Side Hello Sunshine Simone Boyce.”
- For the older Society & Culture podcast, search “The Bright Side with Kevin and Jason.”
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
