‘Two People
One Choice
What if?’
The Light We Lost is a novel by American writer Jill Santopolo. Described as ‘an epic love story’ and published by HQ Stories (Harper Collins Imprint), this is a book that will perhaps make people reevaluate choices made and decisions taken. It is reminiscent of the great love stories of old and will stay with you long after turning the final page,
I received my copy from the publisher and my review is completely voluntary and unbiased.
Please continue reading for my full thoughts…
Book Info:
11th September 2001.
Lucy and Gabe meet at Columbia University on a day that will change their lives – and the world – forever. And as the city burns behind them, they kiss for the very first time.
Over the next thirteen years they are torn apart. then brought back together, time and time again.
It’s a journey of dreams, of desires, of jealousy,of forgiveness – and above all, love.
And as Lucy is faced with a decision she thought she’d never have to make, she wonders whether their love is a matter of destiny, or chance.
What if they should have been living a different life all along?
Me Before You meets One Day in this passionate debut novel, which details ann epic love story and the heartrending choice that one woman must make
I have been reading quite a lot of thrillers and crime novels recently. Books that get under your skin and make you analyse a little more the society we now live in.
When I saw this sparkly cover calling to me, I knew it was time for a change, so I was well ready to jump straight in. What I wasn’t ready for was how this book would make me feel.
The Light We Lost is a novel that once started, is impossible to put down. While ultimately a love story, here is a book that you will feel emotionally attached to on completion.
Gabe and Lucy, two college undergrads at Columbia University cross paths on the fateful day, now known to us all as 9/11. We all know where we were the moment we got news of the first plane crashing into the Twin Towers in New York. Even writing this now has brought out the goosebumps all over.
For Gabe and Lucy this was the night the stars collided, bringing them together for a short while, as they both witnessed the world as they knew it collapse in horror and turmoil before their very eyes. High on the rooftop of a building on college campus they watched the fires burn and in the height of this fear, they found each other.
Jill Santopolo has written more than just a love story.
The Light We Lost is a story that picks up on the ‘what if?’ of the path we choose to take in our lives. For Gabe and Lucy, decisions made, resulted in their paths only crossing at certain moments over the following years. Their obvious love for each other spills out of every page. Lucy builds a career and a life for herself in New York but Gabe chooses to explore the world with all the life experiences it has to offer.
As I was reading this novel I was swept up in the romance of the book but also in the underlying sadness of both Gabe and Lucy. Their story is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, the original star-crossed lovers. As much as they both try to move on with their lives there is an almost invisible thread that keeps them forever tied together.
Each time Gabe and Lucy are reunited in the book, I was unsure of what I wanted to happen next. Both deserved the love each had for the other but as their lives grew more complicated over the years, I had to consider the other people in their lives and it certainly makes you think about your own life and paths taken.
I’m not going to lie to you!! When I received my copy from the publisher, it arrived with a packet of tissues. Now I know why…..
The Light We Lost will challenge even the hardest of hearts. The decision that ultimately faces Lucy is heartbreaking, I had become so invested in both Gabe and Lucy, and the possibilities and chances they had, that I really didn’t see the ending play out as it did.
An emotional exploration of love asking the question…how much control do we have over our destiny? The Light We Lost is a passionate and romantic novel. Captivating in it’s simplicity and narrative….
Purchase Link ~ The Light We Lost
Official Bio:
Jill Santopolo is the author of The Light We Lost, the Alec Flint Mysteries, the Sparkle Spa series, and the Follow Your Heart books. She holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, an MFA in Writing for Children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a certificate in Intellectual Property Law from NYU. Jill is also the Editorial Director of Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, where she edits many critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and best-selling books including A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi, Proxy by Alex London, It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going! by Chelsea Clinton, the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer, A Dance Like Starlight by Kristy Dempsey and Floyd Cooper, and Peanut Butter & Cupcake! by Terry Border.
When she’s not writing or editing, Jill is a thesis advisor at The New School in their MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults and is on the faculty of the Columbia Publishing Course.
She was formerly an adjunct professor at McDaniel College, where she helped develop the curriculum for their certificate program in Writing for Children.
Jill has traveled all over the U.S.—and to Canada and Europe—to speak about writing and storytelling.
She lives in New York City.
Website ~ http://jillsantopolo.com/
Twitter ~ @JillSantopolo
Gorgeous review for a gorgeous book! I’m with you on this one as you know!
Thanks Vicki. I most certainly do x