Review: The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

Published: May 9, 2017

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Son

Format: via audiobook

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

Lucy is faced with a life-altering choice. But before she can make her decision, she must start her story—their story—at the very beginning. Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated—perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.

My Thoughts

Oh, how I loved this story! We met Lucy and Gabe and from the very beginning you know they are meant to be. However, as much as they love and want to be together their lives are destined to go in different directions. Lucy wants to stay in New York and begin her career but Gabe is a photojournalist and wants to travel the world and conquer his dreams so they try and make it work but soon discover its impossible. So we see both as time passes and how even though they don’t talk all the time they know they will always be a part of one another's life. They always weave in and out of each other's lives and even if they are in other relationships there is always a deep bond between the two that no one can break.

So when Lucy gets engaged and eventually married its no surprise that her husband isn't too thrilled that whenever Gabe comes back to town Lucy always finds a way to meet up with him. She claims it's because they are friends but we all know its so much more than that. I was torn by this because I know it isn’t right since she is married but the story of Lucy and Gabe is so connected that I can't help but root for them. It's not that Lucy doesn’t care or love her husband but her love for Gabe is epic. Its something that comes once in a lifetime and that kind of love doesn’t come around that often.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I won't go into details but the ending of this book had me in tears! The conclusion of their love story literally torn my heart into a thousand tiny pieces, but I loved it. I enjoy a great love story and this is exactly what this is, its heartbreaking but love is just that, it isn’t pretty or easy but when you find your soulmate nothing is greater than that. This was a wonderful and beautiful read and I actually listened to this on audio and it was read by the author which I thought was amazing, so if you want an unforgettable read that will stay with you forever this is definitely the one for you.