This novel is beautifully written – the story of Abe and Jane, a dreamy tour through memories of a life and a love story, told by multiple points of view and interspersed with the story of Central Park and the many other love stories that intersect with it. It’s fairly slow paced but never lost my attention because I was captured by the story, the emotion, and the lyrical writing. The characters are fully formed, complex people, and as such, are not all likeable through all of the book. They screw up, they make mistakes. But especially in the case of the main couple, Abe and Jane, it’s lovely to see how they grow and change and have conflict and through it all, stay together and still in love. Large parts of the book are told in the second person, which I know turns some people off, so if you’re one of them, be warned. If you don’t mind that, though, and you don’t necessarily need a sunny happy ending, and you’re looking for gorgeous writing that will quite probably make you cry, I can highly recommend this book.

CW: Postpartum depression, cancer, mention of suicide

Disappointed in this one-- I found it boring and slow. The writing was fine, but the pacing and the characters didn't draw me in. It was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is uniquely written in that it is part journal entry-esque and the other part a record of rights, wrongs, memories, seasons...life really. Chapters switch between cataloging the family life of Abe, Jane and Max now that Jane is dying, the others are an ode to Central Park. The family chapters are a relatable look at love, career, marriage and parenthood. I likely would have rated this higher if I had been a New Yorker or visited Central Park more than the one time I've been there; those who have experienced it will see those chapters as a love letter.

Read content warnings!
Ugly cry of the year.
Beautiful, poignant, heart wrenching then breaking.
The people, the park (Central), the love, the art, the prose, a must read.
Will linger in my heart and soul forever

This is a moving and poignant book, that I know would appeal to a range of readers. The details of place and NYC landscapes are especially well-drawn. Seems better for a book club than university teaching but nonetheless enjoyable.

Read about 30% and couldn't get through this. I was bored listening to him ramble from memory to memory, back to present - I found it slightly hard to follow but also didn't see it as this "epic" love story, he seemed to be mansplaining at times and I just wasn't connecting with either of the characters. It was weird hearing him recount someone else's experiences in the way he did "You thought blah blah, you said blah blah, you went to this place, etc" and I just didn't like how the story was told at all.

For fifty years, Abe and Jane have been coming to Central Park, as starry-eyed young lovers, both together and alone. This is their story. However, Jane is dying and Abe is struggling with this remembering their lives together. A beautiful story about the meaning of love and what it means to let go.

I really struggled with this writing style, especially the use of second person. I was hoping it was just the first chapter that had the "you remember, you did this, I remember, etc" but it just kept going. I really wanted to stick with it because I loved the authentic details and experiences that the author wrote about, however, I had a hard time investing in the story.

Thanks Netgalley for a digital advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I liked the plot and the characters but it was definitely a different perspective! The book is written as if looking back on a live story through Central Park- I liked the book but not my favourite.

This was a touching and emotional book to read. I enjoyed the different points of view with the chapters.

"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦."

These are the first lines of this touching novel about Abe and Jane, a New York City couple who've been together for 50 years. As Jane succumbs to cancer, Abe recaps their love story - the good and the bad - highlighting how much of their relationship has been tied to Central Park.

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 was especially poignant for me because I relate to this magnificent place playing such a a big role in one's life but I was also drawn in by Jessica Soffer's raw exploration of what it means to be an artist, a spouse and a parent. Her language is lyrical but spare and the almost stream of consciousness storytelling makes you feel as if you're eavesdropping on the couple's conversation. It's an intimate experience, and I found myself tearing up more than once over the beautiful messiness of life and love. This won't be a book for everybody but it's one I adored.

Thanks to Dutton Books for the copy to review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Sadly I did not enjoy the writing in this. I found it too on the nose and really took me out of the story. The writing felt disjointed, I understand what the author was going for and it's not bad, I just think more editing and consideration around this aspect would have been helpful. I do enjoy strings of thoughts being conveyed but this just hit you over the head with memories which I understand is part of the book, it just missed the mark in the way it was written. I found myself feeling irritated by a story I would usually enjoy.

Magnificent! 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 is a beautifully crafted book that captivates from the start.

The story centers around Jane, Abe, their son Max, and the backdrop of Central Park, creating a rich and intimate experience. As Abe reminisces with Jane, it feels as though he’s speaking directly to the reader, weaving them into this touching story that evokes a deep ache in the heart.

While there’s a chronological flow to Jane's recollections, the non-linear presentation adds depth to the story. The shifts between Central Park and the perspectives of Jane and Abe create a dynamic narrative, especially when Alice enters the picture. Max is also given moments in the spotlight, allowing readers to connect deeply with all the characters. I could have read an entirely separate book just about Max.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 is not just about a lasting marriage; it's also a love letter to Central Park. The park is literally another character in the book, and reminds us of the everyday life that continues around the main characters. I loved the chapters about the park and the myriad details surrounding it.

The themes of art, marriage, parenthood and memory weave together to create a rich narrative. I literally re-read the first few chapters after I had finished, which is something that I rarely do. Jessica Soffer’s writing is absolutely poetic. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 is an exquisite book that should not be missed.

Many thanks to the publisher for my complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of This Is A Love Story by Jessica Soffer!

I was really excited to read This is A Love Story but sadly it wasn’t for me!

I was pretty interested in the plot but the writing style didn’t work for me. I found myself pretty annoyed with how repetitive it was and how so many sentences started with “I remember.” It really took me out of the story. I also just found I was bored and had a hard time focusing on the story.

DNF at 25%

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer is an intimate look at marriage and the moments that make up a life. Abe and Jane have been married for 50+ years, they live in NYC, and spend their lives in and out of Central Park. So much so, that Central Park plays a bit of character in this novel - which i completely fell in love with! The park is a symbol of their love and their relationship within their own family and with others.

Jane is now nearing the end of her life and the way this book takes the on the journey of their love is special and memorable. The ways Soffer writes of the complexities of marriage, the hardships and challenges, is both real and lyrical at the same time. What makes the story so real for me is how Soffer places the importance on patience and forgiveness throughout this narrative. I really was swept away through the emotions of Abe and Jane's life and I feel most will be able to relate.

If you are a fan of the writings of Maggie Smith, I think you will find this book special and home for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the opportunity to read and review This is a Love Story.

I really wanted to like this novel, especially with its press and pick as a Read with Jenna book. However, I just couldn't get into it. The style of looking back at a relationship through Central Park in New York just didn't land for me as a reader.

This was as much of a love story about a couple reflecting back on their life together as it was a love letter to New York City and Central Park in particular. Abe and Jane have been together for years and as Jane lies dying, Abe recounts their years together as young lovers, exhausted parents and struggling artists. Written with lyrical prose, I found this a slow moving story and I just couldn't get in the mood to finish it right now. Perhaps I will try again another time but for me right now it was a DNF. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I understand the desire to be different or to offer a unique way of talking to the reader. However,properly formatted dialogue and some other simple edits would have made this book absolutely amazing.
As it is, the novel makes it hard to figure out who is talking to whom, who’s remembering what, and how are all these people connected. Once you get into it, it gets a bit easier, but still. I forgot who some of the characters were by the time I would resurface from another “I remember - You remember” stream of consciousness. This book was like a thick fog at times.
Which is a shame, because it is also beautiful, smart, and funny at times. Especially the observational notes on the people and happenings in the park. But these delightful moments get lost in the muck of the weirdly written and formatted prose. It is a love story, and a good one. But you will have to fight through the mud to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes for this book. Set in Central Park and a love story was a perfect combination to get me motivated. Yes, it was a true love story with its ups and downs, in sickness and health. However, the writing style didn’t do it for me. On the bright side, I adored the ode to Central Park and long to return someday.