Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 18, 2025.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. “The Light We Lost” was published back in 2017. It introduced us to Lucy and Gabe. I gave it 5 stars. This book continues the story, 10 years later. But it can definitely be read independently.

Themes include grief, secrets, modern families, photography and finding love. It was a quick and enjoyable read.

I probably have read the first book 5 times because I was enthralled in the story the two main characters have. When I found out I was accpected to read the second book I immediately sat down and finished the whole thing. Even though I was excited I also was crying. A lot. All that's to say, anything Santopolo writes is amazing I love her character work and I cannot wait for the world to see Lucy have a happy ending.

The sequel we’ve been longing for! After receiving a much awaited ARC, I reread The Light We Lost to refamiliarize myself with the characters and plot. Having read both books back to back, The Love We Found perfectly tied up loose ends of book 1. Lucy has matured vastly since book 1, and places her role as a mother as the guiding force behind all of her choices now. While I was a little more Team Darren in book 1, and was initially hoping he and Lucy would find their way back together in book 2, the new love interest, Dax complements Lucy even more! Great execution of a follow up!!!!

This was a fantastic sequel. The grief Lucy was wading through felt palpable and so believable. It was beautifully written. I loved "seeing" Lucy's heart open again as she began moving through her grief. My only criticism- for lack of a better word- is that Lucy and Dax's first meeting/date seemed awfully rushed. I couldn't connect with it. That said, I think he was written as a great partner for Lucy and was definitely someone that could understand her grief. Darren still sucks, but Courtney was also a really well-written addition, She deserved better than Darren, but I enjoyed Lucy and Courtney forming a little more of a bond. Overall, I was not at all disappointed. This was a great read- especially for a sequel.

The Love We Found was the most brilliant look at life after an all-consuming, soul-crushing love comes to an end. While Lucy and Gabe’s story in the first book, The Light We Lost, may have been complicated and messy at times, it was also intensely believable and moving. Their story continues to be so authentically reflected in the pages of this book as well. In The Love We Found we get to journey through Lucy’s life a decade after we last saw her. Her story is now layered with personal growth, accountability, rediscovering passion, and bravely pursuing a new love.

The way Santopolo narrated these books, as Lucy speaking to Gabe, built so much connection to the characters. The reader easily feels what they feel, sees what they see, breaks over what breaks them. The first book had me a sobbing mess when I first read it in 2022. Before I dove into The Love We Found I decided to reread the last few chapters of The Light We Lost and I immediately cried again. In the first book you get shattered along with Lucy, and in the second book you can get put back together.

I think one of the most beautiful parts about being a reader is reading stories about people from all walks of life, perhaps people who have made choices you wouldn’t, people who experience life very differently than you do. But being able to learn about and connect to various stories, fictional or not, is a lovely privilege. The type of human connection explored in these books is so beautiful, and I’m thankful for the story of Lucy and Gabe who experienced a wildly fierce love for one another.

I enjoyed this book but found some of the writing to be distracting. Sometime prose can be a reminder that it's fiction (the language used in writing to Gabe). Some of the writing and expressions are repetitive and cliched. That being said, this novel is a good story which depicts the struggles of a family facing a difficult revelation. Santopolo also handles the topics of divorce and relationships in a way that feels honest and real. Fans of the first novel will also enjoy this one although it is not as immersive or well written as her previous work.

I loved the first book by this author and the second didn’t disappoint. To have one true love taken away in such a violent way leaves so many questions unanswered. Was Gabe perfect? Probably not but the way the author wrote the story, it was like no one could hold a candle to him. I couldn’t put the book down and finished in just a few hours. I’d love to see another book in this saga.

I loved the exploration of love, grief, secrets and moving on.

The characters, and their emotions, were relatable and elicited empathy from me throughout. I loved watching Lucy develop and grow, and really appreciated her parenting! I made the mistake of not reading The Light We Lost first, but this was easy to read and understand on it's own! I would recommend though, reading The Light We Lost prior!

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!

*The Love We Found* by Jill Santopolo is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and healing. Following the emotional journey of its protagonist, Santopolo weaves a story that resonates with anyone who has experienced the complexities of relationships. The protagonist’s personal growth, set against the backdrop of love's many forms, feels genuine and relatable, making the book a moving read. Santopolo's prose is gentle yet powerful, guiding readers through moments of vulnerability and resilience. This novel is perfect for those who appreciate emotionally charged stories about love’s capacity to shape and break. I was very excited for this book, and was not disappointed!

Difficult Conversations and THE LIGHT WE LOST and THE LOVE WE FOUND by Jill Santopolo

Cover of the book THE LOVE WE FOUND by Jill Santopolo used as a teaching example for ways to have difficult conversations.
Cover of the book THE LIGHT WE LOST by Jill Santopolo used as a teaching example for ways to have difficult conversations.
THE LIGHT WE LOST is the story of Lucy, her love Gabe, and her husband, Darren. Lucy and Gabe met in New York on September 11, 2001. Later, they dated. Their relationship brief relationship changed Lucy forever. She never got over him. Even when Darren became her husband and the father of her children. Even when Gabe died. This situation led to difficult conversations.

THE LOVE WE FOUND tells the story of Lucy, her tween and teen children, Gabe, Darren, and a new love interest. It’s ten years after Gabe’s death. Lucy and Darren are divorced. It’s time, Lucy thinks, to tell her kids a life-changing family secret she and Darren kept from them. This decision provokes a series of difficult conversations. Darren initially disagrees but eventually acquiesces. They talk with the kids, their loved ones, and their families.

The idea of having difficult conversations provokes anxiety, especially for conflict-avoidant or people-pleasing people. In the moment, emotionally raw and potentially hurtful conversations can seem best avoided.

Unfortunately, avoiding difficult conversations causes problems and harms relationships. Luckily, when slowing down and analyzing thoughts, many people realize that their initial fears surrounding tough conversations are exaggerated, especially compared to the potential harms of skipping the talks.

Here are tips for having difficult conversations:

Clarify Your Why: Ask yourself: Is the conversation to impart information? Share feelings? Redirect behavior? How will you know when you’ve accomplished your goals?

Consider All Levels of Communication: Ensure your tone, body language, and words are consistent and appropriate to the discussion. Aim for caring / supportive or firm/neutral.

Practice: Ask a trusted friend to rehearse the conversation with you in advance. Seek feedback and consider what worked and didn’t work. Then, adjust and practice again until you feel ready.

Answer Questions: Answer questions honestly and in age-appropriate terms. If you don’t know the answer, offer to try research. If you don’t want to answer, set a boundary. Do not lie.

"The Love we Found" is a sequel that I didn't expect or know I needed (to the incredible "The Light we Lost"). The first book just shattered me & stayed with me a long time. I am not sure this sequel will stay with me, but it is really nice to get some closure on the first book, as its ending was my only real criticism of it. In this one, we see Lucy, ten years later, still mourning Gabe & how's she's coped (or not) with his loss. I do hesitate to call this a romance, to me it's really more character growth and a grief study, but I did like it, and felt it had important things to say. I also feel very strongly that this would not work as a standalone & I did revisit the reference material, and was glad my library still had the first novel. I also think the author is a very good write, which is why I've read her whole backlist & recommend. My thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for my review copy - my pleasure to read & review it.

It’s been ten years since the events in The Light We Lost. Ten years since Lucy lost Gabe. Ten years since Samuel, Gabe’s son, grew inside her. Ten years of a secret Lucy never wanted to keep, but did for Darren.

At the heart, this is a post-divorce story about a family healing. There has been betrayal, secrets, and lies and Lucy wants to do better for her family. Since the loss of Gabe and her divorce, Lucy has concentrated on her kids and welcoming Darren’s new wife and twins into the folds. Her heart has been closed off to romance. But when Gabe’s editor calls to get Lucy’s help with the reissuing of Gabe’s photography book, Lucy starts a new adventure to Rome, and this adventure just might lead to love.

What I like most about the characters Santopolo creates is that they are both perfectly human and flawed. They have made mistakes, big mistakes, but they recognize their errors and work to make them right. This is a story about an imperfect family making it work, and I think there’s a beauty in that. As Lucy says, every family has secrets. This story is theirs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jill Santopolo for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This follow up novel answered a lot of lingering questions I had but it was a little too cookie cutter neat for my taste. I kind of liked the soulful sadness of the first book better. Not that this was bad it just wasn’t what I expected. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

It had been a while since I had read The Light we Lost. It took me a while to get into this second novel. It did a good job refreshing my mind about the story. However, I was SO BORED reading this. IDK why, but I just could not get into it. I think if you read the first book, and loved it, like I did, try this. It just didnt' live up to my expectations, and I didn't connect with the characters like I did in the first book. 3 stars

I didn't think anything could top " The Light We Lost", but when I found out there would be a sequel I could not wait. It exceeded all of my expectations. Nearly ten years after Gabe's death, Lucy finds a mysterious address in Rome hidden in his old photos. It starts a journey across the ocean to uncover new connections, old secrets, and forces her far out of her comfort zone. This book is beautifully written, emotionally gripping and I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Years ago, I loved the Light We Lost. I have to admit my memory for the story had faded but quickly came back. I liked being 10 years in the future and seeing how much the loss was still impacting Lucy (and her family) on a daily basis. This book wasn't my favorite, but worth a read if you liked The Light We Lost-- it seems like most like it more than I did!

I loved this book. 🥹 As a fan of The Light We Lost, I was excited to dive back into Lucy and Gabe’s story. Jill Santopolo does an incredible job painting vivid surroundings that make you feel fully immersed in the story. The emotions felt raw and authentic, pulling me even deeper into the characters’ journeys. I found myself not wanting this book to end—it was such a satisfying continuation of Lucy’s story.

Thank you to the author for giving us another beautifully written chapter in Lucy’s life. Make sure to have the tissues handy. ❤️

What an amazing sequel to "The Light We Lost!" The story continues with Lucy, her marriage, her kids, and her life after Gabe. This one is equally as emotional!

In the larger sense, for me there was a time for school, a time for romance, a time for mothering. In the smaller sense, month by month, week by week, or day by day, there's a time for work, for play, for creation, for relaxation. the next few weeks really felt like time to concentrate on healing.

This book is so good and will stay with me for some time. I hope the story continues for a third book!

Romance, Beautiful Journey, and Emotional!
4.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 3/18/25.

3.5 stars rounded up

I was so excited to see I received an ARC for this book! The Love We Found was an enjoyable read and went very quickly. It didn’t quite compare to The Light We Lost but was overall a book I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book was quite good. There are many things I missed and didn't understand because I read it as a stand-alone and not as a sequel. With all of that additional context and background information, I believe I would have liked it more. Despite some cheesy parts, I thought it was still quite good and entertaining.