If you haven’t read the first of this series, The Light We Lost, stop now.

3.75 stars rounded up.

This is a continuation, ten years later with main character Lucy still reeling from the loss of Gabe.

Three kids later, Lucy is divorced with shared custody of her kids in Brooklyn. She finds in Gabe’s belongings an address in Rome and after a spur of the moment, decides to find out what this mysterious address is.

Along the way in Italy, she meets Dax, a doctor who works with refugees coming into Italy. It’s an instant love affair, naturally.

The entire book we see Lucy speaking to Gabe as if he’s never left. It’s an essential love letter to the man she misses more than anything. We are also reminded that Sam, her youngest is actually Gabe’s kid, when she cheated on her then husband, Darren nine years ago. We don't get to see too much of Lucy's career, which we did in the first book, it's almost an afterthought.

My main caveat of this book was the character development of Lucy’s three kids - Violet, Liam, and Sam, all seemed to be eight years old. They acted like kids most of the time, despite Violet being 14. They were never full fleshed out children, instead they were just general kids, if you get my gist.

While this book will never carry as much weight as its predecessor, it’s simply an easy breezy love story. I wish more of it took place in Italy, as she explores this newfound love with Dax. The question isn't whether she found love, or if love has finally found her.

The Light We Lost explored so much of this unrequited love, taking place over decades. It was as if we were watching these two characters come to life. This sequel takes a step back and is more of a quiet story of how Lucy overcomes her never ending grief. It’s simply closure, not just for Lucy, but for us, the readers who fell in love with the first book.

This is the sequel to, "The Light We Lost" and I absolutely think you have to read it before you read this to get maximum enjoyment! I'm also hesitant about sequels, but this one lived up to the hype and I'm glad we got to continue Lucy's story! This one was definitely heartbreaking and I was definitely tearing up at times. If you want a good cry, this book will definitely do it for you!

I absolutely LOVED this book. Wow. I liked The Light We Lost, but this book was way better. I think that the character learned so much in this book. It was touching and heartbreaking. I loved how everything came together. It was truly a great book.

Thank you Netgalley, Putnam Books and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!! I was so excited to get this as this was a sequel to The Light we Lost, which is one of my very favorite books. This begins 10 years after Gabriel died, and we see how Lucy tries to navigate life with her children, and ex-husband, still crippled with grief. This author paints beautiful scenes in far-off places Lucy goes on her journeys. My favorite line in the book: 'Secrets work their way into relationships like moths chewing holes in fabric, until you realize that your favorite coat has been destroyed.' Pub date is 3/18/25!!

This was a pretty good book. I did read it as a stand-alone and not as a sequel so there’s a ton I missed and didn’t get the context for. I think I would have enjoyed it more with all of that extra background info and context. I think it was still pretty good, it had some cheesy parts but it was still good and enjoyable

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Light We Lost was such a heartbreaking yet beautiful story, and also one of my favorites. The Love We Found was the perfect sequel. I love Jill Santopolo’s engaging style of writing - especially the realistic themes she includes in her stories. Truly one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read more of her stories.

5/5 stars. Such an incredibly beautifully written story. The Light We Lost was such a beautiful yet heartbreaking story, and also one of my favorites. And The Love We Found was the perfect sequel. I love Jill Santopolo’s engaging style of writing - especially the realistic themes she included in her stories. Truly one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read more of her stories.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved The Light We Lost and this follow up did not disappoint. I read this in a day and I was truly sorry I read it that quickly. Lucy and Gabe's story is so beautiful and tragic and still keeps you hopeful for love. I don't want Lucy's story to end here so I really hope there are more stories in Jill's future.

Another installment to The Light We Lost, and man was this a perfect book two.

10 years after Gabe's death, Lucy finds a clue to his life and honestly, I think she was an auditor in a past life - pulling all the strings to see what it is.

This was beautifully written (similar style to the first book), light writing but heavier topics.

I am so glad that Lucy developed as much as she did, and so happy for the ending.

Overall, this was a beautifully written novel, and a perfect installment to the first.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC.

read if you like:
📚 THE LIGHT WE LOST
💔 post divorce life stories
❤️ heartbreaking romances

summary:
If you thought you cried a lot during THE LIGHT WE LOST, buckle up. This book follows Lucy, recently divorced and moving into the next chapter of her life as a single mother and television executive, when she gets a phone call from Gabe’s editor, looking to do a tribute book for the ten year anniversary of his death. This allows Lucy to revisit her relationship, and the only remaining vestige of her time with Gabriel — their son, Sammy, who does not know who his real father is. As Lucy explores some of Gabriel’s final projects for the anniversary tribute, she realizes telling Sammy about his real father — and the legacy he left — is important for her to find closure.

This story allows us to get to know Lucy better as she’s grown older, more mature and wiser. It’s fun to read about her growth and the comfort she now has looking back at her relationship with Gabriel. You also learn so much from her relationships with the other people in her life, especially her friend Kate and Darren’s new wife, Courtney. Through these, it’s comforting to see the peace she’s found through greater clarity and wisdom, and her ability to channel that into her friendships.

I’m not always a fan of sequels, but this one hits every note. It maintains the story and tone of the original book, builds upon the growth of the characters, and keeps you gripped as you go along the journey with Lucy to find closure. If you loved THE LIGHT WE LOST, I HIGHLY recommend this! While it still made me sob, it was more happy tears than sad, which is always a relief!

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and make sure you preorder this for its release on March 18, 2025!

This book is full of such a rich story with beautiful writing. I've read many of Jill's books and I've enjoyed the heartbreaking stories in all of them. I do feel like I should've re read The Light We Lost before I read this. I lost some of the emotional relevance and couldn't remember all the characters. The story is still amazing and well done, but it's definitely going to require a re read soon for both books!

The prose is nothing short of exquisite; lush and evocative, pulling me into Lucy’s world with a vividness that feels both intimate and profound. Each sentence resonates with a deep understanding of the human experience, allowing me to feel every heartbeat, every pang of longing. The emotional depth is palpable as Lucy grapples with her past while navigating the complexities of new love. Themes of fate and choice are intricately woven into the narrative, prompting reflections on how our paths are shaped by both what we lose and what we dare to embrace anew. I found myself utterly captivated by Lucy’s journey of self-discovery, as she learns that it’s okay to seek joy while honouring her memories.

I am a huge Jill Santopolo fan. Her newest book, The Love We Found was a phenomenal read. I loved it!

You probably wouldn't expect, "I spent the entirety of this book in tears" to be the start of a 5-star review. Then again, if you're a reader - especially of Jill Santopolo, specifically of the prequel The Light We Lost- you might.

The Light We Lost is not even my favorite Santopolo novel; it was harder to relate to the Lucy of a decade ago. The story of Lucy and Gabe, however - that held up, and that is what follows us into The Love We Found.

It's been 10 years since the love of Lucy's life, Gabe, died while on assignment and his editor calls Lucy about a special retrospective - then and now. Lucy narrates her life now to the Gabe of her past. She's now divorced with 3 kids - Violet, Liam, and Gabe's son, Sam. Sam does not yet know who his biological father is, but the deep dive into Gabe's art, into discovering stories and photos she had not previously seen, awakens something in her. Lucy travels to Italy and to her past, slowly healing as she lets her secret go.

When Lucy meets Dax in Italy, she must decide whether she can let love into her life again. She's grown and she's learned, she will not repeat the same mistakes; but is she ready, and, she asks - is she worthy?

She turns to her confidant and friend, Eva, a Holocaust survivor who has seen it all, including forgiveness. The reader knows what she wants Lucy's choice to be, but in Santopolo's world of love and loss, nothing is a given.

PLEASE NOTE: if you have not read The Light We Lost, this will have spoilers for you. You must read that first. I try not to do spoilers, but this one cannot be helped.

For those who have read and loved The Light We Lost as much as I did, mark March 18, 2025 on your calendar. Take a mental health day from work. You will not want to out this book down. It is every bit as incredible as The Light We Lost.

The Love We Found is 10 years after Gabe’s death. Lucy and Darren are now divorced, and Lucy feels as though she is stuck in limbo. Gabe’s publisher is working on a tribute to him, and enlists Lucy’s help.

After finding a picture that has her wondering about Gabe’s time in Italy, she decides to take a trip on her own. While there, she meets Dax, who is doctor without borders physician. Meeting Dax sets a whole new set of emotions into place for Lucy.

This book was so emotional. Even if you don’t agree with how Lucy and Darren handled things, you can’t help but feel your heart tugged. Jill’s writing is so engaging, and it will transport you directly into the pages of the book.

Another grand slam for this author. Incredible sequel.

I confess, I have read every book Jill has written since initially reading the prelude to this one. Bits and pieces of that story came back to me as I read but didnt' quite remember it all. In either case, love the author's writing style and story line even it was a bit-- tough to believe. It wasn't till the end the reality of life actually hit but still loved the characters and all the relationships.

This is literally a love letter to the man Lucy loved before his death. It explains the sad irony that her youngest son, Sammy, was born after his death while she was still married. Gabe was a noted photojournalist and the 10th anniversary of his death has pushed Lucy to Rome to gether material and explore a mysterious address.

As she revisits her past, it is there that she meets her future, a doctor who is mourning his own tragic loss. Lucy is a very complicated woman who had put her life on hold, centered on her children. During this reawakening, secrets are shared and Lucy moves toward an honest future.

I have enjoyed all the Santopolo novels I’ve read and this one is especially lovely. Thank you Netgalley for this bittersweet story which I enjoyed.

Ten years after Gabe's death, Lucy finds a clue to his life that leads her to Italy. She finds the stirrings of love, as she faces decisions about her life that could change everything. It was a great follow-up to The Light We Lost.

The Love We Found by Jill Stanopolo is a beautifully written exploration of love and the enduring pull of the past. A follow up to The Light We Lost, this novel follows Lucy as she embarks on a journey to uncover a secret tied to Gabe, the love she lost nearly a decade ago. A mysterious address in Rome leads her not only to Gabe’s past but also to Dr. Dax Amstrong, a man who reignites emotions Lucy thought she’d buried. The story delves into themes of fate, choice, and the complexities of moving forward. Both captivating and bittersweet, this book is a powerful reflection on the nature of love and healing.