The Light We Lost is a poignant, heart-wrenching exploration of love, ambition, and the choices that define our lives. Jill Santopolo’s debut adult novel masterfully captures the complexity of human relationships against the backdrop of post-9/11 America and a changing world. Through the story of Lucy and Gabe, Santopolo asks readers a haunting question: Are some loves meant to last forever, even when life pulls people in different directions?
Published in 2017, this emotional powerhouse of a novel has resonated with readers worldwide, earning its place as a book club favorite and bestseller. With the recent release of its highly anticipated sequel, The Love We Found (March 2025), now is the perfect time to revisit this stirring tale of passion, purpose, and the roads not taken.
Synopsis: A Love Born from Tragedy
Lucy and Gabe meet as Columbia University seniors on September 11, 2001—a day that changes both their lives forever. Their first encounter, set against the backdrop of collective national grief, creates an immediate, intense connection. While they briefly drift apart, fate reunites them a year later, and their passionate relationship unfolds amidst the shared desire to make their lives meaningful.
When Gabe receives an opportunity to work as a photojournalist in Iraq, he chooses his career over their relationship. Lucy stays in New York, pursuing her own dreams in television production. What follows is a thirteen-year journey across continents, filled with moments of love, jealousy, and heartbreak as their lives intersect repeatedly, despite Lucy’s marriage to Darren and the family they build together.
As Lucy narrates the story directly to Gabe, readers gradually understand the circumstances that have brought her to this confessional moment—and the impossible choice she now faces.
Strengths: Emotional Resonance and Authentic Characters
Powerful Emotional Impact
Santopolo excels at capturing raw emotion. The novel pulses with passion, longing, and regret, creating an authentic portrayal of the messiness of love. Lucy’s internal struggles—particularly her conflicted feelings between stable, dependable Darren and the all-consuming passion she shares with Gabe—feel painfully real. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions, making readers feel every heartbreak and moment of joy alongside the characters.
Character Development with Nuance
Lucy’s first-person narration provides an intimate window into her psyche as she evolves from an idealistic college student to a career woman and mother. Her growth feels organic and believable. Gabe, seen entirely through Lucy’s eyes, emerges as complex and flawed—talented and passionate but also selfish in his pursuit of meaningful work. Darren, who could have been merely an obstacle, instead becomes a fully realized character whose decency makes Lucy’s dilemma all the more challenging.
Structure and Pacing
The novel’s structure—written as Lucy’s extended letter to Gabe—creates immediate intimacy and intrigue. Santopolo skillfully navigates between past and present, gradually revealing the circumstances that have led to Lucy’s current state. Short chapters maintain momentum, making this a page-turner despite its emotional weight.
Exploration of Post-9/11 America
Using 9/11 as the crucible that brings Lucy and Gabe together allows Santopolo to examine how national tragedy shapes personal lives. The novel thoughtfully explores how that pivotal day changed priorities and perspectives for an entire generation, influencing career choices, relationships, and worldviews.
Weaknesses: Melodrama and Moral Ambiguity
Occasional Melodrama
At times, the novel veers into melodramatic territory, particularly in the intensity of Lucy and Gabe’s connection. Some readers may find the “fated lovers” trope overwrought, especially with repeated philosophical discussions about destiny versus choice that sometimes feel heavy-handed.
Moral Ambiguity
The novel’s treatment of infidelity presents a challenging moral landscape. While Santopolo clearly depicts Lucy’s inner turmoil about her feelings for Gabe while married to Darren, some readers may be uncomfortable with how the narrative seems to romanticize the affair. The “true love versus stable love” dichotomy occasionally feels reductive and potentially minimizes the real pain of betrayal.
Underdeveloped Secondary Characters
While Lucy, Gabe, and Darren receive nuanced treatment, secondary characters like Kate, Julia, and Lucy’s family sometimes feel like plot devices rather than fully developed individuals. Their primary purpose seems to be supporting Lucy’s journey rather than having agency of their own.
Predictable Plot Points
Some plot developments, particularly around Lucy’s pregnancy and Gabe’s fate, may feel predictable to seasoned readers of the genre. The novel occasionally relies on convenient timing and coincidences to move the narrative forward.
Writing Style: Intimate and Accessible
Santopolo’s prose is straightforward yet emotionally resonant. The first-person perspective creates immediacy, drawing readers directly into Lucy’s emotional journey. The dialogue feels authentic, capturing the different speech patterns of characters across various life stages.
The author demonstrates particular skill in sensory descriptions, especially in intimate scenes between Lucy and Gabe. These moments feel tender and genuine rather than gratuitous. Literary and cultural references—from Shakespeare to The Giver—enrich the narrative without becoming pretentious.
The novel’s structure of short chapters makes for an accessible, page-turning experience. Santopolo knows exactly when to end each vignette to keep readers engaged and emotionally invested.
Themes: The Heart of the Novel
Fate versus Free Will
At its core, The Light We Lost examines whether certain loves are destined or chosen. Lucy and Gabe repeatedly discuss Shakespeare’s line about “taking the current when it serves,” questioning whether their connection is predetermined or the result of their choices. The novel offers no easy answers, instead presenting both possibilities as equally valid.
Passion versus Stability
The contrast between Lucy’s relationships with Gabe (passionate but unstable) and Darren (reliable but sometimes lacking spark) creates the central tension of the novel. Santopolo thoughtfully explores the trade-offs between these different types of love, comparing them to “wildfires” versus “hearth fires.”
Sacrifice and Ambition
Both main characters face difficult choices between personal relationships and professional ambitions. The novel questions whether fulfilling work and fulfilling love can coexist, particularly for women. Lucy’s struggle to balance motherhood, career, and personal desire feels especially relevant in contemporary discussions about work-life balance.
The Impact of Collective Tragedy
September 11th serves as both catalyst and metaphor throughout the novel. Santopolo examines how national tragedy shapes individual lives and how people find meaning in the aftermath of devastating events.
The Emotional Climax: No Spoilers
Without revealing the novel’s conclusion, it’s worth noting that Santopolo crafts an ending that feels both inevitable and surprising. The final chapters deliver an emotional wallop that will leave readers contemplating their own choices and relationships long after finishing the book.
Comparison to Other Works
Fans of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and One Day by David Nicholls will find familiar emotional territory in The Light We Lost. Like Moyes, Santopolo doesn’t shy away from difficult choices and bittersweet outcomes. The novel also shares DNA with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Maybe in Another Life, exploring how different choices might lead to vastly different futures.
Santopolo herself has a background in children’s literature, having written the successful Alec Flint Mysteries, the Sparkle Spa series, and Follow Your Heart books for younger readers. The Light We Lost marked her adult fiction debut and established her ability to craft emotionally complex narratives for mature readers.
Final Verdict: A Beautifully Flawed Exploration of Love and Loss
The Light We Lost is not a perfect novel, but its imperfections mirror the messy, complicated nature of love itself. At its best, Santopolo’s debut adult fiction creates an emotionally immersive experience that forces readers to examine their own beliefs about fate, choice, and the nature of true connection.
The novel is a good read for its emotional impact, compelling characters, and thoughtful exploration of modern relationships. While some plot elements feel convenient and the moral landscape occasionally troubling, the raw emotional honesty and beautiful writing overcome these flaws.
With the recent release of The Love We Found in March 2025, readers now have the opportunity to continue this emotional journey. Whether you’re discovering Lucy and Gabe’s story for the first time or revisiting it before diving into the sequel, The Light We Lost offers a poignant reminder of love’s power to shape our lives—even when that love cannot last.
- Perfect for: Book clubs, beach readers looking for emotional depth, fans of contemporary romance with literary elements, and anyone who has ever wondered about the path not taken.
- Not recommended for: Readers who prefer unambiguously happy endings, those uncomfortable with infidelity narratives, or anyone looking for light, escapist romance.