THE LOVE WE FOUND ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Release 3/18/25. Read the first book in the series if you have not! 10 years, in 10 years Lucy is still in mourning, conflicted with the loves of her past, and the love she has for her 3 unique children. With a family secret so deep, it could have a catastrophic ripple effect in their entire dynamic. She finds a part of her loves past, the pulls to a unique future. Will Lucy find the freedom she so desperately needs from her past? The writing was so honest, transcendent. I loved this book, I read it in 2 sittings, and just couldn’t stop. The end came with tears, I felt patched together as her story unraveled. A great read and good ending to the first novel. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I read The Light We Lost, the first book in this duology a few years ago and I was absolutely captivated by Gabe and Lucy's story the entire way through. It was heartbreaking and also somehow so beautiful. I could really feel their love and all of the reasoning behind the decisions that they made, some of which were not good ones. That being said, I was so excited to pick back up with Lucy's story. I found her in a similar place to what I expected but on a journey of self discovery and love. When she finds an address amongst Gabe's things, she decides to travel to Rome to investigate. This trip leads her on a journey that she does not expect and forces to face the facts that sometimes hiding the truth is not the best option, even if the truth is scary. This was a beautifully written book and I loved finding Lucy in a more hopeful place at the end of this one. If you read The Light We Lost, I think this one is a must read. 5 stars from me! Big thanks to Putnam Books for the ARC!

This was just the book I needed to start my year of reading off! I didn’t know I needed the continuation of Gabe & Lucy, but I did.

This book just completed everything in every way possible. It wasn’t easy for Lucy to move forward, but her growth was amazing and I really enjoyed seeing how she maneuvered through the tough times with her ex husband and kids. It truly was a perfect ending to The Light We Lost.

I highly recommend if you’ve read The Light We Lost or if you haven’t, I would recommend reading both!

***Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review***

Jill Santopolo writes a beautiful story with "The Love We Found".

Lucy sees everything through the lens of Gabe; what he isn't experiencing with her since his death almost 10 years earlier, and what might have been. As we are hearing from Lucy's perspective, she talks to Gabe about life and how she feels each day regarding her family, her current state of life, and their son that he never got to meet. Lucy's relationship with her kids reminds me of my own, and I truly love her style of parenting. I felt really connected to her each time she was with her kids, and love how intuitive and intentional she is with each of them. I do think that Gabe being woven into the entire story really shows how much Lucy loved him. He is always in the back of her mind. I am glad she lets herself try some things and pushes herself outside of her routine.

This book picked up for me in chapter 23, around the time Lucy goes to Italy. Her encounters there really bring life into her, as well as meeting Dax which shows us a welcome and beautiful side of Lucy we haven't seen yet. Although. hearing about it through the "talking to Gabe" lens was a struggle for me at times... as it kind of felt like thinking of one man while being with another. I would get wrapped up in the moment and feel like I was reading a first-person perspective, and then she would say something directed at Gabe and it would startle me because I felt like he was somewhere he shouldn't be.

This book is not a light read. There are light aspects and sweet moments, but it really carries such a deep, and at times painful, narrative. Amidst that though, is hope, healing, and love.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Putnambooks for this ARC!

I absolutely loved the continuation of Lucy & Gabe's story. I read "The Light we Lost" back in 2021 and fell in love with that book. I don't usually remember what I read, but that was a story I couldn't forget. I was so honored to receive an ARC copy of the sequel "The Love We Found." This book should be a testament to us all that even if we are grieving, we can keep going. As humans we are resilient.

Lucy made some bad decisions, but we can find truth through healing & love.

There was so much raw emotion in this book I ate it up! Lucy's dedication to Gabe is just unmatched. This is a love story for the ages. If love is not like this I don't want it.

"There are some people you meet and for whatever reason it feels like your bodies vibrate on the same frequency - or maybe it's your souls."

Thank you to NG for this ARC copy of The Love We Found. Get yours wherever books are sold on March 18, 2025.

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo is a beautiful sequel to The Light We Lost. Taking place ten years later, the story is about over coming grief and moving forward.

If you enjoyed The Light We Lost, I highly recommend this sequel. Jill Santopolo’s books are filled with so much emotion.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy of this book!

**4-Star Review for *The Love We Found* by Jill Santopolo**

Jill Santopolo has done it again with *The Love We Found*, delivering a poignant, heartfelt story that lingers long after the last page. This novel explores the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery in a way that feels both intimate and universal.

The characters are beautifully fleshed out, especially the protagonist, whose journey of reconciling her past and embracing her future is as moving as it is relatable. Santopolo has a talent for crafting moments that feel so genuine they could be lifted straight from real life. The themes of forgiveness and second chances are woven throughout the story, making it a deeply emotional read.

The pacing is steady, though a few sections felt a bit drawn out. However, the author’s prose more than makes up for it—lyrical without being overwrought, and packed with vivid imagery that brings each scene to life.

What stood out most was how Santopolo captures the nuances of relationships—not just romantic ones but also friendships and family ties. The novel’s conclusion is satisfying, striking the perfect balance between bittersweet and hopeful.

While it didn’t completely break new ground, *The Love We Found* is a tender and well-crafted story that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved, lost, and dared to love again. A beautiful addition to Santopolo’s repertoire, this book is perfect for fans of heartfelt contemporary fiction.

Highly recommended for a cozy weekend read!

The story of a sappy gal who needs to snap out of it

I remember loving The Light We Lost which came out in 2017. I think I cried when reading it. This memory of pure enjoyment could’ve set my expectations too high for the follow-up, The Love We Found.

Because what I assume was meant to be a loving ode to Gabe turns out to be kind of an exhausting time spent with Lucy. Her actions were unnecessarily sloppy.

Despite her journey - physically and emotionally - I’m not sure she ended up in a new place at all.

She seems to define her worth by her romantic relationship status which is such a bummer to see for this character 10 years after The Light We Lost debuted.

However, it’s interesting to read romances at different stages in life. What may have seemed romantic in earlier years appears trite later and vice-versa.

I was a bit disappointed in this one. I loved The Light We Lost so much and had high hopes for this sequel but it just fell flat for me. The romance between Lucy and Dr. Dax felt so unbelievable it was almost absurd? The way the kids handled things in the story felt all so fake and contrived. I gave it 3 stars for it being a quick read and had some good points, but was not impressed on this one.

The Light We Lost wrecked me so I figured this would wreck me too - and it did. Santopolo is a genius at weaving a story of love, passion, and grief all in one. 10 years after Gabe's death, Lucy is thrown back into Gabe's photography world, retracing some of his work on a small island in Italy.... there she tracks down a boy from a photo. And there she also meets a doctor who is visiting from NY,... and there is a spark. When Lucy heads back to NY and her home, she struggles with the ability to let Gabe's memory go and maybe start something new? There is another entire dynamic too dealing with her 3 children and telling her youngest son her biggest secret- that Gabe is actually his father, not her ex-husband who has raised him. I loved the internal struggle Lucy had with all of this and how in the end - she chooses to believe in love and that love will be her truth.

A must read if you read The Light We Lost because it’s a follow up set ten years later. It’s also a good stand alone read if you haven’t but a much richer experience if you’ve previously read The Light We Lost. Give me all the protagonists who are middle aged woman with life experiences and grief and a past finding passionate, romantic love again because I’m here for it. Lucy has a secret, three children , a divorce and a deceased love of her life. Can she let her secret go and find love again? .And it’s partly set in Italy! Yes please. I don’t read romance but this author I love!

A beautiful continuation of the story that so many connected with in *The Light We Lost*. While it may not capture the same magic as its predecessor, fans of the original will appreciate seeing the journey unfold a decade later. The narrative is rich with emotion and depth, exploring the complexities of very real, human characters that are rare in novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC on this fantastic sequel.

Thank you to Jill Santopolo and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

I was a huge fan of "The Light We Lost" and knew I had to read this sequel. I sobbed with the first and now I'm sobbing again even as I write this. This a beautiful, sweet, thought provoking book. As someone who is divorced and has kids that are split 50/50 custody I completely emphasized with Lucy. I have never lost someone I've been in a relationship with but her description of the pain she feels is touching. You can feel her pain, her sacrifice for her children, and even her thrill at the possibility of love again. I loved this book so much!! This is definitely going to the very top of the list for my 2025 reads! I will absolutely be promoting this book to all of my followers and friends.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I’m not sure how to put this book into words. It’s picks up 10 years after The Light We Lost ends. Lucy and Darren are divorced now and coparenting, and we spend some time on telling Samuel that Gabe was his biological father which leads to a bit of drama. It truly feels like a “where are they now” in a good way. I love that Lucy gets another chance at love and Dax understands that her love for Gabe will always be a part of her.

It was very well written so if you liked the first book I would recommend this one.

If Jill Santopolo broke your heart with The Light We Found years ago, then this book is for you! Lucy and Gabriel captivated and broke our hearts years ago with their long spanning love journey to and from each other, which ended with Gabriel’s devastating death and Lucy giving birth to not her husband’s son but Gabe’s. Now almost 10 years later, Lucy, who has still never really stopped thinking about Gabe, finds herself drawn back into his orbit when she is contacted about a gallery of his photos and a reprint of his book in honor of 10th anniversary of his passing. Lucy finds herself wondering more about Gabe’s work, how to tell her son more about him, and if she still deserves love in her life after all her mistakes and great love stories.

This book is about settling down. About the overwhelming decisions we make and the impact they have in our lives later. About questioning and doing what’s best for us. About family and how not all families look the same. It takes the hole the first book dug in our hearts and slowly fills it because everyone deserves a little happiness. While not as great as the first book, The Love We Found is a gentle reentry into Lucy’s not so perfect life. It’s a book for healing, and while I didn’t love every aspect of the book the story is beautifully told!

A continuation of Lucy and Gabe, although Gabe is obviously gone. Overall 3 stars for me, I liked it but all the light we cannot see remains my favorite. I liked the component of almost a diary entry to Gabe, but overall just felt so sad reading it.

When I found out The Light We Lost was getting a sequel, I approached it with cautious excitement. The first book was heartbreakingly beautiful—it emotionally wrecked me but still holds a special place in my heart.

The Love We Found picks up 10 years after Gabriel’s death, with Lucy still consumed by grief. While sorting through Gabriel’s belongings, she discovers a piece of paper with an address in Rome. Hoping to uncover more about Gabriel’s final years, Lucy sets off for Italy. There, she meets Dax Armstrong, a doctor working for an NGO, as well as other characters who had connections to Gabriel.

One of the things I appreciated about this book was Lucy’s narration, framed as if she were speaking directly to Gabriel. As the story progresses and Lucy begins to open up to Dax—and eventually chooses to be with him—she starts addressing Gabriel less. It’s a subtle way of showing her gradual acceptance of his death and her journey towards finally letting him go.

While I understood that this story aimed to explore grief, new love, and complex family dynamics, I didn’t connect with it the way I did with the first book. Lucy and Dax’s relationship felt rushed, almost like instalove—which isn’t something I enjoy. On top of that, Lucy’s feelings were often repetitive, especially her guilt about cheating on Darren and “breaking apart their marriage.” Overall, the story fell a bit flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the eARC !!

I loved the first book and I was nervous about reading this one but there is something about Lucy and Gabe's story and Jill Santopolo's writing that works.

Lucy is so relatable - as a single working mother trying to be and do everything. When their is a retrospective of Gabe's work, she trsvff egg is and meets people he photographed, gets to help a feeling photographer and finds her love - but has to deal with that as a single mom. Oh and telling Sammy who his father is and the turmoil that creates in their family. It's an excellent book.

Thank NetGalley for the ARC. After reading, The Light We Lost, which is my favorite book, I will read anything and everything that Jill Santopolo writes. And my year was made when I found out we were getting a sequel. This book is just as beautiful and fantastic as the 1st one.

This is a love letter to Gabriel from Lucy 10 years after the conclusion of book 1; The Light We Lost. It is imperative that you read the first book as this is not a stand-alone book but rather a continuation of their story and it is going to have so much more meaning reading it second.

I only recently read the first book (about 6 months ago) and with it fairly fresh in my mind, I feel like I can remember the angst and the loss Lucy felt carry over into this book. ***spoilers if you haven't read the first** She is facing the idea of letting go of Gabe's memories a daunting task and is looking for a way to move forward, She discovers an address among his things that leads her to a trip to Italy and the discoveries while she is there lead to a path she never expected to take. There is so much beauty in her grief/recovery/freedom to move on. This book was the perfect way to wrap up what was left unsaid in the first book. My favorite part was Gabe's son and his old soul outlook in life. Really great book!