“The Light We Lost” by
Jill Santopolo
Review Written by Diana
Iozzia
Quite honestly, “The Light We Lost” is the best book I
have read in a long time, perhaps even a year or so. This fantastically written
story is very unique and quite haunting.
The main character, Lucy, meets Gabe on September 11th,
2001. They date for two years and eventually, Gabe leaves to work in the Middle
East as a photojournalist. Lucy tells her story to Gabe from years later, but
we don’t understand at first why she is telling this story. It’s very romantic
how she tells him how in love she was with him, but then, the problem starts
when she starts to move on to date Darren.
I really enjoy that the story is told in a perspective
from the main character to her boyfriend, addressing him directly, saying “You
were doing this. We were doing that.” I haven’t read another book completely
like this, sans a book with a diary entry. The entire novel is like this,
except for a letter in the last two pages.
This felt very natural and very beautiful. It was
interesting that even though Lucy was telling her story to Gabe, it felt very
similar to my experiencing the events, rather than have been told them. Lucy is
an interesting character, because you feel such sympathy and such apathy
towards her. She’s a difficult character to love, depending on your morals, I
believe.
I really suggest this, but I do admit the cover
description makes the book sound much more dramatic and full of action than it
truly is. However, it’s fantastic, and I really enjoyed this, in comparison to
other romantic/dramatic books that I have read recently.
As I’ve mentioned, Lucy’s morals are hard to sympathize
with. I found myself struggling to decide “whose side” I was on, Gabe’s, Darren’s,
Lucy’s? Also, the relationship Lucy has with her children can be a bit
controversial as well. All in all, a really worthwhile read.
I received this from Ms.
Santopolo’s publicist as an advance reader’s copy.
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