The Light We Lost

368 pages, 2018

Jill Santopolo

fiction

1382 books

Takeaways

Description

He was the first person to inspire her, to move her, to truly understand her. Was he meant to be the last? Lucy is faced with a life-altering choice. But before she can make her decision, she must start her story — their story, at the veritably morning.

Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives ever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean a commodity, to matter. When they meet again a time latterly, it seems fated maybe they'll find life’s meaning in each other. But also Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-time trip of dreams, solicitations, envy, backstabbing, and, eventually, love.

Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them down? Their trip takes Lucy and Gabe's mainland piecemeal, but no way out of each other’s hearts.

The Power of First Love

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo explores the profound impact of first love. The story revolves around Lucy and Gabe who meet as students on 9/11. Their relationship is intense and formative, showing us how first love can shape our lives and decisions, even long after it's over.

Life's Tough Choices

In the book, Lucy is often faced with difficult choices. She has to choose between Gabe, her first love, and Darren, her stable and reliable partner. This book encourages us to look into our own lives and consider the choices we make, and how they shape our future.

The Impact of External Events

The Light We Lost shows how external events, like 9/11, can drastically change our lives. Gabe's career choice and his decision to travel to the Middle East is influenced by this event. It's a reminder to us all that our lives can be changed in an instant by events beyond our control.

The Complexity of Love

Jill Santopolo explores the complexity of love in her book. Love isn't always straightforward and simple. It can be messy, complicated, and full of tough decisions. This book encourages us to see the complexity in our own relationships and appreciate them for what they are.

The Pain of Letting Go

The Light We Lost is a poignant reminder of the pain of letting go. Lucy and Gabe's story is a testament to the fact that sometimes, even if we love someone deeply, we might have to let them go for various reasons. It's a lesson in acceptance and moving on, something we can all learn from.

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