A beautiful follow on from The Light We Lost, it is emotional and sensitive. A great story again.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored The Light We Lost, the author’s debut novel and The Love We Found is a sequel to this. We meet Lucy 10 years after Gabe’s death and the novel follows her on the next stage of her life.
What I loved about The Light We Lost was the intense passion between Gabe and Lucy and I think it’s one of the most intense novels I’ve read about love. That passion and intensity is missing here and I guess that’s to be expected. I love the way Jill Santopolo writes, with such empathy for her characters and really brings the character of Lucy to life.
This was an enjoyable sequel and I’d recommend reading The Light We Lost first.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

After receiving The Love We Found as an ARC, I decided to read The Light We Lost first—and I’m glad I did. This book explores love, grief, and complex family dynamics in a way that feels deeply emotional and thought-provoking. However, while there was a lot to love, a few things held me back from fully connecting with it.

One of my biggest struggles was the narrative voice. I didn’t feel as drawn in as I was with the first book, and at times, certain elements pulled me out of the story. For example, Sammy, the nine-year-old, often spoke in a way that felt much older than his age, which made some moments feel less authentic.

I appreciated how this book remains connected to The Light We Lost while shifting to a different stage of life. However, since it’s marketed as a linked standalone rather than a direct sequel (at least from what I’ve seen), I think it should have held more weight on its own. There were some plot gaps that might not hit as hard for readers who haven’t read the first book.

That said, I loved the romance. The new love interest was such a bright spot—his communication and care felt so mature and genuine. If anything, I think there was just a lot happening in this book, which made the ending feel a bit abrupt. A little more breathing room in the pacing (or even a few extra pages) could have made the resolution feel more satisfying.

Overall, while this one didn’t quite reach the emotional impact of The Light We Lost for me, it still had some beautiful moments and moving themes.

This was such an amazing read. It felt authentic and heartfelt. I did not realise that it was a follow up title until I had finished it, but that did not spoil the reading at all. Santopolo gave enough information of Lucy's backstory for this to make sense, but not so much that I knew what to expect.

Lucy has had a complicated life which has left her divorced and alone. She has three kids which she co-raises with her ex, Darren, but there are skeletons in the family closet which cannot stay hidden. Lucy is forced to confront the past and her relationship with a renowned photographer called Gabe when the anniversary of his death approaches. Revisiting the past and the choices she made will allow Lucy the capacity to move forward.

This is a heartbreaking tale, and the sense of grief and stasis in Lucy's life are palpable, yet the ending offer some sense of hope and resolution. Life is never neat and tidy and Santopolo plots and writes its ugliness in full glory in this book.

Be prepared to cry, but don;t miss this read - even if you haven't read book 1 yet - like me!

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo is the follow up to The Light We Lost and is ten years later.
I found this second novel as evocative as the first, the characters are so well written they become real on the page and the storyline was so good that each character stood out.
Thoroughly recommend

A really great story covering different subjects which made it a brilliant read and kept you hooked in from page to page to see how it is all going to play out.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Love We Found, the sequel to The Light We Lost (see review in my feed). It was written in the same style and I really enjoyed being back in Lucy’s world, but it also was very different, dealing with some new topics relevant to how much time had passed in the lives of the characters.

There were lots of really powerful small quotes within the story that were full of wisdom and really thought provoking. A few of the topics resonated with me in particular as I have experienced similar in my life, like parents divorcing, and I appreciated the perspectives portrayed here.

There were some sex scenes in this book that for me didn’t need to be there but were tasteful (in my opinion), so anyone enjoying a bit of spice in their book will likely enjoy this.

Thank you for early access to book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Highly recommend getting yourself a copy!

Imagine my excitement when I found out that there would be a follow on book for one of my absolute favourite books, ‘The Light We Lost’. If you are still to read that story then please don’t wait any longer! It is so beautiful; a love story that you won’t ever forget. And once you have read it then come back and read the review below.

This book is set ten years since Gabe’s death and through some short and very readable chapters, we find out what life has been like for Lucy in that time. As with all of Jill’s books I’ve read, it is so full of human emotion and of the ups and downs of life that you cannot help but relate to her writing on a personal level. At least that is the case for me anyway. And I adore the way she approached general life truths. This book of hers is no exception.

Lucy’s voice and depth of feeling is just the same as in ‘The light we lost’ and Gabe is still deep in her heart despite a lot having happened in the last ten years. The book starts with Lucy being contacted by Gabe’s old editor who wants to mark the tenth anniversary of Gabe’s death. This in turn starts a chain of events that will change Lucy’s life forever.

An absolutely wonderful book, which I could not put down. Thank you Jill for continuing Lucy and Gabe’s story.

It’s been ten years since Lucy Carter Maxwell lost her soulmate. Having hidden from love ever since, she’s stunned to find it pulling at her when she discovers an old, forgotten box of Gabe’s photographs.

Desperate to find the hope she has been searching for, Lucy begins to unravel the secrets that Gabe left behind.

… CAN NEW LOVE SET HER FREE?

The journey leads Lucy to Italy and into the path of Dr. Dax Armstrong. The pain in his sad, intense eyes, matches Lucy’s own – his touch reignites her in a way that no one has since Gabe.

Afraid of these newly awakened parts of herself, Lucy can feel the comfort of her old life tugging at her. But with an earth-shattering secret waiting in the shadows, can Lucy ever embrace love, if she doesn’t embrace the truth?

This was a lovely second book to follow up The Love We Lost.
I enjoyed the story of going back to find all the photographs and the story of those Gabe May have met. I loved the first book and this took us to Europe and uncovered the story of immigrants finding a home where they felt safe.
I loved the romantic element of the book as well and will be buying the paperback to match the first book for my shelves.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to review this book. I didn't realise it was a follow up to The Light We Lost.

In this we see Lucy working to help bring together a 10 year retrospective on Gabe’s work. In looking through photos, she finds an address. The story takes her to Italy which leads her to Dax, a NGO doctor.

This story also sees Lucy having to come to terms with telling her youngest son about his true paternity. This brings more family drama.

Throughout the book, Lucy is talking to Gabe and telling her about what is happening. She is also recognizing her need to disconnect a bit and open up space for someone new.

I enjoyed the book but was lost at times...would definitely recommend to read book one first.

This book was INCREDIBLE!!!! It was a perfect continuation of the Light We Lost and the way that the topics in this book were covered was beautiful and relatable to so many people. It’s so hard to describe this book without spoiling it so I shall leave this here but I just want to say I absolutely adored this book.

The Love We Found by,Jill Santopolo

It’s been ten years since Lucy Carter Maxwell lost her soulmate. Having hidden from love ever since, she’s stunned to find it pulling at her when she discovers an old, forgotten box of Gabe’s photographs.

Desperate to find the hope she has been searching for, Lucy begins to unravel the secrets that Gabe left behind .
A great read and lovely story about Lucy still trying to find all she can the death of her beloved husband .
She meets Dr. Dax Armstrong , both trying to get over their loss .
This is the second book of Lucy Armstrong , I feel it could be read as a standalone but more enjoyable if you've read the first one The Light We Lost.

It had been several years since I read The Light We Lost, so I struggled to recall where the story left off. Before diving into The Love We Found, I had to look up a synopsis to refresh my memory and reconnect with the characters.

While the book was an interesting read, I found Lucy’s character somewhat frustrating. She remains stuck in the past, idolizing Gabe, which prevents her from fully embracing the present. However, the second half of the novel picked up, and I especially enjoyed the introduction of Dax and the exploration of blending families. This aspect felt much more grounded and relatable, adding a layer of authenticity to the story.

I was beyond thrilled to receive an advance reader copy of Jill Santopolo’s upcoming novel, The Love We Found, set to be released on 18th March 2025. As a bookworm who had The Light We Lost sitting on my TBR for years, I knew I had to pick it up the moment I found out there was a sequel. And wow, why did I wait so long? Santopolo’s writing is absolutely stunning—poetic, emotional, and deeply immersive. The Love We Found has easily become one of the most beautiful and captivating books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in advance.

The story picks up nearly ten years after Gabe’s passing, when Lucy stumbles upon an old photograph of his with a slip of paper bearing a Roman address. This discovery sends her on an impromptu journey to Italy, where she meets Dr. Dax Armstrong, a New Yorker working with an NGO. Their connection is instant and profound, forcing Lucy to confront emotions she thought she had long buried. At the same time, she faces an even bigger dilemma. Santopolo masterfully explores themes of love, grief, and the choices that shape our lives.

What I adored most about this book was its raw, emotional depth. Lucy’s journey is heartbreaking yet hopeful, a true testament to how love and loss can coexist. The Italian setting added a gorgeous, immersive backdrop, and I completely fell for Dax—his kindness and understanding made him such a compelling character.

The Love We Found is an unforgettable story about healing, second chances, and the power of love in all its forms. If you’ve been holding off on reading The Light We Lost like I did, take this as your sign to pick it up now—because this sequel is breathtaking.

Thank you to the author, HQ stories from Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

How can a book be tender and brutal at rhe same time. Anyone coming out of this book without feeling emotionally involved can't be human!
It was such a heartwarming and heartbreaking look.at one woman's sense of self. At one woman's strength and journey to healing a broken heart.and at some points a possible broken mind.
Lucy was so captivating
She.was a true romance reading gem
And don't get me started on.Dax.
As what happened to lucy to break her heart,why, and what comes next is revealed you are truly.drawn in to every page of this book.

A gorgeous book about love and loss and the impact that Lucy’s choices have on her and her family. Dax is my favourite and I adored seeing his relationship with Lucy blossom. It’s a truly moving book and a five star read for me. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

This was a lovely story of life after the loss of a great lady love, of family, of grief, of secrets and of living your truth. I enjoyed the development of Lucy as she began to heal, the descriptions of her complicated relationships and her healing. An ultimately hopeful story that was a pleasure to read.

ARC - PUBLICATION DATE 18TH MARCH 2025

4.5 ☆

this book follows on from ‘the light we lost’ and i would highly suggest reading that book before going into this.

『 plot 』
it’s been ten years since the end of ‘the light we lost’ and lucy finds an address amongst gabe’s things, in Italy. so she decides to go to Italy and find out who is at this address but what she finds on her travels is so much more than she wished or hoped for.

『 my thoughts 』
this story is a love story, more so than your typical “person meets person” and falls in love. it’s about lucy, who, ten years ago had her heartbroken by the love of her life dying. the ten year anniversary of gabriel’s death is coming up and she finds her self on a journey, one that started as a journey to find unseen photographs to feature in gabriel’s photography book but what she finds is so much more. it’s a love story of self discovery, of finding yourself again, it’s of passion and empathy and falling in love with the world, finding the good in the bad. it’s about discovering things you didn’t know and letting go of the past and forgiving yourself, falling in love with yourself and opening yourself up to being truly happy, in a way you don’t think you could be after losing someone you loved so deeply.

i enjoyed ‘the light we lost’ but i didn’t love it, it felt like something was missing but this book? this book made me feel everything, it was beautiful and bittersweet and real. it’s honestly made me fall in love with reading all over again, it’s a book i will be thinking about for a very very long time

Lucy met Gabe 10 years ago, when she was married to Darren. He was a photographer before he died suddenly, not knowing he was to become a father.
Lucy is having to go through his photos for a forthcoming exhibition and revisits some of the places he photographed. Here she meets Dax, and soon feels as though she could love again.
However, her son thinks her ex husband is his father and she feels the time is right to tell him the truth. How will he react and also his brother and sister with her husband.
Can she move on?