Audiobook Review: The Light We Lost by Jill Santpolo

The Light We Lost
by Jill Santopolo
Narrator: Jill Santopolo
Published by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date May 9, 2017
Goodreads

Me Before You meets One Day in this devastatingly romantic debut novel about the enduring power of first love with a shocking, unforgettable ending. A Love Story for a new generation.

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 very beginning.
Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated—perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.

Reading Progress

Review

I had been looking forward to listening to The Light We Lost, but unfortunately it was a snoozefest.  With the lead character, Lucy continuously bemoaning what could have been, it got a little repetitive and with a lack of character development or depth to the plot, it quickly became tedious. Lucy disappointed me as she never stood up for herself, and came across as a limp noodle.  Also, I was on the nose with my How I Met Your Mother comparison and it was equally disappointing.  I will say that the author, Jill Santpolo narrated the book, which I find can be hit or miss, but I really enjoyed her tone and was the shining part of the book.  Overall, I felt The Light We Lost was a dud but I’m glad I read it, because like the core of Lucy’s story I would have always wondered.

Rating

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• Reese Witherspoon Book Club Challenge