Reviews

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

amiebrad_'s review against another edition

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3.0

I wanted to strangle Lucy by the end of the book!

kerinl's review

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5.0

The ending was a bit abrupt but otherwise a binge-worthy book.

mgallard's review

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sad

3.75

emmabreads's review

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1.0

★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star

here’s a lesson kids, just because it says Reese’s book club does not mean it’s a good book.




basically page 1, she decided to make out with a guy on 9/11!! how heartwarming.

janagaton's review

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5.0

cheesy at times, but still 5 stars. this book broke me several times. top 10 of 2021 for sure. that is all. i need to go stare blankly at a wall for a few minutes now.

pagesofkim's review

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4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ccochard46's review

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4.0

Ugh, it hurts me to have to lower this book to four stars, because a few years ago it was my favorite chick-lit/romance book of all time and I would never dream of taking a star away. In fact, I bet I wished I could have given it 10 stars at the time.

This book hurt me in ways that I didn't know a book could.

This book is what is responsible for getting me back into reading again, and I will forever be grateful for that and give it that title.

However...

After reading another book recently (*cough-cough* Out of Love by Hazel Hayes *cough-cough*), I had to come back to reality with this one and demote it from my all-time-favorites shelf because learning comes with time, and this one has changed for me with further cultural education.

First off, I didn't really consider at the time how offensive it might seem that this book starts a love story during one of the most traumatic, violent, horrifying moments in America's history. Probably not a great time to make out from another building while the World Trade Center is turning to ash and innocent people are dying, and I'm not sure how I overlooked this at the time.

I also struggle with this book because I still do love it, but I worry that their romance is promoting toxic, dangerous love. I can't really think of a moment where I felt that their relationship was stable and healthy and growing together, and I felt like Gabe was incredibly selfish while Lucy was almost too selfless. I even used to find myself routing for them to be together in the end when subconsciously I knew that it really wasn't the relationship to route for. Although, if looked at from a different perspective, this can also be a book that could be a good example of what love shouldn't be like... if you know how to recognize that in a connection. There's a difference between passionate (and oftentimes toxic) love and compassionate (built to last but often "boring") love, and they definitely didn't have the latter of the two.

However, I still absolutely ADORE the point of view for this book. Using second-person to really get the readers fully enveloped and invested in such an intense story was reason #1 why this book was at the very top of my list. It was a narrative that I had never seen before, and one that pulled at my heartstrings completely and still does. It is what I aspire to write within someday when I'm able to figure it out myself.

I also loved the way this book moved at such a fast pace that I kept wanting to read to find out more. I wanted to know what we were leading to, and I never felt bored with their story. It's so easy for me to become bored of a book and lose interest and I was so relieved to be so invested in a book again. I just hope all readers take this book with a grain of salt, and keep a good head on their shoulders.

sst723's review

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5.0

One of my favorite books. So beautifully written and such an epic love story. 10/10 recommend

stubbers25's review

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

jordan_linder's review

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5.0

Love story to remember. Highly recommend, lived up to all the recommendations I received.