The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo by Lynne Marie Vokatis

    I was going to start another book and a whole different review but after reading this book and attending funeral services for s dear friend who lost her husband to brain cancer I changed my mind .
    Everyone one of us of a certain age remembers 9/11 in a different way . I was getting ready for work and my mother called and said to turn on the television and I watched the second plane crash . I said I was running late for work and I would call her and keep the news on and not to be scared .When I went to to work everyone seemed oddly calm ,we are about three hours away from the city . The radio was on quietly . I was a NYS Licensed Optician at the the time and actually fitted a woman who’s uncle was working in the Pentagon . No one had cell phone service . She was calm though getting fitted for glasses talking quietly . They sent us home at one o’clock not saying why . We thought maybe Albany was at risk but later found out we lost many people that day in towers in the company that owned the company I worked for and it was a sign of respect .
     I went across the street to see my brother at work and told him we closed and he was surprised . We talked a bit and I said I was going to check on Mom . My Mom , bless her , first stop , the grocery store . Water, cold cuts ,etc in case the power went out . People were quiet going about their shopping . I was amazed at the quietness .After dropping off my Mom I was after other other things ,I got a new flag , candles ,called my boyfriend at the time and said I was home . Then I started which became a never ending news watching I couldn’t stop for a very long time .
     For myself it was the beginning of the end of my relationship . They say that day changed peoples lives . I’ve read some books watched movies that made made my heart stop and cry hopelessly . But this book starts right off how it changed two people and a world of people . They say people did strange thing ,got married ,moved,went to their loved ones , loved ,fought , divorced,broke up, volunteered, joined the service, quit their jobs, started new , went to NY. All I did was put out my flag , lit my front porch with candles and sat in front of the tv and watch people die and not realizing my relationship was about to die too.SPOILERS AHEAD !
         From the very first few pages the book grabbed me . I had seen some reviews and when I read the back cover I knew I had to buy it and read it . I’m an artist as you know and photography is close to me to . I do a lot of my composite work through the camera when I’m not painting plein air . The characters looked like they would interest me and they did right away .
         I fell in love with Lucy and Gabe immediately . When they were together it’s like everything you dream of . When he photographed her in tears I was crying myself .
       When two people have creative choices and careers it puts stress on relationships .pWhen he went away to photograph in the Middle East somehow I knew it was the beginning of the end ,but he was going to always be a part of her life . Even through her marriage to Darren and her child . It put a terrible stress on her marriage but she could never forget him. That love that never dies that stays in your heart forever . Gabe keep coming back to her when he needs her . When a misunderstanding Occurs Lucy leans on Gabe in an incredible moment that reduced me to tears again .
        Pregnant she learns something and when Gabe needs her in his most desperate time of need ,despite arguments from her husband she goes to him and is faced with the biggest decisions of her life . It’s heartpounding heart wrenching reading . Jill Santopolo pulls the story through all the twists and turns from the first day to tie the story to its end . It was a trendously powerful book to read and very personal . I give it five stars .