The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo – a Review

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Description:
It’s been ten years. In case you’re out there somewhere—in case you’re listening, I’m here. And I have so much to tell you.

It’s been nearly ten years since Gabe’s been gone when Lucy finds a tiny piece of paper in a box of his old photos. An address in Rome. Why did Gabe keep it, and what was he doing in Italy? Lucy buys a last-minute ticket. Impulsive, but Gabe always brought that out in her.

Lucy’s journey to uncover Gabe’s secret leads her to Dr. Dax Amstrong, a New Yorker in Italy working with an NGO. His broad shoulders and sad, intense eyes draw Lucy in. His touch reaches her in a forgotten place—one that no one has neared since Gabe.

But her old life awaits, along with an earth-shattering decision—whether she and Darren should tell their son Samuel the truth about his real father. How can Lucy move forward while she’s rooted in regret? Fate broke her heart in the past. Can finding new love set her free?

Review:

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo was a wonderful standalone novel.  This was a sequel to the previous book, The Light We Lost, which now takes picks up a decade after Gabe’s death, with his editor (Eric) calling Lucy to plan a promotion for a new book to be published.  Lucy ends up searching for Gabe boxes that has been in the closet for many years; she ends up finding an address in Italy with a drawing of a young boy.  Lucy decides to fly to Italy to do research on her own, why Gabe would have kept this address.  She will meet the family, including the young man (10 Years older), Bashire, who was a drawing expert whose photo was still cherished.

While in Italy, she meets Dax, a doctor who works with refugees coming into Italy. Lucy finds herself attracted to Dax, as he also falls hard for her.  When Dax returns to the states, their relationship escalates.  Though Gabe has been dead for 10 years, she wonders if her and Dax have found love. 

The main focus of this story revolves around Lucy, her three kids, and her ex, Darren and his wife, Courtney.   Lucy and Darren have shared custody, with each week the families switching to their house.  Their three kids – Violet, Liam, and Sam, make a very good happy family. Sam the youngest (8 years old) is actually Gabe’s son, which only Darren knows about.  Lucy decides she wants to tell Sam, and her other two kids, about Gabe; which infuriates Darren, who does not want this to be revealed.  Darren found out about Gabe, which was a reason for the divorce. The conflict between Darren and Lucy has them both at crossroads; but with help from Courtney, Lucy does tell her three kids about Gabe, and Sam realizes that he looks like Gabe. 

When Dax returns from Italy, their romance resumes, until Lucy fears her kids will not accept him.  She decides to break up with Dax, as she is reluctant to hurt her family; but when Dax has to help find Sam, and everything changes, including the kid’s acceptance.

The Love We Found was a very emotional and powerful journey, filled with grief, life, loss and secrets.  The Love We Found was very well written by Jill Santopolo.  This was a wonderful story, which I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher