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Laws of Love and Logic
A STUNNING DEBUT NOVEL FROM JENNA BUSH HAGER’S NEW VENTURE, THOUSAND VOICES
A woman finds herself torn between her first love and her devoted husband in this extraordinary debut novel that asks the Can one heart hold two great loves?
In the serene town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Lily Webb is deeply in love with a charismatic boy, a college-bound quarterback whose spectacular athletic talents are matched only by his fierce devotion. But their dreams of a life together are cut short one night in 1977 when his passionate protectiveness leads to an irrevocable choice—one which tears them apart and leads Lily down a path of heartbreak from which she may never recover.
Lily has already known the sting of loss, beginning with the death of her mother—a tragedy that left deep scars on both her and Jane, her gifted younger sister. Jane seeks escape in the abstract world of mathematics and quantum mechanics; that is, when she can keep the demons that fuel her addictions at bay. As the years pass, Lily buries her twin griefs deep in her heart, finding solace and a new beginning with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love is as steadfast as the migration patterns he studies. Yet, the shadows of her past linger.
When the boy who was once everything to Lily reemerges, she struggles with questions around that terrible night in high school. Can she reconcile the wild wonderment of her first love with the comfort and safety of her second? Laws of Love and Logic explores love's enduring power and the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness and redemption.
A woman finds herself torn between her first love and her devoted husband in this extraordinary debut novel that asks the Can one heart hold two great loves?
In the serene town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Lily Webb is deeply in love with a charismatic boy, a college-bound quarterback whose spectacular athletic talents are matched only by his fierce devotion. But their dreams of a life together are cut short one night in 1977 when his passionate protectiveness leads to an irrevocable choice—one which tears them apart and leads Lily down a path of heartbreak from which she may never recover.
Lily has already known the sting of loss, beginning with the death of her mother—a tragedy that left deep scars on both her and Jane, her gifted younger sister. Jane seeks escape in the abstract world of mathematics and quantum mechanics; that is, when she can keep the demons that fuel her addictions at bay. As the years pass, Lily buries her twin griefs deep in her heart, finding solace and a new beginning with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love is as steadfast as the migration patterns he studies. Yet, the shadows of her past linger.
When the boy who was once everything to Lily reemerges, she struggles with questions around that terrible night in high school. Can she reconcile the wild wonderment of her first love with the comfort and safety of her second? Laws of Love and Logic explores love's enduring power and the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness and redemption.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 845 reviews
May 5, 2026
if i don't read a romance is it even mid-february.
this explores big questions of Morality and Love and Trauma, but it doesn't do any of it in a truly deep or interesting way.
it tends to use tragedy as a get-out-of-jail-free card, positioning life-altering grief as an excuse to avoid honesty or complexity. it's unbelievable how conveniently timed the unending string of horrible events in this book come to be.
our perfect, beautiful, intelligent heroine doesn't have to be honest, and is still a blameless saint.
i read this quickly but was frustrated by the end.
bottom line: readable. that's the nicest comment i have.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
this explores big questions of Morality and Love and Trauma, but it doesn't do any of it in a truly deep or interesting way.
it tends to use tragedy as a get-out-of-jail-free card, positioning life-altering grief as an excuse to avoid honesty or complexity. it's unbelievable how conveniently timed the unending string of horrible events in this book come to be.
our perfect, beautiful, intelligent heroine doesn't have to be honest, and is still a blameless saint.
i read this quickly but was frustrated by the end.
bottom line: readable. that's the nicest comment i have.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
January 11, 2026
five big beautiful stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ what an amazing book to start off my 2026 reading with!!!
read this if you like: BROKEN COUNTRY or BLUE SISTERS, litfic with a good combo of romance and family drama, “right place wrong time” tropes, etc.
this book was a perfect combination of those two books which are some of my favorite books as well so there’s no wonder why i loved it so much ❤️🔥
i always know im in for a good read when i see something endorsed by Jenna Bush Hager!! this is being produced by her publishing company in Feb and i personally love her taste in books bc 1) it puts books i never woulda picked up or heard about on my radar and 2) her taste in books aligns so closely with mine. this fit the bill again!!! i wouldn’t be surprised to see it as her February book club pick! its a very good one to chat with others about.
and the ending??? PUDDLE of tears. for more reason than one. that’s all i’m sayin!!! 🥹🥹🥹
this comes out in February and I’m determined to put it on more people’s radars before then!!! what you need to know is a girl has two great loves and throughout her life she’s battling with the concept of loving them both and what to do about it. but, there’s also so many other things… including a tragic accident that happened in high school that changed the projection of so many people’s lives as well as a bunch of family drama in the mix as well.
there were a few parts of it (the first 40-50pages especially) that felt random to me but hang in there bc it gets good around 60 pages in. i read 2/3s of it in one sitting and thought about it all day until i could pick it up and read again—the best feeling! and something in the ending connected with me so personally and emotionally right now so it really hit hard in a good way 💙
i simply can’t believe this is a debut novel and im so excited to see what else the author brings to the table in the future!
thank you so much to Thousand Voices to putting this on my radar 💙 this is a litfic/romance that must be on your February TBR!
read this if you like: BROKEN COUNTRY or BLUE SISTERS, litfic with a good combo of romance and family drama, “right place wrong time” tropes, etc.
this book was a perfect combination of those two books which are some of my favorite books as well so there’s no wonder why i loved it so much ❤️🔥
i always know im in for a good read when i see something endorsed by Jenna Bush Hager!! this is being produced by her publishing company in Feb and i personally love her taste in books bc 1) it puts books i never woulda picked up or heard about on my radar and 2) her taste in books aligns so closely with mine. this fit the bill again!!! i wouldn’t be surprised to see it as her February book club pick! its a very good one to chat with others about.
and the ending??? PUDDLE of tears. for more reason than one. that’s all i’m sayin!!! 🥹🥹🥹
this comes out in February and I’m determined to put it on more people’s radars before then!!! what you need to know is a girl has two great loves and throughout her life she’s battling with the concept of loving them both and what to do about it. but, there’s also so many other things… including a tragic accident that happened in high school that changed the projection of so many people’s lives as well as a bunch of family drama in the mix as well.
there were a few parts of it (the first 40-50pages especially) that felt random to me but hang in there bc it gets good around 60 pages in. i read 2/3s of it in one sitting and thought about it all day until i could pick it up and read again—the best feeling! and something in the ending connected with me so personally and emotionally right now so it really hit hard in a good way 💙
i simply can’t believe this is a debut novel and im so excited to see what else the author brings to the table in the future!
thank you so much to Thousand Voices to putting this on my radar 💙 this is a litfic/romance that must be on your February TBR!
April 22, 2026
A remarkable coming-of-age story about the complexities of love and loss and the different shape life can take in the blink of an eye. The characters are beautifully crafted; their foibles endearing. While most love stories focus on the black and white of it all, author Debra Curtis weaves a bittersweet tale featuring the grey in between. This book reminds me so much of The Light We Lost meets Before I Forget, and I think it will appeal to readers across the spectrum.
🎧 It’s no surprise that Cassandra Campbell did an outstanding job giving voice to our heroine. I think I prefer the physical book just slightly over the audio for this story, mainly because of all the details in the earlier chapters. That said, either format would work.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️coming of age
▪️right person wrong time
▪️literary fiction
▪️complex love stories
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thousand Voices x Ballantine and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
🎧 It’s no surprise that Cassandra Campbell did an outstanding job giving voice to our heroine. I think I prefer the physical book just slightly over the audio for this story, mainly because of all the details in the earlier chapters. That said, either format would work.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️coming of age
▪️right person wrong time
▪️literary fiction
▪️complex love stories
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thousand Voices x Ballantine and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
September 5, 2025
I finished it. The writing style is well done. It had some great themes and explored some topics that were relevant for the time period and are still relevant now.
That’s probably all the praise I can give it. It paced slow, the format felt like a biography of someone I didn’t want to know about. I kept reading hoping something interesting would drop because it has such high praises but that moment never came for me.
It needs trigger warnings and the fact that we are never given a name for “the boy” drove me absolutely insane.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
That’s probably all the praise I can give it. It paced slow, the format felt like a biography of someone I didn’t want to know about. I kept reading hoping something interesting would drop because it has such high praises but that moment never came for me.
It needs trigger warnings and the fact that we are never given a name for “the boy” drove me absolutely insane.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2026
i knew their lives were going to go to shit the second they have an early golden childhood. nothing more suspicious for happy endings all around than a childhood too good to be true
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars "A woman finds herself torn between her first love and her devoted husband in this extraordinary debut novel that asks the question: Can one heart hold two great loves?"
This book focuses on Lily and Jane Webb, two sisters coming-of-age in 1970s Portsmouth, RI. After a tragic loss Lily and Jane are navigating love and friendship. Lily falls in love with her first boyfriend but a tragic event keeps them apart. The girls pursue a college education and other relationships. Lily ends up happily married to Marshall when she is unexpectedly reunited with her first love.
Laws of Love and Logic is an emotionally intelligent and resonant debut with fully formed, relatable characters. It is literary fiction that explores coming of age, family drama, romance, sisterhood, women in STEM, and more. I highly recommend it for those who would love a book that combines the best elements of Broken Country with some of the themes of loss and grief in Blue Sisters.
The audiobook performance by Cassandra Campell breathes life into the story and its characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books - Thousand Voices, PRH Audio, and Debra Curtis for an advance reader's copy and an advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
This book focuses on Lily and Jane Webb, two sisters coming-of-age in 1970s Portsmouth, RI. After a tragic loss Lily and Jane are navigating love and friendship. Lily falls in love with her first boyfriend but a tragic event keeps them apart. The girls pursue a college education and other relationships. Lily ends up happily married to Marshall when she is unexpectedly reunited with her first love.
Laws of Love and Logic is an emotionally intelligent and resonant debut with fully formed, relatable characters. It is literary fiction that explores coming of age, family drama, romance, sisterhood, women in STEM, and more. I highly recommend it for those who would love a book that combines the best elements of Broken Country with some of the themes of loss and grief in Blue Sisters.
The audiobook performance by Cassandra Campell breathes life into the story and its characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books - Thousand Voices, PRH Audio, and Debra Curtis for an advance reader's copy and an advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
January 2, 2026
Laws of Love and Logic is a novel with a great deal to say—and some of it is worth listening to. Curtis explores heavy, compelling themes: grief, guilt, forgiveness, and the long shadow of past mistakes (all subjects that I love). On paper, this is exactly the kind of story I’m drawn to. In execution, however, the novel often struggles to hold its many threads together.
The story spans decades and moves through multiple emotional lineages, but the transitions are abrupt. Rather than flowing naturally through time, the narrative frequently stops and starts, making it difficult to fully settle into the characters’ lives. With such an expansive timeline, I found myself wishing for a different structural approach—one that allowed the story’s emotional weight to build more deliberately.
Overall, this is a tragic story about learning how to live after loss. The protagonist’s life is shaped by profound trauma: the death of her mother at a young age, her sister’s drug addiction, and a devastating event just before college. There is so much to unpack here, and when the novel slows down, these moments are genuinely powerful.
My reading experience was complicated by the romantic entanglements. I generally struggle with stories centered on affairs, and this novel includes them—twice. Jane’s relationship with a married man was something I wasn’t prepared for, and it made it difficult for me to fully connect with her choices, even when I understood the emotional logic behind them. I didn’t fully grasp the real reason why this relationship was added to the storyline.
The love triangle involving Lily, “The Boy,” and Marshall is one of the book’s most compelling elements. Lily’s heart feels large enough to hold both men, and while it’s hard to root for Marshall at first, his devotion is undeniably moving. I guess I would feel this way too if I was never told the secrets of Lily’s life. Still, I found myself wishing that the resolution allowed everyone a love that truly belonged to them.
“The Boy,” despite moments of intensity, remains oddly distant. We never learn his name—only his flaws, his anger, and his lifelong attempt at atonement. I am not I understand why a name was never given. This would have been a powerful twist if given at the end (or something of that affect). This was a powerful move for the book but never given a reason for this. I just didn’t grasp why these random letters came out of thin air and not sure if this was to show his character more but I almost didn’t buy into it and it didn’t provide me any emotional impact into liking him more.
The sisterhood at the heart of the novel is where Laws of Love and Logic shines most clearly. Two sisters, so different yet deeply connected, navigate grief together and apart. Their love for one another is palpable, even as secrets threaten to unravel them. Curtis captures the complexity of familial relationships with real insight, showing how intimacy and concealment can coexist—and how destructive that combination can be. This was my favorite relationship in the entire book — was this the point?
Ultimately, this book left me feeling that something was severely missing. The ending, in particular, felt abrupt. When I turned the page and landed suddenly in the acknowledgements, my reaction was immediate: That’s it? While the open-endedness may be intentional, it felt more unfinished than thought-provoking. I personally love a good open-ending but this was not done well
Readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories filled with secrecy, longing, and complicated love—especially love triangles—may find much to appreciate here. While the execution didn’t fully live up to the strength of its themes, Laws of Love and Logic still offers moments of depth and resonance that will still stick with me. I thoroughly enjoyed many quotes in this book that reflected nicely about life and love.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story spans decades and moves through multiple emotional lineages, but the transitions are abrupt. Rather than flowing naturally through time, the narrative frequently stops and starts, making it difficult to fully settle into the characters’ lives. With such an expansive timeline, I found myself wishing for a different structural approach—one that allowed the story’s emotional weight to build more deliberately.
Overall, this is a tragic story about learning how to live after loss. The protagonist’s life is shaped by profound trauma: the death of her mother at a young age, her sister’s drug addiction, and a devastating event just before college. There is so much to unpack here, and when the novel slows down, these moments are genuinely powerful.
My reading experience was complicated by the romantic entanglements. I generally struggle with stories centered on affairs, and this novel includes them—twice. Jane’s relationship with a married man was something I wasn’t prepared for, and it made it difficult for me to fully connect with her choices, even when I understood the emotional logic behind them. I didn’t fully grasp the real reason why this relationship was added to the storyline.
The love triangle involving Lily, “The Boy,” and Marshall is one of the book’s most compelling elements. Lily’s heart feels large enough to hold both men, and while it’s hard to root for Marshall at first, his devotion is undeniably moving. I guess I would feel this way too if I was never told the secrets of Lily’s life. Still, I found myself wishing that the resolution allowed everyone a love that truly belonged to them.
“The Boy,” despite moments of intensity, remains oddly distant. We never learn his name—only his flaws, his anger, and his lifelong attempt at atonement. I am not I understand why a name was never given. This would have been a powerful twist if given at the end (or something of that affect). This was a powerful move for the book but never given a reason for this. I just didn’t grasp why these random letters came out of thin air and not sure if this was to show his character more but I almost didn’t buy into it and it didn’t provide me any emotional impact into liking him more.
The sisterhood at the heart of the novel is where Laws of Love and Logic shines most clearly. Two sisters, so different yet deeply connected, navigate grief together and apart. Their love for one another is palpable, even as secrets threaten to unravel them. Curtis captures the complexity of familial relationships with real insight, showing how intimacy and concealment can coexist—and how destructive that combination can be. This was my favorite relationship in the entire book — was this the point?
Ultimately, this book left me feeling that something was severely missing. The ending, in particular, felt abrupt. When I turned the page and landed suddenly in the acknowledgements, my reaction was immediate: That’s it? While the open-endedness may be intentional, it felt more unfinished than thought-provoking. I personally love a good open-ending but this was not done well
Readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories filled with secrecy, longing, and complicated love—especially love triangles—may find much to appreciate here. While the execution didn’t fully live up to the strength of its themes, Laws of Love and Logic still offers moments of depth and resonance that will still stick with me. I thoroughly enjoyed many quotes in this book that reflected nicely about life and love.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2026
for how many times he was mentioned, “the boy” could’ve had a name.
March 12, 2026
3.5🌟I won't consider myself an outlier as this book is fairly new and only has 1307 ratings thus far. BUT PLEASE!!
Can someone just write a good storyline that isn't trying to cram in every single social platform into one Book? Abortion✔️homosexuality✔️religion✔️feminism✔️addiction ✔️ gender norms✔️ what am I missing? And then all the science talk and birds...ugh. This had a ton of potential and sounds so good on paper but was a huge miss for me. And the end?🤦♀️🙄 Also, why can't we ever learn his name, so annoying.
Can someone just write a good storyline that isn't trying to cram in every single social platform into one Book? Abortion✔️homosexuality✔️religion✔️feminism✔️addiction ✔️ gender norms✔️ what am I missing? And then all the science talk and birds...ugh. This had a ton of potential and sounds so good on paper but was a huge miss for me. And the end?🤦♀️🙄 Also, why can't we ever learn his name, so annoying.
January 18, 2026
Laws of Love and Logic is a smart, emotionally resonant debut that blends family drama, love, and loss into a deeply character driven story. At its heart is Lily Webb, a woman navigating the lasting impact of grief, first love, and the quiet steadiness of a second chance, all while grappling with questions about whether one heart can truly hold two great loves. I especially adored the bond between the sisters—complex, tender, and painfully real—as the novel thoughtfully explores themes of feminism, women in STEM, academic ambition, addiction, and heartbreak. Compelling and deeply touching, this is a strong debut that lingers for its emotional intelligence and humanity.
November 19, 2025
This is an amazing effort for a debut novel. The relationship between sisters carries through the storyline addressing the major themes of love, loss, and grief. I was swept up into their world from the beginning to a satisfying conclusion.
Lily is the eldest of two daughters raised in a family that honored both religion and science. Additionally, their mother imparted strong beliefs in women’s rights and abilities resulting in two beautiful, intelligent young women – each with different personalities and lifepaths. Their mother’s death left wounds that never properly healed, which for Lily was compounded by the tragic loss of her first love a few years later. Subsequently, she settles for a safe, secure marriage to a good, loving man, a professor like her father. Jane, her sister, is a free spirit who is uses drugs, alcohol and sex to deal with a reality she finds tedious and treats her talent for solving mathematical theorems as a hobby rather than a career. Despite the contrast in their lifestyles, the bond between the sisters is strong and resilient.
I found myself occasionally bogged down in details of ornithology and quantum theory, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. I particularly liked the ongoing reference to “the boy” as a literary device referring to Lily’s first and ongoing love. Overall, this book was entertaining while simultaneously making me feel and think …reflecting the words in the title: love and logic. Kudos to the author on her first novel. I look forward to more.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Lily is the eldest of two daughters raised in a family that honored both religion and science. Additionally, their mother imparted strong beliefs in women’s rights and abilities resulting in two beautiful, intelligent young women – each with different personalities and lifepaths. Their mother’s death left wounds that never properly healed, which for Lily was compounded by the tragic loss of her first love a few years later. Subsequently, she settles for a safe, secure marriage to a good, loving man, a professor like her father. Jane, her sister, is a free spirit who is uses drugs, alcohol and sex to deal with a reality she finds tedious and treats her talent for solving mathematical theorems as a hobby rather than a career. Despite the contrast in their lifestyles, the bond between the sisters is strong and resilient.
I found myself occasionally bogged down in details of ornithology and quantum theory, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. I particularly liked the ongoing reference to “the boy” as a literary device referring to Lily’s first and ongoing love. Overall, this book was entertaining while simultaneously making me feel and think …reflecting the words in the title: love and logic. Kudos to the author on her first novel. I look forward to more.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ definitely stuck with me. solid book club choice too! checked the “emotional, love story/family drama combo, and with depth” boxes for me.
February 28, 2026
I really wanted to like this but it was all over the place. It’s a love story but there were weird moments where the author would insert political statements that read like nonfiction. Also, I had zero empathy for the piece of shit FMC.
March 10, 2026
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday today than to share a five star magical read with you all. I recently picked this one up from my workplace's community bookshelf and I was literally blown away! It was instantly added to my best reads ever list, joining another I added just last month, The Summer We Ran. Here's my review!
🎉Laws of Love and Logic is the first novel from Rhode Island based author Debra Curtis. A story of the electricity of first love, maturation, time, the past and the impact of the choices we make. This debut immediately entered my all-time favourites list. I was completely sucked into the lives of the cast.
🎉Following Lily Webb as a teen and later as a grown woman, Laws of love and Logic transports us to a small coastal town where a once in a lifetime first love flourish. But this love is not meant to be, and one act shatters the union and life trajectory of Lily. When Lily’s first love comes back to her years later, she already has a husband and a new life. Lily must face the past head-on and decide which man her heart truly beats for.
🎉2026 is definitely proving to be fruitful in terms of ultimate love stories and novels that have made my all-time best list. Laws of Love and Logic entered my best of list, closely following The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram which I read last month. I felt the pull and ache for this debut novel pretty soon after reading the opening moments. This was a case of a book well and truly living up to its hype after it was selected by the Read with Jenna book club.
🎉In simple words I absolutely adored this book. I love the brand of fiction Laws of Love and Logic falls into, emotional literary fiction, which fuses first love romance, family issues, love lost and found in later life together with the messy right time/wrong place complication. This one featured a big traumatic event that rips the couple apart. This event was heartbreaking, raw and real. Curtis presents us with a cast that feels real and honest. The accompanying relationships were believable and emotionally resonant. The love aspects were my favourite aspect, drawing in some heavy feelings and agonising moments of sympathy.
The best part of this debut was the feeling that it took me right down the same path as two books I deeply treasure Broken Country and The Paper Palace. This is a stunning book in more ways than one. The prose is exquisite, the timing around the relationship is filled with moral angst and the heavy pull of lost time played heavy on my mind. By the close I knew this one would stay with me for a long time.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️5 stars
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday today than to share a five star magical read with you all. I recently picked this one up from my workplace's community bookshelf and I was literally blown away! It was instantly added to my best reads ever list, joining another I added just last month, The Summer We Ran. Here's my review!
🎉Laws of Love and Logic is the first novel from Rhode Island based author Debra Curtis. A story of the electricity of first love, maturation, time, the past and the impact of the choices we make. This debut immediately entered my all-time favourites list. I was completely sucked into the lives of the cast.
🎉Following Lily Webb as a teen and later as a grown woman, Laws of love and Logic transports us to a small coastal town where a once in a lifetime first love flourish. But this love is not meant to be, and one act shatters the union and life trajectory of Lily. When Lily’s first love comes back to her years later, she already has a husband and a new life. Lily must face the past head-on and decide which man her heart truly beats for.
🎉2026 is definitely proving to be fruitful in terms of ultimate love stories and novels that have made my all-time best list. Laws of Love and Logic entered my best of list, closely following The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram which I read last month. I felt the pull and ache for this debut novel pretty soon after reading the opening moments. This was a case of a book well and truly living up to its hype after it was selected by the Read with Jenna book club.
🎉In simple words I absolutely adored this book. I love the brand of fiction Laws of Love and Logic falls into, emotional literary fiction, which fuses first love romance, family issues, love lost and found in later life together with the messy right time/wrong place complication. This one featured a big traumatic event that rips the couple apart. This event was heartbreaking, raw and real. Curtis presents us with a cast that feels real and honest. The accompanying relationships were believable and emotionally resonant. The love aspects were my favourite aspect, drawing in some heavy feelings and agonising moments of sympathy.
The best part of this debut was the feeling that it took me right down the same path as two books I deeply treasure Broken Country and The Paper Palace. This is a stunning book in more ways than one. The prose is exquisite, the timing around the relationship is filled with moral angst and the heavy pull of lost time played heavy on my mind. By the close I knew this one would stay with me for a long time.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️5 stars
February 26, 2026
This book was stellar. As someone who was raised Catholic, I felt this story deeply and found myself going back and forth on what I wanted to happen and what I thought would happen. An interesting story of life, love, family, loss, and faith. Beautifully written and well told.
June 28, 2025
I feel like I’ve read lots of books that follow this narrative, but it’s a long time since I’ve read one that pulled it off so well. And that summarises the book, it’s someone ordinary and spectacular at the same time.
We follow Lily throughout her life which can be read as a privileged one full of love but also one struck by tragedy and guilt and regret. There are several important relationships but the one with her sister Jane was very special and felt real.
There is a lot of science peppered throughout the book such as ornithology and quantum mechanics but she wears her research so lightly that it feels like she’s discussing something you already know rather than being lectured at and they resonate so strongly with the overall themes. There is a lot of religion which is also treated in the same way.
The gender politics and philosophy throughout was also deeply understood and went beyond what most fiction writers can do.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the arc.
We follow Lily throughout her life which can be read as a privileged one full of love but also one struck by tragedy and guilt and regret. There are several important relationships but the one with her sister Jane was very special and felt real.
There is a lot of science peppered throughout the book such as ornithology and quantum mechanics but she wears her research so lightly that it feels like she’s discussing something you already know rather than being lectured at and they resonate so strongly with the overall themes. There is a lot of religion which is also treated in the same way.
The gender politics and philosophy throughout was also deeply understood and went beyond what most fiction writers can do.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the arc.
August 23, 2025
Emotional, nostalgic and unforgettable. Lily’s story pulled me in from the very first pages. The love triangle is compelling, but it is her relationship with Jane that broke me. Their bond is fierce and fragile all at once, and it carried the story far more than the romance.
It is not a light read. It is layered with grief, feminism, faith and philosophy, and it definitely made me emotional more than once. For me, that is what makes it worth reading.
👯♀️ Sisters
💔 Haunting first love
⚖️ Feminism and morality
📚 Coming of age
😢 Guilt and healing
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC.
It is not a light read. It is layered with grief, feminism, faith and philosophy, and it definitely made me emotional more than once. For me, that is what makes it worth reading.
👯♀️ Sisters
💔 Haunting first love
⚖️ Feminism and morality
📚 Coming of age
😢 Guilt and healing
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC.
January 11, 2026
This just wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel connected to the story and got a bit bored. There were some interesting moments, but just didn’t work for me.
Thx to PRH Audio for the advanced listeners copy.
Thx to PRH Audio for the advanced listeners copy.
February 11, 2026
The Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis is a complex, thought provoking debut novel that combines romance and an emotional family drama. It’s a character driven story that features themes of sisterhood, first love, enduring love, grief, addiction, infertility, infidelity, feminism, and guilt. The main character, Lily Webb, struggles to reconcile faith and science, as she is torn between her first great love and the steady love of her husband, while also dealing with her sister’s addiction.
I resonated most strongly with the bond between Lily and her sister Jane. They are written in a deeply human and relatable way. Despite their questionable decisions, they remained steadfastly loyal to each other. I was disappointed by a few of the plot twists regarding the sisters, though they felt undeniably realistic. I loved the writing, even if it took a while to pick up, and I'm still thinking about it. 4/5⭐️
Thank you to Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. (Pub date: 2/17/26)
I resonated most strongly with the bond between Lily and her sister Jane. They are written in a deeply human and relatable way. Despite their questionable decisions, they remained steadfastly loyal to each other. I was disappointed by a few of the plot twists regarding the sisters, though they felt undeniably realistic. I loved the writing, even if it took a while to pick up, and I'm still thinking about it. 4/5⭐️
Thank you to Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. (Pub date: 2/17/26)
March 19, 2026
“Endurance of darkness is preparation for great light.”
I finished this book late last night and honestly have not been able to stop thinking about it.
I can see why this novel was selected by Jenna Bush.
I can also see this story being a bookclub pick for many as it explores important topics and themes like love and loss, sisterhood, women's rights, and first loves.
I don’t really want to give too much away with this one.
It's a more serious read and a character driven story. I loved most of them.
I cried and I think you will too.
I really enjoyed the audio version {thanks to @prhaudio} of this book. Cassandra Campbell narrates and she did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life while also being very soothing with the heavier topics
DM me once you’ve read this because I need to talk to someone about this book!
March 4, 2026
Lily Webb falls deeply in love as a teenager in 1977. One night changes everything, and that first love becomes frozen in time. Years later, she has built a stable, steady life with Marshall, a devoted ornithologist whose love feels safe and intentional. When “the boy” reappears, the story gently unravels what passion, loyalty, and long term love really mean.
But honestly, the sister relationship is what stayed with me.
Lily and Jane are raised in a home that values science, faith, and women’s intellectual ambition. After their mother’s death, they fracture in very different ways. Lily chooses security. Jane, brilliant in mathematics and quantum theory, spirals into addiction and self-sabotage. Their bond is messy, loyal, and painfully real. Even when they disappoint each other, they never fully let go.
There were moments where the academic details slowed things down for me, and a few plot turns felt slightly convenient. But the emotional core is strong. This is character driven fiction that cares more about interior lives than big twists.
It asks quiet, uncomfortable questions. Do we settle. Do we choose wisely. Can logic ever fully override love.
If you’re drawn to reflective novels about sisters, grief, and the long shadow of first love, this is a solid debut.
Thank you Ballantine for the ARC.
But honestly, the sister relationship is what stayed with me.
Lily and Jane are raised in a home that values science, faith, and women’s intellectual ambition. After their mother’s death, they fracture in very different ways. Lily chooses security. Jane, brilliant in mathematics and quantum theory, spirals into addiction and self-sabotage. Their bond is messy, loyal, and painfully real. Even when they disappoint each other, they never fully let go.
There were moments where the academic details slowed things down for me, and a few plot turns felt slightly convenient. But the emotional core is strong. This is character driven fiction that cares more about interior lives than big twists.
It asks quiet, uncomfortable questions. Do we settle. Do we choose wisely. Can logic ever fully override love.
If you’re drawn to reflective novels about sisters, grief, and the long shadow of first love, this is a solid debut.
Thank you Ballantine for the ARC.
March 13, 2026
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The story interested me and I wanted to see how it ended but overall the writing style just didn’t work for me. A lot of deliberate choices made by the author, and presumably others love them but not me. Too much fact dumping to cover the past rather than taking us on the journey, way too much physics and struggles with philosophy for me—get over yourselves, people!!—and while it was clearly an intentional choice meant to be powerful in some way I just can’t understand why we never gave “the boy” a name. This didn’t help me appreciate the importance of his character at all—it was just distracting and annoying.
March 28, 2026
A stunning debut novel that spans several decades and explores forgiveness, faith, relationships, grief, and love. I absolutely did not want to put this book down. The characters- their lives and their decisions - drew me in very quickly and the writer did a beautiful job of weaving real life into each page of this book. I felt very immersed and connected to all the characters. There are trigger warnings, so be aware. This book does have a very big emotional side to it and it worked for this reader. The ending did feel abrupt, but as the novel showed throughout, there are not neat and tidy bows to all of our endings. I cannot wait to hear more from this author. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy. And thank you to Fabled Bookstore for recommending the book!
February 18, 2026
I loved this book so much. When I found out that Debra Curtis wrote this debut in her 60s, everything clicked. The kind of wisdom that understands love, regret, faith, science, grief, and forgiveness are rarely simple.
Set in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, this novel follows Lily Webb across decades. As a teenager in 1977, Lily falls deeply in love with a charismatic quarterback whose fierce devotion leads to one irrevocable night that alters both of their futures. Already marked by the loss of her mother, and shaped by her brilliant but struggling sister Jane, Lily carries grief and guilt into adulthood.
Years later, she builds a steady life with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love feels safe and constant. When her first love reenters her world, Lily is forced to confront the past and the question at the heart of this novel: Can one heart hold two great loves?
This book wrestles with guilt and redemption, but what stayed with me most is its steady reminder that the human heart is not limited. You can believe in science and still hold tight to your Catholic faith. You can carry grief and still choose joy. Loving one person does not make another love less real. Our hearts are not either or. We are allowed to be layered. We are allowed to be both.
This is the second book published by Thousand Voices Media, the imprint founded by Jenna Bush Hager, and they are truly knocking it out of the park.
If you loved the emotional depth of Broken Country, the layered relationships of Heart the Lover, or the sister complexity of Blue Sisters, this one belongs on your shelf.
This is for readers who want stories that stretch them a little. Just like the Webb sisters, you might find yourself expanding too.
From the Acknowledgements:
“Many maintain that reading fiction has a multitude of psychological benefits including increasing empathy. Anthropologists view empathy as foundational to human societies. It allows us to see past our prejudices and fears. It allows us to see our interconnectedness. It allows us to love more completely, more humanly.”
Set in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, this novel follows Lily Webb across decades. As a teenager in 1977, Lily falls deeply in love with a charismatic quarterback whose fierce devotion leads to one irrevocable night that alters both of their futures. Already marked by the loss of her mother, and shaped by her brilliant but struggling sister Jane, Lily carries grief and guilt into adulthood.
Years later, she builds a steady life with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love feels safe and constant. When her first love reenters her world, Lily is forced to confront the past and the question at the heart of this novel: Can one heart hold two great loves?
This book wrestles with guilt and redemption, but what stayed with me most is its steady reminder that the human heart is not limited. You can believe in science and still hold tight to your Catholic faith. You can carry grief and still choose joy. Loving one person does not make another love less real. Our hearts are not either or. We are allowed to be layered. We are allowed to be both.
This is the second book published by Thousand Voices Media, the imprint founded by Jenna Bush Hager, and they are truly knocking it out of the park.
If you loved the emotional depth of Broken Country, the layered relationships of Heart the Lover, or the sister complexity of Blue Sisters, this one belongs on your shelf.
This is for readers who want stories that stretch them a little. Just like the Webb sisters, you might find yourself expanding too.
From the Acknowledgements:
“Many maintain that reading fiction has a multitude of psychological benefits including increasing empathy. Anthropologists view empathy as foundational to human societies. It allows us to see past our prejudices and fears. It allows us to see our interconnectedness. It allows us to love more completely, more humanly.”
March 2, 2026
I went into this thinking it was a rom com and it’s not. There were many not so great reviews and within the first 25 pages I almost put it down. I am SO glad I did not! It amazes me that this is a debut novel. I highly recommend it!
February 26, 2026
3.5⭐️ Hard one for me to rate. This is a story that I’ve read before in other books so I was curious how it would play out. There were times I was engaged, and others I was skimming. I guess it was okay?
March 7, 2026
Read it quick so it would be over with 😂🙈
February 21, 2026
When I saw this compared to Broken Country, I was intrigued. However, in this book the FMC is so passive, just letting life happen to her and saying she 'feels guilty' but never does anything about anything. Meanwhile, many other characters appear to change and grow all around her, but the story is still told through her eyes, so we get none of that. I wish the author would have taken different perspectives or had her FMC engage in life a little.
October 31, 2025
Goodness. There’s a lot in this book. The prose makes you really think about love and if it’s possible to really love the same way twice. The poetry throughout the book is definitely thought provoking. There’s a lot to take in, sort through, and comprehend. This isn’t a usual pick for me. I thought the information about the birds was extraneous and unnecessary.
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