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An Infinite Love Story
When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.
When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.
Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.
As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.
When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.
Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.
As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.
352 pages, ebook
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Chanel Cleeton
25 books7,578 followersChanel Cleeton is the Cuban American New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many novels, including Reese's Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel studied in London where she earned degrees in international relations and global politics. In law school, Chanel discovered her passion writing novels and embarked on a new adventure following her lifelong love of books.
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July 8, 2026
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An Infinite Love Story
Chanel Cleeton
Publication Date: July 7th, 2026
Berkley Publishing Group
352 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Historical Fiction | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction
This is my first book by this popular author, and I learned why she is so popular. I love this kind of romance read, and the fact that it is historical fiction adds to the enjoyment.
The story takes place in 1968, and a spacecraft has lost contact. The astronauts are presumed dead, and journalist Vivian Mitchell's husband, Joe, is one of them. BUT she refuses to believe that Joe is gone and that he is to blame for the tragedy.
The author did an excellent job of mixing multiple genres. I am very picky when it comes to that, so for me to say it is written well is a big deal. There's lots of drama, of course, and it is historical, but it's also got a touch of magical realism, a mystery at its core, and romance.
I loved how fiercely Vivian loved Joe and how strong she was in the face of tragedy. The memories Vivian relives are romantic, and Cleeton paints a vivid picture with her words. The story is also very well researched. I always appreciate it when authors work so hard to get the story correct.
I can't wait to check out the author's other titles; that is one of the best compliments I can give in a review. This book has so much going for it, and I cannot recommend it enough! All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An Infinite Love Story
Chanel Cleeton
Publication Date: July 7th, 2026
Berkley Publishing Group
352 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Historical Fiction | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction
This is my first book by this popular author, and I learned why she is so popular. I love this kind of romance read, and the fact that it is historical fiction adds to the enjoyment.
The story takes place in 1968, and a spacecraft has lost contact. The astronauts are presumed dead, and journalist Vivian Mitchell's husband, Joe, is one of them. BUT she refuses to believe that Joe is gone and that he is to blame for the tragedy.
The author did an excellent job of mixing multiple genres. I am very picky when it comes to that, so for me to say it is written well is a big deal. There's lots of drama, of course, and it is historical, but it's also got a touch of magical realism, a mystery at its core, and romance.
I loved how fiercely Vivian loved Joe and how strong she was in the face of tragedy. The memories Vivian relives are romantic, and Cleeton paints a vivid picture with her words. The story is also very well researched. I always appreciate it when authors work so hard to get the story correct.
I can't wait to check out the author's other titles; that is one of the best compliments I can give in a review. This book has so much going for it, and I cannot recommend it enough! All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Provided via NetGalley - all thoughts are my own.
This novel promised a compelling space race love story laced with magical realism, but it never quite lifted off.
We follow Vivian, a journalist who sacrifices her own career to follow her husband Joe across the globe as he chases his dream of reaching the moon. When his spacecraft disappears, she’s left to unravel what went wrong while confronting the fragile foundation of their marriage.
The “before” sections spark with promise: the high-stakes backdrop of the Space Race, the intimate portrait of a wife holding down the fort while her husband reaches for glory, and the slow-burn romance.
It evokes the vibes of The Astronaut Wives Club or Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, with echoes of For All Mankind.
Yet the execution falters.
The narrative rushes through the most engaging elements—the developing relationship and the mission itself—only to stall in the “aftermath,” where repetitive internal monologues dominate.
Instead of revealing grief through action or sharp dialogue, we circle the same emotions relentlessly, across timelines and characters, telling rather than showing.
By the time the ending comes, the story has lost all its momentum, and the big ideas and interesting characters feel shortchanged
It’s frustrating because the potential is undeniable: a rich setting, an ambitious blend of historical drama and speculation, and a protagonist worth rooting for. The author swung big, but the pieces never fully cohered.
A solid effort that ultimately fell short of its promise.
3 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
🚀Second-chance
🚀Enduring love story
💙Emotional romance
🚀Unbreakable bonds
🚀Astronaut x devoted wife
💙Dual timelines
🚀1960s historical setting
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
This novel promised a compelling space race love story laced with magical realism, but it never quite lifted off.
We follow Vivian, a journalist who sacrifices her own career to follow her husband Joe across the globe as he chases his dream of reaching the moon. When his spacecraft disappears, she’s left to unravel what went wrong while confronting the fragile foundation of their marriage.
The “before” sections spark with promise: the high-stakes backdrop of the Space Race, the intimate portrait of a wife holding down the fort while her husband reaches for glory, and the slow-burn romance.
It evokes the vibes of The Astronaut Wives Club or Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, with echoes of For All Mankind.
Yet the execution falters.
The narrative rushes through the most engaging elements—the developing relationship and the mission itself—only to stall in the “aftermath,” where repetitive internal monologues dominate.
Instead of revealing grief through action or sharp dialogue, we circle the same emotions relentlessly, across timelines and characters, telling rather than showing.
By the time the ending comes, the story has lost all its momentum, and the big ideas and interesting characters feel shortchanged
It’s frustrating because the potential is undeniable: a rich setting, an ambitious blend of historical drama and speculation, and a protagonist worth rooting for. The author swung big, but the pieces never fully cohered.
A solid effort that ultimately fell short of its promise.
3 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
🚀Second-chance
🚀Enduring love story
💙Emotional romance
🚀Unbreakable bonds
🚀Astronaut x devoted wife
💙Dual timelines
🚀1960s historical setting
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
July 12, 2026
thinking this is a 4.5 rounded to 5 but debating giving it 5. i LOVED this!!!!!
read if you like: ATMOSPHERE by TJR but want less space talk and maybe even more romance 🚀❤️🩹
it was my first book by this author but won’t be my last! wow, so good. this was such a good blend of historical fiction (not set during a war!!!) and romance. if you like emo romances, this is for you. this book left me in a puddle of tears and felt so real
i absolutely loved the dual timeline POVs flashing back to when our main couple met and then present day. it was such a fun way to get to know the characters and the landscape of where and what the country was going through during the space race post WW2.
can i also say how much i loved our FMC? so independent and badass for the time period and we LOVE to see that.
also idk how the author packed so much in such a short novel but i honestly wanted another 100 pages in a good way!!! i binged this in two sittings and couldn’t wait to see how it ended—it’s also got a bit of mystery. will they find the spaceship? what happened?
my only “issue” with it is i wanted the ending explained a bit more. i liked it, but felt like it was explained and accepted really quickly and like i said above, i think making the book longer could have developed that a bit more to feel a bit more clear?
grab your tissues and buckle up bc once you start this you won’t want to stop!!
read if you like: ATMOSPHERE by TJR but want less space talk and maybe even more romance 🚀❤️🩹
it was my first book by this author but won’t be my last! wow, so good. this was such a good blend of historical fiction (not set during a war!!!) and romance. if you like emo romances, this is for you. this book left me in a puddle of tears and felt so real
i absolutely loved the dual timeline POVs flashing back to when our main couple met and then present day. it was such a fun way to get to know the characters and the landscape of where and what the country was going through during the space race post WW2.
can i also say how much i loved our FMC? so independent and badass for the time period and we LOVE to see that.
also idk how the author packed so much in such a short novel but i honestly wanted another 100 pages in a good way!!! i binged this in two sittings and couldn’t wait to see how it ended—it’s also got a bit of mystery. will they find the spaceship? what happened?
my only “issue” with it is i wanted the ending explained a bit more. i liked it, but felt like it was explained and accepted really quickly and like i said above, i think making the book longer could have developed that a bit more to feel a bit more clear?
grab your tissues and buckle up bc once you start this you won’t want to stop!!
July 14, 2026
Wow! I loved this one so much!!! The audio got me hooked instantly and I listened to this in a day. Highly recommend!
July 19, 2026
Budding journalist Vivian craves both career and stability and knows she has no business falling for cocky fighter pilot Joe, whose dream of joining Kennedy's race to the moon thrusts Vivian into both spotlight and supporting role as an astronaut wife. Vivian's worst nightmares come true when Joe's shuttle goes missing on a lunar orbit mission—but how is he apparently sending her messages from the depths of space? As an Air Force spouse herself, Chanel Cleeton paints Vivian's agony for her husband's safety and her frustration with a system built on the unseen labor of its military wives with keen understanding and endless sympathy. Both a tender romantic drama & a fascinating deep dive into the 1960s space race!
Want to Read
August 9, 2026this might make me cry (happy tears?) 🫣
August 9, 2026
4.5 stars
I’ve read nearly all of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction novels, her newest release, An Infinite Love Story , is probably my favorite of her works outside of the Perez family series. This time around, Cleeton centers the story around the Space Race of the 1960s, when the United Staes and Russia were locked in a fierce battle to develop their space program and send people to the moon. The story opens in 1968 and revolves around Vivian Mitchell, whose astronaut husband Joe has just been launched into space for a lunar orbit mission when his spacecraft loses contact with mission control. As the days turn into weeks, Joe and his crew are presumed dead. In the throes of immense grief, Vivian yearns to escape the public scrutiny that comes with the territory of being an astronaut’s wife and instead, mourn her husband in peace – but when the investigation into the lost spacecraft veers off course and the entire incident is in danger of being written off as an “operator error,” Vivian knows she cannot stand idly by and watch people tarnish the reputation of the dear husband who dedicated his life to advancing America’s space ambitions. In so doing, Vivian also shines a light on the struggles that astronaut families face, as well as the sacrifices that the wives especially are expected to make in order to support their husbands’ careers. When Vivian starts to receive messages of a personal nature that she believes could only have been sent by Joe, her hope in her husband’s survival is rekindled and sets her on the path to not only uncover the mystery of what possibly happened, but most importantly, to bring her husband back to her.
Cleeton’s latest novel is a bit of a departure from her previous works. In addition to the historical backdrop and the love story that are the usual focal points in all her stories, this one also incorporates some speculative elements, veering slightly into science fiction territory, but in a way that doesn’t detract from the main storyline – specifically, Vivian and Joe’s “infinite love story,” which we get glimpses of through chapters that alternate between the start of their relationship in 1961 and the launch as well as its aftermath in 1968. I normally don’t read much speculative or science fiction, as the supernatural and science elements usually overwhelm and go over my head, but in this case, Cleeton was able to balance the various genre elements – historical, romance, science fiction – quite perfectly.
I was also very much invested in the central love story, as Vivian and Joe’s relationship felt believable to me and was written in a way that it was nearly impossible not to want to root for them. All of the supporting characters in the story were also wonderfully rendered – I especially loved the friendship that Vivian and Polly shared, which moved me almost as much as the main romance did. Speaking of which, I felt that Cleeton did a great job with conveying the poignancy of Vivian and Joe’s enduring love for each other, but not in a sappy or saccharine way – their relationship, as well as all the others in the story, were emotionally nuanced and realistic. Having read most of Cleeton’s previous works, I feel that this one has an emotional depth to it that many of the others lacked.
I definitely enjoyed this one a lot overall, though it fell a tad bit short of 5 stars for me only because I found some of the writing a little clunky and there were some overly repeated phrases (such as “if she was being honest” or some variation of this) that I felt were unnecessary, which distracted me at times as I was reading (though much of this could be attributed to the fact that I read an ARC copy – maybe the final edit will be different). Though with all that said, both issues are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. Without a doubt, I definitely recommend picking this one up, especially if you’re a fan of Cleeton’s works. For me personally, I feel that Cleeton gets better and better with each novel, which makes me anticipate what she might write next!
Received ARC from Berkley via NetGalley.
I’ve read nearly all of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction novels, her newest release, An Infinite Love Story , is probably my favorite of her works outside of the Perez family series. This time around, Cleeton centers the story around the Space Race of the 1960s, when the United Staes and Russia were locked in a fierce battle to develop their space program and send people to the moon. The story opens in 1968 and revolves around Vivian Mitchell, whose astronaut husband Joe has just been launched into space for a lunar orbit mission when his spacecraft loses contact with mission control. As the days turn into weeks, Joe and his crew are presumed dead. In the throes of immense grief, Vivian yearns to escape the public scrutiny that comes with the territory of being an astronaut’s wife and instead, mourn her husband in peace – but when the investigation into the lost spacecraft veers off course and the entire incident is in danger of being written off as an “operator error,” Vivian knows she cannot stand idly by and watch people tarnish the reputation of the dear husband who dedicated his life to advancing America’s space ambitions. In so doing, Vivian also shines a light on the struggles that astronaut families face, as well as the sacrifices that the wives especially are expected to make in order to support their husbands’ careers. When Vivian starts to receive messages of a personal nature that she believes could only have been sent by Joe, her hope in her husband’s survival is rekindled and sets her on the path to not only uncover the mystery of what possibly happened, but most importantly, to bring her husband back to her.
Cleeton’s latest novel is a bit of a departure from her previous works. In addition to the historical backdrop and the love story that are the usual focal points in all her stories, this one also incorporates some speculative elements, veering slightly into science fiction territory, but in a way that doesn’t detract from the main storyline – specifically, Vivian and Joe’s “infinite love story,” which we get glimpses of through chapters that alternate between the start of their relationship in 1961 and the launch as well as its aftermath in 1968. I normally don’t read much speculative or science fiction, as the supernatural and science elements usually overwhelm and go over my head, but in this case, Cleeton was able to balance the various genre elements – historical, romance, science fiction – quite perfectly.
I was also very much invested in the central love story, as Vivian and Joe’s relationship felt believable to me and was written in a way that it was nearly impossible not to want to root for them. All of the supporting characters in the story were also wonderfully rendered – I especially loved the friendship that Vivian and Polly shared, which moved me almost as much as the main romance did. Speaking of which, I felt that Cleeton did a great job with conveying the poignancy of Vivian and Joe’s enduring love for each other, but not in a sappy or saccharine way – their relationship, as well as all the others in the story, were emotionally nuanced and realistic. Having read most of Cleeton’s previous works, I feel that this one has an emotional depth to it that many of the others lacked.
I definitely enjoyed this one a lot overall, though it fell a tad bit short of 5 stars for me only because I found some of the writing a little clunky and there were some overly repeated phrases (such as “if she was being honest” or some variation of this) that I felt were unnecessary, which distracted me at times as I was reading (though much of this could be attributed to the fact that I read an ARC copy – maybe the final edit will be different). Though with all that said, both issues are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. Without a doubt, I definitely recommend picking this one up, especially if you’re a fan of Cleeton’s works. For me personally, I feel that Cleeton gets better and better with each novel, which makes me anticipate what she might write next!
Received ARC from Berkley via NetGalley.
June 28, 2026
4.5 stars "When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race."
Joe and Vivian Mitchell have a love that's out of this world. Joe is an astronaut and leaves on a mission to reach the moon in 1968. When his spacecraft loses contact, Vivian feels that a nightmare has become reality. As mission control investigates, they declare that they fear the crew is dead due to operator error. Vivian is determined to clear his name. She's convinced he is still out there as she keeps receiving messages from Joe.
I absolutely loved this story! Cleeton seamlessly weaves history, romance, and speculative fiction for a love story that is out of this world. I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it thought-provoking, and highly recommend for fans of Atmosphere.
The audiobook performance by Kelli Tager and Barton Caplan is fantastic, capturing the high stakes and bringing the characters to life. When listened to in tandem with a digital copy, it provided an elevated reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Pub, PRH Audio amd Chanel Cleeton for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
Joe and Vivian Mitchell have a love that's out of this world. Joe is an astronaut and leaves on a mission to reach the moon in 1968. When his spacecraft loses contact, Vivian feels that a nightmare has become reality. As mission control investigates, they declare that they fear the crew is dead due to operator error. Vivian is determined to clear his name. She's convinced he is still out there as she keeps receiving messages from Joe.
I absolutely loved this story! Cleeton seamlessly weaves history, romance, and speculative fiction for a love story that is out of this world. I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it thought-provoking, and highly recommend for fans of Atmosphere.
The audiobook performance by Kelli Tager and Barton Caplan is fantastic, capturing the high stakes and bringing the characters to life. When listened to in tandem with a digital copy, it provided an elevated reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Pub, PRH Audio amd Chanel Cleeton for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
May 26, 2026
Before I say anything else about this book, let me make one thing very clear. This book is not a romance. I repeat, this book is NOT a romance. I knew this going in, it wasn’t some big shock and also the author puts it in the epigraph, “this novel is a love story” - plus, it’s right there, in the title. And if you’re a romance reader, you already know the distinction between a romance novel and a love story but there may be some confused people so let me break it down: romance novels must end with a HEA (or, at the very least, a HFN) and a love story has no such guarantees. I will say, this love story contains a speculative element which means the ending isn’t exactly cut and dry.
This book takes place during the Space Race of the 1960s and our main protagonist is a woman named Vivian. The book begins in 1968, when Vivian, married to astronaut Joe is dealt a crushing blow when NASA informs her that the spacecraft carrying her husband and 2 other astronauts to do a lunar orbit has gone missing. They’ve lost all communications with the spacecraft and cannot locate it. Alternate chapters go back to their origin story, when they first meet in 1961, him a fighter pilot in the Air Force and her an aspiring journalist trying to prove her worth as a woman in a male dominated field. It’s a gorgeously constructed love story between two people who want very different things: For Vivian, who lost her father to war (also a Air Force pilot) when she was just a child and was raised by an emotionally unstable mother who married and divorced multiple times after becoming widowed, a life of stability and reliability and safety are of the utmost importance. Joe is the antithesis of all; already he has big dreams of space exploration, thrives on danger, and his work forces him to move every couple of years. When they meet on a blind double date, he’s got a sprained shoulder due to a motorcycle accident. Still, as time passes, Vivian realizes she loves him and cannot live without him and Joe promises he will always come back to her and they marry and start their life together.
In present day, Vivian finds herself unable to believe her husband is truly gone as NASA is prone to believe, especially when she starts getting signs from him, notes in his handwriting popping up in unlikely places, belongings of his moving from one place to another, etc. She is grieving and yet, unable to give up hope that her husband, who always always kept his promises to her, wouldn’t have kept this last one, that he would come back to her.
It’s a heart wrenching book, I won’t lie, it absolutely wrecked me. I don’t often cry at books, I could probably count on one hand the number of times a book has actually left me with tears in my eyes but I was weeping, literally weeping when I finished the last page. There is interesting commentary in this book about the cost of being the family of an astronaut (timely, given we just had the Artemis II mission) and the sacrifices made and also the way those sacrifices were dismissed and diminished. It’s also an interesting commentary on how when you love someone, you love all of them, even the parts that don’t bring you comfort and ease. Joe likes to live on the edge and Vivian wants safety and security, two things he can’t give her. But he loves her, adores her, and the question for her is, is that enough?
This is a book I’ll think about for a while. I don’t think it’s for everyone and certainly, if you are an exclusive romance reader who prefers their endings to be happy, then this book is not for you. But, there is a speculative element to this book involving wormholes and time and space and the idea of there being infinite universes that leaves the ending to be hopeful, maybe? The epilogue of the book is really where I started to cry and I don’t know, I think this is one of those books where you believe in the ending you want. I really loved it but I also understand it’s not going to be for everyone. It kept me riveted and I finished it in 2 days so clearly it worked for me.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content Notes: missing spouse, war time, dead baby, marriage on the rocks
This book takes place during the Space Race of the 1960s and our main protagonist is a woman named Vivian. The book begins in 1968, when Vivian, married to astronaut Joe is dealt a crushing blow when NASA informs her that the spacecraft carrying her husband and 2 other astronauts to do a lunar orbit has gone missing. They’ve lost all communications with the spacecraft and cannot locate it. Alternate chapters go back to their origin story, when they first meet in 1961, him a fighter pilot in the Air Force and her an aspiring journalist trying to prove her worth as a woman in a male dominated field. It’s a gorgeously constructed love story between two people who want very different things: For Vivian, who lost her father to war (also a Air Force pilot) when she was just a child and was raised by an emotionally unstable mother who married and divorced multiple times after becoming widowed, a life of stability and reliability and safety are of the utmost importance. Joe is the antithesis of all; already he has big dreams of space exploration, thrives on danger, and his work forces him to move every couple of years. When they meet on a blind double date, he’s got a sprained shoulder due to a motorcycle accident. Still, as time passes, Vivian realizes she loves him and cannot live without him and Joe promises he will always come back to her and they marry and start their life together.
In present day, Vivian finds herself unable to believe her husband is truly gone as NASA is prone to believe, especially when she starts getting signs from him, notes in his handwriting popping up in unlikely places, belongings of his moving from one place to another, etc. She is grieving and yet, unable to give up hope that her husband, who always always kept his promises to her, wouldn’t have kept this last one, that he would come back to her.
It’s a heart wrenching book, I won’t lie, it absolutely wrecked me. I don’t often cry at books, I could probably count on one hand the number of times a book has actually left me with tears in my eyes but I was weeping, literally weeping when I finished the last page. There is interesting commentary in this book about the cost of being the family of an astronaut (timely, given we just had the Artemis II mission) and the sacrifices made and also the way those sacrifices were dismissed and diminished. It’s also an interesting commentary on how when you love someone, you love all of them, even the parts that don’t bring you comfort and ease. Joe likes to live on the edge and Vivian wants safety and security, two things he can’t give her. But he loves her, adores her, and the question for her is, is that enough?
This is a book I’ll think about for a while. I don’t think it’s for everyone and certainly, if you are an exclusive romance reader who prefers their endings to be happy, then this book is not for you. But, there is a speculative element to this book involving wormholes and time and space and the idea of there being infinite universes that leaves the ending to be hopeful, maybe? The epilogue of the book is really where I started to cry and I don’t know, I think this is one of those books where you believe in the ending you want. I really loved it but I also understand it’s not going to be for everyone. It kept me riveted and I finished it in 2 days so clearly it worked for me.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content Notes: missing spouse, war time, dead baby, marriage on the rocks
2026
June 4, 2026Caribbean American Heritage Month TBR
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
July 14, 2026
The space race meets Interstellar
The audiobook was superbly done. The emotions came through so vividly, they weer palpable. I was blown away by the performance.
I've never been much of a fan of the Space Race however I am enamored with the 1960s. I also love this author and speculative fictions so I went into this one extremely optimistic and she did not disappoint. I am also now fascinated with the space race and have a burning desire to consume more about it.
This book is why I love speculative fiction
The audiobook was superbly done. The emotions came through so vividly, they weer palpable. I was blown away by the performance.
I've never been much of a fan of the Space Race however I am enamored with the 1960s. I also love this author and speculative fictions so I went into this one extremely optimistic and she did not disappoint. I am also now fascinated with the space race and have a burning desire to consume more about it.
This book is why I love speculative fiction
July 9, 2026
Wouldn't change one thing.
Read
August 2, 2026I can’t say enough good things about this book. I’m a sucker for 1960s space race, dual timeline love story, magical realism, and absolute soulmates!!
Also, this is my next Bookclub book, so don’t read it if you’re in my Bookclub!!
“Maybe she loved him so much because it was hard. Because it was a choice she consciously had to make day after day, because she saw the weight and measure of that love, the sacrifice of it. It had value because she paid it time and time again.”
Also, this is my next Bookclub book, so don’t read it if you’re in my Bookclub!!
“Maybe she loved him so much because it was hard. Because it was a choice she consciously had to make day after day, because she saw the weight and measure of that love, the sacrifice of it. It had value because she paid it time and time again.”
July 24, 2026
Loved it! Heartwarming historical fiction that presents the joys & struggles of an astronaut's wife through two time periods--1961 when she first meets her husband & 1968 when his spacecraft has gone missing. Though not a typical romance, this highly binge-able love story asks the question, can love transcend time & space to last forever? Satisfying & hopeful!
August 1, 2026
I loved the premise of this book, and really enjoyed reading about the Space Race. However, the execution/resolution of everything fell a bit flat. I’m somewhere between a 3, 3.5, and 4. Having trouble rating…I realize that the intention was to leave some questions/conclusions to be made by the reader, but I wish there was more clarity on certain things in the end.
July 28, 2026
I can't put my finger on it, but I found this book so boring. The minute they started talking about wormholes and the space time continuum they lost me. I'm so sad bc on paper this seems like it would be right up my alley.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.
📖 Book Review 📖 It’s 2026 and many of us just watched in awe as Artemis II launched another historic mission to space and through her evocative literary masterpiece, Chanel Cleeton reminds us that behind every great accomplishment is the story of love and sacrifice. As astronaut Joe Mitchell achieves his lifeline dream of making it on a mission to the Moon, it all comes to a stalemate when all communication is lost with Earth. This one perfectly oscillates between the rise of the love story between Joe and Vivian and the harrowing wait for those grounded in this nightmare. An Infinite Love Story is truly an epic tale that tandemly captures both in sweeping romance and suspense, creating an immersive experience that blends the past and notes of the present flawlessly.
📖 Book Review 📖 It’s 2026 and many of us just watched in awe as Artemis II launched another historic mission to space and through her evocative literary masterpiece, Chanel Cleeton reminds us that behind every great accomplishment is the story of love and sacrifice. As astronaut Joe Mitchell achieves his lifeline dream of making it on a mission to the Moon, it all comes to a stalemate when all communication is lost with Earth. This one perfectly oscillates between the rise of the love story between Joe and Vivian and the harrowing wait for those grounded in this nightmare. An Infinite Love Story is truly an epic tale that tandemly captures both in sweeping romance and suspense, creating an immersive experience that blends the past and notes of the present flawlessly.
July 21, 2026
This will be a favourite read of mine this year. Without a doubt.
This newest novel by Chanel Cleeton is a stunningly beautiful, compelling love story set in the US during the 1960s Space Race.
“…I believe some people are meant to find each other, over and over again.”
Vivian is the wife of Joe, a fighter pilot turned astronaut, and as the story opens in 1967, Joe’s spaceship has just been launched on its first trip to the moon. But then communication with the shuttle is lost. We then see the aftermath unfold from Vivian's perspective, both in the days following the disappearance (she believes that Joe is alive somehow) and through flashback chapters to when Vivian and Joe first met five years earlier.
I was completely captivated and immersed in Joe and Vivian’s beautiful love story. It was so well-done and both characters were so likable: Vivian a cautious, young woman, starting out as a reporter, longing for stability, Joe a man craving excitement and focused on his dream of space travel. I loved them both and their chemistry and the believability of the relationship worked so well.
I liked that this was also a story about time and place (the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK’s Man on the Moon speech) and a look at what it was like to be an astronaut’s wife in the 1960s. It was fascinating to see how controlled they were by NASA, expected to play the docile, supportive wife role. Make sure to read the author’s notes about the research she did for this novel.
This was an emotional read that had me crying at the end but it was also bittersweet. All. The. Stars.
Thanks so much to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
This newest novel by Chanel Cleeton is a stunningly beautiful, compelling love story set in the US during the 1960s Space Race.
“…I believe some people are meant to find each other, over and over again.”
Vivian is the wife of Joe, a fighter pilot turned astronaut, and as the story opens in 1967, Joe’s spaceship has just been launched on its first trip to the moon. But then communication with the shuttle is lost. We then see the aftermath unfold from Vivian's perspective, both in the days following the disappearance (she believes that Joe is alive somehow) and through flashback chapters to when Vivian and Joe first met five years earlier.
I was completely captivated and immersed in Joe and Vivian’s beautiful love story. It was so well-done and both characters were so likable: Vivian a cautious, young woman, starting out as a reporter, longing for stability, Joe a man craving excitement and focused on his dream of space travel. I loved them both and their chemistry and the believability of the relationship worked so well.
I liked that this was also a story about time and place (the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK’s Man on the Moon speech) and a look at what it was like to be an astronaut’s wife in the 1960s. It was fascinating to see how controlled they were by NASA, expected to play the docile, supportive wife role. Make sure to read the author’s notes about the research she did for this novel.
This was an emotional read that had me crying at the end but it was also bittersweet. All. The. Stars.
Thanks so much to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2026
I absolutely inhaled this interstellar love story in the matter of a weekend. So invested from the first chapter to the very last and now I need more people to read this so we can talk about it! :)
Yes, it is a HUGE departure from Chanel Cleeton's typical fare, but I loved that she took the risk and wrote this genre bending love story. Because it is just that. Part sci-fi, deep space epic adventure paired with this tender, deeply personal, and emotionally resonant love story. Truly, one of the more achingly romantic books I have read in quite some time. And at the same time, she was deftly examining the frailty of human life and emotion and relationship set amongst the American Space Race of the 1960s and how marriages and families were so tested serving in that capacity. What hasn't changed about Cleeton's approach is her detailedness in research and how she carefully crafts a character's story, remaining true to source materials.
If it's not obvious, I loved this one and loved the genre-bending of it all and was completely captured by Joe Mitchell and his faithful and loving wife back down on earth, Vivian. All the stars! And now I'd really love an epilogue, Chanel. Please and thank you.
Yes, it is a HUGE departure from Chanel Cleeton's typical fare, but I loved that she took the risk and wrote this genre bending love story. Because it is just that. Part sci-fi, deep space epic adventure paired with this tender, deeply personal, and emotionally resonant love story. Truly, one of the more achingly romantic books I have read in quite some time. And at the same time, she was deftly examining the frailty of human life and emotion and relationship set amongst the American Space Race of the 1960s and how marriages and families were so tested serving in that capacity. What hasn't changed about Cleeton's approach is her detailedness in research and how she carefully crafts a character's story, remaining true to source materials.
If it's not obvious, I loved this one and loved the genre-bending of it all and was completely captured by Joe Mitchell and his faithful and loving wife back down on earth, Vivian. All the stars! And now I'd really love an epilogue, Chanel. Please and thank you.
July 27, 2026
Between the speculative elements and the Space Race setting, I feel like this book was made for me.
The dual timeline worked so well here. I loved getting to watch Vivian and Joe fall in love over the years while also seeing how the dangers of Joe’s career shaped their marriage. It made everything that happened after his disappearance even more heartbreaking. Their love was undeniable and remained just as strong across time and space.
Vivian was such an inspiring character. She was a woman well ahead of her time and I loved the passion and relentless determination she had to find out what happened to her husband. Instead of letting tragedy become an excuse to crumble, she used it as fuel to fight for Joe and make life better for the people around her.
The final chapter and epilogue tied the speculative elements together beautifully. What a way to end a story. Tears were shed.
The dual timeline worked so well here. I loved getting to watch Vivian and Joe fall in love over the years while also seeing how the dangers of Joe’s career shaped their marriage. It made everything that happened after his disappearance even more heartbreaking. Their love was undeniable and remained just as strong across time and space.
Vivian was such an inspiring character. She was a woman well ahead of her time and I loved the passion and relentless determination she had to find out what happened to her husband. Instead of letting tragedy become an excuse to crumble, she used it as fuel to fight for Joe and make life better for the people around her.
The final chapter and epilogue tied the speculative elements together beautifully. What a way to end a story. Tears were shed.
July 16, 2026
The premise was interesting, but the execution was so surface level in every aspect. I didn’t really buy the great love story between Joe and Vivian. They just seemed like two ill-suited people who convinced themselves they were in love and got married within 10 minutes of knowing each other. The space race stuff should have been fascinating, but most of the details felt like Wikipedia level research. And the time travel/wormhole of it all? Please!!
June 3, 2026
Chanel Cleeton does speculative fiction?!? I've only read pure historical fiction from her, so I was delighted and surprised to see her dipping a toe into something a little different.
I was prepared for a gauzy, romanticized look at the early space program, but what we got is a beautiful romance with unflinching criticism of how the military treated families in the early years of the space program. Wives were expected to portray perfect support and a flawless appearance despite having husbands in a program that seemed to facilitate infidelity (affair partners were called Cape Cookies) and paid poorly.
Vivian was a budding reporter when she met Joe, who dreamt of going to space. She was critical of the money spent on the space race (this is the Vietnam era, after all) and eventually wins up with Joe despite misgivings. Their love is beautiful and they defy the odds (most NASA marriages ended in divorce), but Joe is literally lost is space, leaving Vivian clues that he might not be completely lost.
I didn't see the twist coming, but Chanel Cleeton's wonderful writing made me ready for it. It was unsettling to not have the totally expected happily ever after, but it was an HEA nonetheless. What a fabulous book!
In the acknowledgements, Cleeton shares that she is married to an Air Force fighter pilot, which made the unvarnished look at military life hit home even more.
I was prepared for a gauzy, romanticized look at the early space program, but what we got is a beautiful romance with unflinching criticism of how the military treated families in the early years of the space program. Wives were expected to portray perfect support and a flawless appearance despite having husbands in a program that seemed to facilitate infidelity (affair partners were called Cape Cookies) and paid poorly.
Vivian was a budding reporter when she met Joe, who dreamt of going to space. She was critical of the money spent on the space race (this is the Vietnam era, after all) and eventually wins up with Joe despite misgivings. Their love is beautiful and they defy the odds (most NASA marriages ended in divorce), but Joe is literally lost is space, leaving Vivian clues that he might not be completely lost.
I didn't see the twist coming, but Chanel Cleeton's wonderful writing made me ready for it. It was unsettling to not have the totally expected happily ever after, but it was an HEA nonetheless. What a fabulous book!
In the acknowledgements, Cleeton shares that she is married to an Air Force fighter pilot, which made the unvarnished look at military life hit home even more.
July 9, 2026
*Thanks to PRH Audio my ALC (out now); all opinions are my own.*
This novel is a love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s space program. The book begins in 1968, where astronaut’s wife Vivian finds out her astronaut husband’s rocket has lost contact with NASA. The book then alternates between a rewind to when they first met and through their love story, and the days following the disappearance as Vivian fights to keep hope alive and wonders if she is crazy or if theirs really is a love that can transcend space and time.
I really enjoyed this one - I love anything to do with the space program, I love romance, I love non-war based historical fiction, and this book combined all those things with a teeny touch of speculative elements. My one quibble is I would have liked a little more development of the speculative fiction part, but it did not spoil my enjoyment. If you liked TJR’s Atmosphere, the tv show For All Mankind, or movies Apollo 13 or a little touch of Interstellar, this one’s for you! (I LOVE all of those things.)
This book was great on audio - I loved Kelli Tager’s narration (don’t think I’ve heard her before but will add her to my narrators I love list) and the way little bits of Barton Caplan as Joe were worked in was really cool too.
This novel is a love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s space program. The book begins in 1968, where astronaut’s wife Vivian finds out her astronaut husband’s rocket has lost contact with NASA. The book then alternates between a rewind to when they first met and through their love story, and the days following the disappearance as Vivian fights to keep hope alive and wonders if she is crazy or if theirs really is a love that can transcend space and time.
I really enjoyed this one - I love anything to do with the space program, I love romance, I love non-war based historical fiction, and this book combined all those things with a teeny touch of speculative elements. My one quibble is I would have liked a little more development of the speculative fiction part, but it did not spoil my enjoyment. If you liked TJR’s Atmosphere, the tv show For All Mankind, or movies Apollo 13 or a little touch of Interstellar, this one’s for you! (I LOVE all of those things.)
This book was great on audio - I loved Kelli Tager’s narration (don’t think I’ve heard her before but will add her to my narrators I love list) and the way little bits of Barton Caplan as Joe were worked in was really cool too.
July 16, 2026
Content Warnings: Death of a parent, child death, grief, abandonment, misogyny.
An Infinite Love Story is a slow paced historical, sci-fi that takes place in the 60’s, during the space race and is told in two alternating timelines with third person point of view.
In the first “present” timeline we are following Vivian after she’s been notified that her husband’s spacecraft has lost contact with Mission Control nine hours ago. Not ready to grieve, Vivian is focused on clearing her husband’s name (after the mishap is written off as an operator error), and solving the mystery of what happened. She can still feel Joe’s love and presence and even believes he might be trying to communicate with her from space.
In the second “past” timeline we’re following Vivian before she’s met and fallen in love with the attractive, dedicated and charismatic Pilot, Joe Mitchell. What follows is a tender, slow burn romance full of yearning.
I never watched ‘The Right Stuff’ movie, but after learning that the TV show was filmed in several Florida locations (some very close to me), I ended up watching that. It made the era, environment and characters really easy to imagine while I was reading.
I loved Vivian and Joe and was thoroughly engaged in their story. They both deviated from their environmental expectations in the best ways. The story feels well researched and the supporting characters really help provide a sense of time and place.
This is the second book I’ve read from Chanel Cleeton but I own most of the books in her Perez Family series and look forward to reading them.
*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the E-ARC of An Infinite Love Story. This is my honest review.*
An Infinite Love Story is a slow paced historical, sci-fi that takes place in the 60’s, during the space race and is told in two alternating timelines with third person point of view.
In the first “present” timeline we are following Vivian after she’s been notified that her husband’s spacecraft has lost contact with Mission Control nine hours ago. Not ready to grieve, Vivian is focused on clearing her husband’s name (after the mishap is written off as an operator error), and solving the mystery of what happened. She can still feel Joe’s love and presence and even believes he might be trying to communicate with her from space.
In the second “past” timeline we’re following Vivian before she’s met and fallen in love with the attractive, dedicated and charismatic Pilot, Joe Mitchell. What follows is a tender, slow burn romance full of yearning.
I never watched ‘The Right Stuff’ movie, but after learning that the TV show was filmed in several Florida locations (some very close to me), I ended up watching that. It made the era, environment and characters really easy to imagine while I was reading.
I loved Vivian and Joe and was thoroughly engaged in their story. They both deviated from their environmental expectations in the best ways. The story feels well researched and the supporting characters really help provide a sense of time and place.
This is the second book I’ve read from Chanel Cleeton but I own most of the books in her Perez Family series and look forward to reading them.
*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the E-ARC of An Infinite Love Story. This is my honest review.*
July 14, 2026
I always look forward to a new Chanel Cleeton novel. As a long time reader and lover of historical fiction, her books are always timeless, warm, and charming. I look forward to them every summer.
This was such a fun departure from her usual work! Normally she stays in the lane of historical fiction with a women's fiction bent. This was Cleeton's first attempt at speculative fiction and I loved it!
The novel is set during the space race and told in dual timelines. It begins feeling like her previous novels - full of historical elements, romance, and a strong female lead. But she adds in a sci fi element of time travel/worm holes that is so fun to explore. It elevated this novel for me and made it more hopeful, not just heartbreaking.
Space is having a moment and this is a refreshing addition!
This was such a fun departure from her usual work! Normally she stays in the lane of historical fiction with a women's fiction bent. This was Cleeton's first attempt at speculative fiction and I loved it!
The novel is set during the space race and told in dual timelines. It begins feeling like her previous novels - full of historical elements, romance, and a strong female lead. But she adds in a sci fi element of time travel/worm holes that is so fun to explore. It elevated this novel for me and made it more hopeful, not just heartbreaking.
Space is having a moment and this is a refreshing addition!
July 18, 2026
All through the book I was thinking I would give it 5 stars, until probably the last 50 pages or so. I actually loved the premise, and thought it was written very well for the most part, and felt very Interstellar-esque, which I also love, but it really kind of fell short at the end I thought. I feel like I am left with more questions than I am comfortable with, and things that seemed quite significant to the story never felt truly explained, which probably overall is more realistic because often in life not everything is explained and instead it became more of a story of how to live through unthinkable tragedy, but I don’t necessarily read books because they’re realistic. Not upset that I did read it though.
July 11, 2026
I’ve enjoyed so many of author Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction novels, but this just might be my favorite to date. Set during the era of space exploration during the 1960s, it centers around the women who wait for their astronaut husbands to come home.
This features an epic and emotional love story between Vivian and Joe, as she receives mysterious notes she believes to be from Joe.
With magical realism, details from the Apollo space race era, and themes of grief and love, overall this was a heartfelt love story with a touch of mystery.
*many thanks to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.
This features an epic and emotional love story between Vivian and Joe, as she receives mysterious notes she believes to be from Joe.
With magical realism, details from the Apollo space race era, and themes of grief and love, overall this was a heartfelt love story with a touch of mystery.
*many thanks to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.
July 8, 2026
Missing Cuba … 3.5 ⭐️
July 26, 2026
An Infinite Love Story is set in 1968, during the height of the Space Race. Vivian Mitchell’s husband, Joe, has always wanted to fly with huge ambition. His dream of becoming an astronaut is finally fulfilled, and when he and two other astronauts launch into space, their spacecraft becomes lost. Sadly, all three astronauts are presumed dead.
At its heart, this is a love story. Through Vivian and Joe’s relationship, we learn about the depth of their love and the life they have shared. But as the hours turn into days following the spacecraft’s disappearance, the story also becomes one of fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak.
Vivian is central to the story, and her struggle with grief is palpable. Then, quite unexpectedly, she begins receiving messages. She is certain they are from Joe. As Vivian starts digging deeper, she begins to consider possibilities that seem almost impossible: wormholes, time travel, and the space-time continuum. Could Joe really still be alive? Could he be caught between two dimensions? And could the intense love Vivian and Joe share somehow transcend the boundaries of time and space?
What an intriguing story! I was fascinated by the concept of the space-time continuum and how it became the backdrop for this compelling and deeply emotional story. An Infinite Love Story is a thought-provoking tale of love, loss, and the possibility that some connections can truly transcend time and space.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
At its heart, this is a love story. Through Vivian and Joe’s relationship, we learn about the depth of their love and the life they have shared. But as the hours turn into days following the spacecraft’s disappearance, the story also becomes one of fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak.
Vivian is central to the story, and her struggle with grief is palpable. Then, quite unexpectedly, she begins receiving messages. She is certain they are from Joe. As Vivian starts digging deeper, she begins to consider possibilities that seem almost impossible: wormholes, time travel, and the space-time continuum. Could Joe really still be alive? Could he be caught between two dimensions? And could the intense love Vivian and Joe share somehow transcend the boundaries of time and space?
What an intriguing story! I was fascinated by the concept of the space-time continuum and how it became the backdrop for this compelling and deeply emotional story. An Infinite Love Story is a thought-provoking tale of love, loss, and the possibility that some connections can truly transcend time and space.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 10, 2026
The book is historical fiction. It’s about the 1960s space program.
It features a past/present timeline. The past takes place starting in 1961. The present takes place in 1968 when Vivian’s husband Joe’s spacecraft goes missing. He is an astronaut with NASA.
In 1961 Vivian is a young journalist. It’s nice to see the characters when they meet. And since Joe is missing in 1968 it’s wonderful to see Viv and Joe’s relationship from the beginning.
There is a lot in this book about the difficulties for the astronauts’ wives. I loved this part of the book. I liked seeing Vivian’s friendship with Polly. I really enjoyed reporter Graham Carlson’s part in the story.
Yes it’s a love story. Although in the present/1968 it’s mostly about the spacecraft being lost and her trying to figure out what happened to her husband. The past timeline really gives us the romance aspect.
There are strange things happening after Joe’s spacecraft is lost. The premise was fascinating. The clues that she found after the launch made for an original storyline. But things moved a bit too slowly. There are some scientific explanations that were too detailed for me. And I didn’t really enjoy. Also while the ending is interesting. I don’t know that I find it particularly satisfying. But I do love books about the space program and astronauts. And I’m happy that I read this book.
Thank you Berkley and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
It features a past/present timeline. The past takes place starting in 1961. The present takes place in 1968 when Vivian’s husband Joe’s spacecraft goes missing. He is an astronaut with NASA.
In 1961 Vivian is a young journalist. It’s nice to see the characters when they meet. And since Joe is missing in 1968 it’s wonderful to see Viv and Joe’s relationship from the beginning.
There is a lot in this book about the difficulties for the astronauts’ wives. I loved this part of the book. I liked seeing Vivian’s friendship with Polly. I really enjoyed reporter Graham Carlson’s part in the story.
Yes it’s a love story. Although in the present/1968 it’s mostly about the spacecraft being lost and her trying to figure out what happened to her husband. The past timeline really gives us the romance aspect.
There are strange things happening after Joe’s spacecraft is lost. The premise was fascinating. The clues that she found after the launch made for an original storyline. But things moved a bit too slowly. There are some scientific explanations that were too detailed for me. And I didn’t really enjoy. Also while the ending is interesting. I don’t know that I find it particularly satisfying. But I do love books about the space program and astronauts. And I’m happy that I read this book.
Thank you Berkley and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
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