We are the light

Best-selling author Quick (The Silver Linings Playbook) returns with another novel that compassionately addresses mental health and healing. Lucas Goodgame is trying to work through his grief by writing letters to his Jungian analyst, Karl, though Karl doesn't answer. Lucas's hometown theater, the Majestic, was the target of a mass shooting that killed his wife and 16 others. Although he was the person who stopped the shooter, Lucas still feels lacking and wonders if he could have done more. His grip on reality seems to be loosening, and he is haunted by visions of his wife, who visits him nightly in the form of an angel. When Eli, the younger brother of the shooter, who is shunned by the community, camps out in his backyard, Lucas finally finds a reason to move forward. By working together and creating a monster movie, they hope not to heal just themselves but the town as well. Passionately narrated by Luke Kirby, this tale of hope, loss, and grief is extraordinarily moving. VERDICT Despite dealing with many tragedies (PTSD, trauma, suicide, mass shooting), this is ultimately a story about healing and finding guardian angels in the most unlikely places. Moving and, unfortunately, timely.--Erin Cataldi