THIS IS A LOVE STORY

What a thrill to be invited by Read With Jenna to the most perfect evening: a galentine’s celebration of love, friendship, books … and Jenna Bush Hager in conversation with This Is A Love Story author Jessica Soffer !
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Are you ready to feel the power of love, in all of its possibility and fragility, romance and regret, hope and heartbreak? In this beautiful novel, Abe and Jane, a writer and artist, recall the details of their decades long marriage as Jane is terminally ill, at the end of her life. Their final weeks are filled with memories of a love that is transcendent, and the storms they weathered while always tethered to each other. Central Park is both a character and a backdrop in this love letter to New York City - a beating heart that will survive after Jane is gone.
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Through tiny details, this book is a reminder that in any love story, time moves in only one direction: forward. It is an emotional book, not about what *happens* to Abe and Jane so much as what the events of their life make them feel, see, remember. It left me yearning for more time for them to say the most important things while they can. And, each chapter on Central Park is a celebration of this magical place, where I have picnicked, rollerbladed, powerwalked, carousel-ed, rowboated, photographed, pushed strollers and swings. I ❤️ NY!
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This novel is bursting with iconic NYC food: bagels with cream cream from Barney Greengrass, chow mein from Shun Lee, croissants from Balthazar, pretzels from the Union Square Greenmarket. But one of my favorites is when Jane and Abe’s son Max visits, and eats black and white cookies that remind him of childhood. A true New York classic, found in fancy bakeries and corner bodegas, arguably more cake than cookie, these are my go-to whenever I want to gift an authentic NYC treat. I learned a fun tip from this recipe: flip the cookies over and frost the flat side!