How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer

From the hardcover:
   Like a jewel shimmering in a Midwest skyline, the Toledo Institute of Astronomy is the nation's premier center of astronomical discovery and a beacon of scientific learning for astronomers far and wide. Here, dreamy cosmologist George Dermont mines the stars to prove the existence of God. Here, Irene Sparks, an unsentimental scientist, creates black holes in captivity.
   George and Irene are on a collision course with love, destiny, and fate. They have everything in common: both are ambitious, and yearning for connection. The air seems to hum when they're together. But George and Irene's attraction was not written in the stars. In fact, their mothers, friends since childhood, raised them separately to become each other's soul mates.
   When that long-secret plan triggers unintended consequences, the two astronomers must discover the truth about their destinies and unravel the mystery of what Toledo holds for them-together or, perhaps, apart.
   Lydia Netzer combines a gift for character and bighearted storytelling with a sure hand for science and a vision of a city transformed by its unique celestial position, exploring the conflicts of fate and determinism and asking how much of life is under out control and what is preordained in the heavens.

   This is my second book by Lydia Netzer. I fell in love with Shine Shine Shine a couple years ago so, when I noticed How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky I had to pick it up. This took a little more effort to get into than Shine Shine Shine but was still brilliant. I told a co-worker, "it's strange but has so much potential, I can't give up," that was about three chapters in and I am glad I didn't quit.
   I find the idea that their mothers had to create twin souls fascinating. To make a soul mate by design, to create love using science. I think that's the main reason I liked this book so much. I mean, that isn't all this book has to offer, but that is what I was most taken with.
   It's told going back and forth between two times, visiting George and Irene's mothers as they grew up together and 'now' with George and Irene meeting. I admit I was a little lost on some of the science talk, but I got the gist of it. This book may not be as universally loved as many are, but if you like an intelligently written love story give this a chance.

Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer

From the back of the book:
"What does it mean to be normal? This is the story of two odd children who grew up and fell in love, the way they fit and the way they fell apart, how he became an astronaut lost in space, and she became the perfect wife whose 'perfect' wasn't real.
      A debut of singular power and intelligence, Shine Shine Shine is an adventure between worlds, and a stunning novel of love, death, and what it means to be human."

"Sometimes it comes that that desperate state, when you have to cling to each other and be alone. When no one else can truly matter. She thought, Ours is one of the epic loves of our generation. Possibly of all time. Who cares if no one sees it, walking by? This story is a love song. Who cares if history won't remember?"

I've read this book twice and I love it. I'm not sure why it isn't more popular. I felt for the characters almost immediately. Told mostly from Sunny's viewpoint with the occasional snippet from Maxon in space, it did take a few chapters to get used to the writing but after that the story flowed well. It fills you in on the present, then jumps back to Sunny's birth. From there it's back in forth in time. As time progresses in the present I came to care more for Sunny and Maxon through their past.
     The story itself is captivating, add to it the ultimate lessons, a mother's love, being who you are vs. who you think you should be, friendship, and more, this book is magnificent.

You might like this book if you enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky or Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

Shine Shine Shine on Amazon