348 pages
Historical fiction-Sci Fi & Fantasy-Women’s fiction
Pub date: 07 July 2026
My thoughts:
I have previously read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere and also the non-fiction title The Astronaut’s Wives Club. I found both of these well worth reading so was intrigued to be offered an early galley of this book.
Kudos to Chanel Cleeton who, in this title, moves away from some of her Cuba influenced fiction to tell this story. It is her own tale with its characters, plot and emotions so well drawn; although it may recall the titles mentioned above, it in no way replicates those books.
This book offers an emotional read in its dual time line story. I am so glad to have spent time with An Infinite Love.
Many thanks to Berkley for the offer of this Spotlight Tour. All thoughts are my own.
From the publisher:
Florida, 1968: When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. The country waits for another successful NASA mission as America looks toward the Moon. No one is more invested in Joe’s safe return than his young wife, Vivian… until a knock at the door changes everything.
Joe’s spacecraft has vanished. He and his crew mates are feared to be dead. As the nation mourns, Vivian refuses to accept the official explanation, determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover what truly happened.
In her quiet moments, Vivian relives her life’s greatest love story, unable to accept that this is the end to a fateful love that felt written in the stars. When mysterious messages begin to appear—messages Vivian believes only Joe could send—she starts to wonder whether love might reach beyond the boundaries of Earth itself.
Cleeton masterfully weaves together two different timelines in this novel that’s perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere. Readers be warned: keep a box of tissues nearby, as this intensely passionate story is sure to leave you teary-eyed.
More from the publisher:
This summer, New York Times bestselling author Cleeton delivers her most sweeping and emotionally resonant novel yet, drawing on her origins in romance while offering readers a story rooted in a vivid moment in American history. AN INFINITE LOVE STORY (Berkley Trade Original; on sale July 7, 2026) can be described as Interstellar meets Daisy Jones & the Six: a sweeping dual-timeline novel set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race.
At the height of NASA’s Apollo era, the astronaut wives were the most public miliary spouses in America—watched by millions, bound by confidentiality, and carrying the weight of missions that could end in triumph or tragedy.
Cleeton’s personal experience as the wife of a fighter pilot brings emotional depth to AN INFINITE LOVE STORY. Inspired after watching the film The Right Stuff, she set out to write from the perspective of an astronaut’s wife. As she explains in her author’s note: “I was moved by how much I identified with the stories of those early astronaut wives. … Many of the challenges and frustrations they faced are similar to ones military spouses face today. And still, these women did so on the world’s stage, as global celebrities, the pressures and stakes immensely high, distinguishing their experience as something rather singular and extraordinary. I was in awe of their ability to navigate all that they did in the face of the additional pressures they faced.”
In AN INFINITE LOVE STORY, an astronaut has lost contact with ground control, and his distraught wife must unravel what truly happened to him, reliving their epic love story to cope with her grief. Cleeton delivers a poignant, heartfelt, and tear-jerking novel, exploring the strength of love and how far our bonds stretch across time and space.
Description:
from the publisher
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR SUMMER BY NPR*, WOMAN’S WORLD, PARADE, AND BOOKBUB
“A sweeping romantic drama with a touch of magical realism. …Cleeton’s ability to pull readers in quickly and deeply through her storytelling makes her a go-to author for an immersive reading experience. …Vivian and Joe’s love is unforgettable, and so is Cleeton’s writing.”*
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.
About the Author:
Chanel 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.
Editorial Reviews:
“Cleeton’s deft storytelling shows all the tangible and emotional sacrifices the astronauts and their families make….For readers looking for a good romance tested by daunting circumstances, this fits the bill. Historical fiction aficionados will appreciate Cleeton’s exploration of a segment of history that hasn’t yet been mined too often.”—Library Journal
“One of those books that stays in the minds of readers long after the last page. The story itself is a beautiful one to experience. Its reminder to readers that life is unpredictable and terrifying, yet still worth it, is what makes the novel so compelling. An Infinite Love Story is absolutely breathtaking, and most importantly, it’s timeless.”—The Harvard Crimson
“[A] charming exploration of romantic entanglements during the Space Race…richly appealing.”—Booklist
From the Publisher:
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 