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Book Summary and Reviews of An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

An Infinite Love Story

by Chanel Cleeton

  • Readers' Rating (55):
  • Publishes:
  • Jul 7, 2026, 352 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Delivers a heartrending yet hopeful story…. Cleeton drives the narrative forward with her well-crafted time travel conceit and touching depictions of Joe and Vivian's once in a lifetime love. Readers won't want to miss this." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Cleeton's most deeply personal and deeply moving book yet! As an Air Force spouse herself, 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 and a fascinating deep dive into the 1960s space race, An Infinite Love Story soars as high as its astronauts." —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

"An infinitely pleasurable read, it makes us yearn for the kind of love Cleeton depicts so beautifully: one that transcends the ordinariness of time and space and is, quite simply, extraordinary. The story also brings to life the early years of the Space Program and I was fascinated by the scenes of hope and despair as the astronauts and their families tackle what seems to be impossible—sending a man not just into space, but all the way to the moon. Chanel's incredible range as a writer is on full display in this dazzling novel." —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan

"An Infinite Love Story is the kind of book that makes you think as much as feel, and wish as much as wonder. This poignant tribute to the kind of love that defies every earthly constraint will stay with you long past the final pages. Fresh, riveting, dreamy." —Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

This information about An Infinite Love Story was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Kimberly_M

Great story and loved the perspective
Loved reading about the astronaut program from the wife's perspective. I think the characters were well developed and I wanted to know more about them all and what happened to them after the book ended. Would be a great book club book to discuss the nuances of the roles of the wives and the media during that era.

Ann_H

Oh my, What a Great Read
I enjoyed this book immensely for a variety of reasons. First of all, it was timely in that we just had astronauts take a space journey around the moon. This author helped this reader understand the effects space travel preparation and the actual mission have on family dynamics. The story about the love Joe and Vivian had for each other was heart-warming. How they met, how they dealt with the pressures of married life, and their different vocations left this reader hoping for them to experience all the best life could offer. This book is one a reader won't want to put down. The questions listed at the back would certainly stimulate book club discussion.

Lynne_Brosch

Infinite Love Story
Chanel Cleeton has been a favorite author of mine for a few years now and this book departs from her usual subject matter related to Cuban history. She has stepped into an entirely new theme with this story based on the Space Race of the 1960s. The story of Viv and Joe is an endearing, honest and tragic love story but tells so much more about this decade in the life of those men and women who sacrificed so much to become a part of the hopes and dreams for America's future in space. After reading Ms. Cleeton's exceptionally well researched book on the space era in the 1960s I am intrigued to read even more about astronaut wives.

Maureen_Connolly

Compelling Story
This was the perfect book to read as Artemis II was just launched to journey to the moon. The story begins in 1960's with the space race. It is a beautifully written story of Joe and Vivian's love for one another. Joe always wanted to be an astronaut while. I Ian wanted him to have a nice safe job.

When Vivian learns that Joe's spacecraft is lost in space, it is her worst nightmare. She receives mysterious messages that she knows only Joe would send, I loved the science fiction element of this book. I would have liked more. I also enjoyed reading about the astronauts wives and the struggles they had . I just loved Joe and Vivian's love story. It is a book not to miss

Susan_U

Timely
Wow! I just finished this book about the life of astronaut's wives during the early race to the moon. I remember seeing these brave women when I was young but didn't realize how much was expected of them. The fear, the loneliness and the requirements to always put on a brave face. It takes a minute for the book to "launch" but once it does, its a great ride.

Laurie_M

An Infinite Love Story
I honestly cannot remember the last time a book made me feel as deeply as I did while reading An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton. Joe and Vivian's love story totally swept me away! The characters are well developed and intriguing. The 1960s Space Race as the backdrop to their story was perfect. The light shined on the families of astronauts and fighter pilots highlighted what their jobs and the public required them to endure. An engaging and heartfelt novel. I hated to see this book end and envy those getting to read it for the first time.

...21 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Chanel Cleeton Author Biography

Photo: Chris Malpass

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Cuban Heiress, Our Last Days in Barcelona, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, When We Left Cuba, and Reese's Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. She received a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Link to Chanel Cleeton's Website

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