The Path Back to Light

Book DescriptionSome paths are meant to be walked together. Elena Vasquez escaped an emotionally abusive marriage with nothing but her talent and a suitcase of unfinished paintings. Three years later, she's finally standing on her own-a rising artist in New York with her first solo exhibition and a life built entirely on her terms. Love is the last thing on her mind. Alexander Hawthorne lost his wife to cancer two years ago and has been merely surviving ever since.
The brilliant CEO moves through life on autopilot, fulfilling obligations while his heart remains frozen in grief. He's convinced he's used up his lifetime allotment of happiness. When Alexander walks into Elena's gallery opening and sees himself reflected in her paintings-the darkness, the struggle, the desperate reach toward light-something shifts. She understands loss in a way no one else can. And for the first time since Catherine's death, he feels genuinely seen.
But healing isn't linear, and neither is love. As their connection deepens, they must navigate Alexander's guilt over moving forward, Elena's fear of losing herself again, and a vicious media scandal that threatens both their careers. When the world demands they choose between their relationship and their professional lives, they're forced to decide: play it safe and protect what they've built separately, or risk everything for a chance at something real.
Perfect for readers who love: Second-chance romance with emotional depth Wounded characters who heal together Contemporary romance set in the New York art world Slow-burn relationships built on genuine connection Stories about choosing courage over fear The Path Back to Light is a deeply moving contemporary romance about two people who thought they'd lost their chance at happiness-until they found each other in the darkness and discovered that the best kind of love doesn't erase your scars.
It honors them. Content notes: This novel contains discussions of grief, past emotional abuse, and characters processing trauma. It features mature themes appropriate for adult readers and includes a fully realized romantic relationship with intimate scenes. Praise for The Path Back to Light:"A stunning debut that captures the messy, complicated beauty of healing and loving after loss. Onishi writes with remarkable emotional intelligence.""Elena and Alexander's story is proof that broken people can create something whole together.
Honest, tender, and deeply romantic.""Not just a love story-a story about reclaiming yourself and finding someone who loves the person you've fought to become."