Jill Santopolo is set to adapt her best-selling romance “The Light We Lost” for the big screen, Variety reports. The author’s debut novel is a love story that kicks off on 9/11: two seniors at Columbia University meet in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks “and both decide that they want their lives to matter.” Southpaw Entertainment’s Gabrielle Jerou-Tabak and Richard B. Lewis are producing.

The film will follow Lucy and Gabe’s “13-year relationship through dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and ultimately, of love as one becomes a photojournalist in the Middle East and the other pursues a life and career in New York City,” the source summarizes. The leads haven’t been cast yet.

“Through her extraordinarily unique voice, Jill has brought to life a heart-wrenching and epic love story for the ages,” said Jerou-Tabak. “Her debut novel took us on an intense emotional rollercoaster ride with twists and turns that literally brought us to tears. We are thrilled to be working alongside her to bring this exceptional story to life on the big screen.”

“The Light We Lost” has been translated into more than 35 languages. Santopolo has written a number of kids’ series, including “Alec Flint Mysteries,” “Sparkle Spa,” and “Follow Your Heart.” Also the editorial director of Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, she’s spoken out about the impact of representation. “The one thing I’d tell people starting out in publishing is that, as acquiring editors and designers, as marketers and publicists and sales folks, we all have a chance to help shape the cultural conversation and touch people through story,” she’s said. “I’d encourage people to feel that power and use it to help shift paradigms and shape society.”