Reviews

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

cricket1988's review against another edition

5.0

my favorite book

jesslolsen's review against another edition

4.0

I started of hating this book and very nearly threw in the towel. I found the writing really clunky and the conversations within the story didn't feel smooth or real enough. I also struggled with the initial personality of Savannah - maybe I'm just too jaded but I found her innocence really unbelievable and uncomfortable. I was having trouble understanding why a book that sounded so great from the back cover, could turn out so flat and boring once the story started, BUT...at around halfway through it thankfully picked up and I started to see development with not only John and Savannah, but also the storyline with John and his Dad.

Towards the second half of the book I was hooked, and I could feel characteristics of The Notebook ("What we had really was real wasn't it...") and I loved it from then on and devoured it. I especially loved that the ending wasn't predictable and it kept me guessing how it would turn out.

Originally I would have given this book 3 stars, but my final verdict is a 4 out of 5. If you love heart-warming love storied then this is for you.

blondierocket's review against another edition

3.0

Made into a movie, this love story holds lots of heartache, and if I remember has some differences from the movie version.

A unlikely couple – a young religious girl on summer vacation and a army man on leave – meet by coincidence on the beach one night, and slowly their friendship turns into a partnership and before long they are nearly inseparable during the days.

Their perfect summer fades quickly as they find themselves faced with returning to their lives, broken apart and far away.

This wasn’t my favorite Sparks book but it was very good to read and heartwarming from beginning to end.

briana13s's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

nicole_thebibliophile's review against another edition

4.0

I was bawling by the last page.

subparcupcake's review against another edition

4.0

Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I'm such a sap. This is so cute and sweet.. I loved it. It was just what I needed to change up my normal routine a little, and it totally satisfied that romantic sappy itch.

There's nothing else to say.. It's squishy, and touching, and filled with romance... That's all I got.

This review rocks.

sorrymyscheduleisbooked's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lookatjimmy's review against another edition

3.0

You know for a good Christian author Nicholas Sparks really has no problem with either near or outright infidelity. I thought marriage was sacred, Nicky boy?

shannonlee912's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

A very good story. I wish it had a different ending but it was still nice. Sad but nice. 

emp2664's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0