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channah_banana's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it a lot. I think I over hyped it. I was told I was going to cry so hard, and I did not cry at all. It was great though. I love the love between Teresa and Garrett. I also love the love between Catherine and Garrett.
jakweez's review against another edition
2.0
Oh gosh...I wanted to love this book but there's so much wrong with it that I don't think I could bring myself to read another of Sparks' books for a very long time.
Theresa is unbelievable as the protagonist and the author spends so long describing the minutiae of her day - "she took a shower, dried herself, put lotion on and dressed" - that it feels like he had to pad a fairly weak story out.
That aside, she's basically a stalker who decides she's in love 2 days after meeting Garrett.
Garrett is weak and emotionally manipulative. Both characters are whiny and it's difficult to buy into his love for Catherine or Theresa. He's supposedly been on lock down for 3 years because of his grief but is in bed with Theresa 2 days after meeting.
I vaguely remember the film of this being quite sweet but, had I read the book first, there is no way I would have watched it.
It's not particularly well written either - Sparks was clearly grasping for synonyms in places. Every love scene involved one of the main characters make the other feel "the wetness of their mouth" which just sounds like slug trails. However, imagining that Garrett's lips were literally "fluttering over her" was surprisingly entertaining.
I'd give it a miss if I were you.
Theresa is unbelievable as the protagonist and the author spends so long describing the minutiae of her day - "she took a shower, dried herself, put lotion on and dressed" - that it feels like he had to pad a fairly weak story out.
That aside, she's basically a stalker who decides she's in love 2 days after meeting Garrett.
Garrett is weak and emotionally manipulative. Both characters are whiny and it's difficult to buy into his love for Catherine or Theresa. He's supposedly been on lock down for 3 years because of his grief but is in bed with Theresa 2 days after meeting.
I vaguely remember the film of this being quite sweet but, had I read the book first, there is no way I would have watched it.
It's not particularly well written either - Sparks was clearly grasping for synonyms in places. Every love scene involved one of the main characters make the other feel "the wetness of their mouth" which just sounds like slug trails. However, imagining that Garrett's lips were literally "fluttering over her" was surprisingly entertaining.
I'd give it a miss if I were you.
collvenette's review against another edition
3.0
This is probably my least favorite Nicholas Sparks book of all the ones that I have read so far. By no means was this book bad, but I just got irritated with it. Usually, I quickly begin to love the characters in Sparks' novels; however, in this book, I found myself not really enjoying the two main characters, which is probably why I was not a huge fan of the book. The ending is very sad and I cried for the last couple pages, though I don't find myself eager to recommend this book to others.
storybridgereads's review against another edition
5.0
For those of you (like me) who have seen the movie of the same name starring Kevin Costner, the end of this novel will come as no surprise. I knew what I was getting in for when I started this book and kept the tissues well-stocked. In fact, I had to stop reading it on the bus for fear of crying in public.
Instead of going into a detailed review, I'd like to share with you an excerpt of an interview Nicholas Sparks did with the NY Times after writing this novel. He shares his inspiration but I have to warn you, it is gut wrenching...
"Message in a Bottle was inspired by my father after the death of my mother. In 1989, six weeks after I was married, my mother and father went horseback riding. They were avid riders and very comfortable on horses, and were simply walking the horses along a scenic trail. For a reason that no one can explain -- we assume it was the horse, a rather skittish Arabian -- my mom fell out of the saddle, off the horse, hit her head on a rock, had a cerebral hemorrhage and died.
My mother and father had married at the age of twenty-one and my father was absolutely crushed by her death. They'd been married twenty-seven years and my father didn't have the slightest idea of what it meant to be a grown-up without my mom. A lot of people wear black to a funeral. My father wore black every day for four years. He pretty much became a recluse. He pulled away from his family and friends, he stopped going out, he stopped doing pretty much
everything. All he did was go to work and back home again. It was heart-breaking to watch.
After four long years of worrying about him, my father finally
started taking baby steps out in the world again. He started reconnecting with family and friends, eventually he started to date again -- think more years passing -- eventually he met someone in particular, eventually he fell in love again. And then one day, about seven years after my mom had died, I got a call from my father. "I'm engaged," he said.
Now, I was happy about that, not because I didn't care about my mom -- I adored her -- but because I'd been so worried about my father. Kids worry about their parents the same way parents worry about their kids, and I was glad that he'd finally found someone.
Two days after that phone call, my father was driving home late one night, fell asleep at the wheel of his car, crashed, and died . . ."
Is it better to have loved and lost then never loved at all? Nicholas Sparks says yes and after reading Message in a Bottle, I'm inclined to agree.
PS It's 100% just as good as the movie. Promise.
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Instead of going into a detailed review, I'd like to share with you an excerpt of an interview Nicholas Sparks did with the NY Times after writing this novel. He shares his inspiration but I have to warn you, it is gut wrenching...
"Message in a Bottle was inspired by my father after the death of my mother. In 1989, six weeks after I was married, my mother and father went horseback riding. They were avid riders and very comfortable on horses, and were simply walking the horses along a scenic trail. For a reason that no one can explain -- we assume it was the horse, a rather skittish Arabian -- my mom fell out of the saddle, off the horse, hit her head on a rock, had a cerebral hemorrhage and died.
My mother and father had married at the age of twenty-one and my father was absolutely crushed by her death. They'd been married twenty-seven years and my father didn't have the slightest idea of what it meant to be a grown-up without my mom. A lot of people wear black to a funeral. My father wore black every day for four years. He pretty much became a recluse. He pulled away from his family and friends, he stopped going out, he stopped doing pretty much
everything. All he did was go to work and back home again. It was heart-breaking to watch.
After four long years of worrying about him, my father finally
started taking baby steps out in the world again. He started reconnecting with family and friends, eventually he started to date again -- think more years passing -- eventually he met someone in particular, eventually he fell in love again. And then one day, about seven years after my mom had died, I got a call from my father. "I'm engaged," he said.
Now, I was happy about that, not because I didn't care about my mom -- I adored her -- but because I'd been so worried about my father. Kids worry about their parents the same way parents worry about their kids, and I was glad that he'd finally found someone.
Two days after that phone call, my father was driving home late one night, fell asleep at the wheel of his car, crashed, and died . . ."
Is it better to have loved and lost then never loved at all? Nicholas Sparks says yes and after reading Message in a Bottle, I'm inclined to agree.
PS It's 100% just as good as the movie. Promise.
Can your favourite author draw??
Watch more LIVE bestselling author interviews and win free books!
In this fun interview series, bestselling novelists reveal the secrets behind their beloved stories…all whilst playing a round of Pictionary with a live audience…YOU!
Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
jenspiegs's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite Sparks novel but it's a compelling story. I was ticked off with the ending though. Maybe if the book made me care that much I should give it 3 stars.
smashley8's review against another edition
3.0
I think Sparks is a good writer, but this story was a bit cheesy. Anyone going through a break-up would probably throw this book at a wall, haha. The twist at the end caught me by surprise and wrapped everything up nicely, but I can't see myself recommending this book to anyone.
yonne_'s review against another edition
4.0
The book made me go through all kinds of emotions. Initially kept me guessing and I left with the heavy hand. Then when Teresa and Garrett became a couple, the book annoyed me. Protagonists me seemed too undecided, and the story seemed too long end, but after I finished the book, I realized that Nicholas was his plan for the final novel. The ending is heartbreaking and I must say that I expected him any moment. I think Nicholas Sparks is undoubtedly follows: William Shakespeare's final works as dramatic as Shakespeare.
ahazlett's review against another edition
4.0
Super book, I loved it. As always with Nicholas Sparks, it tugs on your heartstrings
lmunn's review against another edition
2.0
Struggling with a rating. I found the book dreadfully boring, and I struggled to finish it. Then in the last 100ish pages it took a turn for the better but I didn’t expect the twist at the end, which was heartbreaking. then the ending gutted me. Not Nicholas Sparks’ best writing but also one of his first books.
mandajo's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not my favorite Sparks novel, but still a pleasant and easy read overall. I did enjoy learning that Sparks' inspiration came from a piece of his father's personal story.