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lailasemeda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A very well written romantic novel with a huge plot twist that turns the events upside down and put the fresh love between Morgan and Colby to a big test; proving that love and pain are two sides of the same coin.
ashleylynnreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really wish the ending was different. Poor Colby deserves to be happy too! The twist in the story I didn't see coming but it started out similar to another book of his and I was like did he really copy himself
morisbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
izzyfreeman's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read, but didn’t love the tiktok references
mommy_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
debbie92's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
emmapeterson17's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lizf's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
vbsquared's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I usually know what to expect with a Nicholas Sparks novel. I’ve read every single book he’s ever written and even if somewhat formulaic, I find his writing to always be a good story (even if not necessarily groundbreaking literature).
So I have to say, the beginning of this book was a bit of a surprise for me. It is definitely Sparks’ attempt at something new. Suspense and Romance unknowingly connected until the end of the book. In the first two parts, I was excited to see where it would go.
But then I put the pieces together before the author intended me too - which again not unusual for a Nicholas Sparks novel, even if frustrating in this particular novel.
*spoilers ahead*
I think the reason that this is my least favorite Nicholas Sparks novel, however, is that when the author finally lays out the connection - it is done so in an icky way conflating domestic violence with drug use and mental illness reminiscent of past explanations of women hysteria. I’m not saying that people with mental illness don’t often have delusions and hallucinations and maybe Sparks was trying to capture a deeper story than he usually does - but it just fell flat. He makes you care for this character and her struggles to escape abuse only to at the end be like “yeah, just kidding she’s just crazy.”
I think I just thought the beginning of the book promised more and he failed to deliver.
So I have to say, the beginning of this book was a bit of a surprise for me. It is definitely Sparks’ attempt at something new. Suspense and Romance unknowingly connected until the end of the book. In the first two parts, I was excited to see where it would go.
But then I put the pieces together before the author intended me too - which again not unusual for a Nicholas Sparks novel, even if frustrating in this particular novel.
*spoilers ahead*
I think the reason that this is my least favorite Nicholas Sparks novel, however, is that when the author finally lays out the connection - it is done so in an icky way conflating domestic violence with drug use and mental illness reminiscent of past explanations of women hysteria. I’m not saying that people with mental illness don’t often have delusions and hallucinations and maybe Sparks was trying to capture a deeper story than he usually does - but it just fell flat. He makes you care for this character and her struggles to escape abuse only to at the end be like “yeah, just kidding she’s just crazy.”
I think I just thought the beginning of the book promised more and he failed to deliver.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Mental illness