Reviews

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

kari_g's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad fast-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? No

4.25

lesleysbooks's review against another edition

5.0

This is a gentle, beautifully written book, full of emotions both happy and sad highlighting the beauty and power of love.

marsspanqueca's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.75

mary_lake's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.5

really really enjoyed this. picked it up after listening to the broadway musical (which i highly highly highly recommend - i am listening to it as i write this review!) and was immediately hooked (had to stop for a bit due to my uni exams but dived straight back in after) and oh my god. what a wonderful, heart wrenching book. i already knew the story of course but there was so much extra depth to the older allie/noah dynamic in the book which i loved. and the quote "maybe we've lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we've found each other," had me sobbing. it turns out i cry whether this story is in book, movie, or musical format. 

only small caveats are that at the tail end of the book,

the whole 'love-cures-anything' message became a little on the nose - i don't think audiences need to be spoon fed all information - and THERE WAS NO RAIN KISS? this absolutely baffled me - the cover of my copy is even the gorgeous rachel mcadams and ryan gosling enacting this very scene and it's definitely the most iconic part of the story. but in the book, allie and noah just go inside when it starts raining and kiss there. this is not a fair criticism as nicholas sparks did not know, at the time of writing the book, that the movie would create (/extend) such a beautiful scene but i'm saying it nonetheless. sorry.

muyaho_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

meabhmcc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

kathy_99's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

cayeman's review

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

2.5

karterjo2's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this in a day it’s so good. I had to stop so many times because it was just so good.

els_12x's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? No

3.0

I much prefer Allies and Noahs relationship in the book rather than the film. I don't understand why they became toxic in the film when in the book they were very sweet and loving towards one another and noah did NOT blackmail her to go out with him? 
Anyway I loved the characters and the plot alot but found that the writing could've been a bit better. I feel I was told alot rather than showed it if that makes sense.