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A review by backpackingbookworm
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
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? Yes
4.25
Nicholas Sparks is my go-to comfort author so, of course, I couldn't wait to dive straight into Dreamland the moment it arrived on my NetGalley shelf. I absolutely devoured it while on holiday (the perfect time and place to get lost in a Sparks book) and it didn't disappoint.
The book follows musician-turned-farmer, Colby, as he plays some one-off shows in Florida - his first vacation in years away from his small-town North Carolina farm. While there, he meets Morgan, a passionate singer-songwriter and social media dance sensation alongside her girlfriends. Having a short stop-off in Florida before she flies out to Nashville to launch her music career, the two fall head over heels and are left unsure what the future holds for their relationship. Switching narratives, the book also follows Beverley and her heart-pounding journey as she tries to escape her abusive husband with her young son. Convinced he will have eyes looking out for her everywhere, she seeks refuge in a quiet town and does everything in her power to keep her son safe.
As someone who avoids romance, I don't know what it is about NS books but I'm always here for the love story. Maybe it's the realism, the writing, or the low-level steam, but he somehow creates characters and moments that thaw my cold heart. Although I wasn't Morgan's biggest fan (she was just too young for me to able to connect with/relate to her), I enjoyed the blossoming romance between her and Colby during their Florida vacation. Though they fell in love quickly, it didn't feel unrealistic thanks to Sparks and his beautiful word-building and storytelling.
I had an inkling where the book was going but couldn’t guess the ‘why’ so was still caught off guard when the two stories collided. Though I found some of the themes a bit too try-hard (the social media influencers for example), the overall storytelling was beautiful as always. The secondary storyline was so engaging and not something I’ve really read in a Sparks novel before which I appreciated.
Would definitely recommend this one for fans of country music, closed-door romances, and family dramas. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for sending me a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
The book follows musician-turned-farmer, Colby, as he plays some one-off shows in Florida - his first vacation in years away from his small-town North Carolina farm. While there, he meets Morgan, a passionate singer-songwriter and social media dance sensation alongside her girlfriends. Having a short stop-off in Florida before she flies out to Nashville to launch her music career, the two fall head over heels and are left unsure what the future holds for their relationship. Switching narratives, the book also follows Beverley and her heart-pounding journey as she tries to escape her abusive husband with her young son. Convinced he will have eyes looking out for her everywhere, she seeks refuge in a quiet town and does everything in her power to keep her son safe.
As someone who avoids romance, I don't know what it is about NS books but I'm always here for the love story. Maybe it's the realism, the writing, or the low-level steam, but he somehow creates characters and moments that thaw my cold heart. Although I wasn't Morgan's biggest fan (she was just too young for me to able to connect with/relate to her), I enjoyed the blossoming romance between her and Colby during their Florida vacation. Though they fell in love quickly, it didn't feel unrealistic thanks to Sparks and his beautiful word-building and storytelling.
I had an inkling where the book was going but couldn’t guess the ‘why’ so was still caught off guard when the two stories collided. Though I found some of the themes a bit too try-hard (the social media influencers for example), the overall storytelling was beautiful as always. The secondary storyline was so engaging and not something I’ve really read in a Sparks novel before which I appreciated.
Would definitely recommend this one for fans of country music, closed-door romances, and family dramas. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for sending me a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
- Plot/narrative - 4.2
- Writing style/readability - 4.3
- Characters - 4
- Diverse themes -4.2
- Ending - 4.1
Overall - 4.2
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Blood