Sparks' newest novel, "The Best of Me" was recommended to me by a co-worker. I originally pushed it aside onto the "ill read it when they make it into a movie with a teenie-bopper actress/singer/model starring in it shelf", But in a reading- rut I decided a light hearted love novel might be just what I needed.
Let me just say... Yes, it is a Sparks' novel, so there is obviously a love story, a woman scorned and more than a few teary moments. But i didn't expect to read about a long withstanding family feud, a forbidden romance, drugs, violence and much, much more! It was like Nicholas Sparks earlier novels but put into a time machine and thrown right into 2012.
There were a few predictable moments, which is to be expected from the king of non-trashy romance novels, but that does not mean I cried any less during them. I can only manage the smallest plot-summary for fear of spoiling it, but the gist of the story revolves around a man, Dawson, and a woman, Amanda, who fell in love at a young age then never saw each other again. One goes on to become a felon, while the other leads a normal (at least from the outside looking in) life. They meet back up when they both are in their forties, a time of questions, remembrance and regret for both characters. The story follows them both back as they question choices made earlier life and wonder how different life would have been if they had been making those decisions together. The novel questions society, class, violence and rash decisions. Of course, there is the emotional and heart-wrenching end to the story that is Sparks-esque.
This book is great for a quick read. I wish I would have read it curled up on a rainy saturday with a large cup of coffee to get the full affect... but I guess between classes will have to do.
I recommend the book to readers who enjoyed ...
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
