Katie (katiebug11) - , reviewed on + 12 more book reviews
This review is from: The Best of Me (Paperback)
I am giving this 3 stars for 3 reasons...
1. Loyalty to a long time favorite writer
2. he really does have a way of writing very descriptive/intresting characters and places
3. had I known if it was a "nights in rodanthe" ending..or a "safe haven" ending I would have skipped this book and not been disappointed.
I won't go into the plot because it's already been written by other reviewers but let me just say that this book has every cliche imaginable.*mini spoiler* boy from wrong side of tracks, rich girl, separated by parents that dont understand..boy waits for girl, love rekindled years later, girl doesnt want to split up family...I assumed that Mr. sparks would twist cliches and make magic out of them like he's been known to do. let's just say that did not happen. I will say that my personal preference in these types of books is to have a happy ending and I was quite disappointed when this one did not. If that is not a requirement for you, you may love this book. I wish there was a way to know ahead of time since it can be hit or miss with the happy endings in his books.**spoiler alert** I was quite disappointed when Mr. sparks made me fall in love with these characters and GAVE hope that their love would actually survive, only to find out that Dawson died in the end. When amanda' s husband was in an accident with her son I knew it would be predictable for her husband to die so that she and dawson could be together and I didn't want it to go that route; but I thought that would be the last straw she needed to leave him, since it was his fault he was so drunk he had to have his son come get him in the first place. Then the last and final cliche that her son got Dawsons heart as a transplant made me angry. It made you think the whole book was meaningless. There were hints here and there that Amanda just needed time and he just had to wait for her, and the author left the door open for her to leave.. with two of her kids being older and leaving home soon..and her admitting she would never love her husband the way she loved Dawson....she even had her moms blessing! So now what is she supposed to do?? Live the rest of her life blaming a husband she will never love enough and living with regret? I don't understand...I know there is often"meaning" and lessons learned in books and that life isn't always a happy ending but thats the real world..not the books I read to escape the real world for a brief moment. I don't know what it was about this book, I actually liked "a walk to remember" and" message in a bottle" without the happy ending...but there was just something about this book where I knew what was coming and I really didn't want to finish it. I think it was the fact that you fell so in love with these characters and you really cared about them coupled with the fact that the author gave you so much HOPE!
**ps..was anyone else so glad that this book wasnt filled with singing "cicadas"? Omg..I didn't read his books in order but I remember that there were like 4 books I read in a row were the cicadas sang or chirped or whatever every five minutes! So glad he got the hint lol..
I am giving this 3 stars for 3 reasons...
1. Loyalty to a long time favorite writer
2. he really does have a way of writing very descriptive/intresting characters and places
3. had I known if it was a "nights in rodanthe" ending..or a "safe haven" ending I would have skipped this book and not been disappointed.
I won't go into the plot because it's already been written by other reviewers but let me just say that this book has every cliche imaginable.*mini spoiler* boy from wrong side of tracks, rich girl, separated by parents that dont understand..boy waits for girl, love rekindled years later, girl doesnt want to split up family...I assumed that Mr. sparks would twist cliches and make magic out of them like he's been known to do. let's just say that did not happen. I will say that my personal preference in these types of books is to have a happy ending and I was quite disappointed when this one did not. If that is not a requirement for you, you may love this book. I wish there was a way to know ahead of time since it can be hit or miss with the happy endings in his books.**spoiler alert** I was quite disappointed when Mr. sparks made me fall in love with these characters and GAVE hope that their love would actually survive, only to find out that Dawson died in the end. When amanda' s husband was in an accident with her son I knew it would be predictable for her husband to die so that she and dawson could be together and I didn't want it to go that route; but I thought that would be the last straw she needed to leave him, since it was his fault he was so drunk he had to have his son come get him in the first place. Then the last and final cliche that her son got Dawsons heart as a transplant made me angry. It made you think the whole book was meaningless. There were hints here and there that Amanda just needed time and he just had to wait for her, and the author left the door open for her to leave.. with two of her kids being older and leaving home soon..and her admitting she would never love her husband the way she loved Dawson....she even had her moms blessing! So now what is she supposed to do?? Live the rest of her life blaming a husband she will never love enough and living with regret? I don't understand...I know there is often"meaning" and lessons learned in books and that life isn't always a happy ending but thats the real world..not the books I read to escape the real world for a brief moment. I don't know what it was about this book, I actually liked "a walk to remember" and" message in a bottle" without the happy ending...but there was just something about this book where I knew what was coming and I really didn't want to finish it. I think it was the fact that you fell so in love with these characters and you really cared about them coupled with the fact that the author gave you so much HOPE!
**ps..was anyone else so glad that this book wasnt filled with singing "cicadas"? Omg..I didn't read his books in order but I remember that there were like 4 books I read in a row were the cicadas sang or chirped or whatever every five minutes! So glad he got the hint lol..
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