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Jan 22, 2012

Karla Mae rated it:

After meeting the author Nicholas Sparks last October 28th here in Manila and get him to sign my book, i started reading his latest novel which is obviously entitled "The Best Of Me". I tried so hard to refrain myself in reading this though it was really hard for me because i'm really curious about it. So here it goes, the book is definitely good! As the same as his other novels it is filled with flashbacks and old memories that in due time came back to the protagonists of the story. I More...

6 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 08, 2011

Michael rated it:

This was probably the most disappointing Nicholas Sparks book I have ever read. The book's premise starts off promising enough; high school sweethearts meet again at the funeral of a mutual friend some 25 years later and rekindle their romance... a romance it turns out that had never really ebbed. Dawson Cole, one of the main characters, comes from a family of violent lawbreakers and thugs, while Amanda Collier, the other main character, comes from a wealthy, upstanding family. You get the pictu More...

14 comments like (30 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2012

Bookworm rated it:

I'd give this book a 2/5. I like the idea of the story, however i felt like the 2 characters didnt have as much chemistry as Sparks' other main protagonists have. I felt the start was boring, and felt myself scanning over pages. I know that Sparks' novels are always full of cheese and corny lines (which I admittedly love) but the ghost? i felt that this element sort of made the reader break away from Dawson as it turns into some silly magic story now. I may have let a tear slip at the end, but t More...

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Feb 15, 2012

Brenda rated it:

Dawson Cole, the main characters, comes from a family of violent lawbreakers, while Amanda Collier, the other main character, comes from a wealthy family. They meet and fall in love while in high school, but, Amanda’s parents do not want their daughter to be with Dawson. They eventually threaten to cut her off. Dawson feels that his is hurting Amanda and he breaks up with her. Then one night Dawson is out driving and a terrible accident changes his life forever. He goes to jail for four ye More...

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Feb 03, 2012

Louise rated it:

Story Description:

"Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen."

In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unfo More...

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Jan 28, 2012

Charlotte rated it:

I'm a fan of Nicholas Sparks. Partly because of the fact that his book's are almost always winners and partly because I want a love like the characters in his books have. He has such a magical way with romance. The Best Of Me, a story about first love and responsibilities. It's one of those books that will make you think of that cliché which says "If two people are meant to be together, what ever happens, they will find their way to be with one another." Like destiny, or fate. The thi More...

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Jan 21, 2012

Mara rated it:

2.5 stars. I always feel cheated when I get to the end of a Nicholas Sparks book (I don't know why I keep reading them). He has such a magical way with romance but then he rips the happily ever after away. I love the descriptions and landscapes in this book. Sparks creates the perfect backdrops for love and creates the perfect moments that most mere mortals can only dream about. Then the characters (and the reader) have to pay the price for stealing such perfection by haveing it become nothing b More...

1 comment like (7 people liked it)

Jan 20, 2012

Teena rated it:

I'm not a fan of Nicholas Sparks' books ... I find his stories too sappy. Since this was his latest, I thought I'd check it out since it's been a long time since I've read any of his stuff.

This book is really sappy. But I kept with it and finished. It was an okay story, just not my kind of book.

Amanda and Dawson were high school sweethearts and haven't seen each other in almost 25 years. Amanda has married and kids. Dawson is still a loner. Yet when they are thrown together b More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 16, 2012

Liane rated it:

The Best Of Me, a story about first love and responsibilities. It's one of those books that will make you think of that cliché which says "if two people are meant to be together, what ever happens, they will find their way to be with one another". Like destiny, or fate.

The thing about this book is that I like how the characters are so responsible. I like how they think with their heads and not with their hearts (or penises). I like how they are stating the fact that love is More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 15, 2012

Jowel rated it:

Introduction to Romance

Romance novels are stereotyped as being feminine and not in tune with reality. Yet in fact, there are romance novels that rise to accept such a challenge and amaze critics. One such heroic piece of text is The Best of Me where the author guides the reader into a world of romantic realism, where the dilemmas faced by the protagonist aren't “lovey-dovey”. The problems faced in the novel, instead are relate able to society and lovers alike. The Best of Me is More...

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Jan 11, 2012

Kate rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 02, 2012

Alyssa rated it:

DON'T READ THIS BOOK IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND THOUGHT MAYBE NICHOLAS SPARKS COULD WRITE A NOVEL WITHOUT KILLING OFF ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS.

"The Best of Me" is a novel about two high-school sweethearts, Amanda and Dawson, who went their separate ways after high school and are reunited for one weekend when they learn of the sudden passing of their mentor, Tuck. I was intrigued by this book from the beginning because I felt like that's kind of every woman's fantasy - to have a More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jan 01, 2012

Sandy rated it:

Classic Nicholas Sparks....prior to reading this book, I looked at the reviews and said ehhhh...do I want to spend 10.00 to download this book? That was one of the best 10.00 bills I have spent in a long time. The first 4 or 5 chapters were very irrating this was caused from Amazon's download. Some words were missing, some repeated and some were just not there. I thought to myself if it continues through the rest of the book, I would contact Amazon for a refund but the book did straightened More...

2 comments like

Dec 26, 2011

Helen rated it:

I have read several of Spark's novels in the past--my favorite being "The Last Song". In the case of his latest story, I did not expect anything much different from his past novels. The case being that while Sparks is able to write an engaging story, describe the characters' thoughts and emotions sufficiently, and vary the circumstance of lost or newly found love significantly from book to book...the essence of the story does not change dramatically. Consequently, for a reader who is n More...

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Dec 27, 2011

Karen rated it:

At first, I thought the book was quite boring and not worth reading. But after reading page to page, I discovered that the book was actually fantastic. Honestly, this book was the first Nicholas Sparks book that I've read. And I can say that he didn't fail me at all, he has proven that his stories are beyond wonderful.
Dawson Cole was the main character, and the most beautiful character for me. He was real, passionate and kindhearted. He gave everything to the people he cared for, to the pe More...

11 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 25, 2011

Keilani rated it:

I liked it, but I didn't. N. Sparks is good at creating raw emotion in his stories. I always cry, at least once if not more.

He's also good at presenting situations that are wrong (like the possibility of married people having an affair with someone who was once their true love) that end right, but somehow don't feel fulfilling in how they end. Even though I know what is right, and in real life I think it's entirely wrong for the character to run off with the person they "love" More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 21, 2011

Rebekah rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Dec 18, 2011

Wendy added it

Nicolas Sparks style captivates me and I find it hard to do anything else until I've finished the book. The scenes set at the cabin by the lake were breathtakingly beautiful both in imagery and storyline.
The hero, Dawson was believable and needed something good to happen in his life for a change. Despite his family connections he had always endeavoured to do the right thing and appreciated life as it should be, although deprived of it himself.

So it was the same for this story unt More...

0 comments like

Dec 03, 2011

Kathryn rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 28, 2011

Cat222 rated it:

I've always liked Nicholas Sparks books. I was completely hooked with The Notebook and The Wedding and still can remember where I was when I was reading the last of The Wedding. The Notebook as a movie was one of the best I've seen. As I read The Best of Me I could picture it as a movie more so than some of his most recent books. Although the recent books were good this one has movie potential like The Notebook. Although for the last chapters I knew what the ending was it didn't make it less More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 21, 2011

Nancy rated it:

I generally steer clear of Nicholas Sparks books. I don't want to read the sad story of someone dying tragically from terminal cancer or the contrived drama. There's enough drama in life already. No, I didn't see or read "The Last Song" but that may have had more to do with the starring actress. So I was hesitant to read this book and I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. I think I missed the subtle wisdom Nicholas Sparks infuses in his books.

What this book offers is arti More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Nov 17, 2011

Connie rated it:

I gave this book only 1 star because, although it was a typical Nicholas Sparks storyline, he clearly missed it in this one. I am an avid fan and have read everything he's written and normally can't wait for his next novel to publish. However, in this one, I didn't see the average warmth, caring and heart wrenching love that he's become famous for. The love story wasn't even in good telling. The ending sucked and really did make you feel that good guys finish last, no matter how good the hea More...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 15, 2011

Danielle rated it:

I've never doubt Nicholas Sparks and I'm not about to now! This was an amazing book. I will admit towards the end I was getting mad (as I'm sure lots of people did lol) But it was a truely amazing story. I don't really want to give too much away, but it's about a boy Dawson who comes from a bad family, everyone in town knows of "The Coles" and no one wants their children to be mixed up with them. Dawson is the exception though. He's nothing like his family, and for that matter he is no More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Melissa rated it:

I haven't read a Sparks book in a long time because I'm usually not one for sappy books and ridiculous romance. However, I saw this and felt that I wanted to give him another try - after all, who can deny The Notebook's appeal? And . . . I got just what I expected. A brooding loner with a bad family past falls in love with a nice girl. They can't stay together, but lo and behold something brings them back together years later. But, then, wait, there are still problems and then someone makes the More...

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Nov 01, 2011

Katieeoh rated it:

One word I can describe this book: LOYALTY.

What can I say about it?

Well, I can say, it’s one of my favorites. All of his books are wonderful as well, but this book seems to show how love can live in each other’s hearts even though it’s been years and far apart. This book mainly talks about two lovers who got reunited after twenty-five years later, the guy never loved anyone else except for Amanda even though she already has her own family. The ending is a shocker actually, si More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 30, 2011

Ralf rated it:

I had proved once more, After I had Read the Best of Me, that Mr. Sparks is a very good and one of a kind writer. There are this special flavors and elements laid in his story that enchants people, A magic that draws the readers to be a part of a character's journey. As scenes after scenes unfold; Love, Losts, and Happiness are justified and witnessed by the readers.

For readers, unforgettable characters such as Noah and Allie of the Notebook, Landon and Jaimie of A Walk More...

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Oct 27, 2011

Ali rated it:

I used to love Nicholas Sparks. Dear John is one of my favorite books because of how deeply it touched me and spoke about true love. But it's the last book of his that I've absolutely adored that way. The Lucky One was a nice little story, and The Last Song touched me simply because, at the time, my father was dying of cancer. Safe Haven reminded me too much of The Guardian, and this book, The Best of Me...where do I start?

First of all, by the time I had gotten to page 90, I'd alread More...

9 comments like (10 people liked it)

Oct 26, 2011

Jennefer rated it:

"The Best of me" is the newest novel just released this month by Nicholas Sparks. The main character is that of a young man named Dawson Cole. Dawson comes from a rough family life in which most of the family members are criminals and bullies. Dawson does stuff like altering his report card so his family thinks he is doing worse in school than he truly is just to live up to the Cole family name. Dawson finds himself involved in a terrible accident in which someone was killed. Daws More...

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Oct 24, 2011

Alla rated it:

“The Best of me” by Nicholas Sparks follows the love story of Dawson Cole—a young man from a never do well family, who is sent to prison after he accidentally runs over the town’s doctor, and upon release is nearly killed during an explosion in his new oil rig job—and Amanda Collier, his high school sweetheart who came from a wealthy family, and who, all those years later, is a married stay-at-home mom who occasionally ventures out to volunteer at the town’s medical center.

The occasi More...

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Oct 20, 2011

Dizzyc rated it:

Dawson and Amanda shared first love. A love that was forbidden, not only by her parents, but by their lifestyle. Years later they are brought back together by the death of the only man who believed in them, Tuck.

As they reunite to say farewell to Tuck, a will they won't they story unfolds. Even after all these years, life is not straight forward. Dawson is looking over his shoulder knowing he is being hunted by his family and Amanda has the family back home to think of. More...

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