The Choice

by Nicholas Sparks

book data

7,194 ratings, 3.86 average rating, 1,448 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		30%
4		36%
3		24%
2		7%
1		1%

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published

October 31st 2007 by Sphere

binding

Paperback, 288 pages

isbn

1847440916 (isbn13: 9781847440914)

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01/05/08

Elise rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: Nicholas Sparks fans

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

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

5 comments

07/17/08

Laura Cashavelly rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Mr. Sparks, All my life I believed in order for a wonderful marriage all you needed was true love. And now, knowing that for a relationship to work it needs much more then love, reading your books is honestly quite pathetic and sad. All your books are the same, have you ever thought about writing a book that doesn't involve two people falling in love over the course of twenty-four hours?

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

3 comments

10/20/08

Annie rated it:

(review of isbn 0751540579)

bookshelves: general-fiction, reviewed

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: Nicholas Sparks Fans

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

This man has the uncanny ability to shatter my heart into a million pieces and put it back together again with the precision of a surgeon. Why is it that life seems so much sweeter after tragedy? Maybe gratitude isn't a natural state - it's just something we come to through experience.

I just finished Nicholas's new book The Choice which tells the love story of Gabby and Travis. Even though Sparks devoted most of the novel to the cute yet predictable narrative of their history togeth...more This man has the uncanny ability to shatter my heart into a million pieces and put it back together again with the precision of a surgeon. Why is it that life seems so much sweeter after tragedy? Maybe gratitude isn't a natural state - it's just something we come to through experience.

I just finished Nicholas's new book The Choice which tells the love story of Gabby and Travis. Even though Sparks devoted most of the novel to the cute yet predictable narrative of their history together, he made one smart move at the start: a captivating prologue. Oftentimes I believe the prologue is a sign of weak writing. A good author shouldn't need one to draw you into the story - if they do then they're beginning the story at the wrong place. However, this book really needed that. It lent a depth to the first half of the novel which would have been absent otherwise and encouraged readers to keep going even though it seemed a little too fluffy at times.

The other interesting topic he raises is cheating. I have to say this made me a little uncomfortable and did make me a little ticked off. I mean, just because the characters are meant for each other does not justify dishonesty and deception. The other thing is that I am SURE I read in an interview that Nicholas Sparks said he'd NEVER write about adultery. You see, he is openly Christian and doesn't believe in writing about things against his own moral code. If I can find the quote where he says that, I'll post it here. It was a case of 'just when you thought the story was a bit dull the character does something morally repugnant'. That was actually enough to keep me interested. I wanted to see why Sparks made that particular literary decision.

Sparks had some ground to make up after this incident though because as the reader, I thought there was no reason for it. Not having Gabby confront her boyfriend made her seem a little weak. That's when you jump to the next part of the story and where Sparks really shines...the tragedy! God I love it. The thrilling part of reading his work is that you never know if you'll get a happy ending. Right up until the second-last page of The Choice I wasn't sure which it would be. And I cried like a baby the whole time. This wouldn't be Sparks' best work but he's one of those authors you usually can't go wrong with. Well, except maybe for True Believer and Dear John. They seemed a little like mid-career slump novels to me.

He is such a quick-read and the world seems such a richer place when you're finished. People argue that the kind of drama he writes about isn't realistic. I beg to differ. You only have to read an interview with him to know that most of his stories are inspired by real life. Guess what folks, life is tragic. It's the meaning that we gain from tragedy and the love that touches us that makes it all worthwhile.

Aah Nicholas, a man after my own heart. I'll forgive you the cheating but only cause it was such a satisfying ending. (less)

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09/20/08

Shauna rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in October, 2008

Um, I think I want to gag. There are no men out there like Travis. Puhlease!!! And the time it took her to finally make up her mind between Travis and her other boyfriend (what was his name?). Duh, as if there were a choice there. This was one heck of a predictable story. 3/4 of the book was about the fabulous relationship they were building (o.k. we get it already!) and a little bit at the end about how he had this difficult decision to make. Which,by the way, I found to be -again- extre...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

10/19/07

Julianne rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in October, 2007

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

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

10/18/07

Bethany Andrews rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in October, 2007

For all you Nicholas Sparks fans out there, rest assured, he's done it again. He's written another ridiculously perfect, impossible not to cry over, romance. I'm usually not a fan of this type of work, but as I've said before, there's something about a Nicholas Sparks book I can't resist. It's like my guilty pleasure or something.

This one is about Travis, a small town vet, who has everything he could ever want out of life. He's got excellent friends, a cool dog, his own house and...more

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09/26/08

Lisa rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in September, 2008

The Choice has assured I will never read another Nicholas Sparks book. I found this novel to be a long-winded, tedious waste of time. And I got really irritated with his lack of research. If you are going to write about a dog whelping – get your facts right. If you are going to write about comatose people – get your facts right. Oh yeah, and if your leading lady is an accomplished P.A. , you might want to try giving her a brain. And I’m sorry, but I see nothing redeeming about def...more

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03/16/09

Vivian rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in July, 2009

recommended to Vivian by: mom

This has been my favorite book and my plan is to read every Nicholas Sparks book. I read this book last summer and this book is also about love and promises. I learned not all promises should be kept (even though they should). This married couple has been together quite some time and they had there good and bad times. In the time of there marriage a promise came up- If anything ever happened to Gabby and needed be put on life support, then her husband Travis, would only let her be connected for ...more

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1 comment

11/26/07

Becky rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

bookshelves: adult, romance

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: fans of Nicholas Sparks, readers who like sentimental love stories

When a new Nicholas Sparks novel comes out, you know what you're in for - a southern romance between a romantic, lovable, handsome man and an intelligent, independent, naturally beautiful woman. It will be a fast read that makes you long for the simple, small town life. I'm not a big fan of romances, but Sparks books are simply good stories and always enjoyable reads. Also, one never knows whether the ending will be a certifiable tear-jerker or joyful happiness. "The Choice" is abo...more

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04/25/08

Nikki De Los Santos rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2008

Pulled at my heart strings and ended up crying for about 5 mintues at the end. His writting has a way of getting in your head and you can imagine yourself in the situation. What would you do......

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01/16/09

Kit rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

bookshelves: romance

Read in April, 2009

recommends it for: any silly romantic lover

This book is very interesting. Like most of Nicholas Sparks romance books you fall in love with the characters and what the best to happen for them, but in a small way some thing goes wrong, but it always ends up leaving you all warm inside.
I find this one different because even though the back cover describes the book to be about Travis, most of the story line is about Gabby's side of view in there whole time of getting to know each other.
The first part of the story starts out in ...more This book is very interesting. Like most of Nicholas Sparks romance books you fall in love with the characters and what the best to happen for them, but in a small way some thing goes wrong, but it always ends up leaving you all warm inside.
I find this one different because even though the back cover describes the book to be about Travis, most of the story line is about Gabby's side of view in there whole time of getting to know each other.
The first part of the story starts out in Feb 2007, and Travis is going to the hospital where is wife worked to see her. Unsure of the choice he was going to make. It dates back to when they first met and how they came about to fall in love. Gabby moved in next door to Travis. She has a purebred collie who is pregnant and believes Travis' dog is responsible. As she goes over to his house to tell him to take responsiblitiy everthing thing goes wrong. She ends up leaving like a stupid person and finds out that Travis is the vet. Evenutally they spend a weekend together while Gabby's boyfriend is out of town, as friendly neighbors with all of Travis' married friends. By the third day they know they are in love and she decides to be with Travis.

In the second part of the story, Travis is sitting at the hospital going over his memories of the past and how they get married and have two girls. Some of the fights they have, and why things started to go wrong. Travis and Gabby were in a horrible car accident and she went into a coma. As Travis sits at the hospital he is trying to make "the choice" that will change his life. Gabby made Travis sign a living will, where if she was ever in a coma; after three months if she didn't wake up, he promises to let her die. She made him do it because of some one she met a hospital who the husband went insane because the wife was put in a nursing home and after six years was still in a coma. The kids went off the deep end too, and Gabby didn't want that to happen to her family. After three months Travis makes his decision . . . I can't spoil the ending for you all, you'll just have to read it.
I will say during the second part have some tissues handy it was a tear jerker. It does end well as all his books do, I closed the book feeling satisfied. (less)

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

3 comments

11/21/08

Becky rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in November, 2008

I have to be in a certain type of mood to read a Sparks book. A friend told me this was a good, but I get irritated with Sparks tendency to kill off his protagonists by the end.

The Choice is a great read (and thoughtful...who doesn't need to be reminded that we all need Living Wills.) I loved the Part One where Travis and Gabby "grow" in love. Part Two moves too quickly, but this might not be a bad thing. As a reader, I wanted more details, but admit this would have mud...more

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02/03/09

Lesli Spafford rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in January, 2009

This book wasn't one of my favorites, although it did have a happy ending which isn't that common with books written by Nicholas Sparks. I think the reason that I didn't love the book was because of the female character, Gabby. I thought she was rather dull and kind of bratty.
I was inspired by Travis Parker. I loved his zest for life, his commitment to family, friends and good health. He had a good head on his shoulders. He gave me a renewed appreciation for the simple things in life...espe...more

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11/30/08

Christina rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

bookshelves: 2008-bookstack, library-book

Read in April, 2008

White perusing Barnes & Noble for birthday book ideas I saw The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. I’ve read a couple of Sparks’ books and really enjoyed them, so I thought I’d give this one a shot. I keeping with my mom’s you-can-get-it-from-the-library mentality, I looked it up and checked it out.

The Choice reminded me a bit too much of The Notebook, also by Nicholas Sparks. To the point where I felt that Gabby telling Travis that it isn’t as simple as just telling Kevin that she i...more

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05/10/09

Jason_W. rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

bookshelves: 7th-grade-ir-book--rick-

The book the Choice is about a lady named Gabby who moves next door to Travis a guy who has three friends since kindergarden. All of them married Travis believes that if he too gets married then he will have his schedule provoked so he acts "neighborly" to Gabby. Helping her give birth to the puppies,(As a vet) inviting her to parties with his friends and his sister. Soon he becomes connected to Gabby and then they face troubles of all the personal problems as they find out more about ...more

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04/26/09

Sheri rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in April, 2009

Well, what a monumental waste of time and money!! It was insipid and anyone could have written it without being a bestselling author. The worst thing is that I paid full price for it at the airport and didn't even like it well enough to pass it on to anyone else to read. Why inflict more pain? I don't know that I'll ever read another one of his books again and if I do, rest assured, I'll get it at the library. The funny thing is that my other choice was a Grisham novel (another author who writ...more

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02/17/09

Sarah rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

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

I love a good romance and I really love the concept around which this book is based, that being the idea of choice. But, I just don't think Sparks executed a story about choice as well as it could be done. He spends too much time writing in roundabout terms in an attempt to keep the reader in suspense of what he's about to reveal about a character or situation, when the to-be-revealed reality is usually pretty obvious so it was all for naught. I think the intensely emotional challenges, strug...more

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05/30/09

Cherice rated it:

(review of isbn 0446618314)

bookshelves: nicholas-sparks

Read in June, 2009

I'm just gonna say it... I enjoy Nicholas Sparks! He has yet to disappoint me. I know some readers find his typical romance fluff to be, well, fluff - but when I pick up a Nicholas Sparks book that's exactly what I am looking for.
Are there any actual men out there like Travis? Um, probably not. However, it allows me to think there is and dream of being loved in that "fluffy" kind of way. (A girl can dream...)
I enjoyed the relationship between Travis and Gabby and understoo...more

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09/11/07

Christine rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Read in October, 2007

this was possibly my least favorite Nicholas sparks book. The plot was really unbelievable, even more so than any of the previous ones. I thought the ending was kind of unsurprising and really unbelievable. Not even the romance of the characters could save it, although there were a few scenes in the book that I did like, such as when the main characters went para sailing, and their pets :)

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04/22/09

Alyssa M rated it:

(review of isbn 0446579920)

Nicholas Sparks tells the life story of Travis and Gabby, and the decisions that they make together and apart. Gabby moves next door to Travis; the care free guy who has it all. She is currently very unhappy in a relationship with a guy who doesn't want to get married. Of course they meet and being to spend time together. As their life continues Gabby had to choose between her current relationship of 6 years, or the guy she just met. Fast forwarding down the road, now its Travis's turn howev...more

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