The Best Of Me: Film Tie In in Nicholas Sparks Novels

Feb 01, 2012 Heather rated it liked it · review of another edition

SPOILERS!!!

I have read all of Nicholas Sparks' books and love them all until this one. It captivated me from the beginning but I felt the story was too close to that of The Notebook. Two main characters from different sides of town with one set of parents who didn't approve. And in the end they didn't even stay together. I hated that Dawson died even if he did save Alan in the bar and save Jared's life with the transplant. I hated the fact that Amanda stayed with Frank when clearly if he hadn't ...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Ashlee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed this book, but I think his last book "Safe Haven" is still my favorite to date. This book was good, although it did have a slow start for me. I kept imagining Amanda Seyfried as the main character of Amanda, because she played Savannah in Dear John, for one...and for two, the characters just reminded me of each other. (The older Savannah at the end of "Dear John" not the young one). I like that Nicholas Sparks is beginning to incorporate dangerous scenarios into his writing for a bit o I enjoyed this book, but I think his last book "Safe Haven" is still my favorite to date. This book was good, although it did have a slow start for me. I kept imagining Amanda Seyfried as the main character of Amanda, because she played Savannah in Dear John, for one...and for two, the characters just reminded me of each other. (The older Savannah at the end of "Dear John" not the young one). I like that Nicholas Sparks is beginning to incorporate dangerous scenarios into his writing for a bit of a twist. Such as in Safe Haven with the abusive ex husband who dies in the end, and in this book with Dawson Cole and his cousins hunting him down to kill him. I love suspense and romance, so the fact that Sparks made this book with both in mind made it a good read for me. I only need to read two more books this year (Three Weeks With My Brother, True Believer) and then I can say I've read all of his books. The only things I didn't care about this book were how similar they are to other books. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his writing pattern...but he could change things up. In "A Bend in the Road" there is a hit and run element which the book is based around...and in "The Best Of Me" Dawson accidentally hits and kills someone (a jogger, just like ABITR) and I just thought he could have been a bit more original. Change it up a bit, you know? Or how this book had a very similar scenario as The Notebook. (not sure if he was trying to do that because consequentially this is the Notebooks 15th anniversary year) but you have a married woman who cheats on her husband for an old love...and in the notebook you had an engaged woman cheat on her fiance for an old love. See the similarity? Aside from a few little quirks like that (can't remember all of them right now because I'm sitting here writing this review weeks after reading the book) but I remember as I was reading it, I thought to myself "Huh..this reminds me of his book ____". All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book to friends. Excited to see what Sparks comes out with next. I especially enjoy his young-love stories and since his last two books have been in the late 20's-early 40's age, hopefully he'll write a young story next! :) ...more

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