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

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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Nov 20, 2011 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Really good book! Better than some of his more recent titles have been. The ending was dragged out a little, and I quickly guessed what was coming. It seems that it may have been intentional that the reader would figure it out. It was a very good read, as most of his titles are. The last paragraph was really well-phrased and brought tears to my eyes.

I would have given it four stars, but the ending ruined it for me. (view spoiler) ...more

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