The Best Of Me By Nicholas Sparks

[amazon_link id=”0751553336″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’The Best Of Me’ is Nicholas Sparks latest book.

Amanda and Dawson were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks – with a passion that would change their lives for ever. But life would force them apart. Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and present are about to slip. Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again, and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

I’m not the biggest fan of Nicholas Sparks, the first book that I read by the American author was his last book, ‘The Longest Ride’ and didn’t particularly enjoy it. But having just finished ‘The Best Of Me’ my opinion of the author has changed.

The story is primarily seen through the perspective of the leading characters Dawson and Amanda, a teenage couple who fell in love. From opposite sides of the tracks, Dawson came from a family with a bad reputation and immediately Amanda’s family were opposed to the relationship, giving her an ultimatum that she is to choose her future, education or Dawson. But Dawson, being the gentleman that he is, he bows out of relationship giving her the opportunity to live her life to the max, but doing so, never gets over his first love, living a life of work and solitude. Meanwhile also for Amanda, she never recovered from the boy who got away, even though she is married with children, Dawson is constantly in her thoughts especially with her husband having a drinking problem and their little girl who passed away, she often thinks about what might have been. But when mutual friend Tuck passes away and requests that they both return home to take care of his business, the couple are giving a second chance to meet and ponder over lost times.

This story is beautifully romantic and heart aching in equal measures, as two people who are obviously still in love with each other, battle with emotions and morals. Unhappy with her marriage and her bitter relationship with her mother, Amanda confides in Dawson as he provides an unlikely shoulder for Amanda. As the days pass, they grow closer and reminisce on the times that they spent with their good friend Tuck, they are lead on an adventure as they take care of his final request.

I really enjoyed both characters of the book and found them relatable and thought they complimented each other wonderfully, Amanda with her outspokenness and Dawson’s quiet, brooding nature, the scenes with them made for tender reading. An interesting addition to the story, was even though it is mainly about Amanda and Dawson, there are couple of sub stories thrown in, that makes the story even more riveting with family bust-ups and upheavals. These scenes were short and snappy parts and often gave the story a sense of urgency and drama.

The story has an easy storyline that flows easily along and takes an unexpected twist that will leave the reader in bits. Another new author that I will have to look into at some point, Nicholas Sparks has written a beautifully romantic about love and heartbreak that will you reaching for the tissues as this tender story pulls at your heartstrings.

You can buy[amazon_link id=”0751553336″ target=”_blank” ]The Best Of Me: Film Tie In from Amazon [/amazon_link] and will be available to buy from good bookshops.