'The Longest Ride'

The Longest Ride
By Nicholas Sparks
Published: Sept. 17, 2013
Read: January 2014
Format: Hardcover

My Rating: B

“If we'd never met, I think I would have known my life wasn't complete. And I would have wandered the world in search of you, even if I didn't know who I was looking for.”

In this latest romance from Nicholas Sparks, we follow the journey of two couples. The story starts with Ira, a 91-year-old man trapped in a car after driving off the road in a snowstorm. He recounts his life with his beloved wife Ruth, who appears to him even though she died nine years. Then we go to Sophia and Luke, two young people who we watch fall in love through both of their viewpoints, told alternately.

This is a bit different for Nicholas Sparks, as most of his stories are told from one perspective. This book is told from three, and it's unclear as to how Ira and Ruth's story is even related to Sophia and Luke's until the end. Despite these differences though, this book is a classic Nicholas Sparks romance, with typical male and female characters and of course a North Carolina setting.

Fans of Sparks should like this tale, as it has two romance stories for the price of one. I quite enjoyed it, finishing it in just over a day. There were times when Ira's parts felt a little long and I was eager to get back to Sophia and Luke, but it was worth it to read his story, and I was glad I didn't skip over anything. Readers new to Sparks may find this a bit contrived or unrealistic, but I liked it.