The Best of Me

November 21, 2011
Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole are from opposite sides of the tracks: she's a well-to-do girl with the world at her fingertips; he's from the feared family of sleazy, violent neighborhood thugs. Cut from different cloth than his clan, Dawson breaks free to live in the garage of an old mechanic deep in the woods. Soon Amanda and Dawson cross paths and find themselves smitten, certain they will see happily-ever-after. With the lovers torn apart by circumstance, Sparks (The Notebook) develops a charming story where each scene unwinds as if in slow-motion and the emotions of each moment garner maximum impact. Reunited after decades apart, the lovers' passion remains evident, and they struggle with whether to finally give in to their love or continue their current lives without each other. Despite an obvious ending, the love is so heartwarming that it doesn't seem to matter. Sparks's ability to capture the truths of this affair makes the story both heartfelt and heartbreaking. It's quite possibly his best work in years.

May 15, 2011

They were high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the track whose paths diverged. They meet again, decades later, when both return home for the funeral of a beloved mentor. Now what? Sparks fans know the answer and will read this book to find it. Buy multiples.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.