Nicholas Sparks: The Choice

Nicholas Sparks just released yet another romantic, heart-wrenching love story that takes place in North Carolina. It took me only about two hours to read it.

The Choice is about neighbors, Travis and Gabby, who of course are thrown into a whirlwind weekend and unexpectedly fall in love with each other. Gabby is a strong, independent Physician's Assistant who has just moved to the small town of Beaufort to be closer to her boyfriend of four years, Kevin. She is kind of the lone flower in her family, as her three sisters easily mimic their socialite mother, and she prefers to take after her laid-back businessman father. She tends to be a bit more traditional and has her life set up to easily accommodate a family, which seems to be a goal in the future that never comes any closer. She is somewhat lonely now that she lives in Beaufort, as her boyfriend lives at least twenty minutes away, and he lately has been wrapped up in his own world of insurance. She has no friends, and spends her days at work dealing with neurotic parents and being sexually harassed by one of the other doctors. Travis, on the other hand, has basically lived in the small North Carolina town his whole life. He is a veterinarian, taking over his father's practice, who spends his free time pursuing extreme sports. Unable to hold down a long-term relationship since high school, he usually flies solo at get-togethers with his life-long buddies, who are all married with children. His best friend is his sister, though he'd never admit it. He's extremely good-looking and has that charming personality to go with it.

They meet officially one night when Gabby is full of frustration at her life and charges over to Travis's house to misdirect her anger at him. He, of course, is intrigued by this fiery girl-next-door, and begins a gentle courtship, much to her protest.

If you are a Sparks fan, you can pretty much guess how events are going to unfold from this point forward.

I do appreciate how Sparks tries to throw you off-scent with his prologue. Because, of course there is some sort of a twist. All of these romantic books, both by Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson, follow this same formula.

When you reach the point of the plot twist, at Part Two, you will find yourself wondering how on earth they are going to resolve their issue. You can see how the story can go in either direction. You are hoping for one ending, but you won't be surprised to see the other ending, based on past experience with this author. And you find yourself wondering what you would do if you ever found yourself in that particular situation. If I weren't single, I'd be sitting down and having a long conversation with my man right now.

The inspiration for this story, though not mentioned anywhere, is completely obvious if you have followed news stories over the past few years. And this author obviously disagrees with the real-life outcome.

This is a good book, like I said, if you are a Nicholas Sparks fan. It's a good thing to read with your husband, if you are married, because it will elicit some very necessary conversation. It will probably bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye, but what's the point of reading a Sparks novel if not for that? If you have a thing for having hardcover novels and have the 40% off coupon (or a B&N membership that will get your 40% off), go ahead and purchase the hardcover edition. Otherwise, you can wait a year and it will be in trade paperback. If you don't reread Sparks novels, then just go to your local library. It's an easy read, but maybe not necessarily a "run right out and grab it" like in his earlier days.