I feel the need to preface this review by saying that I've only ever finished one other novel by Nicholas Sparks (A Walk to Remember), and I was thoroughly disappointed in it since I had seen the film first. I've never sat through any of the movies based on his novels either. (Again, A Walk to Remember being the only exception.) I've held this bias against Nicholas Sparks ever since. His stories are tear jerkers, and I don't like anything that makes me cry. His writing is too flowery, using pages of exposition when much, much less could do the job. And while my bias might still hold true (at least, in my opinion), I actually really enjoyed this novel.

Maybe it's because this is the only novel Sparks started out aiming at a younger audience, so he knew what plot points would be best to use. Maybe it's because the novel and the script were written concurrently, so the characters were well fleshed out and camera ready. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but the book just felt... more real than the other novels of his that I started reading and then put back on the shelf. There is an emphasis on religion as the novel progresses, but it isn't all that heavy handed, and it isn't really out of place, considering that one of Ronnie's father's closest friends is a pastor. The story itself was exactly what I expected it to be and nothing like what I expected all at the same time. Because Nicholas Sparks does have a bit of a formula for his story telling, it's easy to see what fits where in the story, but there are a few surprises he kept up his sleeve until near the end.

One of the parts of the Sparks formula is the romance. Ronnie is not exactly your typical city girl, heading from New York to North Carolina, but she dresses the part, she speaks her mind, she's had a few bouts of bad behavior, and she uses cynicism and sarcasm as a weapon. Will is a southern charmer who comes from money, works hard, tries to make the people around him happy, and constantly worries about doing the right thing. They aren't complete and utter opposites, but like a lot of the characters in the Sparks universe, they are from two different worlds and are on a collision course, pretty much literally, for each other. Their relationship is one that is interesting to watch progress. Ronnie can't stand Will on sight, although he is intrigued by her right away, but Ronnie changes her mind about him rather quickly, and they really click.

And while the romance is a big chunk of the story, it isn't exactly the main point of the novel. The relationship with Will helps Ronnie learn a few things, but it's the relationship with her father that helps her grow. The novel is told in alternating points of view. Ronnie gets her own chapters, as do her father, Will, and even Marcus, the town troublemaker. This makes the book more well-rounded, allowing the reader to see each of the relationships as they develop from everyone's point of view. There is, of course, amongst all of the love and relationships, the part of the story that will pull at your heartstrings, which is also incredibly realistic, compared to the few bits of his other novels that I've read. I never thought I would recommend a novel by the king of romantic dramas, but all of these bits and pieces work together so well that I have to. It's a good read, whether you are already a Nicholas Sparks fan or not. In fact, just because of this book, I might have to go back and try to check out a few of those books I never finished.

Review #2 by Jojo (Age 17, USA)

About the book:
Seventeen-year-old Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Millier’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York to Wilmington, North Carolina. Since then she has remained angry and alienated from her parents, until her mother decides she should spend the summer with her father.
Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town. He is immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centrepiece of a local church.
What unfolds is an unforgettable story about love – both first love and the love between parents and children – that demonstrates the many ways that relationships can break our hearts... and heal them.

My Opinion:
I’ve never read something from Nicholas Sparks before and I have to say, that the book was really good. I liked it. It’s a typical book about love and friendship and sometimes it’s may be a little bit foreseeable. But the writing is perfect. It was a very good book. Also the metamorphosis of the character of Ronnie, who at first hates her father, is very good. It’s wonderful writing.

Also for the German-readers (like myself): The English isn’t very difficult, for me, who can’t speak and understand English very well, it was easy to understand. I didn’t have too many problems.

And also for the people who check the book out after this and like it; there will be movie of ‘The Last Song’, starring Miley Cyrus. It’s currently slated for an April 2009 release. Going by the trailer, the film is very good and true to the book.