There is no other word to describe this book than beautiful. Everything in it just shines with a bittersweet glow.
Before I start to get in depth on my review, I wanted to share an important tip while reading this novel. Do not read it in public. Yes, I know you want to, but trust me, it's a horrible idea. Because, no matter what your expectations are, you will read it all in a few sittings and before you know it, you will be in tears. I decided to read the last thirty pages in school and could not contain my emotions.
This book was my first Nicholas Sparks novel, which is surprising due to my love of romance novels. I kept believing he was overhyped and not good, until I actually read this. This is one of the rare occasions that I like an overhyped thing. I honestly became an Nicholas Sparks fan and hopefully I won't be proven right about my theory of the overhyped.
The plot of the story was not really a big thing. It felt like someone was slowly explaining to you there young adult life. In the beginning and final chapter it was Landon speaking in present day, showing how time moved on.
The characters felt realistic-well,all except Jamie. Jamie felt like hope. It gave the reader a different look on humanity and hope for the good in humans. Jamie's character made me feel the reality that bad things still happen to the good people. It's a sad fact of reality that Sparks shows us.
Landon and Jamie's relationship was perfect. The whole thing felt real, unlike other book's romances.
Most importantly I liked the story's many themes. The fact that God and his many wonders are so openly portrayed, was a thing I found enjoyable in this novel. I also found the innocence of Landon and Jamie's relationship to be comforting. The biggest thing I admired was the message said in the beginning of the story that states, "I relive that year often in my mind, bringing it back to life, and I realize when I do I always feel a strange combination of sadness and joy. There a moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have a feeling that if I did,the joy would be gone as well."