[Book Review] The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Choice 

Author: Nicholas Sparks 

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, 

Pages: 272 (Hardcover)

Released: September 24, 2007 

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 

Targeted Audience: Women 

How I Heard About It: Nicholas Sparks novel turned movie that has Tom Welling in it. Of course, I’m going to read it.

Summary (from Goodreads): 

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive? 

In honor of The Choice DVD release today, I’m doing a book review for the first time in almost two years. Hopefully this is the first of many because I’ve missed blogging a lot. 

One of the main reasons I picked up the book was because I knew Tom Welling was going to be in the movie adaptation. I’ve read a handful of Nicholas Sparks books so I knew enough about the way he tells a story to know I was going to enjoy the book. 

The book caught my attention right away. I love when a book starts off at one point and then the rest of the book is a lead up to figure out how the characters got to that point.

I had a little trouble at first believing the romance because a big portion of the book takes place in such a short time, but that’s more of a personal preference. I tend to like the slow burn, but this novel brought up a great point in showing how fast falling in love with someone could be. 

As for the characters themselves, the strong characters are what sold the book for me. Nicholas Sparks did a very good job of creating different characters with different personalities that bounced around nicely with each other. From Travis’s relationship with his sister to the relationship he has with 

From puppies to bantering relationships, I could not put this book down! A nice quick read if you’re looking for a book that will make you feel good (and cry depending on how easy that comes). 

How It Compares To The Movie: There was so many differences between the book and the movie, but I didn’t find myself minding them. Tom Welling’s character was way more important in the movie than he was in the book. A win in my opinion. There was an added storyline with Travis’s dad that was not in the book and I really enjoyed in the movie. 

4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE CHOICE BY NICHOLAS SPARKS 

MOVIE TRAILER: