The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (4/5)

Nicholas Sparks' novel The Notebook tells the story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson's love. Two teens fall in love during a summer romance during the 1940s, but Allie's rich family does not approve of Noah and keeps them apart.  Allie goes off to college and works as a nurse where she meets a nice man who asks her out. They start dating and he eventually proposes. After the engagement, Allie reunites with Noah after a long time and he has never forgotten her. She rekindles their love despite being engaged to another man. The story is told from a narrator's perspective and the narrator is Noah during their present. He is telling their story to Allie who has developed an illness and can't remember. The book shows their unbreakable bond throughout all of the obstacles life has thrown at them. The story has a bittersweet ending but it ultimately shows their love from the die they met to the day they die. I think that the book was very personal and heartfelt; designed to make you feel something. It showed how difficult losing your first love can be while also showing that sometimes your first love could be the one you're meant to be with; no matter what. I believe that the way Sparks weaves in and out of the past and present makes their romance feel timeless. It gives it a sense of fate that they were meant to be together no matter the challenges. The ending gives a lasting impression and despite being sad, I believe that that was critical to making their love everlasting. So I think that the novel was overall a great book and a timeless romance novel. I would recommend this book to any future readers. To them, I would say be prepared for an emotional journey because it is more than just a love story. It is about relationship dynamics, memory loss, and the passage of time. It is a little tricky trying to keep up with when they are talking about the past and when they are talking about the present, but overall a fantastic book and I would recommend reading it if you are looking for a great love story.