I’m a pretty big Nicholas Sparks fan, so this book seemed right up my alley. The first 70 pages were standard romance set up, but then that phone call changed everything. I knew that this book was going to be harder hitting than I thought and I couldn’t wait.
At a quick glance, the plot seems pretty standard: soldier returns to his small hometown with a less than happy welcome. But where this book really shines are the complex antagonists, the flawed protagonists, and the shades of grey that separate the choices they’re making. I appreciated that not one side was painted as the right one, and the characters involved were treated with dignity and respect because there truly isn’t a right side in the situation. I also appreciated how so many of the side characters were given such strong growth throughout the story. They had the potential to be caricatures, but the author made them all feel real and important to the plot.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this book and will be recommending it to my friends and family. The romance could have been a bit more compelling, but the family interactions were so compelling, so real, and so nuanced that I didn’t mind. If you’re looking for a family-driven, real romance, this book is for you!
At a quick glance, the plot seems pretty standard: soldier returns to his small hometown with a less than happy welcome. But where this book really shines are the complex antagonists, the flawed protagonists, and the shades of grey that separate the choices they’re making. I appreciated that not one side was painted as the right one, and the characters involved were treated with dignity and respect because there truly isn’t a right side in the situation. I also appreciated how so many of the side characters were given such strong growth throughout the story. They had the potential to be caricatures, but the author made them all feel real and important to the plot.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this book and will be recommending it to my friends and family. The romance could have been a bit more compelling, but the family interactions were so compelling, so real, and so nuanced that I didn’t mind. If you’re looking for a family-driven, real romance, this book is for you!