Name: Lacy W's review of The choice by Nicholas Sparks
Item: The choice
Rating: 3
Author: Lacy W

Nicholas Sparks

"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 heart wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?"--Publisher's web site.

The choice

Daisy (Bella Rose) (2SistersAndTheirBooks)

Lacy W

Okay, so I read this book back in highschool when I was on a Nicholas Sparks kick. I kid you not, I read everything by him. I think now I only have a few books of his that I haven't read. Luckily he writes slower and doesn't release a new book every year like another one of my favorite authors. (I'm looking at you, Danielle Steel. Nothing but love. Keep being fabulous!)

Anyway, I remember the first time reading this book. I remembered how much I loved it. I think I had just finished  The Notebook  so I was loving anything sappy and lovey. And I needed a happy ending. So many of Nicholas Sparks books have such horrid sad endings. There were times where I had to stop reading because I couldn't see through the tears.

But now all I feel is disappointment. Sure the book was good but it was set up so weird. It starts in the past, with Gabby and Travis. Gabby is new to the neighborhood and she meets her neighbor, Travis who considered bachelorhood a job. Instalove ensues, even though she has a boyfriend of 4 years. (Thanks for the term, Goodreads.) 

Then it goes to the present, with (view spoiler)[ Gabby in a coma from a car accident  (hide spoiler)] Travis goes back and forth from the past to the present, talking about Gabby and the live they had led. And, in typical Nicholas Sparks fashion, just when you think it's going to be a sad ending like  Dear John , he pulls a happy ending out with five or so pages left to spare. 

Now don't get me wrong. I love books that go from past to present to past again.  Granny Dan  by Danielle Steel is a good example of that being done wonderfully. But, I don't know. It felt stilted in this particular book. I felt like I barely got to know Travis and Gabby before I was whisked to the present. I didn't get a chance to approve or disapprove of their relationship. I didn't get a chance to see how they grow as a couple or witness the fights they have.

It was also sooooooo slow when it gets to the part where (view spoiler)[ Gabby is in a coma  (hide spoiler)]. I mean, it was agonizingly slow. I knew what was going to happen because I had read the book before but I still felt the annoyance of waiting to get there. I just felt frustrated. It was just like get on with it already, ya know? I don't know how I missed that when I was younger. Maybe my taste and pickiness of books have grown since then.

Overall, it wasn't a terrible book. It had it's moments where it was really good and I was happy. But it just felt incredibly stilted after a while. And there was so much dialogue. I love dialogue and all but it felt like it was 60% of the book, while in the past. I have a lot more complaints about this book but I already feel like I have ragged on it enough so if you are looking to get into Nicholas Sparks, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Sara Hakkoum

I truly did enjoy it, even though it was very predictable.
It's a typical Nicholas Sparks book.
Honestly, I think the whole coma thing was a bit too rushed. Lately, all the books I've been reading have contained random twists just to make the story more interesting, and this is one of them. When I reached the second part of the book, I felt like everything I read in the first part was forgotten. I couldn't really connect the two parts together.
It just didn't feel like one whole story. It was like I couldn't empathize with Part Two Travis because it didn't feel like he was Part One Travis. The emotions were vivid enough to keep me entertained, though.
It was an alright read, I guess, but definitely nothing special.

Daisy (Bella Rose) (2SistersAndTheirBooks) &
The choice by Nicholas Sparks

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Daisy (Bella Rose) (2SistersAndTheirBooks) &The choice by Nicholas Sparks

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Daisy (Bella Rose) (2SistersAndTheirBooks) &
The choice by Nicholas Sparks