Latest Read: The Lucky One

Here are the basics ...
Book: The Lucky One
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Site: http://nicholassparks.com/
Category: Fiction 

My thoughts ...

I should preface this review by saying that I am not a Nicholas Sparks fan.  But I used to be.  I remember reading The Notebook in high school and I just fell in love with it.  It was my favorite book for the longest time.  Reading about the kind of love that could somehow survive everything really appealed to me. Then I read Message In a Bottle and I didn't like it at all (the ending infuriated me).  I gave him another chance when I read A Walk to Remember and loved it.  Then I read two more of his books (I don't even remember the titles anymore) but the patterns in his books were so obvious (they take place in North Carolina and 95% of the time, someone dies).  I decided I wasn't going to read any more of his books.. EVER.  And I haven't until this book.  Only because my cousin's wife lent it to me and because I was curious after seeing the trailer for the movie (which features a very hot Zac Efron).  Anyway, here's what I thought ..

Short summary: After U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a picture of a woman during his tour in Iraq, he experiences a sudden streak of luck. His best friend's explanation? The photo be must his lucky charm.  Soon he can't get this woman he's never met out of his mind and sets out to meet her. When he does meet Elizabeth (in North Carolina), he never could've expected what happens next. 

The good:  Nicholas Sparks knows how to tug at your heartstrings and this was no exception.  Logan is the strong, silent type and a good man.  Elizabeth is a female character that you can relate to. I liked the way their story and relationship unfolded.  Plus Elizabeth's Nana is pretty great (she's one of the best things about the book).  Also the chapters are told from different point-of-views which I liked - Logan's, Elizabeth's, and .. 

The bad: Clayton's.  Notice how he's under "the bad"? I didn't really think he was necessary to the story - at all.  He was kind of just there for the added drama and I didn't think the book needed it.  He was creepy and I skimmed his chapters because I didn't like anything his character said or thought.  Most of time I was thinking - gosh, do people like him really exist? 

Do I recommend?:  It was okay.  Even though I enjoyed reading it, it's not a story I'll find myself thinking about tomorrow or a week from now.  But if you're a Nicholas Sparks fan, then you'll probably want to pick this one up but I just don't think his books are for me. 

Happy reading!