Book Review: Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Goodreads Synopsis: Thrown to the waves, and to fate, the bottle could have ended up anywhere. Instead, it is found just three weeks after it begins its journey. Theresa Osborne, divorced and the mother of a twelve-year-old son, discovers it during a seaside vacation from her job as a Boston newspaper columnist. Inside is a letter that opens with, "My Dearest Catherine, I miss you my darling, as I always do, but today is particularly hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together." For Garrett, the message is the only way he knows to express his undying love for a woman he has lost. For Theresa, wary of romance since her husband shattered her trust, the message raises questions that intrigue her. Challenged by the mystery, and driven to find Garrett by emotions she does not fully understand, Theresa begins a search that takes her to a sunlit coastal town and an unexpected confrontation. Brought together either by chance or something more powerful, Theresa and Garrett's lives come together in a tale that resonates with our deepest hopes for finding everlasting love. Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity, Message in a Bottle takes readers on a hunt for the truth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love. For those who cherished The Notebook and readers waiting to discover the magic of Nicholas Sparks's storytelling, here is an achingly lovely novel of happenstance, desire, and the choices that matter most.

Rate(1-10): 6

There had always been something about Nicholas Sparks that made me want to read more and more of his works. Only now do I realize that it was the idealism of each and every one of his books. Isn't he the author of white people almost kissing? It wasn't until the end of the book that I'd remembered he was the author of making his characters die. Ha-ha, well played, Nicholas Sparks. I didn't cry bc it wasn't sad. Or maybe I just don't have a heart.

Sparks goes to two possible extremes in a romance novel-- he writes about idealized love and he writes about tragedy and death. There's a lot of sex, too. Honestly, loving someone isn't supposed to be as painful as he describes it.

It's so painfully idealistic like no it doesn't happen like that irl and Theresa is literally so stupid sometimes I honestly cannot I don't even know what to say

I had chosen to pick up this book in my halfhearted effort to find something action-packed. I don't know why I settled for Nicholas Sparks, but since I did, I guess I was kind of obligated to finish the book.

I didn't like it that much. It was just too... much, I guess. It kept me turning page after page because I had seen some more realistic, therefore relatable, elements of Theresa and Garrett's relationship.

I can see why some people say this book is really good, but I'm still suffering from Gone Girl withdrawals. Who can write better than Gillian Flynn? (?!!?!!?) I guess you just have to be in the mood for something, and Sparks just isn't what I need at the moment. I just need some good, violent sci-fi.