Dear John is one of the saddest and most romantic books you will likely ever encounter. Perfectly written, this love story will break your heart.
Set in North Carolina and taking place over seven years, the story is about a mature and soon to be college student, Savannah, that meets a young Army soldier, John Tyree, home on leave. Just a few days after meeting, they fall madly in love with one another. The romance develops over the most romantic summer of their lives. Their relationship grows and confidence blossoms. He confides in her about his autistic father and she helps John understand him. Being raised solely by his father, he longs for a connection and affection.
Separated for what seems like an eternity, seeing each other only a few days at a time, they write each other love letters detailing their profound love for one another over the course of seven long years. Unfortunately, 9/11 transpires and John decides to re-enlist. While he is gone she falls in love with another man, and decides to tell him in a letter which begins with the infamous salutation, Dear John. When he reads the letter, his heart breaks and so will yours.
Written by renowned writer, Nicholas Sparks in 2006, this beautiful and touching love story will keep you captivated until the end. As many readers will testify, Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers.
Out of all of Sparks' novels, 8 have been made into film. Born and raised in North Carolina, he says that "The love story is one of the oldest and most explored genres in literature." The world couldn't agree with him more.
"I first read this book my freshman year in high school and even though it is a slightly unlikey story and the wording in most of the book is awkward, I liked how it ended. I had never read a book like it, so it wasn't that predictable or over-used. I guess what I really liked was that, in the end, they don't actually end up together. This was pretty sad, especially how the epilogue played out. But, I was pleased with how it ended, simply because it wasn't something you'd expect to see in a typical romance novel. It left you feeling sad, but hopeful."
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Alyssa (4 out of 5 stars)