Nicholas Sparks Books In Order and Best Books

Nicholas Sparks is one of the most American famous writers. He has sold more than 100 million books worldwide at last count.

Sparks is known for his romance novels and love stories, including “The Notebook” (No. 1 USA Today Bestseller), A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle (No. 1 New York Times Bestseller), Dear John, and many others.

In 1994, 28 years old Sparks wrote The Notebook, which was rejected many times before being published in 1996. And, it was a bestseller and later adapted into a movie in 2004.

Sparks is a Christian and writes about faith and love in many of his novels. He initially thought about joining the priesthood, but his love of writing won out.

Nicholas Sparks Best Books

Image	Product	Features	More Info
	1. The wish	4.8/5	More Info
	2. Safe Haven	4.8/5	More Info
	3. A Walk to Remember	4.8/5	More Info
	4. The Last Song	4.7/5	More Info
	5. The Guardian	4.7/5	More Info
	6. The Longest Ride	4.7/5	More Info
	7. The Notebook	4.6/5	More Info
	8. The Lucky One	4.6/5	More Info
	9. The Rescue	4.5/5	More Info
	10. Dear John	4.5/5	More Info

Nicholas Sparks Books In Order

Calhoun Family / Notebook Books

• The Notebook (1996)
• The Wedding (2003)

Jeremy Marsh & Lexie Darnell Books

• True Believer (2003)
• At First Sight (2004)

Standalone Novels

• Message in a Bottle (1998)
• A Walk to Remember (1999)
• The Rescue (2000)
• A Bend in the Road (2001)
• Nights in Rodanthe (2002)
• The Guardian (2003)
• Dear John (2006)
• The Choice (2007)
• The Lucky One (2008)
• The Last Song (2008)
• Safe Haven (2010)
• The Best of Me (2010)
• The Longest Ride (2012)
• See Me (2015)
• Two by Two (2016)
• Every Breath (2018)
• The Return (2020)
• The Wish (2021)

Non-Fiction Books

• Wokini (With: Billy Mills) (1990)
• Three Weeks with My Brother (With: Micah Sparks) (2004)

You May Also Like Authors:

• Richard Paul Evans
• Nicholas Evans
• Cecelia Ahern

Nicholas Sparks Book Reviews In Publication Order

1. The Notebook

 The notebook is a story about two young lovers who have been star-crossed since childhood. Their love takes them through many trials and heartbreaks but has to stand up to an evil person to be truly appreciated.

It all starts when a man narrates his story in a nursing home, reuniting with his childhood lover, Allie, after a 7-year separation due to the world war. Allie was shocked when she realized that Noah had been writing letters to her regularly and soon found out her mom was the one hiding the letters from her as she didn’t want it to interfere with her relationship with Lon, her fiance. 

With fragments of memories of her past due to her dementia, he writes romantic notes on notepads while asking the aides for an old photo album to help her remember and recall her memories, hoping one day she can fully remember Noah again.

 One of the aides, the novel’s narrator, finds out that he had once been madly in love with this girl and tries to jog his memory by showing him her photos.

Noah’s writing career finally gets recognized when his first book becomes a best-seller, and he moves to New York City to immerse himself fully into his work once again without any distractions. The story continues where Allie recognizes Noah occasionally.

The film adaptation is as good as the novel, one of the classic favorites.

2. Message in a bottle

Message in a Bottle is a novel written by Nicholas Sparks and published in 1998. 

The story follows the life of Garret Blake, who suffered from depression earlier in his life. He made a letter and sealed it in a bottle, hoping it would be seen from the shore as it’s the only way to express his love. Then, one day, Theresa discovers a message in a bottle on the shore. After reading the message, Theresa begins her adventure to learn more about the letter’s author, Garret, and save his current relationship to find everlasting love.

This story is the second novel by Nicholas Sparks, which tells the romance between these two people following a brief period.

3. A walk to remember

A novel written by Nicholas Sparks and published in 1999. It focuses on the love story of two teenagers: Jamie and Landon, over about 2 years in the early 1990s.

It is set in Beaufort, North Carolina. Jamie is the minister’s daughter at a local Presbyterian church, where Landon spends time while his friend, Will (who goes to Jamie’s school), attends football practice. A tragic accident causes them to grow closer together and eventually fall in love.

Comparing this book to Nicholas Sparks’ previous two installments, this one felt short. However, it’s still worth a read as it’s better than the film adaptation.

4. The rescue

The Rescue, written by Nicholas Sparks in October 2001, tells the story of a grief-stricken firefighter, Taylor McAden, who becomes wholly fixated on saving people from fires. 

Due to the nature of Taylor’s job, he couldn’t seem to fall in love until he met a single mother who was in an accident and her son suffering from multiple diseases. 

The main character could rescue the mother but failed to search for her son, who had gone missing. The story continues as their chemistry grows upon searching for her son.

5. A bend in the road

In the romance novel “A bend in the road” by Nicholas Sparks, Miles experiences tragedy when his wife dies from a car accident that he could not avoid 2 years ago. Knowing that his wife has gone through everything with him, it’s hard for him to find love again until he meets Sarah Andrews, his son’s teacher. Tentatively, Sarah and Miles reach out to each other. They soon fell in love.

The story was inspired by Sparks’s brother-in-law, Bob. A romantic storyline with a twist and heartwarming ending. Most stories end in a happy ending; this one, of course, can’t have a happy ending because a wife and mother have died. However, it does have a satisfying conclusion to it.

6. Nights in Rodanthe

Another one of Nicholas sparks’ romantic novels follows a  story about Adrienne Willis trying to recover from her divorce from her husband for another woman. She has decided that she can’t live in their house anymore, so she goes down to Rodanthe, where her best friend lives to work for a while and relax before she decides what to do with herself.  

This is only the beginning of another exciting journey filled with love and tears.

 The main character is faced with the possibility of finally finding their love with another guest, Paul Flanner. The story is filled with how love can conquer all, even death.

Nights in Rodanthe was popular during the year it was released. The film adaptation of the novel stars actors such as Jennifer Tear and Dennis Quaid. The movie came out on September 26, 2008, and quickly became a fan favorite because it reminds us all of what our first loves felt like.

Nights in Rodanthe tells a classic story about romance, loss, family values, and strength.

7. The Guardian

The novel ‘The guardian’ was published in 2003 by author Nicholas Sparks.

The Guardian tells the story of a widow who finds love again after her husband dies in Iraq. Then she discovers some secrets about her husband’s past.

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks is a novel that the movie with the same title was based on. It takes a significant turn on a romantic novel to a toxic, poisonous relationship between multiple people that she is seeing.

 But what makes this book stand out from the rest of Nicholas Sparks’ books isn’t a happy ending or a tragic death or anything like that. Instead, it comes with unexpected endings with lots of twists. In The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks, two people learn that sometimes it’s more important who you loved rather than how much you loved them.

8. The wedding

The wedding written by Nicholas Sparks is a sequel to the successful novel ‘the notebook’.

Wilson Lewis, the successful estate attorney, and husband of Jane, is trying desperately to figure out how to save his marriage.

Allie and Noah Calhoun’s relationship is excellent from the first book; they are still in love after over forty years together and thriving despite the odds against them. However, Wilson doesn’t like his and Jane’s relationship compared with Allie and Noah’s. He tries several times when alone with Jane to tell her that he’s sorry for the past two years when their marriage has deteriorated but always fails.

When their relationship is rocky, Jane says she wants a divorce rather than work on their marriage. Wilson can’t say that he loves her and tells himself that he has been pretending to be someone else, someone like Allie and Noah, who has been successful with his marriage for the last two years.

While on a business trip in New Orleans, Wilson meets a woman named Amanda; they go out several times but nothing more than kissing or touching her. He finds himself wanting to call her and continue their relationship but is reminded of his failure the last time he tried to cheat on his wife. 

He meets Amanda just before returning home to Jane and tells her that he’s married and has a successful marriage and family of two children, which she finds hard to believe, yet he finds it hard saying that when he successfully says it.

The story continues with Wilson struggling to fix his marriage, a fantastic story to read, especially if you are a fan of the first book (The notebook)

9. Three weeks with my brother

  ‘Three weeks with my brother’ is a book written by Nicholas Sparks and published in 2003. I read this book recently, and it has been one of the best books that I have ever read. However, it came as one of the most heartbreaking books with some parts that kept me on edge.

The first part is an invitation to Micah, Sparks’ older brother. His parents were killed in a car accident, and he was the only survivor. Sparks promised his brother that they would always be together at age twenty-one because he had lost both parents at such a young age. 

However, after years apart due to their busy lives, it seemed unlikely, but Sparks still wanted him to come along for his trip so they could spend more time together before they were gone from each other forever.

At first, thought that this book wouldn’t be one of my books because the original cover wasn’t good. But after reading the first couple of lines, I was already interested to know why all these things happened in his life and what was going on. 

The author skillfully tells about all the bad things that happen at once, making you want to read. It had a lot of interesting facts; for example, I never knew that Alaska had more than three hundred islands.

I hate how it ended, though, as Sparks gave too much detail on some parts, such as describing how he felt when he met his brother again after twenty years and all those other times during their trip together.

Three Weeks with my Brother reminds us to embrace life with all its uncertainties, and most of all, to cherish the joyful times, both small and meaningful, and the wonderful people who make them possible.

10. True believer

‘True believer’ is another one of the romantic novels, written by Nicholas sparks, published in December 2005. The difference between this book and his classics is that it’s based on primarily fictional stories and characters, mainly skewering away from his actual life experience and inspirations.

The book starts with Jeremy Marsh packing up his things to get on the road to reach Boone creek, where strange lights are seen in the cemetery. This catches Jeremy’s attention, and he feels that he must investigate this phenomenon for himself, alongside finding out the truth about what happened to Lexie Darnell’s mother when she was just a child.

The story leaves off on an optimistic note for Jeremy and Lexie. Still, all in all, it is not confirmed whether or not they ended up getting married due to Nicholas leaving the readers guessing, so there is no solid evidence supporting any potential future together.

In terms of theme, the book is about loss, grief, reconciliation, and second chances at love after tragedy.

11. At First Sight

At First, Sight continues the story of Lexie and Jeremy from True Believer.

Jeremy Marsh has just gotten engaged to the love of his life, Lexie Darnell. However, Jeremy’s path to true love is not so easy. Just as they are planning their wedding and excitedly expecting a baby, a mysterious email from a psychic warning him that he should never have gotten involved with her shakes Jeremy.

 He has been in this small town before when he looked for proof of ghosts and married Lexie. But now, he fears there may be something sinister going on beneath the idyllic façade that Boone Creek presents.

After initial trepidation, Jeremy goes back to investigate further into what could end up as a story that would destroy both of them as their relationship is also at stake.

You do not need to read the first book to understand the sequel; although it is more enjoyable to read both books, which gives more depth into the character and history, it is unnecessary to complete the first one.

12. Dear John

“Dear John” is a novel written by Nicholas Sparks and published in 2006. It was later adapted to film in 2010.

The romantic novel tells the story of John and Savannah and how their relationship was rocky up until Savannah wrote a letter to her beloved, reconnecting his passion and doing whatever it takes to be with her. Another classic love-type story if you love romance novels. 

Entertainment Weekly gave “dear john” a positive review as they named it Entertainment Weekly’s 25 best romantic novels.

It is a delightful love story that kept most people hooked to watch the movie after finishing the book. It is one of the best to see characters come to life.

13. The Choice

‘The Choice’ is the love story of Travis Parker and Gabby Holland in their postgraduate days in North Carolina.

Travis Parker is more than satisfied with his laid-back life. A waterfront home, a rotation of great friends, and his dream job. If nothing changes, Travis would be more than happy. But when feisty new neighbor Gabby Holland moves in next door, Travis is stumped for why she’s so guarded around him. Unfortunately, Gabby soon later suffers an accident which leaves massive injuries which Travis has to make the biggest choice of his life.

‘The choice’ ultimately confronts the theme of this story of how far you would go to keep the hope of love alive.

There’s one negative review most people hate about this story: Gabby, who turns out to be surprisingly more annoying than she should be. Not only being absent-minded but also obsessively mentioning her boyfriend on multiple occasions. Out of all of Nicholas sparks’ books, this relationship seems unrealistic.

14. The lucky one

The lucky one is a novel by Nicholas Sparks that tells the story of Logan Thibault. 

However, the story starts from the perspective of a police officer having to meet this man Logan. 

When the story switches to Logan’s perspective, he finds a picture of a woman in Iraq during his tour of duty. Hesitant to dump it away, he keeps it constantly with him. Then, out of nowhere, his life changes as he has been the luckiest, even escaping death. Wondering what this picture meant, he met this girl Elizabeth that he is eager to meet.

It is a beautiful story between Elizabeth and logan with a heart whelming story and even a likable character Zeus, his pet dog. This is a book worth re-reading

15. The last song

Nicholas Sparks’ novel “The Last Song” is a beautiful love story about rekindling family ties and finding yourself. It’s a story about a girl who faces many emotional problems after knowing her parents’ separation.

 Seventeen-year-old Ronnie Miller has not seen her father for three years since her parents divorced. She finds out from one of his letters that he lives in North Carolina. Ronnie is sent to go live with him. She goes with her brother, who is very excited about the trip.

This book is about finding yourself and finding love, all while doing so in beautiful North Carolina. The narrator of this novel is Ronnie’s father, which adds more depth to the story since he gives us insight into his perspective on everything that happens during this summer/ the last song of his daughter’s childhood.

‘The Last Song’ by Nicholas Sparks was an incredible read that deals with many different topics, including trust and family troubles. It contains things that people go through every day but ties them into a sweet, simple story that almost anyone can relate to. A unique genre of novel skewering away from the classic couple love tells that love between parents and children can be demonstrated in many ways.

Also, if you are a fan of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, the legendary couple, you can check out their film adaptation.

16. Safe Haven

This novel is about a woman named Katie who has fled her home in fear for her life.

She arrives at the coastal North Carolina town of Southport, where she meets Jo, a pretty young school teacher, and Alex, a single father to two children.

The novel follows their story as Katie tries to continue living her life after leaving Boston while being chased by the people with specific intentions. Bouncing between two people, she has to choose between true love with a dangerous, risky relationship or comfortable and convenient.    

This novel has many twists and turns, mystery, and amazing surprises while still retaining its romantic factor.

17. The best of me

When I finished this book, my first thought was, what a page-turner, and I couldn’t read fast enough to see how it finished.

Dawson and Amanda fell for each other and into love ever since high school from a small town. However, after some unpredictable events, the young couple slowly diverges away. Now, 25 years later, they reunite at Tuck’s funeral catching up on what’s left out. They both recall various memories ranging from traumatic to pleasant to impressive, showing mixed feelings on both of them.

I felt the novel was compelling from start to finish, with deep emotional feelings of sadness while reading. This love story spans 25 years and shows the changes in relationships over this period. Nicholas Sparks does not disappoint with his description of characters and their actions, making them feel real. He makes you care deeply for some while wanting the pain to be inflicted on others – even though they are fictional people!

The insight into the culture of small American towns with values so different from my own makes me appreciate both more.

18. The longest ride

Nicholas Sparks’ novel “The longest ride” is for you if you are an avid reader or novel enthusiast. Told from two different perspectives (Sophia Danko and Ira Levinson), this novel takes the reader through a journey of enduring love.

Ira Levinson, a 91-year-old widower in terrible health, came across a car crash and is about to give up on life but was reminded of the memories of his wife Ruth, who died 9 years ago.

Meanwhile, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school.

Two very different couples’ stories play out their individual stories with unexpected circumstances. It tells the audience that difficult situations can yield extraordinary journeys.

For me, I prefer Sophia and Luke’s relationship more than Ira and Ruth’s.

19. See me

In See Me, Maria Sanchez is a first-generation American daughter of Mexican immigrants eager to use her successful law career to transcend traumatic memories.

Having narrowly escaped mistakes that plagued his younger years, Colin Hancock also feels he has something to prove, throwing his energy and passion towards studying to be a teacher. The last thing Maria or Colin get is ghetto into a relationship together.

See me teaches us a lesson in a real-life crisis or troubling situation. Love can be a threat and burden, which then brings you down.

To be completely honest, out of all of Nicholas sparks’ books, this is one of his creations that is pretty complicated. People are having a hard time reading and understanding the story; looking at most reviews online, many of them agree with me too. I wouldn’t recommend reading this unless you have much free time.

20. Two by Two

Two by two is a story about how life and relationships follow patterns and change, the only constant in life. 

The protagonist, Russell Green, feels overwhelmed by his life after his wife walks out on him and their six-year-old daughter. Russ’ whole world has been turned upside down as he tries to make sense of what happened while also taking care of London. She can feel her father’s pain but doesn’t truly understand what it means other than that she does not want to go back to live with mommy.

 At first glance, Russ seems like your typical successful ad executive: good-looking and well respected in his professional field, owns a big house, and drives an expensive car. However, we see that he lacks emotional depth and lacks a genuine connection with his daughter when we look closer. 

Russ is an observer of life, and every event and encounter he has seems to be just a moment for him to analyze and wonder why it happened or what that means. Despite being a solid character, he fails to connect with those around him and can be perceived as cold and distant.

21. Every breath

The story was set in North Carolina, and it revolves around a girl, Hope Anderson. She’s been dating an orthopedic surgeon for six years. Still, her father was recently diagnosed with ALS, and she used this opportunity to take a break from her relationship and visit her family cottage in Sunset Beach, NC. She met another guy, someone who was willing to help her out when he found out about the problems. And they eventually fell in love with each other.

The next thing you know is they were already starting a new life together (since he asked her hand in marriage). But suddenly, their happily ever after turned into something that was not what they expected because his biological father finally appeared and made him decide between them or leave both of them forever.

However, this is not based on a true story for most Nicholas Sparks readers, primarily fictional.

22. The return

“The Return” by Nicholas Sparks is a novel that tells the story of an injured Navy doctor — and two women whose secrets will change the course of his life.

After a devastating mortal blast outside the hospital where Trevor Benson worked as an orthopedic surgeon following extensive injuries, he retreated to his grandfather’s cabin to settle down. There, Trevor met an irresistible woman, Natalie Masterson, with whom he started a connection. Further complicating his stay in New Bern is the presence of a sullen teenage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road from his grandfather’s cabin.

In juggling between these 2 women, Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness and that in life, to move forward, we must often return to the place where it all began.

23. The wish

The latest installment of Nicholas Sparks’ ‘The wish’ is coming to us, published just recently in September 2021.

This book is an emotional journey with the characters, Mags and Bryce. It started when she was just 16 years old being sent away to live with her aunt in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Her life wasn’t made any more accessible with the sudden change of environment after moving from San Francisco. Still, little by little, she begins to love everything about it, especially meeting Bryce. He taught her so much about the place and how to love it.

This book is filled with many backstories that will break your heart, very emotional, and likable characters.

Nicholas Sparks talks about his ‘The Return’

References:

• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2345.Nicholas_Sparks
• https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/sparks-nicholas-1965
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Sparks
• https://nicholassparks.com/