Review - Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb From Goodreads

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

My Review

John is our main character and the stories starts with him recapping his life. Briefly visiting his childhood, school and bumming around after and what leads to his decision to make something of his life and get out of town. Upon one of his visits home after leave he meets Savannah and there starts a love story which has to face the test of time, long distance and the effects of war.

It is quite a slow moving story and we follow Johns relationship with his father, Savannah and his journey as he grows and learns things about himself and father that he never knew before. His love with Savannah is very quick and intense and we see the results of how war and distance can strain a young and blooming love and the aftermath of it all.

Despite it being quite slow it really is a well written story and although there isn't any huge surprises (there is one near the end though) it keeps your attention. I did find myself questioning how quickly they fell for each other and the depth of the feelings so quickly but it is still a nice read. I also enjoyed the relationship with his dad and how it grew and he learned to respect and understand him. It isn't just a love story, it is following a young and troubled young boy to becoming a man, through his career and the issues it brings and also finding his inner self and the person he becomes. It is quite a journey and I enjoyed reading it. This was my first time reading this author and would certainly read him again, 4/5 for me this time.

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