The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Book Review

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks Book Synopsis

Travis has the life any bachelor would surely desire. He's got a good job, even better friends, and owns his own home with a beautiful boat. Throw in a boat and a couple of hot dates and he's set. That is until he finally meets his neighbor Gabby one fateful summer night. From the moment Gabby crashes through his hedges and into his life, Travis is never the same.

Their love grows quickly and blossoms fully over the course of a unforgettable weekend. But Gabby must make a choice. She is dating Kevin and hoping for a marriage proposal. She is torn between two worlds - the one her mother would have chosen for her with a financially stable, dependable husband or the one that Travis offers which is full of excitement, wonder, and life.

However, the real choice doesn't come until the end of the book and it's a choice Travis must make that will impact the lives of all those he loves.

QUEENIE D SAYS

I'm going to shock the masses right off the bat by saying I'm not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. I read The Notebook and A Walk to Remember and honestly liked the movie version of both better. That's usually not a good sign.

I appreciate the fact that Nicholas Sparks books are all about love and deep emotions and commitment. Not many men follow that train of thought. But it's all just too cliche for me. In The Choice it was no surprise to me what Gabby would "choose" to do and quite frankly it was a little too reminiscent of Allie and Noah in Notebook. On top of that I thought the novel spent an awfully long time going anywhere. How long can you spend on the pregnant dog/meeting new neighbor/finding each other attractive story? Apparently a few chapters.

So, what did I like about this book? It was heartfelt. I shed a tear towards the end with Travis was grappling with the choice he had to make. I thought Stephanie was a fabulous character. As a matter of fact, I would absolutely love to read her story! Sparks is definitely a talented writer and I'd be thrilled to read something by him that is about a strong, confident female character instead of a love story. The final thing I enjoyed was the ending. Maybe a little too fairy-tale "ish" but still it was what I wanted to read.

I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend if they asked for a Sparks novel. For a book club? The living will discussion will be interesting.

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks Discussion Questions

1. Do you find Gabby an annoying character or a likeable one?
2. How realistic is the love affair between Gabby and Travis?
3. Does Travis make the right choice? Why or why not?

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