Dear John

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

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 Savannah, the girl of his dreams. 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.

©2006 Nicholas Sparks. All Rights Reserved (P)2006 Hachette Audio. All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Romance, 2007

"[Dear John] brims with longing." (Publishers Weekly)
"Sparks, a perennially popular novelist whose name is synonymous with romance and bittersweet endings and whose work translates so readily to movies, lives up to his reputation with his latest novel, a tribute to courageous and self-sacrificing soldiers." (Booklist)

As always my favorite

I love Nicholas Sparks and he didn't let me down! Great book for us romance people. Ending wasn't what I expected but still loved the way it ended. Can't wait for his next!

book vs movie

My second Sparks and a different type of review. I saw the movie adaptation to this book circa 2011 and enjoyed it, even watched it twice. I told myself to remember the title of the movie and the author so I could watch it again sometime or maybe get the book. Of course, after a couple of months I forgot both. But the story stuck with me and from time to time I'd look for it thinking who wrote books set mostly in the Carolina's? I checked Pat Conroy and others but wasn't familiar enough with Sparks to make the connection until recently.

The book stayed fairly close to the movie, often you read the book then see the movie and are disappointed as the movie typically doesn't develop the characters as well. In this one, soldier is home in Wilmington, NC on leave and meets gal on the beach one day and it's love at first sight. But he's stationed in Germany then 9/11 happens and life gets in the way. It's a good story, a typical Sparks from what I can tell looking at his body of work.

If anything I liked the ending in the movie better than the book. Maybe I'd better go watch it again!

I can't explain how touching this story is...

This book broke my heart and yet made me believe in the power of love and what you're willing to give up for it.

Wonderful Book

I got engrossed in the characters and the story line and at the end I wanted them to get back together but they didn't very sad ending but a wonderful book

Storyline was sad to read

It's a shame that the two main characters loved each other, but had such a "timing" issue.

Kinda true to life

I really liked this book. Being from eastern NC and having had my own summer romance with a serviceman, this book really spoke to me. I really liked "John" and thought the twists in this book to be very true to how real life plays out.

make sure you get it

I was in love with his wriitng that I am going to get many of his books I can afford . You will not be disappointed with this one for sure.

Just listen for a second time

Just listen for a second time, and I still love it I think it was better the second time.

SAD

WHAT THE HECKKKK THIS IS TOO SAD I IWSH THE ENDING WAS THEM TOGETHER UGHHH

Cheesey and predictable

Typical Nicholas Sparks novel but I enjoyed the sappy romance. Not a lot of thinking required to enjoy.