• The Best of Me

  • By: Nicholas Sparks
  • Narrated by: Sean Pratt
  • Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,296 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Best of Me  By  cover art

The Best of Me

By: Nicholas Sparks
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.83

Buy for $21.83

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In this number one New York Times best-selling novel of first love and second chances, former high school sweethearts confront the painful truths of their past to build a promising future - together.

"Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen".

In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in their small town in North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, 25 years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back home for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined...and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew - about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear - was not as it seemed.

Forced to confront painful memories, the former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

©2011 Nicholas Sparks (P)2011 Hachette

Featured Article: 10 Outstanding Contemporary Fiction Authors for Fans of Nicholas Sparks


Nicholas Sparks is a bestselling and widely beloved author of contemporary fiction—23 novels and counting! His stories about complicated relationships, unexpected love, loss, sacrifice, and rediscovery are written in a descriptive, emotional, and earnest style. There’s no other author exactly like Sparks, but if you’ve already made your way through his catalog and you’re looking for more listens of similar appeal, here are 10 other fiction authors you might enjoy.

What listeners say about The Best of Me

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,838
  • 4 Stars
    934
  • 3 Stars
    366
  • 2 Stars
    96
  • 1 Stars
    62
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,558
  • 4 Stars
    794
  • 3 Stars
    256
  • 2 Stars
    53
  • 1 Stars
    39
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,445
  • 4 Stars
    729
  • 3 Stars
    362
  • 2 Stars
    100
  • 1 Stars
    69

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read

Absolutely loved this love story .. took my breath away..couldn’t wait for the next chapter..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best of me

I love Nicholas Sparks books and they get better and better with every new one. I can't wait for his new one to come out in October. I pre ordered it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great listen

loved it, didnt want it to end so soon. it was a surprise ending as well

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book but too sad

I enjoyed the book very much but hate sad endings like that.
Great author but I like it better when they end on a better note

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

He does it again

I loved this book! Spoiler… I just wish they ended up together. Clearly they were meant to!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Omg

Oh my goodness!!! I think this book was absolutely wonderful!!!! It was edge of my seat sweet and sultry!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Peace and Love Binds the Human Soul

Loved It! I listened to the whole novel in one day...Sparks did a masterful job of leading the listener through the characters' thoughts and actions...allowing you to predict outcomes but often the expected...would twist and create emotions that you didn't anticipate. The narration was perfect and this is well worth your time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this book.

Nicholas Sparks is an amazing author. I look forward to all his books. On to the next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

No headline

Great story line. Looked forward to listening during daily walk. Sad to see it end because the characters were a part of my day!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Best of All:

Would you consider the audio edition of The Best of Me to be better than the print version?

I love all audio books, helps me to do my hand work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The whole story took each character to a new level for me, and I loved them all.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the heart trans-plant was discovered.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was the first time that my husband had listen to an audio book and he loved it. He is not feel well so this was a big think for me, it did bring a tear to my eyes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!