The Best of Me

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

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

Loved this book!!!

I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie. I'm so glad I listened to it, Sean did an excellent job at brining this story to live! great voice and super easy to get lost in :)

So bittersweet.

Amazing story both sad & sweet!
Such a beautiful love story!!
Definitely worth reading!
The narrator was really good as well!!

Homerun.......as usual

As usual, the story grabs slowly, but surely. We get to know each character, and after having read all of Nicholas Spark's book, I was sure there was going to be a surprise, and I wasn't disappointed. Fantastic book. Had me in tears in places....as usual.

I don't think I could ever go wrong listening or reading one of his books. Great book, and worth the time to listen.

Sweet and sad

If you enjoy love stories Nicholas Sparks can pull at your heart strings with his charming Southern style . Can't wait for the next one.

I liked it...

What did you love best about The Best of Me?

A very different story, excitment and a love story that could happen to many of us.

The best Nicholas Sparks book ever!

I love all of Nicholas Sparks books and each time I read one I think it's his best but this one is truly the best of the best. The reader is perfect and in the highly emotionally charged parts of this book his narration is so moving, you can believe this story is happening to him.
Most people would say this is a book made for women but if men would read it they might learn something about women. I would welcome hearing more of Sean Pratt's reading other N. Sparks books.
Keep writing such beautiful stories Nicholas!

somewhat predictable

it was good. easy to see the writing on the wall. the ending fit the story even if it wasn't what I wanted.

Great book

What a great book. Very well read. Many stories incorporated throughout this story which kept it interesting.

better than the movie

I was hesitant to listen to this book because have seen the movie years back. well narrated and read as well as written.

the best of me

was a wonderful book to listen to or read. I could not turn off. It had an ending I was not expecting. I would pass this on to anyone.