Book Reviews of Dear John

What makes "Dear John" so compelling is that from the beginning, the reader pretty much knows how it will end - well almost! Even so, I was propelled along, hoping for a different outcome or an unexpected twist. We got that twist, and although it wasn't particularly comfortable, it was totally in keeping with Sparks' understanding of what real love is.

John Tyree was raised by his father, a coin collector who seemed so obsessed by his coins that he couldn't talk about anything else. He was a typical teenage rebel: drinking, fighting, hanging out with a group of like-minded friends. Not enough ambition between them to even get a decent job. One day, realizing that he wasn't happy with a life that was going nowhere, he joined the Army and changed both his attitude and his outlook.

Home on leave, he meets Savannah Lynn Curtis, a college student visiting the area with a group working for Habitat for Humanity. They spend as much time as possible together and quickly fall in love. But they both have other commitments. College for her, the Army life in Germany for him. They write, they call, they e-mail, but its not enough to keep her from falling in love with someone closer to home and inevitably, she writes the Dear John letter.

The second half of the story will both break your heart and restore your belief in humanity. Can you love someone so much that their happiness is more important than your own? Can three people in love ever work it out so that everyone is happy? The ending is such a surprise that you'll never see it coming, unless you cheat and read it first.

I highly recommend this book, but have your tissues ready - you're going to need them.

This is definitely the worst Nicholas Sparks book that I have read. He's following his formula too closely (young, energetic, happy lovers who can't be together and get seperated, only to be reunited years later - basically, if you've seen The Notebook, you don't need to read this book, it's the same thing, only more annoying. I actually noticed the same exact lines being used in this book that were used in The Notebook. "It was real, wasn't it? You and me? If you've seen the movie as many times as I have, you know what I'm talking about.) The ending is heartwarming, although predictable. Another good thing about this book is the fact that it incorporates some psycology and gives a view of military life, which is different for Sparks (although I don't know how accurate it is.) The narrator, John, is likable enough but I honestly found myself hating Savannah. I just didn't feel like she was a believable character at all, and found myself literally laughing aloud at some of the things she said.

Absolutely heart breaking. Beautifully moving. Has tremendous emotional depth, revealing the true meaning of unconditional love. Don't attempt this without a box of tissue's. "Brim's with longing" Sparks lives up to his reputation... a tribute to courageous and self-sacrificing soldier's.

This book was a page turner, I couldn't put it down because I HAD to know how the story ended.

A good read-and a "real life" lesson in love..and what love is all about.

Excellent story, as always from Nicholas Sparks. A good read.

One of his best books.. Will make you cry and think about the good in life.

Sparks lives up to his reputation...a tribute to courageous and self-sacrificing soldiers.

I couldn't put it down, read it in one night, just had to know how it ended. I hate to be a spoiler, but don't read if you like happy endings

Very good book, much better read than the movie.

Enjoyable read, somewhat moving/emotional. Not a lot of substance...fluffy.

I loved this book for so many different reasons. I've read almost all Nicholas Sparks novels and I either love them or hate them. I think this one is so moving because it follows life closely. Rarely does my life reflect those novels where guy gets the girl and everything is hunky dory. This one showcases the bittersweet aspects of love, duty, family, and choice. It's real, emotional, and worth reading.

Can't say I liked the ending, but we know life doesn't always have happy endings. Good book though, and clean!

Amazing book! This one and "A bend in the road" are by far my two favorites. Dear John is a great story, anyone would love this book. And also I recommend reading the book before seeing the movie. :) The movie sticks pretty close to the book though.. so I was happy bout that!

While the book was little slow-moving from time to time (I found myself skipping thru some of it), the last 3rd of the book was a real tear-jerker. Very moving, although I question the way the hero and heroine acted in some situations.

The romance is GREAT! The ending isn't what I had hoped for or expected! Good book!

Found this book to be a very sweet yet tragic love story. Cried at the end and wish it had ended differently but it's true to Nicholas Sparks fashion.

My favorite by Nicholas Sparks. I teared up several times while reading it. I could write a HUGE review about this book but then it would ruin it. All I can say is read this book! BTW I saw the movie this weekend. It was wonderful too. It didn't stick to the exact story of the book but what book to movie tie in really does?

I loved, loved, loved this book. I love all of John Sparks' books. What a great author. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! I read it in one day...

I really enjoyed this book overall. Their were a few parts that were kind of slow,especially in the beginning. But once the story progressed, it got better.
The story starts off as John is a troubled kid, with a father he does not relate too. He is at the beach and falls in love with a girl named Savannah. They hit it off, and hang together for awhile, until he has to go back to Germany where he is stationed. He is about to get out of the military and then 911 happened. He wants to do his country a favor or the right thing and reenlist. After he does this, the couples problems start to happen.
The end is good, if you love someone, you do anything to make them happy. No matter what that is.

Wish there was a 'part 2' for ths book!

Nicholas Sparks never disappoints.

You know a book was well written, hate it or not, when you can't stop mulling over the characters ofttimes days after reading the last page. I'm a Sparks fan, so yes, I'm biased and yes I loved everything about the story from the setting to the main characters to the ending even though it made me wince. I felt Sparks communicated the struggles a soldier endures not only before, during, and after war, but the internal struggle to exist between two very different worlds, one abroad and in combat...more You know a book was well written, hate it or not, when you can't stop mulling over the characters ofttimes days after reading the last page. I'm a Sparks fan, so yes, I'm biased and yes I loved everything about the story from the setting to the main characters to the ending even though it made me wince. I felt Sparks communicated the struggles a soldier endures not only before, during, and after war, but the internal struggle to exist between two very different worlds, one abroad and in combat and the other "at home." This very real struggle is what propels the story and it grabbed me at the jugular from the very first page. There are no political statements here and I loved that too. Sparks was true to himself as a writer and kept to what he knows and does best, the study of the journey of human frailty as our relationships are subjected to things larger than ourselves.

I bawled my head off reading this book! GREAT READ!

loved it you will too.

Being a Marine Wife, you would think I would have loved this book. But, I didn't. I usually love anything by Sparks. This one just didn't do it for me!

I did not really like this book and found the main character almost unlikeable until the very end of the book. I never understood why Savannah fell in love with John to begin with. As usual, the story is depressing and heartbreaking, but sorely missing the Sparks "spark" of romance.

This is an excellent story, one I would recommend to anyone,male or female.

I'm not really a Nicholas Sparks fan, but I enjoyed this book. It was very touching and I was a little sad at the end.