Nicholas Sparks is a champion of romance novels. With 18 books to date (10 of those turned into movies), The original favorites like The Notebook and his more recent book like The Best of Me alike are popular amongst a community of readers. We’ve ranked the author’s books based on site-wide popularity. Agree? If not, you can re-rank the books below and compare it to what other The Reading Room readers think!
1.) The Lucky One
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks/imgur)
When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault experiences a streak of luck after finding a photograph in the sand, his best friend makes him realizes it’s his lucky charm. When Logan returns to the U.S. he sets out to find the woman in the photograph and finds Beth—whom he’s instantly attracted to. His secret, however, threatens to tear them apart.
Memorable Quote: “In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance—when you least expect it—sets you on a course that you never planned, into a future you never imagined.”
2.) The Notebook
(Courtesy of cswap/Nicholas Sparks)
Sparks’ first novel tells the story of Allie and Noah—two people who met as teenagers before being torn apart. As Allie’s wedding day approaches to another man, she returns to town and confronts her old feelings and passion she felt for Noah fourteen years before.
Memorable Quote: “You can’t live your life for other people. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.”
2.) The Last Song
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks)
One of Sparks’ more recent contributions to the romance genre, The Last Song follows seventeen-year-old Ronnie and her relationship with her father. The story does focus on a love interest, of course, but at its core is a story between a musically talented father and daughter and how they heal together.
Memorable Quote: “Truth only means something when it’s hard to admit.”
4.) Dear John
(Courtesy of Hachette/Nicholas Sparks)
The story of a solider that falls in love while on leave is heartbreaking and passionate. John meets Savannah and instantly is attracted. They make plans to be together once he returns from his tour of duty, but 9/11 changes things and John feels compelled to enlist again.
Memorable Quote: “Believe me, I’m no romantic, and while I’ve heard all about love at first sight, I’ve never believed in it, and I still don’t. But even so, there was something there, something recognizably real, and I couldn’t look away.”
5.) A Walk to Remember
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks/GalleryHip)
Landon reflects on his senior year of high school and remembers Jamie, the girl who changed everything. Never thinking he’d fall for the minister’s daughter, Jamie and Landon are paired for the homecoming dance and suddenly she’s the one he’s been waiting for.
Memorable Quote: “Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it.”
6.) Safe Haven
(Courtesy of imgkid/Nicholas Sparks)
When Katie mysteriously shows up in a small town in North Carolina, people wonder about her past. Reluctant to form relationships with anyone, she falls in love with Alex, and becomes close to her neighbor, Jo. But, a dark secret haunts her and Katie must choose what her “safe haven” really is.
Memorable Quote: “I’ve come to believe that in everyone’s life, there’s one undeniable moment of change, a set of circumstances that suddenly alters everything.”
7.) The Best of Me
(Courtesy of Hachette/Roadshow)
Two high school students from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love in this romance novel. After unforeseen events tear them apart, they come together twenty-five-years later and see that while some things have changed, some will always be the same.
Memorable Quote: “Don’t take my advice. Or anyone’s advice. Trust yourself. For good or for bad, happy or unhappy, it’s your life, and what you do with it has always been entirely up to you.”
8.) Message in a Bottle
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks/Fandango)
On vacation from her Boston job, Theresa finds a bottle that washes up on shore. The bottle contains a letter from a man expressing his love for a woman he has lost. Theresa decides she must find the author, Garrett, and so begins a journey of love and the search for truth.
Memorable Quote: “Nothing that’s worthwhile is ever easy. Remember that.”
9.) The Wedding
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks)
A follow-up to The Notebook, this book follows Allie and Noah Calhoun’s son-in-law who is desperate to win the heart of his wife back. He reflects on their love affair and uses it as a guide to find his way back to his wife as his daughter’s wedding approaches.
Memorable Quote: “But love, I’ve come to understand, is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.”
10.) A Bend in the Road
(Courtesy of Nicholas Sparks)
After Miles Ryan’s wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident, he thought he’d never love again. When he meets Sarah, his son’s second grade teacher, they end up reaching out to each other and start to fall in love. They don’t know just how connected they are to a shocking secret that threatens to tear them apart.