What are the best books by Nicholas Sparks
An American writer born in 1965, Nicholas Sparks is the author of 23 bestseller novels and two non-fiction books. His works have sold over 115 million copies across the world, and they have been translated into many languages.
Nicholas Sparks is probably best known as the author of The Notebook, which was adapted into a movie starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, as well as A Walk to Remember and Message in a Bottle. Besides The Notebook, ten other Sparks’ books have movie adaptations.
It’s only logical that the works of popular authors are in audiobook format. Of course, that’s also the case with Nicholas Sparks and his North Carolina-based love stories. In fact, some of his books are available for listening to right here on Speechify.
Understanding Nicholas Sparks legacy and current cultural impact
Although not a groundbreaking author contemplating life in new ways, it’s safe to say that Nicholas Sparks has left a certain legacy and cultural impact on the world. Namely, his work might be too light for some, but he doesn’t try to hide that and pretend he’s someone else. In fact, he only focuses on the most basic of human needs—self-understanding and love.
Sparks’ books are about ordinary people in small towns living modest lives. Yet, in their simplicity, they find love, which one can argue is the essence of existence. Well, at least it is for Nicholas Sparks. Still, Sparks’ legacy isn’t just in literature. He founded the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, which is focused on improving global education, and in turn international relations.
Nicholas Sparks background
Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1965, Nicholas Sparks is the middle child of Michael Sparks and Jill Thoene, with an older brother Micah and a younger sister Dana. His mother and father are of Irish, English, German, and Czech ancestry. The death of his sister at the age of 33 inspired his 1999 novel A Walk to Remember.
Born and raised in Nebraska, Nicholas’ family would move around from town to town before settling down in Fair Oaks, California in the 70s. It is there that he graduated from high school before enrolling at the University of Notre Dame, where he began to write. After publishing a non-fiction title Wokini with Billy Mills, Nicholas Sparks married and moved to New Bern, NC.
Nicholas Sparks’ writing style and some of his best-selling books
Author Nicholas Sparks found himself on the New York Times bestseller list numerous times. As mentioned, he is one of the most popular American writers of today. Without further ado, let’s check out some of his most famous novels.
The Notebook
Published by Warner Books, The Notebook follows the story of Noah and Allie. After spending a summer together, they must part due to their background differences. Noah spends his days writing her letters before going off to war.
A Walk to Remember
With the story once again taking place in North Carolina, A Walk to Remember is another popular novel by Nicholas Sparks. It tells the story of a high school senior who becomes romantically involved with a girl he and his friend used to make fun of.
The Last Song
In The Last Song, Ronnie is an angsty NYC teenager who has to go away for the summer with her brother to their dad’s place in a small Southern town. She is a young and talented pianist on the verge of attending the Julliard music school, and all of her friends are in New York.
The Lucky One
After serving as a marine in Iraq, Logan comes home with a strong conviction that a photograph of an unknown woman kept him alive during the war. He makes it his life’s mission to travel across the country to find her. You can listen to The Lucky One right here on Speechify.
The Best of Me
The Best of Me is yet another novel by Nicholas Sparks. It tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who return to their hometown in North Carolina for a sad occasion. Their best friend has passed away.
The Longest Ride
In The Longest Ride, Sparks writes about Luke and Sophia, a couple in love whose backgrounds are always looking to tear them apart. Before something like that could happen, they try to find the answers by befriending an old man, whose love for his wife defied the test of time.
Dear John
In Dear John, a young soldier John meets Savannah, a bright college student, and they fall in love. However, their relationship is on the ropes as John is deployed overseas, testing their bond as they stay in touch only through letters.
The Choice
Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice follows Travis and Gabby—two young people who are polar opposites. Travis is an easy-going party type who’s not looking to settle. On the other hand, Gabby is looking for just that. After she moves next door to him, it sparks an unusual bond that tests their life choices.
Safe Haven
Lastly, we should mention Safe Haven. In his 2010 love story, Nicholas Sparks writes about Katie, who moves to a small town in North Caroline, looking to start a new life. Due to her troubled past, she has a hard time loving and trusting again. Yet, all that is changed when she meets a lovely widower Alex who wins her over.
The Nicholas Sparks books that have turned into movies
As mentioned, Nicholas Sparks’ books are so popular that many of them have movie adaptations. The most famous one is, obviously, The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Nevertheless, all other books that we’ve provided summaries of above have their film adaptations. Others include Deliverance Creek, Nights in Rodanthe, and Zindagi Tere Naam, an Indian version of The Notebook. True Believer and At First Sight still don’t have movies, but Sparks has sold the rights to them, so we can expect movie adaptations sometime in the future.
Listen to some of Nicholas Sparks’ most popular books with Speechify audiobooks
Besides the mentioned books, you can listen to other Nicholas Sparks novels on Speechify. Some of them include A Bend in the Road, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Wedding, The Rescue, Every Breath, Two by Two, The Guardian, and The Wish.
FAQ
Is Nicholas Sparks writing a new book in 2022?
Yes, Nicholas Sparks wrote Dreamland in 2022.
What is the most recent Nicholas Sparks book?
Nicholas Sparks followed up The Return and The Wish with his latest book titled Dreamland, published by Penguin Random House books.