The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

When I went on the ski trip I woke up pretty early most mornings.  When I woke up I would go ahead and get out of bed and go downstairs so I wouldn't disturb the guy I was rooming with (it was bunk beds...we were not in the same bed).  The second morning I forgot to grab my book when I went downstairs.  I didn't want to go back in there so I looked at the dozen or so books they had on the bookshelf in the living room and decided on this one because it was not very big and I already knew the author.

Here is a synopsis from Nicholas Sparks' website:

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life—boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies—he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him…and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn’t help. Despite himself, Travis can’t stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

Some Nicholas Sparks books are so sad a predictable.  This one wasn't bad.  I flew through the first half. I love that his books are set in NC because I usually end up knowing some of the places he writes about.  I've been vacationing in Atlantic Beach almost all my life because my family has a timeshare there.  Beaufort, where the majority of the book is set is just over the bridge and is one of the cutest little towns ever.  Having been there really helped envision the story as it unfolded.

When I got to part two of the book I was like crap...here we go with the Nicholas Sparks tragedy portion of the book.  It sucked.  But suprisingly it had a happy ending.  Can you believe it? 

Not a bad book but not one to put on your must read list.  I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.