by Doris Herrmann

Created on: December 07, 2007   Last Updated: December 12, 2009

I love Nicholas Sparks. Well, actually I love his work. He has the perfect writing style that captures my head and my heart. As a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, I'm not alone in my love of his works.

Notebook and A Walk to Remember had always been my favorites of his novels. The Choice, published by Publishers Weekly, is Sparks' thirteenth novel and, while the number thirteen might be cursed for some, this is one of Sparks' finest works and has quickly become my favorite of his novels. This is a must read if you love classical romantic writers, modern day romantic comedy and for those who are interested in a living will and its ramifications.

Early on in the novel we meet Travis. A happy-go-lucky bachelor, Travis and his trusted dog live happily in their small town in Georgia. Yet when his new neighbor, Gabby, moves into town from Savannah, things start to get very interesting. Sparks fly immediately between the two as they get to know each other.

What starts as a love-hate relationship quickly blossoms into true love. The romance and life that follows is epic in its evolution and I found myself falling in love with Travis and Gabby. We follow the couple over years of life and love, including the birth of two daughters. Yet, it's not until a tragic accident do we see the true depth of Travis' and Gabby's love unveiled.

Faced with a horrible choice, we watch Travis agonize as he looks at his beliefs, his family and the unspoken desires of the woman he loves. His late night discussions with his now comatose wife's memories left me in tears. We realize it's not until we're faced with such a horrific choice that we truly understand what love is.

Sparks' books always capture my heart, and I find that I can't stop reading them until I am finished. This book, The Choice, is a wonderful example of his style of classical romantic story telling.

While it is hard to top his previous work, I have to admit that this is my favorite of his novels. Sparks fills the pages with wit, true life drama, and tragedy that make The Choice impossible to put down. This is a must read if you are a lover of his work, or if you love those romantic novels that teach us that true love really does exist in our society. I know this will soon be one book that most people have read, I just can't wait to see who plays Travis in the movie.

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