Reviews

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

jmrprice's review against another edition

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4.0

Stories with plot twists are always appreciated.

ermw0's review against another edition

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3.0

The film adaptation of this book is a comfort movie for me and I was convinced I had read this before, but I don't think I have. This book is fine. I actually prefer what the movie did. 

The reveal that Jo is a ghost works so much better in the film. It was much less believable in the book. Sparks' books used to be the epitome of romance for teen me, so reading them now as an adult in a relationship I am cringing at how I thought this was -it-. Their romance is sweet but in real life you would be telling Katie to take a lot of time for herself before jumping into a committed relationship as a new wife/gf and stepmom!

alexislynnscott's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nightwisp's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the best Nicholas Sparks novels!

cobycoyle's review against another edition

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3.0

My review for The Lucky One: “I’m not really into gimicky stuff I guess”


welp I kinda liked this one enough to give it 3 stars so maybe I do

Kevin’s POV was interesting to read with how his mental illnesses were progressing. I liked Katie as a character, not so sure on Alex.

butterfly_bombshell's review against another edition

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5.0

Read it twice. First time I read it I couldn't finish it but then the second time I read it I finished it in like 2 days

bookwormamber's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

beaktastic's review against another edition

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4.0

So a friend told me ages ago I should read this book, and then lent it to me last week for me to read. I don't usually go in for super lovey-dovey romance novels like this, but I do sometimes and I knew it had recently been adapted into a film so I thought, yeah, I'd give it a go. I'm glad I did.

Safe Haven follows the story of Katie, a girl who has moved to a typical American smalltown called Southport for a new start. Southport doesn't have new people often, so Katie's arrival does attract some attention. But she keeps her head down and doesn't speak about the past she's running from and she starts to blend in. She begins to think she's safe. And she meets Alex, a local shop owner with two young children. Alex's wife died a few years earlier, and while life has been hard he is learning to move on, just as Katie enters his life. Things seem to be going well, but how long can Southport remain a safe haven for Katie before her past catches up to her?

I really enjoyed this book actually, a lot more than I was expecting. I liked Katie and Alex's relationship and how it developed. I thought Kristen and Josh were adorable. And Kevin when introduced was suitably cruel. I liked Katie as a main character particularly and her past, I thought it was really well written and thought out.

I did think Katie and Alex's relationship was a little easy and there weren't many major obstacles for them to overcome. My main issue with the book was the reveal in the final pages of the novel -
SpoilerThat Katie's neighbour Jo was never actually there, she was a ghost, and that she was the ghost of Alex's dead wife to boot. I don't really mind the whole romantic view that Alex's wife Carly was watching over him and approving of his new girlfriend, but the whole reveal about it actually being a ghost throughout the novel and that she was never there and never doing up the cottage next to Katie's was just... so cliche. It's my main gripe of the novel. I'd have been much happier without that reveal. Just... ugh.


Overall, a good novel. Not the best writing ever, but enjoyable none-the-less for your typical Sparks romance novel.

kitkat175's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this book in one day, I enjoyed it very much but I have liked other romance books a lot more. This one I gave a decent rating though. I listened to the audiobook while following along with the physical book as well. The book was a little hard to get through hearing and reading about the abuse she endured was very hard to read/hear. I have always been a Nicholas Sparks girlie, his books are one of my favourite romances to read, they are just so good. You can count on him to give you a good book. I want to watch the movie to see what it is about and see if it follows the book closely or not. The ending of this book and the letter that the late wife wrote to his new girlfriend was very sweet and a tearjerker of a letter. The banter that they had together was very cute as well. I am excited to see what his other books have to offer. I can't wait to read more of his books, I am looking foreword to it.

marinaclarke953's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a really emotional story to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it