The Struggle In 'Safe Haven' By Nicholas Sparks

It’s no surprise that people are enlightened by romantic love stories. Nicholas Sparks’ novels are all based upon falling in love, but captivate the reader in many ways. His stories have a romantic element, as well as many plot twists incorporated within, making it impossible for the reader to put the book down. Nicholas Sparks is unique in the way that he isn’t afraid to have the main characters face difficulties, and make readers upset with his unfavorable endings. The books The Notebook, Safe Haven, and The Best of Me include love interests, heart aches, and life struggles that confront the main characters. The Notebook is the ultimate love story. It begins with the tale of two young teens, Allie and Noah, falling in love the summer before she goes off to college. They are forced to separate after Allie’s parents express their disapproval of Noah because they are from two completely different worlds. After ten years apart, they reunite, and they end up spending the rest of
their lives together. After years of unforgettable memories, towards the end of Allie’s life she suffers dementia. Noah spends every waking minute with her in the nursing home, until her final hours where they both die peacefully together in their sleep. This is the most beautiful, account of endless true love. The Best of Me is the classical tale of two young people who fall in love, but are separated after their relationship is struck with tragedy. Amanda and Dawson were high school sweethearts. Dawson was sent to prison his senior year of high school because of an unfortunate accident, where he refused to let Amanda wait for him and encouraged her to move on. They were reunited after twenty years when someone from their past requested them to spread their ashes. Seeing each other brought back countless memories and feelings, even though Amanda was married. She couldn’t help but think what it would be like to be married to him since she is unhappy in her marriage now. The most dramatic plot twist occurs when she returns home from her trip. Amanda is shocked to find out her son has been in an accident and needs a heart transplant. Prior to leaving to visit her son, her mother comes, announcing that Dawson was shot. Not only does that shock the reader, but Dawson’s heart is the one that the son receives for the transplant. Although they don’t end up together like Amanda would have hoped, she will always love Dawson, and will always have a part of him with her. Safe Haven is one the scariest, thrilling books Nicholas Sparks has ever written.
The reader is in suspense the whole time, consumed with the thoughts of what is going to happen next. Katie is in an abusive relationship, and alters her appearance when she runs away to begin a new life. She ends up settling in a small town in North Carolina, where she finds love. She meets Alex, a store owner with two kids who immediately makes her feel at ease. She tries to start her life over, but is haunted by memories of her husband. Her husband, filled with discontent and rage, hunts her down. As you expected, another plot twist occurs. Once her husband finds her, he tries to burn down to the house she is staying in. The reader thinks that she is about to die, when Alex saves her. Alex is her “safe haven” and brings not only happiness to her life through love, but calms her by his protective nature. After her near death experience, her husband is arrested and begins building her life again with
Alex.
The Notebook, The Best of Me, and Safe Haven are just three examples that clear show Nicholas Sparks’ unique writing style. Throughout all of his books, he captivates his audience with love stories and plot twists that keeps people guessing. All of his stories include a love interest, but doesn’t always end in the couples favor. Nicholas Sparks is honest in his writing, and writes about real life situations, but with enough elements of drama that it is an escape for the reader.