I've read quite a few Sparks novels, and this one just didn't do it for me. I know when you tell someone you're reading a Sparks novel, they just assume you're a glutton for punishment and/or misery, but I've never felt that way about his books. There are definitely sad parts, but there is so much more to them than that. For whatever reason, this one (for me) totally missed the mark. Just seemed to be depressing for the sole sake of being depressing. Might not be a popular opinion, but there it is. I definitely won't stop reading him because of it, but I might need a few months before attempting another.