I give this five starts because I could not stop turning the pages. I wasn't expecting this kind of story from Nicholas Sparks, though it is about love (his usual wonderful writing revolved around all kinds of love). Sure, the basic story line is traditional. A particularly movie I'm thinking of, without giving about information in the book, has the same basic story line. Yet he changed it a bit and made it feel like a new story. I've always enjoyed his writing. It's almost soothing. He makes you feel like you are there and this book did that too. I just loved it. I won't be surprised if they try to make this one a movie too. It's at the top of my list now, out of the books I've read of his.