Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks as book club suggestion

Julie Billingsley

Julie Billingsley

The Ghost of Awesome Past
I don't know if there is much interest in doing the book club, but I thought I'd mention that I'm going to be reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks in January. It's coming out as a movie in February (on Valentine's Day) so I wanted to read it before I saw it. It has a good rating, 4.3 stars out of 5 on Amazon, with over 700 reviews. And the movie features my boyfriend Josh Duhamel so I have to read the book! :)
Here is the book on Amazon if anyone is also into reading it. (link to Kindle edition)
 
It was filmed here in Georgia

It's a great book I've read it already but I'd be willing to read it again.
 
Ive read it before. I cannot remember much about it though I do love Nicholas Sparks (Noah will always be my fav character though...love him!!)
 
I grabbed the Kindle book. I saw a trailer for the movie somewhere (can't remember when it was now), and it does look interesting.
 
I just started reading it on my trip back from Seattle, WA and it is a great read so far. So I say go for it!!
 
I'm finished. I was less than impressed. That's all I will say - I put up a review on Goodreads.
 
That's a bummer Mary :( I wonder why all the positive reviews then? I haven't started it yet but I will on Monday as I always read while I'm waiting in the line to pick up my son from school
 
I'm just not a huge romance reader. And like I wrote on Goodreads, there has already been a movie with the same underlying story, so this one was so predictable. So don't take my opinion as "typical." ;)
 
While I liked it, it definitely wasn't one of my favorites from him. About halfway through the book, I started thinking... this doesn't feel like a Nicholas Sparks book, but there is a bit of a twist at the end.
 
maryinaz said:
I'm just not a huge romance reader. And like I wrote on Goodreads, there has already been a movie with the same underlying story, so this one was so predictable. So don't take my opinion as "typical." ;)
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I love Nicholas Sparks' books. Especially since I am from NC which is where most of his books take place. Like Nights in Rodanthe....Rodanthe is where I spent my summers. The house in the movie is one I used to pass all the time. I have to agree with Mary that it was WAY too similar to a movie that has been out for years. It disappointed me.
 
Spoilers....
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I finished it today. I have now read 4 books from Nicholas Sparks. I actually thought the tone was consistant with The Lucky One, but different from The Notebook (which I just couldn't finish. I hated that book). I figured out the end right away, but it was interesting watching the whole thing unfold. The book as a whole seemed written to be a movie, if you know what I mean. Very "Lifetime Channel" to me. Overall I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

I will say that once I got to the part with Kevin, I wanted to stop reading. I don't enjoy reading stories about abuse and abusive people. Comparing this book to the Lucky One, I liked the milder way of the controlling ex-husband more than I liked reading about Kevin in this book. Where this story annoyed me was the whole dramatic showdown. So much of that just didn't make sense. Drive the kids away and magically nothing happens in that large chunk of time. And why the heck did he drive them there? That was stupid. Pretty much that whole scene was ridiculous.

I am interested in seeing the movie, but I think I'll be waiting until it comes out on video if it's well rated. Heck, even if it's not well rated, just because it has Josh Duhamel.

I am curious, what movie was similar to this? I must have missed seeing it.
 
"Sleeping with the Enemy" with Julia Roberts. She escapes her abusive husband and starts a new life elsewhere in a small town, with a new love. But he tracks her down and tries to kill her and the new love, but she kills him.

So yeah, basically the same story with just different characters and setting. :blink:

I've only read one other Nicholas Sparks book and it was turned into a movie also. I can't even remember the name of it but I think Miley Cyrus was in it. It was set on a beach. That one wasn't bad.
 
I read Safe Haven a few weeks ago and really liked it...I am just getting back to reading and have enjoyed all the books I have read so far!!!
 
I hear the movie is getting horrible reviews :( Haven't seen it yet but wanted to because I have a crush on the male lead. boo.
 
I haven't read the book but every time I see the preview for the movie I think..wasn't this already done in the 90's as Sleeping With the Enemy?? I even wondered if it was maybe just a remake since they seem to be doing that to all older movies lately. Weird that he wrote a book with such a similar story line.
 
Julie Billingsley said:
I hear the movie is getting horrible reviews :( Haven't seen it yet but wanted to because I have a crush on the male lead. boo.
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Boo!! I really want to see the movie but if I drag DH to go with me he will never go to another movie again that I have chosen if it stinks! LOL
 
nikkiARNGwife said:
I haven't read the book but every time I see the preview for the movie I think..wasn't this already done in the 90's as Sleeping With the Enemy?? I even wondered if it was maybe just a remake since they seem to be doing that to all older movies lately. Weird that he wrote a book with such a similar story line.
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Yep, that's exactly what I said above. It's the same story line, just changed up a bit. Not surprising that the movie is doing poorly. "Sleeping with the Enemy" had a BIG star in it, Julia Roberts. I liked that move a lot and have seen it several times. I think we might even own the DVD. But I don't know how it actually did in the box office when it came out - I was busy having kids and didn't get out much in the 90s. ;)
 
Oh Hi Julie! I loved the freebie kit in store btw. Notice my signature? lol anyway I need to grab that book. I heard it was really really good.
 
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