Scan barcode
gwenhwyfar82's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
3.0
Dang you Nicholas Sparks. You really know how to cause a person some real emotional stress. I didn't care for this book as much as his other ones I've read because it was pretty predictable and cheesy. Then the "clever twist at the end" really shook things up. I was hoping that But at least this story didn't involve the two lovebirds currently in a relationship and then cheating before breaking up to stay with their new lover. So that was a relief.
The most depressing part of this story or at least what got to me was the regret. The irony was ironic because now Theresa knows what Garrett was going through and losing a loved one and not being able to let go. Oh the humanity. You know, Theresa's initial attraction to Garrett was that he was still in love with his wife and couldn't let her go. Yet that was the very thing she didn't like about him. It's like those girls that love bad boys and then hate that they're bad boys after they're together. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
The takeaway I got from this book is follow your dreams or you'll end up with the most painful of all regrets and will live the words of Saito from Inception, being "an old man filled with regret, waiting to die alone." Or these words often times quoted in General Conference by some notorious poet, "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.'"
What do you think is worse, death or regret?
Spoiler
Garrett being a potential father would have had more of an impact on him but they barely mentioned it. Or even better/more tragic would have been if Theresa was pregnant with his children.The most depressing part of this story or at least what got to me was the regret. The irony was ironic because now Theresa knows what Garrett was going through and losing a loved one and not being able to let go. Oh the humanity. You know, Theresa's initial attraction to Garrett was that he was still in love with his wife and couldn't let her go. Yet that was the very thing she didn't like about him. It's like those girls that love bad boys and then hate that they're bad boys after they're together. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
The takeaway I got from this book is follow your dreams or you'll end up with the most painful of all regrets and will live the words of Saito from Inception, being "an old man filled with regret, waiting to die alone." Or these words often times quoted in General Conference by some notorious poet, "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.'"
What do you think is worse, death or regret?
margonolastname's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
2.5
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Message in a Bottle has been on my TBR since 2016. To be more specific - January 2016. So it's pretty safe to say that it was time that I dove into this book. Before I did, though, I think I've seen the movie before? Not completely sure but I'm going with it right now.
In this book, you will meet Theresa and Garrett. Both are in a place where they definitely needed a second chance. Whether it was romance or anything else - they just needed it. Plain and simple. So when a message in a bottle shows up.. I just knew something wonderful was going to happen.
Now things moved pretty quickly throughout this book. I'm mostly basing this off how short the audio was and how quickly the relationship moved. In some ways, you will think it's a hallmark movie because of how quickly certain words are said after barely knowing a person. Then you'd have to remember that this isn't a hallmark movie. Or maybe that's just me.
In the end, some things were a bit predictable and the ending was definitely emotional. Not sure what book I will dive into next when it comes to this author. I just know that it will eventually happen.
In this book, you will meet Theresa and Garrett. Both are in a place where they definitely needed a second chance. Whether it was romance or anything else - they just needed it. Plain and simple. So when a message in a bottle shows up.. I just knew something wonderful was going to happen.
Now things moved pretty quickly throughout this book. I'm mostly basing this off how short the audio was and how quickly the relationship moved. In some ways, you will think it's a hallmark movie because of how quickly certain words are said after barely knowing a person. Then you'd have to remember that this isn't a hallmark movie. Or maybe that's just me.
In the end, some things were a bit predictable and the ending was definitely emotional. Not sure what book I will dive into next when it comes to this author. I just know that it will eventually happen.
jneverland's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
liliravioli's review against another edition
4.0
schöne szenerie, musste weinen also automatisch gutes buch, -1stern weil zu kitschig manchmal und ein bisschen unspannend, aber trotzdem sehr schön hat mir lust auf surfen gegeben
jwave08's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Have read all Sparks books and love them all! This one was great, but sad...lots of crying but well written. Also loved the movie which have seen several times.
Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity, Message in a Bottle takes readers on a hunt for the truth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love. For those who cherished The Notebook and readers waiting to discover the magic of Nicholas Sparks’s storytelling, here is an achingly lovely novel of happenstance, desire, and the choices that matter most.
Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity, Message in a Bottle takes readers on a hunt for the truth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love. For those who cherished The Notebook and readers waiting to discover the magic of Nicholas Sparks’s storytelling, here is an achingly lovely novel of happenstance, desire, and the choices that matter most.
ienne's review against another edition
5.0
Seriously? So, that's it? That's how it ends? At first, I just can't get over with how their story ended.
If you were to read the synopsis or have a glimpse on one of the author's excerpts, you will know firsthand, that this is very Nicholas Sparks. I think it is quite stereotypical to say that most of his novels were centered around the happily-ever-after, about endless love and butterflies in your stomach, about "I'm irrevocably in love with you," and about perfect-swoony-well-proportioned guys that will sweep you off your feet when in fact, it's not really the case. Most of his novels were sad, depressing and filled with inconsolable endings. Nevertheless, the message of his novels had been very clear since its publication; it's awe-inspiring and very encouraging as well. It was always about the greatest love you could ever find having its own variations and forms. Not only about love that exists between a man and a woman, but love towards your family, friends and even unrelated ones.
As I've learned the perspective of the author, I fully understand why it ended that way. Message in a Bottle was inspired by the love story between Nicholas' parents. His father grieve for four years over the loss of his wife. During his hour of bereavement, he met another woman (Theresa, on the fictional novel), and his heart started to beat again. They were engaged soon after but unfortunately, two weeks later after the announced engagement, his father had a car accident. Shortly after, his father passed away. Truly, a real life sad story.
Nicholas Sparks' books for me are definitely not a love story but stories about love. Despite such circumstances beyond our control, be it loss, fate, or death; his books allow us to believe that LOVE is not another fantasy, that we can certainly love a person selflessly in a way we could never imagine possible.
Although there were lots of mature scenarios in which a young adult cannot realistically relate to, the writing style had been light and quite easy to read. This is best for those who have long distance relationship issues and those who have lost their loved one.
Even though, Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn were able to justify their characters as Garette Blake and Theresa Osborne respectively through their convincing and impressive acting skills; I still prefer the book over movie adaptation. There were tons of details and emotions that the movie failed to capture. They changed a lot of things and characters so that it will appear as very "movie-like" especially the significance of the role of Deanna and Jeb Blake, Garette's father. Nonetheless, I like how they incorporate the families, whom Garette saved during the storm, showing how he sacrificed himself over the promise of a future with Theresa (*okay, enough of the babble, this is not a movie review).
Overall, this book is all about:
1. Finding love
2. Losing It
3. Taking Chances
4. And allowing your heart to love again
This book with its cheesy lines and artistic flirtations set in the 20th century is such a good and satisfying break from contemporary young adult novels.
If you were to read the synopsis or have a glimpse on one of the author's excerpts, you will know firsthand, that this is very Nicholas Sparks. I think it is quite stereotypical to say that most of his novels were centered around the happily-ever-after, about endless love and butterflies in your stomach, about "I'm irrevocably in love with you," and about perfect-swoony-well-proportioned guys that will sweep you off your feet when in fact, it's not really the case. Most of his novels were sad, depressing and filled with inconsolable endings. Nevertheless, the message of his novels had been very clear since its publication; it's awe-inspiring and very encouraging as well. It was always about the greatest love you could ever find having its own variations and forms. Not only about love that exists between a man and a woman, but love towards your family, friends and even unrelated ones.
As I've learned the perspective of the author, I fully understand why it ended that way. Message in a Bottle was inspired by the love story between Nicholas' parents. His father grieve for four years over the loss of his wife. During his hour of bereavement, he met another woman (Theresa, on the fictional novel), and his heart started to beat again. They were engaged soon after but unfortunately, two weeks later after the announced engagement, his father had a car accident. Shortly after, his father passed away. Truly, a real life sad story.
Nicholas Sparks' books for me are definitely not a love story but stories about love. Despite such circumstances beyond our control, be it loss, fate, or death; his books allow us to believe that LOVE is not another fantasy, that we can certainly love a person selflessly in a way we could never imagine possible.
Although there were lots of mature scenarios in which a young adult cannot realistically relate to, the writing style had been light and quite easy to read. This is best for those who have long distance relationship issues and those who have lost their loved one.
Even though, Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn were able to justify their characters as Garette Blake and Theresa Osborne respectively through their convincing and impressive acting skills; I still prefer the book over movie adaptation. There were tons of details and emotions that the movie failed to capture. They changed a lot of things and characters so that it will appear as very "movie-like" especially the significance of the role of Deanna and Jeb Blake, Garette's father. Nonetheless, I like how they incorporate the families, whom Garette saved during the storm, showing how he sacrificed himself over the promise of a future with Theresa (*okay, enough of the babble, this is not a movie review).
Overall, this book is all about:
1. Finding love
2. Losing It
3. Taking Chances
4. And allowing your heart to love again
This book with its cheesy lines and artistic flirtations set in the 20th century is such a good and satisfying break from contemporary young adult novels.