I had read "The Notebook" a few years ago, and recently re- read it when I heard they were making a movie from the novel. I was so intrigued by the story that I could not put it down and read it all in one sitting. I laughed and cried and felt every emotion that comes with a real life love story.

The Notebook is Nicholas Sparks' first novel, and if you choose to continue on with his works, this story will give you a taste of his unique writing style. This is the book which started it all, earning Nicholas Sparks a place on Best Seller lists everywhere.

The main characters in this book are the young lovers Noah and Allie. It is war time, 1946 and Allie is about to be married to a respectable boy. She sees in the newspaper that her first true love, Noah, is returning home from the war. Noah did not have the money, the looks or the family reputation that Allie's family wanted for her. When he went to war she thought she could forget about him. Though it's been fourteen years, her love for him is still as strong as it always was. She goes to see him and they both realize that their love has never died. From that point on the story follows their ever growing love and the difficulty Allie has to face to follow her heart to be with the man she loves. She calls off a pending wedding, runs away, and defies her family. Noah builds a house for her, and together they build a home. Later in the story, Allie becomes sick with Alzheimer's, but Noah remains steady and true while the disease seizes her mind.

This book is a story of two people who find each other after a long absence and have the courage to let their love guide them, instead of giving in to those who want to keep them apart. To read of Noah's support and love for Allie is truly inspiring.

The Notebook is a whirlwind tale of love lost and found. Proving that true love has the power to conquer all, even the most adverse of conditions. This book teaches you the very important lesson that no one can question true love, and that everyone must follow their own heart's path.

This novel is such a fan favorite, and "Noah and Allie" (the main characters in The Notebook) are so beloved that Sparks was inspired to write a sequel "The Wedding". It is the only sequel he has ever written.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an unconventional unforgettable romance story.