Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan (2025)
Although I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for a much cherished family member who loves a good ugly cry, how could I, as a book blogger, resist a read myself?
(Not to worry I got through 'Remain' without bending the pages or staining them with tears before the book hit the wrapping paper....)
This isn't, by the way, Nicholas Sparks' first plunge into the supernatural or paranormal.....we seem to remember he tossed in a surprise little 'Twilight Zone' twist at the end of a previous novel....(and we'll not say which one so as not to spoil the surprise for anyone who's freshly exploring the Sparks-iverse.)
'Remain' also signifies a major switch in location, moving from the author's favored North Carolina shores to Cape Cod. It's on that island where emotionally shattered architect Tate Donovan is tasked with designing a sumptuous new home for his friend Oscar.
Tate spent months recovering from depression and grief over the cancer death of his beloved sister Sylvia. After a stay in psychiatric care, he's tentatively ready to face the world again. And, as they say in romantic conversation......he's met someone.
Not just any someone. He discovers he's not alone in the historic old house he thought he was the sole resident of while planning Oscar's new home. He finds a beautiful vivacious young woman named Wren living there as well. In true Sparks fashion he's entranced by her at first and then slowly but surely falling hard, consumed with overpowering affection for her.
But there's way, way more to Wren than meets the eye, including her toxic, blighted relationships with three previous men in her life...a cheating business partner, an ex-husband and a prominent town figure who took to obsessively stalking her.
Here's where I seal my lips about any more plot details. But this much you should know.....you will find in 'Remain' the best of both worlds of novelist Sparks and filmmaker Shyamalan, renowned for his blending of the fantastic and scary with grounded, relatable drama and characters whose struggles and plights resonate with you.
From Sparks, you'll experience all the familiar themes.....the aching joy of first love and its power to triumph over anything that thwart it.....even death.
M. Night delivers the shocks and thrills and Nicholas Sparks, as always, conspires to make you reach for a tissue box as your eyes start brimming.
So all in all, a 4 star (****) holiday treat to put under the tree for your favorite avid reader.....or any other time of the year.
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