The Last Song-- Book Review

Over the weekend I was able to finish a book that my teenager had recommended....she had seen the movie and said it was actually very well done.  The latest Miley Cyrus movie. Miley is still one of her fave singers even though Courtney is well past the pop star tween stage. The book that the movie is based on is titled "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks.  I have read 2 other Nicholas Sparks books and really enjoyed them.  They tend to be predictable and a little bit sappy (i.e. romances) but the plot is often well developed and the characters tend to be interesting and varied. Courtney hasn't read the book but upon discussing parts of it with her, she says it is very much like the movie.  The sad thing is that Hollywood took out the parts about the dad and daughter searching for God.  Typical of Hollywood I suppose but it really does make the book a bit more profound.  Here's my summary/review:

Title: THE LAST SONG
Author:  Nicholas Sparks
Genre:  fiction/romance
Appropriate for ages 16-adult
Level of Difficulty:  very easy reading. If not for content, a 5th grader could easily read this book if at grade level.

Basic Plot:  17 yr old girl named Ronnie (short for Veronica) and her little brother Jonah have to spend the summer with their dad in the small coastal town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.  Their dad has lived there for about 3 years, ever since divorcing the children's mother.  Mom and children live in Manhattan.

Ronnie hasn't spoken to her dad in 3 years because she is bitter and angry.

Jonah just wants his daddy.

Dad used to be a concert pianist but is now living a quiet life and working on a piece of art that will be the centerpiece of a town church.  Ronnie rejects all of Dad's attempts to draw her in emotionally and she gets involved with some local teens.  Some of these teens turn out to be a bad influence on her.  However, there is one teen, the local hunk (Will), who she becomes attracted to.  She slowly lets her guard down at home and with Will.  She opens her self up to the greatest happiness, and the greatest pain, that she has ever known.  But then.....her dad breaks some news to her....and....will things ever be the same??

From the jacket cover: "an unforgettable story of love in all its myriad forms--first love, love between parents and children---THE LAST SONG demonstrates as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts....and heal them.

My opinion:  A good beach read! Predictable!  a little "sappy" in parts...(in my opinion most modern day romances are sappy) but there is a small twist I didn't really expect.  Does everything work out all right in the end??  Well....sort of! I am not gonna reveal that because if you haven't read it yet and want to, I don't wanna ruin it for ya!  Will I rent the movie? Probably not....if our library gets a copy in 6 months, I might borrow it!

The author does a very good job with character development and with getting the reader to feel the emotions of the characters.  You will laugh, cringe, get angry, and cry.  You will be happy to read that the dad reads his Bible and searches for the presence of God and in doing so, draws in his daughter to do some soul-searching as well....and as for the last song....you'll just have to read the book to find out what that means!

My rating:  based on 5 * being the best, I give this a ***!