Wednesday, April 1, 2015

{REVIEW} The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks


Title: The Longest Ride
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.


Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“We shared the longest ride together, this thing called life,”

 This was another great story done by the talent Nicholas Sparks. I loved that we saw two very different couple's love stories told in different time periods that came together in a very unbelievable and touching way.

Ira Levinson and his love for Ruth were such a great love story. I seriously had tears in my eyes reading about their history. They went through everything together and their love never wavered. The fact that all he cared about in life was making Ruth happy was just so heartwarming. I didn't think I would like reading his perspective because it took place in the 1940s and he was in a car just reminiscing about his life. I thought it would be rather dry, but I found myself really interested. I was also really saddened that days went by and no one had found him off the highway after his accident! It was so sad that he had no family left and he was all alone. ): But his story was so important for the overall message of the book and how it tied into Luke and Sophia's story.

Speaking of Luke and Sophia, wow! Their love was amazing! The very first night that they met was truly one of the cutest moments. I loved their effortless chemistry and the way they would tease each other, Their whole connection was great and I loved reading about them so much. I loved Luke's devotion to the ranch and his mom. I was so touched the way that he would risk bull riding just to save the ranch even if it meant killing him. I was so scared after we heard his story about Big Ugly Critter and every time he would risk getting on a bull. I respected him and couldn't help but feel so much love for him.

I really think that if you are looking for a touching romance you need to pick this novel up. It was really amazing and now one of my top 5 Nicholas Sparks books.

Now where can I get my very own cowboy? Hello Luke Collins 

1 comment:

  1. How heartbreaking that Ira was stranded for days like you said, sad. Never read Nicholas Sparks before, but looks like I will now. Thanks for the review.
    blessings, jill

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