Book Review #79: The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

Hello Dear Reader!

Welcome to another book review by Nicholas Sparks! If you’ve been with me for a while, I’ve been incorporating romance books into my reading list because a few year ago, I decided to write romances of my own, and I immediately went to Sparks’s books as a resource. This is his third book I’ve read, and it’s amazing I have not yet read The Notebook yet, but I’ll get there eventually!

Now before I get into the review, here’s the back-cover summary: (from Goodreads)

Julie Barenson's young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died: a Great Dane puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now, four years have passed. Still living in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, 29-year-old Julie is emotionally ready to make a commitment to someone again. But who? Should it be Richard Franklin, the handsome, sophisticated engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband's best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she's had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire.

On to the review!

This book is an interesting mix of romance and thriller, as you may have seen in the back-cover summary. The story starts off with introducing main character 29-year-old Julie as she begins to get back into dating a few years after her husband passed. After going out with a few men she doesn’t connect with, she finally meets Richard, who takes her on memorable outings and gives her hope that she’ll be able to find the right one.

I personally love Julie along with the other characters of this book. Julie is sweet, smart, and considerate, but she’s not afraid to put her foot down when someone continues to make her feel uncomfortable despite being told or given hints. The other characters surrounding Julie such as salon owner Mabel, second love interest and best friend Mike, and rookie police officer Jennifer Romanello are, in my opinion, fleshed out and entertaining characters to read about. They’re all very distinct from each other, making for a diverse cast of characters!

It's difficult to write a review on this book without giving out any major spoilers, but I did find it very entertaining! There are a lot of hint drops that are done well, and while some plot points were a bit predictable, there were others that took me by surprise and kept me on my toes. It was a more complex read than what I was expecting, and it made my mind work! Were there a few clichés? Yes, but I personally enjoyed every single one of them… except for the one at the very end. Read at your own emotional risk.

And in relation to my previous statement, I will say there are a few uncomfortable topics covered in this book, such as the death of a loved one, harm done to animals, abusive parents, and stalking. So, if you are uncomfortable with any of the above, you may want to be wary going into this book if you want to try reading it.

So, The Guardian rating:

5/5 and highly recommend if you like a mix of romance and thriller that keeps you on your toes and has an antagonist that makes your jaw drop the more you learn about them.

Thanks for reading!