Summary and cover from good reads:
Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.
Like all good natured hopelessly romantic girls, I love Nicholas Sparks. I had been wanting to read this one since it first came out two years ago. It's darker than some of Sparks's other novels and is much less sad. I didn't like it as much as I liked Nights in Rodanthe or Dear John or The Choice, but it was still a good book. Normally, Sparks writes from a third-person narrative from the male perspective, but this time it was from a woman named Katie's and that was new.
It was a different perspective and definitely darker, but it was still a good book. By far my favorite character was Katie. I love how Katie survives and is such a strong woman and how she is willing to fight for what she wants once she finds it. Katie is surely a woman who deserves it after what she went through. Safe Haven definitely opened my eyes up to what it's like for a woman with an abusive, controlling husband who is determined to have control over her no matter what. It's scary and I really admire Katie for being strong and brave and finding love, in well, a hopeless place.
I also really enjoyed Alex and Katie's relationship and their relationship with his two kids. I love how real they are with each other and how realistic they are about where their lives are going. I enjoyed reading about their trip to the beach, which was one of my favorite parts. I definitely hope Sparks writes a sequel, too!
Have a great Thursday, yall!
