When I first saw the announcement of Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel, Every Breath, I was pretty excited, as he’s written several of my favorite books. When it was released, I picked out a copy and sat down to read it . . . only to find myself putting it down after several pages, in favor of another book.
Nearly two years later, I purchased a secondhand copy in paperback, like-new condition, for only five dollars. It looked as though it had never been read—score! And yet, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sit and read it. So, I used up a credit on Audible, and opted to listen to the novel instead.
By chapter six, I had a lot of problems with the novel. I still couldn’t remember anything about them, except for useless backstory—he used so much backstory, there was backstory to the backstory.
Tru Wells: He has an ex-wife, a son, jumps from camp to camp as a guide in Africa, though I don’t know if he hunts or just talks about hunting. He has an excruciatingly stubborn love of The Beatles, has never seen a flounder, is 90% stoic mute, and after two days has a creepy obsession with Hope Anderson, even positioning himself across from her house to watch her while he fishes.
Hope Anderson: She’s got a sick father, who I know about more than her. She works, though I can’t remember as what—if she’s a teacher, not only has this career been used before by Mr. Sparks, he didn’t execute it well at all, as I know more about her father’s teaching career than Hope’s career. She has a dog named Scottie, though apparently, she doesn’t really care much for the dog at all, or she’d pay attention to him.
She’s in her late thirties, yet still believes in continuing an on-again off-again relationship, though spends her entire time in the first six chapters, pretending to be happy for her friends for being where she wanted to be. She wanted to be married and pregnant, and neither has happened. Presumably, if she keeps up her toxic relationship with the boyfriend whom I can’t recall the name of . . . well, she’s nearing her forties, and that dream is going out the window.
Essentially, Hope is jealous of all her friends, miserable, and walks the beach with coffee as she inner-monologues her whole life story, letting her dog get hit by a car—though this was unmentioned until Tru ran up to her and later told his ex-wife all about it—because she can’t do anything more than be, for lack of a better word, a bitch, while Tru remains faceless and flat.
The sex scene was the final straw. Not only did it seem too soon, unbelievable, and like both of them were simply desperate to be laid, but it was out of character for a Sparks’ book. I couldn’t help but make a face and ask ‘why?’ before shutting off the audiobook. I only made it to the scene right afterwards, where he was making coffee. It simply wasn’t written well, and it seemed forced, unbearably annoying, and downright . . . well, unromantic.
Out of five stars . . . quite frankly, I wouldn’t even rate it a one. Save your time and money; try a book that will be a better use of your brain cells and patience. It’s no wonder it took forever to hit shelves, and honestly, I’m simply glad I was able to refund my purchase.
SheReadsWorlds 