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Remain
A one-of-a-kind novel that grapples with the supernatural mysteries of life, death and human connection—an unprecedented collaboration between the globally acclaimed author of bestselling love stories like The Notebook and the renowned writer and director of blockbuster thrillers like The Sixth Sense.
When New York architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home, he is hoping to make a fresh start. Recently discharged from an upscale psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression, he is still wrestling with the pain of losing his beloved sister. Sylvia’s deathbed revelation—that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world, a gift that runs in their family—sits uneasily with Tate, who struggles to believe in more than what reason can explain. But when he takes up residence at a historic bed-and-breakfast on the Cape, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Wren who will challenge every assumption he has about his logical and controlled world.
Tate and Wren find themselves forging an immediate connection, one that neither has ever experienced before. But Tate gradually discovers that below the surface of Wren’s idyllic small-town life, hatred, jealousy and greed are festering, threatening their fragile relationship just as it begins to blossom. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out . . . a quest that will make him doubt whether we can ever believe the stories we tell about ourselves, and the laws that govern our existence. Love—while transformative—can sometimes be frightening.
A story about the power of transcendent emotion, Remain asks us Can love set us free not only from our greatest sorrows, but even from the boundaries of life and death?
When New York architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home, he is hoping to make a fresh start. Recently discharged from an upscale psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression, he is still wrestling with the pain of losing his beloved sister. Sylvia’s deathbed revelation—that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world, a gift that runs in their family—sits uneasily with Tate, who struggles to believe in more than what reason can explain. But when he takes up residence at a historic bed-and-breakfast on the Cape, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Wren who will challenge every assumption he has about his logical and controlled world.
Tate and Wren find themselves forging an immediate connection, one that neither has ever experienced before. But Tate gradually discovers that below the surface of Wren’s idyllic small-town life, hatred, jealousy and greed are festering, threatening their fragile relationship just as it begins to blossom. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out . . . a quest that will make him doubt whether we can ever believe the stories we tell about ourselves, and the laws that govern our existence. Love—while transformative—can sometimes be frightening.
A story about the power of transcendent emotion, Remain asks us Can love set us free not only from our greatest sorrows, but even from the boundaries of life and death?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
6679 people are currently reading
134162 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Sparks
412 books238k followersNicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. All of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 130 million copies sold worldwide, in more than 50 languages, including over 92 million copies in the United States alone.
Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28. It was published in 1996 and he followed with the novels Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005) and its sequel, At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010), The Best of Me (2011), The Longest Ride (2013), See Me (2015), Two by Two (2016), Every Breath (2018), The Return (2020), The Wish (2021), and Dreamland (2022), as well as the 2004 non-fiction memoir Three Weeks With My Brother, co-written with his brother Micah. His twenty-fourth novel, Counting Miracles, will be published on September 24, 2024.
Film adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels, including The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven (on all of which he served as a producer), The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song, have had a cumulative worldwide gross of over three-quarters of a billion dollars. The Notebook has also been adapted into a Broadway musical, featuring music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson.
Sparks lives in North Carolina. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. He co-founded The Epiphany School in New Bern, North Carolina in 2006. As a former full scholarship athlete (he still holds a track and field record at the University of Notre Dame) he also spent four years coaching track and field athletes at the local public high school. In 2009, the team he coached at New Bern High School set a World Junior Indoor Record in the 4×400 meters, as well as US High School National Records in the 800 Medley and 1600 Medley. Click to watch the Runner’s World video with Nicholas.
The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 2011, to provide scholarships and fund educational programs for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. Between the foundation, and the personal gifts of the Sparks family, more than $15 million dollars have been distributed to deserving charities, scholarship programs, and projects. Because the Sparks family covers all operational expenses of the foundation, 100% of donations are devoted to programs.
Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28. It was published in 1996 and he followed with the novels Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005) and its sequel, At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010), The Best of Me (2011), The Longest Ride (2013), See Me (2015), Two by Two (2016), Every Breath (2018), The Return (2020), The Wish (2021), and Dreamland (2022), as well as the 2004 non-fiction memoir Three Weeks With My Brother, co-written with his brother Micah. His twenty-fourth novel, Counting Miracles, will be published on September 24, 2024.
Film adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels, including The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven (on all of which he served as a producer), The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song, have had a cumulative worldwide gross of over three-quarters of a billion dollars. The Notebook has also been adapted into a Broadway musical, featuring music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson.
Sparks lives in North Carolina. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. He co-founded The Epiphany School in New Bern, North Carolina in 2006. As a former full scholarship athlete (he still holds a track and field record at the University of Notre Dame) he also spent four years coaching track and field athletes at the local public high school. In 2009, the team he coached at New Bern High School set a World Junior Indoor Record in the 4×400 meters, as well as US High School National Records in the 800 Medley and 1600 Medley. Click to watch the Runner’s World video with Nicholas.
The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 2011, to provide scholarships and fund educational programs for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. Between the foundation, and the personal gifts of the Sparks family, more than $15 million dollars have been distributed to deserving charities, scholarship programs, and projects. Because the Sparks family covers all operational expenses of the foundation, 100% of donations are devoted to programs.
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December 30, 2025
Wow. Just wow.
The moment I heard that M. Night Shyamalan, the mastermind behind The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Split, was teaming up with Nicholas Sparks, the king of emotional romance and the author of The Notebook, my jaw hit the floor. Add in Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton’s Daphne, who crushed it in Fair Play), and I was hooked before I even turned a page.
Though Sparks’s stories usually bloom in North Carolina and Shyamalan’s mysteries lurk in the streets of Philadelphia, this time they meet halfway—Cape Cod—with the film’s production set in Rhode Island and a scheduled release in late October 2026.
I anticipated a brilliant fusion of Sparks’s signature tear-jerking love story and Shyamalan’s eerie, paranormal edge—and that’s exactly what this story delivers. Imagine The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense, with a side of Ghost and a sprinkle of The Lake House. The result? A haunting, heartbreakingly beautiful story that explores loss, connection, and the metaphysical in a deeply moving way.
Both authors have danced with ghosts before—Shyamalan stunned us with The Sixth Sense’s iconic twist, and Sparks flirted with the supernatural in Safe Haven. So yes, this is a paranormal romance, but one that doesn’t rely solely on shock value. We’re let in on Wren’s mystery early on—thankfully avoiding a predictable late twist—but the real surprise lies elsewhere, and it’s delivered cleverly enough to keep you guessing (even if your “spidey senses” kick in early like mine did!).
At its heart, the story follows Tate Donovan, a New York architect reeling from the recent death of his sister, Sylvia, and the devastating revelation about her hidden ability to speak with the dead. His grief spirals him into a breakdown and a stint at an upscale psychiatric facility. Afterward, he takes refuge in Cape Cod, redesigning a friend’s summer home and staying at a charming B&B. But he soon discovers he’s not alone—Wren, a mysterious, ethereal woman with secrets of her own, is also “living” there… or is she?
As Tate becomes drawn to Wren, his need to uncover her truth becomes more desperate. Is she who she says she is? Or is she the key to healing his own soul?
This book slowly builds, but once the love story takes off, it soars. The final act—packed with jump scares, ghostly reveals, and bathroom-set horror sequences (classic Shyamalan!)—grabs you by the throat. With SGA magic in full effect, it practically screams cinematic adaptation.
I especially loved Oscar, Tate’s loyal, wisecracking best friend—he’s grounded, hilarious, and deeply supportive. I kept imagining Kal Penn in the role (though Dev Patel or Himesh Patel would also be phenomenal choices).
So, did I love it? Absolutely.
Is it a never-before-seen original concept? No.
But does it beautifully blend familiar elements into a compelling, emotionally rich supernatural romance? Yes.
It warmed my heart, chilled my spine, and had me tearing up and flipping pages late into the night. While it starts slowly and some twists might feel familiar, the execution, atmosphere, and emotional payoff more than make up for it.
I’m giving it a glowing 3.5 stars rounded up to 4—a spooky-sweet supernatural romance that lingers long after the last page.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this future hit—soon to be one of the most anticipated films of 2026!
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The moment I heard that M. Night Shyamalan, the mastermind behind The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Split, was teaming up with Nicholas Sparks, the king of emotional romance and the author of The Notebook, my jaw hit the floor. Add in Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton’s Daphne, who crushed it in Fair Play), and I was hooked before I even turned a page.
Though Sparks’s stories usually bloom in North Carolina and Shyamalan’s mysteries lurk in the streets of Philadelphia, this time they meet halfway—Cape Cod—with the film’s production set in Rhode Island and a scheduled release in late October 2026.
I anticipated a brilliant fusion of Sparks’s signature tear-jerking love story and Shyamalan’s eerie, paranormal edge—and that’s exactly what this story delivers. Imagine The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense, with a side of Ghost and a sprinkle of The Lake House. The result? A haunting, heartbreakingly beautiful story that explores loss, connection, and the metaphysical in a deeply moving way.
Both authors have danced with ghosts before—Shyamalan stunned us with The Sixth Sense’s iconic twist, and Sparks flirted with the supernatural in Safe Haven. So yes, this is a paranormal romance, but one that doesn’t rely solely on shock value. We’re let in on Wren’s mystery early on—thankfully avoiding a predictable late twist—but the real surprise lies elsewhere, and it’s delivered cleverly enough to keep you guessing (even if your “spidey senses” kick in early like mine did!).
At its heart, the story follows Tate Donovan, a New York architect reeling from the recent death of his sister, Sylvia, and the devastating revelation about her hidden ability to speak with the dead. His grief spirals him into a breakdown and a stint at an upscale psychiatric facility. Afterward, he takes refuge in Cape Cod, redesigning a friend’s summer home and staying at a charming B&B. But he soon discovers he’s not alone—Wren, a mysterious, ethereal woman with secrets of her own, is also “living” there… or is she?
As Tate becomes drawn to Wren, his need to uncover her truth becomes more desperate. Is she who she says she is? Or is she the key to healing his own soul?
This book slowly builds, but once the love story takes off, it soars. The final act—packed with jump scares, ghostly reveals, and bathroom-set horror sequences (classic Shyamalan!)—grabs you by the throat. With SGA magic in full effect, it practically screams cinematic adaptation.
I especially loved Oscar, Tate’s loyal, wisecracking best friend—he’s grounded, hilarious, and deeply supportive. I kept imagining Kal Penn in the role (though Dev Patel or Himesh Patel would also be phenomenal choices).
So, did I love it? Absolutely.
Is it a never-before-seen original concept? No.
But does it beautifully blend familiar elements into a compelling, emotionally rich supernatural romance? Yes.
It warmed my heart, chilled my spine, and had me tearing up and flipping pages late into the night. While it starts slowly and some twists might feel familiar, the execution, atmosphere, and emotional payoff more than make up for it.
I’m giving it a glowing 3.5 stars rounded up to 4—a spooky-sweet supernatural romance that lingers long after the last page.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this future hit—soon to be one of the most anticipated films of 2026!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
September 24, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
This is a story about grief, romance, and the paranormal. Tate is an architect in New York who spent time in a psychiatric ward. He heads to Cape Cod to try to start over after the death of his sister. Before his sister died, she claimed to be able to see spirits that cling to the living, but Tate didn't believe in such nonsense. While Tate is staying at an old bed and breakfast, he meets Wren, who makes him re-evaluate his beliefs.
This was a unique read that seamlessly blends emotion, suspense, and mystery. Sparks’ talent for writing about love, grief, and the human condition shines and pairs well with Shyamalan’s creepy storytelling, which creates a story that comes off as both romantic and spooky. The Cape Cod setting is beautifully described, adding to the sense of place. The examination of life, death, and the spirits present among us gives the story an interesting depth. The relationship between Tate and Wren is sweet and realistic, which makes the supernatural elements come across as heartwarming.
Overall, Remain is a moving, thought-provoking story that surprised me in the best way possible. I do want to note that I am rounding up (which I rarely do) because I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
This is a story about grief, romance, and the paranormal. Tate is an architect in New York who spent time in a psychiatric ward. He heads to Cape Cod to try to start over after the death of his sister. Before his sister died, she claimed to be able to see spirits that cling to the living, but Tate didn't believe in such nonsense. While Tate is staying at an old bed and breakfast, he meets Wren, who makes him re-evaluate his beliefs.
This was a unique read that seamlessly blends emotion, suspense, and mystery. Sparks’ talent for writing about love, grief, and the human condition shines and pairs well with Shyamalan’s creepy storytelling, which creates a story that comes off as both romantic and spooky. The Cape Cod setting is beautifully described, adding to the sense of place. The examination of life, death, and the spirits present among us gives the story an interesting depth. The relationship between Tate and Wren is sweet and realistic, which makes the supernatural elements come across as heartwarming.
Overall, Remain is a moving, thought-provoking story that surprised me in the best way possible. I do want to note that I am rounding up (which I rarely do) because I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
on-pause
October 5, 2025I definitely didn’t have these two doing a collab on my 2025 bingo card lol, but I’m here for it.
Expected Pub Date - 10/14/25
Many thanks to Random House for the advanced digital copy.
Expected Pub Date - 10/14/25
Many thanks to Random House for the advanced digital copy.
January 10, 2026
A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of this book!!
When I first read the cover of this book I had to do a double take. This duo was not on my bingo card.
Those reading this are witnessing a D-list phenomenon. I literally swore an oath to myself over a decade ago now, that I would never ever everrrr.. read & or watch anything Nicolas Sparks.. EVER!..Even now in my early 30's I've never so much as watched the opening credits to the Notebook. Nothing personal, again I have just always been such an "anti romance" Kinda gal.. HOWEVER, I still can recognize talent, and after watching him make literally EVERYONE in my generation swoon. (to the point it started to feel like a pandemic) I think it's safe to say, the man clearly has talent. I just haven't been personally interested, UNTIL TODAY!!😭
To put into prospective, the velocity at which I devoured this book,a reference for my fellow 90's babies. (& anyone else with top tier movie taste).. I was Bruce and this was my chocolate cake.
This was just like a good ole fashioned ghost story peppered with heart and salted with soul. It was exquisitely written & heartfelt. But with that heart pounding suspense that is the magic of M. Night Shyamalan woven all the way through. The messages were beautiful and thought provoking. It really isn't the quantity of time someone is in your life , but the quality of the time.
Could there hopefully be layers to this duo, like perhaps they both come up with the idea & while Mr. Sparks writes the book, Mr M works a nice little movie for us??🫣🫣 .. I wouldn't mind
I hope these two are the start of something great! Can you imagine if more great filmmakers and great authors collabed?? Imagine the masterpieces we'd get?? You can't tell me you wouldn't be MORE than intrigued if one day, you were strolling down the book Isle and saw Steven Spielberg and Sarah J. Mass named on the same book cover. Because honestly, my bowels would probably exit stage left on sight. Id probably cry a little too , if we're keeping it honest.
Needless to say I will definitely be recommending, purchasing my hardcopy book trophy, and reading this again.. while I wait for my movie.....🫣🫣🤞🏼
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
When I first read the cover of this book I had to do a double take. This duo was not on my bingo card.
Those reading this are witnessing a D-list phenomenon. I literally swore an oath to myself over a decade ago now, that I would never ever everrrr.. read & or watch anything Nicolas Sparks.. EVER!..Even now in my early 30's I've never so much as watched the opening credits to the Notebook. Nothing personal, again I have just always been such an "anti romance" Kinda gal.. HOWEVER, I still can recognize talent, and after watching him make literally EVERYONE in my generation swoon. (to the point it started to feel like a pandemic) I think it's safe to say, the man clearly has talent. I just haven't been personally interested, UNTIL TODAY!!😭
To put into prospective, the velocity at which I devoured this book,a reference for my fellow 90's babies. (& anyone else with top tier movie taste).. I was Bruce and this was my chocolate cake.
This was just like a good ole fashioned ghost story peppered with heart and salted with soul. It was exquisitely written & heartfelt. But with that heart pounding suspense that is the magic of M. Night Shyamalan woven all the way through. The messages were beautiful and thought provoking. It really isn't the quantity of time someone is in your life , but the quality of the time.
Could there hopefully be layers to this duo, like perhaps they both come up with the idea & while Mr. Sparks writes the book, Mr M works a nice little movie for us??🫣🫣 .. I wouldn't mind
I hope these two are the start of something great! Can you imagine if more great filmmakers and great authors collabed?? Imagine the masterpieces we'd get?? You can't tell me you wouldn't be MORE than intrigued if one day, you were strolling down the book Isle and saw Steven Spielberg and Sarah J. Mass named on the same book cover. Because honestly, my bowels would probably exit stage left on sight. Id probably cry a little too , if we're keeping it honest.
Needless to say I will definitely be recommending, purchasing my hardcopy book trophy, and reading this again.. while I wait for my movie.....🫣🫣🤞🏼
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
October 14, 2025
Remain written by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan was definitely something I didn't have on my 2025 bingo card, but goodness gracious, I was blown away by the beautiful magic these two very talented authors created. Remain was beautiful, emotional, magical, heart breaking, powerful, inspiring, and mystical. This is NOT your typical Nicholas Sparks romance, yes it was still beautiful and emotional, but it's a novel that grapples with the supernatural mysteries of life, human connection, and death. The supernatural elements were super eerie and harrowing, but nonetheless it was one of the best paranormal romances I have ever read. Okay, even though I absolutely loved this book, I had to take away one star because the repetition became a little too much. Nicholas Sparks is one of my top favorite authors and this is why because this man can literally write any genre and I will love it. I can't recommend this book enough, if you are looking for a beautiful book that explores grief, romance, friendship, death, and life then you need to mark your calendars for October 14th, 2025 because Remain is no exception. I went into this book blind because I was slumping at the time, but boy did these two wonderfully talented authors steal my breath and heart. The tears were flowing and the snot bubbles were bubbling. I truly believe this book will be a favorite for so many readers including myself even though I knocked down one star despite the repetition because I was just completely blown away by how beautiful this story was.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"Our life's journey is our own, but wouldn't it be better with someone by your side?"
"Sometimes it's easier to talk about things with strangers than with someone you know".
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: It's loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness".
"Needing help doesn't mean you are broken".
"Sometimes, one thing is all you need to hold on to memories you never want to lose".
"Emotions can occasionally get the better of anyone, but truth prevails".
"All relationships entail risk because happy endings are never guaranteed".
Tate Donovan is a beautiful broken soul with one of the biggest hearts. Tate is a thirty-eight year old architect who has been through hell and back. This summer, Tate is spending some time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts while he helps his best friend Oscar and Oscar's wife Lorena design and build their dream vacation home. Tate has just been recently discharged from a psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression after the loss of his beloved sister. Tate had a four month stay in the lush countryside of Connecticut at this facility where he got to explore some aspects of his life that he had spent a lot of time trying to ignore. After the passing of his sister, Tate had paralyzing depression where he stayed in bed for weeks on end, he didn't answer any phone calls or emails, he didn't shower, and he even contemplated suicide, until his best friend Oscar convinced Tate to get the help he needed. Tate also has an emotional support animal named Paulie who is just the most precious feline. Tate is from the Upper East Side of New York, but he has no reason to go back because both of his parents were killed when Tate was just twenty-nine years old and now his sister is gone. After an architectural firm bought him out, Tate is now at loose ends for the first time in his adult life. Tate has lived his life as though he were checking items off of a to-do list. After the loss of his sister, Tate now has peripheral oscillopsia where he sees flickering visions which is a symptom of stress associated with the passing of his sister. Tate's sister Sylvia was five years older than Tate, but her heart had been damaged by a virus in her early childhood that has now stolen her life way too soon. Before passing away, Sylvia made videos for Tate that he had to watch after she died, but in one particular video, Sylvia dropped a bomb that she can see ghosts and spirits, she believed the existence of ghosts and the afterlife, Sylvia's revelation is that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world. Sylvia also left a letter behind for Tate that said to strike up a conversation with a stranger because anything is possible. Sylvia never mentioned to Tate that love can be very frightening. Tate Donovan will forever hold a special place in my heart for many years to come.
Wren Tobin is a beautiful and fragile soul who doesn't know if she's alive or dead. Wren died almost two years ago when she was just twenty-nine years old when she slipped and fell in the bathroom and drowning in the bathtub, the police state it was an accidental drowning and the medical examiner said there was water in Wren's lungs, but why was the case closed so quickly? Wren had a very chaotic childhood, she did okay in school but after her parents passing, Wren started failing all of her classes, she held friends but as she got older those "friends' started disassociating themselves with Wren. Wren was raised by her grandma Joyce, but Joyce died three years before turning one hundred years old. Wren is a true crime junkie, and she also confides to random strangers in the oddest places. Wren had dreams of becoming a veterinarian, but when those plans fell through, Wren started her own business- a game store called Bird's Toys and Games. Wren is super quirky, I loved her character, she had a sense of humor that just made me laugh and cry. When she was alive, Wren's love life was in shambles, she was in relationships, but they never lasted a long time. Even though Wren has passed away, she still returns as a ghost and her spirit still remains, but when she returns during the daytime, Wren is super sweet and very talkative, but when she returns as a nighttime ghost, Wren either screams or cries in pain, her story just absolutely shattered my heart. Even though Wren has passed away, there are rumors going around the small town of Cape Cod that Wren got off by manipulating men in relationships into falling in love with her, people just claimed that Wren was a sociopath, but they never really knew her story nor took the time to care. I know Wren was a ghost, but I truly felt bad about her former self, her story was just heart breaking, and the way she was treated was just uncalled for. I also didn't like the way the people of Cape Cod talked about a dead person because Wren wasn't alive to defend herself. Wren Tobin will be a character that I will never be able to forget.
Tate Donovan and Wren Tobin are just two wounded souls who found and somehow saved each other. Tate and Wren met at the bed and breakfast that he was staying at while he was building his best friend's dream home and Wren was just causally doing yoga as a ghost when Tate ran into her spirit one morning. On the morning they met, Tate was having auditory hallucinations, but did his sister Sylvia play a role in bringing Tate and Wren together? Even though their time together was very limited and Wren didn't always show up, Wren and Tate played Charades, Boggle, and two truths and a lie but with wine to get to know each other better. Wren taught Tate how to cook and do laundry, but most importantly Wren helped Tate grow up because he didn't know how to do the basic necessities to survive on his own. If Tate could find a way to heal and start over despite all that he had lost, then perhaps Wren can do the same as well. Tate and Wren's connection was so powerful and instantaneous, they shared an understanding of loss and hard roads that truly brought them together. Despite walking about a ghost, Oscar never once judged his best friend Tate, in fact he came up with the nickname Gigi-which stands for Ghost Girlfriend. After spending so much time together, Tate is falling in love with a ghost, but he needs to guard his heart because he's just been through so much heartache in his life. Tate also believes that Wren turned him into the kind of person that he has always wanted to be. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out. Tate and Wren learned that love while transformative can often sometimes be frightening and scary. I know Remain is a supernatural romance, but I can proudly say that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan made me fall in love with and cry over a ghost. I absolutely loved Tate and Wren, watching their love blossom for one another truly was so beautiful.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"Our life's journey is our own, but wouldn't it be better with someone by your side?"
"Sometimes it's easier to talk about things with strangers than with someone you know".
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: It's loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness".
"Needing help doesn't mean you are broken".
"Sometimes, one thing is all you need to hold on to memories you never want to lose".
"Emotions can occasionally get the better of anyone, but truth prevails".
"All relationships entail risk because happy endings are never guaranteed".
Tate Donovan is a beautiful broken soul with one of the biggest hearts. Tate is a thirty-eight year old architect who has been through hell and back. This summer, Tate is spending some time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts while he helps his best friend Oscar and Oscar's wife Lorena design and build their dream vacation home. Tate has just been recently discharged from a psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression after the loss of his beloved sister. Tate had a four month stay in the lush countryside of Connecticut at this facility where he got to explore some aspects of his life that he had spent a lot of time trying to ignore. After the passing of his sister, Tate had paralyzing depression where he stayed in bed for weeks on end, he didn't answer any phone calls or emails, he didn't shower, and he even contemplated suicide, until his best friend Oscar convinced Tate to get the help he needed. Tate also has an emotional support animal named Paulie who is just the most precious feline. Tate is from the Upper East Side of New York, but he has no reason to go back because both of his parents were killed when Tate was just twenty-nine years old and now his sister is gone. After an architectural firm bought him out, Tate is now at loose ends for the first time in his adult life. Tate has lived his life as though he were checking items off of a to-do list. After the loss of his sister, Tate now has peripheral oscillopsia where he sees flickering visions which is a symptom of stress associated with the passing of his sister. Tate's sister Sylvia was five years older than Tate, but her heart had been damaged by a virus in her early childhood that has now stolen her life way too soon. Before passing away, Sylvia made videos for Tate that he had to watch after she died, but in one particular video, Sylvia dropped a bomb that she can see ghosts and spirits, she believed the existence of ghosts and the afterlife, Sylvia's revelation is that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world. Sylvia also left a letter behind for Tate that said to strike up a conversation with a stranger because anything is possible. Sylvia never mentioned to Tate that love can be very frightening. Tate Donovan will forever hold a special place in my heart for many years to come.
Wren Tobin is a beautiful and fragile soul who doesn't know if she's alive or dead. Wren died almost two years ago when she was just twenty-nine years old when she slipped and fell in the bathroom and drowning in the bathtub, the police state it was an accidental drowning and the medical examiner said there was water in Wren's lungs, but why was the case closed so quickly? Wren had a very chaotic childhood, she did okay in school but after her parents passing, Wren started failing all of her classes, she held friends but as she got older those "friends' started disassociating themselves with Wren. Wren was raised by her grandma Joyce, but Joyce died three years before turning one hundred years old. Wren is a true crime junkie, and she also confides to random strangers in the oddest places. Wren had dreams of becoming a veterinarian, but when those plans fell through, Wren started her own business- a game store called Bird's Toys and Games. Wren is super quirky, I loved her character, she had a sense of humor that just made me laugh and cry. When she was alive, Wren's love life was in shambles, she was in relationships, but they never lasted a long time. Even though Wren has passed away, she still returns as a ghost and her spirit still remains, but when she returns during the daytime, Wren is super sweet and very talkative, but when she returns as a nighttime ghost, Wren either screams or cries in pain, her story just absolutely shattered my heart. Even though Wren has passed away, there are rumors going around the small town of Cape Cod that Wren got off by manipulating men in relationships into falling in love with her, people just claimed that Wren was a sociopath, but they never really knew her story nor took the time to care. I know Wren was a ghost, but I truly felt bad about her former self, her story was just heart breaking, and the way she was treated was just uncalled for. I also didn't like the way the people of Cape Cod talked about a dead person because Wren wasn't alive to defend herself. Wren Tobin will be a character that I will never be able to forget.
Tate Donovan and Wren Tobin are just two wounded souls who found and somehow saved each other. Tate and Wren met at the bed and breakfast that he was staying at while he was building his best friend's dream home and Wren was just causally doing yoga as a ghost when Tate ran into her spirit one morning. On the morning they met, Tate was having auditory hallucinations, but did his sister Sylvia play a role in bringing Tate and Wren together? Even though their time together was very limited and Wren didn't always show up, Wren and Tate played Charades, Boggle, and two truths and a lie but with wine to get to know each other better. Wren taught Tate how to cook and do laundry, but most importantly Wren helped Tate grow up because he didn't know how to do the basic necessities to survive on his own. If Tate could find a way to heal and start over despite all that he had lost, then perhaps Wren can do the same as well. Tate and Wren's connection was so powerful and instantaneous, they shared an understanding of loss and hard roads that truly brought them together. Despite walking about a ghost, Oscar never once judged his best friend Tate, in fact he came up with the nickname Gigi-which stands for Ghost Girlfriend. After spending so much time together, Tate is falling in love with a ghost, but he needs to guard his heart because he's just been through so much heartache in his life. Tate also believes that Wren turned him into the kind of person that he has always wanted to be. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out. Tate and Wren learned that love while transformative can often sometimes be frightening and scary. I know Remain is a supernatural romance, but I can proudly say that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan made me fall in love with and cry over a ghost. I absolutely loved Tate and Wren, watching their love blossom for one another truly was so beautiful.
October 10, 2025
Remain is a gripping and thought-provoking book by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. Remain explores life, death, romance, friendship, grief, attraction, mystery, and a special gift. I read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put it down. I loved the paranormal element paired with an intriguing mystery. Remain seamlessly blends various genres ranging from romance, fantasy, romance, mystery and of course, paranormal.
Tate Donovan is still grieving the loss of his sister when he travels to Cape Cod to design his best friend's summer home. He is still grappling with his sister's deathbed confession about a special gift that runs in their family. While in Cape Cod, Tate encounters a beautiful woman named Wren at the bed and breakfast where he is staying. Tate feels an instant connection to Wren......
As this book builds so does Tate and Wren's connection. The sense of danger also builds as Tate tries to get to the bottom of what happened one fateful evening. The mystery as well as the romance in this book built at just the right speed. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out. I enjoyed the pacing and the unraveling of the plot.
Even though this book is a paranormal romance meets mystery book. Nothing felt over the top or fantastical. The paranormal aspect of the book fit in perfectly and never felt over the top or preposterous. The mystery is captivating, and the main characters are engaging and likeable.
Overall, a gripping paranormal romance book with a riveting murder mystery!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, captivating, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Tate Donovan is still grieving the loss of his sister when he travels to Cape Cod to design his best friend's summer home. He is still grappling with his sister's deathbed confession about a special gift that runs in their family. While in Cape Cod, Tate encounters a beautiful woman named Wren at the bed and breakfast where he is staying. Tate feels an instant connection to Wren......
As this book builds so does Tate and Wren's connection. The sense of danger also builds as Tate tries to get to the bottom of what happened one fateful evening. The mystery as well as the romance in this book built at just the right speed. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out. I enjoyed the pacing and the unraveling of the plot.
Even though this book is a paranormal romance meets mystery book. Nothing felt over the top or fantastical. The paranormal aspect of the book fit in perfectly and never felt over the top or preposterous. The mystery is captivating, and the main characters are engaging and likeable.
Overall, a gripping paranormal romance book with a riveting murder mystery!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, captivating, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
October 26, 2025
From the moment I heard that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan were collaborating on a "supernatural love story," I was fully on board.
I mean, c'mon, The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense?
Heck yeah.
I dunno. Maybe my expectations were too high?
Don't get me wrong; Remain was a good story. But... it just kinda fell flat, with a resounding thud.
The influence of each artist was definitely felt and certainly made for a unique narrative voice with Shyamalan’s mastery of psychological horror and Sparks' gift for depicting profound emotional connections.
But with that collaboration, well, I just wasn't too keen on the writing style. In fact, some of the dialogue felt forced and unnatural — I even rolled my eyes at times.
Not the best.
I'm hopeful that the film adaptation already in the works with Jake Gyllenhaal is more to my liking.
Despite its shortcomings, Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan was the perfect segue into spooky season.
October 22, 2025
Tate discovers he’s inherited his late sister’s special ability to see ghosts. After struggling to come to terms with the strange things he starts seeing, he stays at a guesthouse while helping design a home for his friends. When the ghost of Wren appears to him, he begins piecing together clues to solve her murder.
The story moves at a slow burn but definitely stirs some emotions. It’s not as passionate as I expected for a story filled with love, loss, and heartache, but it’s still a solid read. Nicholas always delivers soulful writing, and this one is no different. I would’ve liked a bit more pace in the middle, but the ending tied things together nicely.
The story moves at a slow burn but definitely stirs some emotions. It’s not as passionate as I expected for a story filled with love, loss, and heartache, but it’s still a solid read. Nicholas always delivers soulful writing, and this one is no different. I would’ve liked a bit more pace in the middle, but the ending tied things together nicely.
August 29, 2025
➳ 2 ☆
firstly, i want to thank NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. this book will be out on october 14th, 2025. as always, these are my thoughts, and this will be an honest review.
i want to preface this by saying, i have never read a book by nicholas sparks. m. night shyamalan is a great filmaker, and i am a huge fan of his work. however, i am unsure if his voice mixed well with nicholas'. i honestly did not read any reviews or comments from anyone else before i started this and looking back, and i am not sure if that was a good idea. i didn't find this book super twisty, nor did i feel any emotions with the romantic plot. the only part i was looking forward to is the upcoming movie. it stars both jake gyllenhaal & phoebe dynevor—and i am sat down for this. i just know they will deliver an amazing performance.
firstly, this book was moving very slow for my liking. the story does start off with us getting introduced to our main characters. tate, from new york, is dealing with the aftermath of his sister's death and is trying to manage his life. from here, he ends up working on a summer house for his friend and meets an unexpected woman called, wren. this part of the storytelling happens in the first 25% of the book, and unfortunately, this was the only aspect keeping my attention. from here, we are on this journey with tate to figure out whether wren is living with him—or not—since nobody else has seen this mysterious woman.
i do think my main contention with this novel is how it clearly feels like a movie script. since this book isn't out yet—and i don't want to spoil ANYTHING—i am going to keep this vague. the entire time i was reading this book, i felt bereft. something was clearly missing from the final draft, and i realized that it's because this is being turned into a big picture. there was a lot of grey area in the book and not enough action. this will not be an issue for everyone, but it was a critique i personally had. i do admire the concept, since we don't see lots of romances and supernatural/thrillers in books, but i wasn't a huge fan of the execution. i do have high hopes for the movie, though!
once again, thank you so much for the ARC. i hope everyone enjoys this book. <3
firstly, i want to thank NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. this book will be out on october 14th, 2025. as always, these are my thoughts, and this will be an honest review.
i want to preface this by saying, i have never read a book by nicholas sparks. m. night shyamalan is a great filmaker, and i am a huge fan of his work. however, i am unsure if his voice mixed well with nicholas'. i honestly did not read any reviews or comments from anyone else before i started this and looking back, and i am not sure if that was a good idea. i didn't find this book super twisty, nor did i feel any emotions with the romantic plot. the only part i was looking forward to is the upcoming movie. it stars both jake gyllenhaal & phoebe dynevor—and i am sat down for this. i just know they will deliver an amazing performance.
firstly, this book was moving very slow for my liking. the story does start off with us getting introduced to our main characters. tate, from new york, is dealing with the aftermath of his sister's death and is trying to manage his life. from here, he ends up working on a summer house for his friend and meets an unexpected woman called, wren. this part of the storytelling happens in the first 25% of the book, and unfortunately, this was the only aspect keeping my attention. from here, we are on this journey with tate to figure out whether wren is living with him—or not—since nobody else has seen this mysterious woman.
i do think my main contention with this novel is how it clearly feels like a movie script. since this book isn't out yet—and i don't want to spoil ANYTHING—i am going to keep this vague. the entire time i was reading this book, i felt bereft. something was clearly missing from the final draft, and i realized that it's because this is being turned into a big picture. there was a lot of grey area in the book and not enough action. this will not be an issue for everyone, but it was a critique i personally had. i do admire the concept, since we don't see lots of romances and supernatural/thrillers in books, but i wasn't a huge fan of the execution. i do have high hopes for the movie, though!
once again, thank you so much for the ARC. i hope everyone enjoys this book. <3
August 19, 2025
A great combination of mystery, suspense, the supernatural, and love.
I was surprised that I saw a lot of bad reviews for this as I feel this was good. Some of the supernatural scenes were so creepy that you could tell which of the authors wrote them. 😂 I feel like I would totally be like him and fall for a supernatural being too.
I felt this book had all the elements of a good story including the mystery. There were only 2 thing that took it down some for me. The first is it could be a little slow at times, but the really good scenes made up for that. The second was when the mystery was solved in the end, it was a twist but I found myself actually wishing it had been one of the people that we suspected as I feel there was more of an exciting story with that.
Overall, I think this will be a popular book especially for a nice fall read as it had the spooky elements.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was surprised that I saw a lot of bad reviews for this as I feel this was good. Some of the supernatural scenes were so creepy that you could tell which of the authors wrote them. 😂 I feel like I would totally be like him and fall for a supernatural being too.
I felt this book had all the elements of a good story including the mystery. There were only 2 thing that took it down some for me. The first is it could be a little slow at times, but the really good scenes made up for that. The second was when the mystery was solved in the end, it was a twist but I found myself actually wishing it had been one of the people that we suspected as I feel there was more of an exciting story with that.
Overall, I think this will be a popular book especially for a nice fall read as it had the spooky elements.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2025
✨ Hauntingly romantic, quietly suspenseful, & emotionally resonant!
Right from the first chapter, Remain pulled me in and didn’t let go. I found myself swept up in the gorgeous Cape Cod setting, the emotional twists, and that little touch of spooky suspense that kept me curious the whole time. It’s the kind of story that feels both warm and a little eerie in the best way.
Set on beautiful Cape Cod, the story follows Tate Donovan, an architect looking for a fresh start while carrying the weight of grief. What starts as a simple project at a friend’s summer home slowly becomes something deeper and a little mysterious.
The audiobook narration by Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan was wonderful. They brought Tate and the people he meets to life in a way that really pulled me in. I loved how they captured the quiet intensity of Tate’s connection with this intriguing woman.
The story moved at a steady pace that let the emotions and atmosphere shine, and I stayed engaged from start to finish.
📖 A really enjoyable audiobook that mixes romance with a touch of supernatural suspense
🧠 I could feel the authors working together, with tender moments wrapped up in a story that kept me curious and invested
😳 The way the story explores grief, loss, and things beyond what we can see felt thoughtful and real
🎯 The mystery unfolds in a gentle, slow-building way that suits the mood perfectly
💡 The idea of love stretching beyond boundaries felt powerful and moving
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heartfelt and atmospheric audiobook that I was completely absorbed in from start to finish. I really loved listening to this one.
🎧 Thank you to Libro.fm for my ALC!
Right from the first chapter, Remain pulled me in and didn’t let go. I found myself swept up in the gorgeous Cape Cod setting, the emotional twists, and that little touch of spooky suspense that kept me curious the whole time. It’s the kind of story that feels both warm and a little eerie in the best way.
Set on beautiful Cape Cod, the story follows Tate Donovan, an architect looking for a fresh start while carrying the weight of grief. What starts as a simple project at a friend’s summer home slowly becomes something deeper and a little mysterious.
The audiobook narration by Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan was wonderful. They brought Tate and the people he meets to life in a way that really pulled me in. I loved how they captured the quiet intensity of Tate’s connection with this intriguing woman.
The story moved at a steady pace that let the emotions and atmosphere shine, and I stayed engaged from start to finish.
📖 A really enjoyable audiobook that mixes romance with a touch of supernatural suspense
🧠 I could feel the authors working together, with tender moments wrapped up in a story that kept me curious and invested
😳 The way the story explores grief, loss, and things beyond what we can see felt thoughtful and real
🎯 The mystery unfolds in a gentle, slow-building way that suits the mood perfectly
💡 The idea of love stretching beyond boundaries felt powerful and moving
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heartfelt and atmospheric audiobook that I was completely absorbed in from start to finish. I really loved listening to this one.
🎧 Thank you to Libro.fm for my ALC!
September 24, 2025
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d like this one, but I’m really glad I gave it a chance. The paranormal romance aspect is kind of odd to me, but it was still well written.
The overall story and plot are interesting, with so many layers and depths to it. I instantly connected with the MMC - his character was top-notch and well-developed. The FMC was also pretty intriguing. The best part of the book, in my opinion, was the mystery. I was trying to crack that case alongside the MMC. This one will definitely keep you hooked from start to finish.
Remain is exactly what you’d hope for from a Nicholas Sparks x M. Night Shyamalan collaboration - romance meets supernatural mystery. If you’re okay with ghosts, murder, and death in general, this one is worth a shot!
Thank you so much, Random House, for sending me this ARC. Little kid me would never believe that adult me gets the opportunity to read Nicholas Sparks' books before publication. Forever thankful!
Pub Date Oct 14 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
The overall story and plot are interesting, with so many layers and depths to it. I instantly connected with the MMC - his character was top-notch and well-developed. The FMC was also pretty intriguing. The best part of the book, in my opinion, was the mystery. I was trying to crack that case alongside the MMC. This one will definitely keep you hooked from start to finish.
Remain is exactly what you’d hope for from a Nicholas Sparks x M. Night Shyamalan collaboration - romance meets supernatural mystery. If you’re okay with ghosts, murder, and death in general, this one is worth a shot!
Thank you so much, Random House, for sending me this ARC. Little kid me would never believe that adult me gets the opportunity to read Nicholas Sparks' books before publication. Forever thankful!
Pub Date Oct 14 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
August 6, 2025
Yawn.
Paranormal love story that had no emotion or depth and writing that felt amateur. I think this was my last Nicholas Sparks book.
Paranormal love story that had no emotion or depth and writing that felt amateur. I think this was my last Nicholas Sparks book.
September 3, 2025
I was sooooo excited for this pairing. I never read anything by Nicholas Sparks but when I heard M. Night Shyamalan was teaming up with him to write REMAIN, I knew that I’d have to read this one immediately. Hit or miss, M. Night Shyamalan’s movies are always on the top of my list.
Seeking a fresh start in Cape Cod, architect Tate Donovan helps his best friend Oscar build his dream home. Everything seems to change when he meets Wren, a captivating woman who shatters his logical worldview. Their deep connection soon faces threats from dark secrets in her past. To save her, Tate must confront truths that challenge love, reason, and reality itself.
This book is a trick. In the editor’s note, the idea of this book came together but from my understanding Nicholas Sparks wrote the book while M. Night Shyamalan is writing the screenplay—that is not the same as co-authoring a book. Sorry! Also, this book is nothing new (insert Nene Leakes “nothing was there gif” 😂). This book is not original, nor anything more than just a paranormal romance-ish tale. You’ve heard and read this book before. I do think the writing style allows for a quick read, but I wish I picked up a different book for my morning commute. This was my first and last Nicholas Sparks book.
Seeking a fresh start in Cape Cod, architect Tate Donovan helps his best friend Oscar build his dream home. Everything seems to change when he meets Wren, a captivating woman who shatters his logical worldview. Their deep connection soon faces threats from dark secrets in her past. To save her, Tate must confront truths that challenge love, reason, and reality itself.
This book is a trick. In the editor’s note, the idea of this book came together but from my understanding Nicholas Sparks wrote the book while M. Night Shyamalan is writing the screenplay—that is not the same as co-authoring a book. Sorry! Also, this book is nothing new (insert Nene Leakes “nothing was there gif” 😂). This book is not original, nor anything more than just a paranormal romance-ish tale. You’ve heard and read this book before. I do think the writing style allows for a quick read, but I wish I picked up a different book for my morning commute. This was my first and last Nicholas Sparks book.
December 5, 2025
This was just… OK. Was it a quick read? Yes! Did I wanna know how it all concluded? Yes! Did I find this original? Not at all.
Tate, still reeling from the loss of his sister, tries to distract himself by taking on a new architectural project in Cape Cod. While the project is going on, he rents an old home that used to be a bed-and-breakfast in a nearby small village. He begins having visions that something tragic happened in the house, but is unable to piece it all together. Meanwhile, he meets Wren and becomes instantly enamored by her. Each of these elements brings together a mixture of supernatural, mystery and romance.
As I mentioned above this was just an OK read for me. I will admit I’ve never read a Sparks novel before. I have seen film adaptations of some of his novels that were rather good. Unfortunately, this one didn’t seem to have that emotional punch, for me anyway. I think when I saw Shyamalan’s name attached to this, I got a little over excited. As for how everything intertwined was fine and kept my attention, I just felt it had been done before and was a bit predictable.
There are a ton of great reviews out there for this one so please check those out, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Tate, still reeling from the loss of his sister, tries to distract himself by taking on a new architectural project in Cape Cod. While the project is going on, he rents an old home that used to be a bed-and-breakfast in a nearby small village. He begins having visions that something tragic happened in the house, but is unable to piece it all together. Meanwhile, he meets Wren and becomes instantly enamored by her. Each of these elements brings together a mixture of supernatural, mystery and romance.
As I mentioned above this was just an OK read for me. I will admit I’ve never read a Sparks novel before. I have seen film adaptations of some of his novels that were rather good. Unfortunately, this one didn’t seem to have that emotional punch, for me anyway. I think when I saw Shyamalan’s name attached to this, I got a little over excited. As for how everything intertwined was fine and kept my attention, I just felt it had been done before and was a bit predictable.
There are a ton of great reviews out there for this one so please check those out, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
November 26, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️
Getting ghosted sucks. I mean, ghost love sucks. I mean….I don’t know what I mean because this book doesn’t know why it exists. And because it doesn’t know why it exists, it gave me no reason to enjoy it.
It feels extremely formulaic and insipid. There is no new ground covered at all, and the ground that was retreaded on feels entirely flattened. The M. Night Shyamalan twist has lost all of its luster, even when delivered in novel form.
I’ve felt more spark between two people at a scorned lovers convention, if one actually existed, and if I’d ever been to one. This one is a swing and a miss for me.
Getting ghosted sucks. I mean, ghost love sucks. I mean….I don’t know what I mean because this book doesn’t know why it exists. And because it doesn’t know why it exists, it gave me no reason to enjoy it.
It feels extremely formulaic and insipid. There is no new ground covered at all, and the ground that was retreaded on feels entirely flattened. The M. Night Shyamalan twist has lost all of its luster, even when delivered in novel form.
I’ve felt more spark between two people at a scorned lovers convention, if one actually existed, and if I’d ever been to one. This one is a swing and a miss for me.
October 27, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, paranormal romance novel. It has a lovely setting, a beautiful romance, and an engaging mystery. Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan do an outstanding job narrating the audiobook.
November 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
An architect, still grieving the loss of his beloved sister, rents a home that is haunted by a beautiful woman who needs his help to find out what happened to her.
Honestly, it's not the greatest story I have ever read, but there was enough substance to put this book in the "like" category. Although romance is the wheelhouse of Nicholas Sparks, this story, in my opinion, had all the markings of M. Night Shyamalan...except without some jaw-dropping twist. I don't know if the storyline needed a novel; maybe just a novella would have been sufficient. But I did love Tate and Wren's scenes together. When it became more of a mystery, with Tate and his friend Oscar going all over town as amateur sleuths, that was what I liked most about it.
Publication Date 14/10/25
Goodreads Review 15/11/25
An architect, still grieving the loss of his beloved sister, rents a home that is haunted by a beautiful woman who needs his help to find out what happened to her.
Honestly, it's not the greatest story I have ever read, but there was enough substance to put this book in the "like" category. Although romance is the wheelhouse of Nicholas Sparks, this story, in my opinion, had all the markings of M. Night Shyamalan...except without some jaw-dropping twist. I don't know if the storyline needed a novel; maybe just a novella would have been sufficient. But I did love Tate and Wren's scenes together. When it became more of a mystery, with Tate and his friend Oscar going all over town as amateur sleuths, that was what I liked most about it.
Publication Date 14/10/25
Goodreads Review 15/11/25
November 14, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Edelweiss for the ARC!
I should have known this wouldn't be too far up my alley, and as my first Nicholas Sparks book, I was shocked at how robotic the writing felt. The characters felt like loose descriptions of how a person should feel, but none of the heart or quirks of an actual character? It felt like the characters were pre ordained to fall in love, so they did, not because of chemistry, but because of plot necessity. I expected it to be cheesy, but it was just so bland it couldn't even be described as overly sentimental. The paranormal twist was also completely unnecessary and surface level.
I wish that I had connected to any of the characters and any of their motivations, but it got to the point where I actually forgot the main characters name at points.
I should have known this wouldn't be too far up my alley, and as my first Nicholas Sparks book, I was shocked at how robotic the writing felt. The characters felt like loose descriptions of how a person should feel, but none of the heart or quirks of an actual character? It felt like the characters were pre ordained to fall in love, so they did, not because of chemistry, but because of plot necessity. I expected it to be cheesy, but it was just so bland it couldn't even be described as overly sentimental. The paranormal twist was also completely unnecessary and surface level.
I wish that I had connected to any of the characters and any of their motivations, but it got to the point where I actually forgot the main characters name at points.
October 14, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
I am a shameless fan of M. Night Shyamalan. Have been since The Sixth Sense. When I saw he was trying his hand at writing fiction, I was so excited! So of course I requested it!
"Even I know that dreams seldom match reality." p137
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I was not in love with this book's first half. It didn't seem to be going anywhere, this weird romance between a man and a self-aware ghost who...teaches him to cook? But for me, the second half was much better, when they started solving the spirit's murder.
I have come to expect some degree of ableism from M. Night Shyamalan; his work has always contained it and why would this be any different? Other than that, I could really feel his touch on this story and I loved it.
I'm not as familiar with Sparks but I know he writes very famous romance stories. His style is poetic and elegant, perfect for a romance.
This concept was interesting and I liked where it ended up going. I could probably do more supernatural romance, it's a nice little subgenre!
I recommend this to fans of M. Night Shyamalan movies and a good story turn, readers of ghost stories, and romance fans. It's hard to peg a similar book for this one, but this will be a good choice for readers who loved Ghost (the film).
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "Cape Cod in May stirs hope in the hearts of previously frozen New Yorkers, its verdant lawns and ocean breezes holding the promise of summer days just around the corner. As I rolled down the window of my car, breathing in the scent of growing things , I marveled at how distant the chilly gray skies and rain-flooded gutters of city life felt. Here, at least, winter had long since retreated and the dream of slower, sun-drenched days felt close enough to touch." p *Gorgeous* writing. Of course!
✔️ Good mental illness representation in this book, but it's overshadowed by the presence of ableism and ableist language.
✔️ "Paulie hissed, and my neck muscles tightened while the hairs on my arms began to rise. My breathing came in shallow bursts, and my heartbeat thudded in my ears as Paulie crept forward before freezing again. She was moving like a hunter, but I feared she was the prey." p46 I love cats in books! Paulie is more of a character than a prop, and I like that! *edit unfortunately I don't think the text makes good use of this character. She's just a prop. *edit The text makes better use of her in the second half.
✔️ I liked the story turn, and definitely prefer the second half to the first, as the pace and plot both get stronger.
Content Notes: mental illness, mental health treatment, mental health jargon, ableist language, ghosts, haunted house,
Thank you to M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks, Random House, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of REMAIN. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
I am a shameless fan of M. Night Shyamalan. Have been since The Sixth Sense. When I saw he was trying his hand at writing fiction, I was so excited! So of course I requested it!
"Even I know that dreams seldom match reality." p137
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I was not in love with this book's first half. It didn't seem to be going anywhere, this weird romance between a man and a self-aware ghost who...teaches him to cook? But for me, the second half was much better, when they started solving the spirit's murder.
I have come to expect some degree of ableism from M. Night Shyamalan; his work has always contained it and why would this be any different? Other than that, I could really feel his touch on this story and I loved it.
I'm not as familiar with Sparks but I know he writes very famous romance stories. His style is poetic and elegant, perfect for a romance.
This concept was interesting and I liked where it ended up going. I could probably do more supernatural romance, it's a nice little subgenre!
I recommend this to fans of M. Night Shyamalan movies and a good story turn, readers of ghost stories, and romance fans. It's hard to peg a similar book for this one, but this will be a good choice for readers who loved Ghost (the film).
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "Cape Cod in May stirs hope in the hearts of previously frozen New Yorkers, its verdant lawns and ocean breezes holding the promise of summer days just around the corner. As I rolled down the window of my car, breathing in the scent of growing things , I marveled at how distant the chilly gray skies and rain-flooded gutters of city life felt. Here, at least, winter had long since retreated and the dream of slower, sun-drenched days felt close enough to touch." p *Gorgeous* writing. Of course!
✔️ Good mental illness representation in this book, but it's overshadowed by the presence of ableism and ableist language.
✔️ "Paulie hissed, and my neck muscles tightened while the hairs on my arms began to rise. My breathing came in shallow bursts, and my heartbeat thudded in my ears as Paulie crept forward before freezing again. She was moving like a hunter, but I feared she was the prey." p46 I love cats in books! Paulie is more of a character than a prop, and I like that! *edit unfortunately I don't think the text makes good use of this character. She's just a prop. *edit The text makes better use of her in the second half.
✔️ I liked the story turn, and definitely prefer the second half to the first, as the pace and plot both get stronger.
Content Notes: mental illness, mental health treatment, mental health jargon, ableist language, ghosts, haunted house,
Thank you to M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks, Random House, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of REMAIN. All views are mine.
September 30, 2025
I was soooo excited for this book, and now I’m so disappointed 😭 I’ll start with what I did like: the descriptions and setting of this book were so vivid, it felt like I was watching a movie while reading. Not surprising given who the author(s) are. The ease of reading definitely carried me through the less-than-satisfying plot points. What I didn’t like about the book is that it’s a bit or a romance, a bit of a mystery, and a bit of a horror, but doesn’t do any of those genres justice enough to recommend the book to those readers. I actually WOULDN’T call it a romance, so romance readers beware. The mystery storyline was SO PREDICTABLE, and that’s coming from someone who usually isn’t that picky when it comes to formulaic or somewhat predictable mystery/thrillers. But if you have M. Night Shyamalan’s name on your cover, I’m expecting a good twist and this didn’t have anything. The horror elements were actually fun and creepy, but too few and far between to actually recommend the book to horror readers. Overall I was expecting something groundbreaking from these two big names known for their genre-defining works in the past, and was so let down. I really don’t think I’d recommend this to anyone. What I WILL do is check out the movie when it comes out in a year, to see if Shyamalan did anything better with the movie version of the same story. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!
October 1, 2025
When I saw that these two authors were collaborating on a book, I knew that I needed to read it. To me, it was everything that I expected. M. Night Shymalan's twistedness and Nicholas Sparks' evoking the emotions pulling at your heart strings.
Tate goes to Cape Cod to help design a friend's home while he's still deeply grieving the death of his sister. What makes it all the more difficult is before she died, Tate learned his sister could see and communicate with ghosts and she's passing this gift on to him. Given the trauma of losing his sister, the newfound news, seemingly hallucinations, Tate ends up spending a few months in a psychiatric hospital. While at the b&b he's staying at, he's supposed to be alone, but he meets Wren who is also staying there, and there's an instant connection between them.
Tate realizes that Wren is a ghost and she was murdered. Tate wants to solve her murder and figure out what happened to Wren because he finds himself quickly falling for her.
This started out a bit slow but then picked up. I enjoyed Remain because it was so different. This would make a great Fall read.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication October 14, 2025.
Tate goes to Cape Cod to help design a friend's home while he's still deeply grieving the death of his sister. What makes it all the more difficult is before she died, Tate learned his sister could see and communicate with ghosts and she's passing this gift on to him. Given the trauma of losing his sister, the newfound news, seemingly hallucinations, Tate ends up spending a few months in a psychiatric hospital. While at the b&b he's staying at, he's supposed to be alone, but he meets Wren who is also staying there, and there's an instant connection between them.
Tate realizes that Wren is a ghost and she was murdered. Tate wants to solve her murder and figure out what happened to Wren because he finds himself quickly falling for her.
This started out a bit slow but then picked up. I enjoyed Remain because it was so different. This would make a great Fall read.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication October 14, 2025.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
Healing and Haunting in Heatherington
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😛😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: Remain
Author: Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Narrators: Ari Fliakos & Julia Whelan
The novel introduces Tate Donovan, a thirty‑eight‑year‑old architect attempting to rebuild his life after a period of profound personal loss. His move to the bustling Cape Cod town of Heatherington—initially a straightforward work trip to design a home for his longtime friend Oscar—quickly becomes a catalyst for emotional and psychological upheaval. Tate’s privileged upbringing and complicated family history establish him as a character shaped as much by absence as by affluence, and the narrative uses his return to a small coastal community to explore themes of grief, identity, and the limits of rationality.
Tate’s recent stay in a psychiatric hospital and his exposure to DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) provide a grounded counterpoint to the story’s supernatural undercurrents. His sister Sylvia’s final revelations about their family’s ability to see spirits blur the line between psychological distress and paranormal inheritance. The book uses Tate’s flickering peripheral visions not merely as eerie embellishments but as a device to interrogate how trauma alters perception—and how belief can become both a comfort and a destabilizing force.
Parallel to Tate’s journey is Wren, a local innkeeper whose life has been shaped by her own quiet battles. Her grief, isolation, and faltering confidence create a portrait of someone who is outwardly capable yet internally adrift. The pandemic’s impact on her business and relationships adds a contemporary layer that feels emotionally authentic, even when her timeline becomes difficult to track. Her connection with Tate forms the emotional core of the story, though the extended focus on their early interactions occasionally slows the pacing.
The novel’s blend of supernatural mystery and romantic tension evokes the atmospheric storytelling of M. Night Shyamalan, while the emotional stakes and tragic undertones echo the sensibilities of Nicholas Sparks. This combination creates a narrative that is both suspenseful and tender, with an ending that resists predictability even when certain twists can be anticipated.
The audiobook’s dual narration enhances the experience. Ari Fliakos brings a textured, slightly gravelly tone to Tate’s perspective without overplaying female voices, while Julia Whelan delivers a warm, steady performance that suits Wren’s introspective nature. Their contrasting styles help delineate the characters’ inner worlds and maintain engagement throughout.
This story succeeds in weaving together grief, romance, and the supernatural into a compelling, emotionally layered narrative. While some structural elements—particularly Wren’s timeline and the prolonged early character bonding—can feel uneven, the novel’s atmosphere, character depth, and thematic ambition make it a rewarding experience. The audiobook narration further elevates the material, offering a thoughtful and immersive interpretation of the dual perspectives.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😛😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: Remain
Author: Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Narrators: Ari Fliakos & Julia Whelan
The novel introduces Tate Donovan, a thirty‑eight‑year‑old architect attempting to rebuild his life after a period of profound personal loss. His move to the bustling Cape Cod town of Heatherington—initially a straightforward work trip to design a home for his longtime friend Oscar—quickly becomes a catalyst for emotional and psychological upheaval. Tate’s privileged upbringing and complicated family history establish him as a character shaped as much by absence as by affluence, and the narrative uses his return to a small coastal community to explore themes of grief, identity, and the limits of rationality.
Tate’s recent stay in a psychiatric hospital and his exposure to DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) provide a grounded counterpoint to the story’s supernatural undercurrents. His sister Sylvia’s final revelations about their family’s ability to see spirits blur the line between psychological distress and paranormal inheritance. The book uses Tate’s flickering peripheral visions not merely as eerie embellishments but as a device to interrogate how trauma alters perception—and how belief can become both a comfort and a destabilizing force.
Parallel to Tate’s journey is Wren, a local innkeeper whose life has been shaped by her own quiet battles. Her grief, isolation, and faltering confidence create a portrait of someone who is outwardly capable yet internally adrift. The pandemic’s impact on her business and relationships adds a contemporary layer that feels emotionally authentic, even when her timeline becomes difficult to track. Her connection with Tate forms the emotional core of the story, though the extended focus on their early interactions occasionally slows the pacing.
The novel’s blend of supernatural mystery and romantic tension evokes the atmospheric storytelling of M. Night Shyamalan, while the emotional stakes and tragic undertones echo the sensibilities of Nicholas Sparks. This combination creates a narrative that is both suspenseful and tender, with an ending that resists predictability even when certain twists can be anticipated.
The audiobook’s dual narration enhances the experience. Ari Fliakos brings a textured, slightly gravelly tone to Tate’s perspective without overplaying female voices, while Julia Whelan delivers a warm, steady performance that suits Wren’s introspective nature. Their contrasting styles help delineate the characters’ inner worlds and maintain engagement throughout.
This story succeeds in weaving together grief, romance, and the supernatural into a compelling, emotionally layered narrative. While some structural elements—particularly Wren’s timeline and the prolonged early character bonding—can feel uneven, the novel’s atmosphere, character depth, and thematic ambition make it a rewarding experience. The audiobook narration further elevates the material, offering a thoughtful and immersive interpretation of the dual perspectives.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub
October 6, 2025
I'm not normally a romance fan, but a book Nicholas Sparks with M Night Shyamalan sounded pretty intriguing. I knew it would have some supernatural elements, which I enjoy in a book. I really did enjoy this book. It has great characters, and quite a bit of suspense. It was also a fast and easy read, had me turning pages quickly. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 26, 2025
NYC architect Tate Donovan, recently treated for depression at a psych hospital following the death of his sister, heads to Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home and a fresh start for himself. While staying at a historic B&B, he is taken with the beautiful Wren, and the two quickly form a connection. But as it becomes clear to Tate that Wren is battling demons from her past, he will be forced to look beyond the universe he thought he knew.
I think I must be the last person on Earth to have read a Nicholas Sparks novel, but I am very happy this is the book that has introduced me to him. I had very little idea what to expect going in— was this a romance, a horror, a ghost story? As it turns out, it is a very unique mashup of all three.
From almost the start of the story, I found myself completely immersed in both the prose and atmosphere, unable to put the book down. Although it starts off with a more romantic mystery slant, about midway through the story, it becomes quite dark and foreboding, making it a fantastic story to read either during spooky season or the colder months when the nighttime comes early and things seem to go bump in the night.
🎧 The full cast audio is done masterfully, and really helped to create the more cinematic experience I was looking for until its big-screen adaptation at the hands of director and screenwriter M. Night Shymalan, whose name sits alongside Sparks on the gorgeous cover.
Read if you like:
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️romance with mystery subplot
▪️unique stories
▪️houses as characters
▪️dual timelines
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Random House, PRH Audio, and Libro.fm for the advanced copies.
I think I must be the last person on Earth to have read a Nicholas Sparks novel, but I am very happy this is the book that has introduced me to him. I had very little idea what to expect going in— was this a romance, a horror, a ghost story? As it turns out, it is a very unique mashup of all three.
From almost the start of the story, I found myself completely immersed in both the prose and atmosphere, unable to put the book down. Although it starts off with a more romantic mystery slant, about midway through the story, it becomes quite dark and foreboding, making it a fantastic story to read either during spooky season or the colder months when the nighttime comes early and things seem to go bump in the night.
🎧 The full cast audio is done masterfully, and really helped to create the more cinematic experience I was looking for until its big-screen adaptation at the hands of director and screenwriter M. Night Shymalan, whose name sits alongside Sparks on the gorgeous cover.
Read if you like:
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️romance with mystery subplot
▪️unique stories
▪️houses as characters
▪️dual timelines
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Random House, PRH Audio, and Libro.fm for the advanced copies.
September 1, 2025
I have read a few Nicholas Sparks' novels previously but wouldn't count myself as a massive fan (although I have enjoyed his books). However, when I read that he had joined with one of my favourite directors, M. Night Shyamalan, to pen this novel, I was keen to read.
I am not sure to what extent each of them wrote this novel, whether it was Sparks with some input from Shyamalan or whether it was primarily Shyamalan using Sparks' name to push. Regardless, this is not the type of novel (romance with a side of supernatural) I would normally go for but I thoroughly enjoyed this.
It tells the story of Tate Donovan, an architect, who was recently a patient in a residential mental health facility after the death of his sister. Tate's sister always had a spiritual connection and when Tate visits Cape Cod to assist in designing his friend's new home, he starts to wonder whether this spirituality is within him as well.
I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers but this was really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am not sure to what extent each of them wrote this novel, whether it was Sparks with some input from Shyamalan or whether it was primarily Shyamalan using Sparks' name to push. Regardless, this is not the type of novel (romance with a side of supernatural) I would normally go for but I thoroughly enjoyed this.
It tells the story of Tate Donovan, an architect, who was recently a patient in a residential mental health facility after the death of his sister. Tate's sister always had a spiritual connection and when Tate visits Cape Cod to assist in designing his friend's new home, he starts to wonder whether this spirituality is within him as well.
I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers but this was really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2025
Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan walk into a bar, and out comes REMAIN — quite possibly the weirdest pairing I could imagine. I’ve long been a fan of Sparks’s beautifully tragic love stories and Shyamalan’s creepy, plot-twisting suspense films. But mash the two together, and you get a paranormal romance with less-than-stellar paranormal elements and a solid 3.5⭐ romance storyline — even though you know early on it’s a love story you can’t really root for.
Think The Lake House meets Ghost meets Safe Haven. It definitely has the feel of vintage Sparks, but the Shyamalan aspects fell flat for me. That said, I’m curious to see how this book translates into the M. Night Shyamalan-directed film adaptation — I’m sure it’ll be much creepier on screen.
Thanks to PRH for an early copy.
Think The Lake House meets Ghost meets Safe Haven. It definitely has the feel of vintage Sparks, but the Shyamalan aspects fell flat for me. That said, I’m curious to see how this book translates into the M. Night Shyamalan-directed film adaptation — I’m sure it’ll be much creepier on screen.
Thanks to PRH for an early copy.
November 6, 2025
3.5 🌡️🌡️🌡️
I have a feeling the 2026 film version might make the mercury rise but if you read this first there will be little mystery or surprise to it. I'm more of a M. Night Shyamalan fan than a Sparks reader and I picked this up because Julia Whelan was one of the narrators but she has very limited play time.
An interesting collaboration and enjoyable enough.
I have a feeling the 2026 film version might make the mercury rise but if you read this first there will be little mystery or surprise to it. I'm more of a M. Night Shyamalan fan than a Sparks reader and I picked this up because Julia Whelan was one of the narrators but she has very limited play time.
An interesting collaboration and enjoyable enough.
July 22, 2025
Remain by Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Tropes & Themes:
👻 Star crossed lovers
🏡 Small town secrets
🕊️ Love after loss
💔 Haunted pasts
🧠 Man healing from trauma
🌀 Supernatural twist
🧩 Reality bending mystery
🐈 Beloved pet companion
⸻
Okay, so I picked up Remain expecting Nicholas Sparks to give me a beachy grief romance with sad boys and second chances but what I didn’t expect was M. Night Shyamalan jumping out with literal ghosts and a full on psychological twist 😳💀 This book is basically The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense, and weirdly?? It worked.
We follow Tate, a brooding NYC architect who’s fresh out of a psychiatric facility and grieving his sister’s death. He heads to Cape Cod to design his bestie’s summer house (rich people vibes 🏠) but instead of just finding peace, he meets Wren, a mysterious small town girl who may or may not be more than she seems 👀✨
Yes, there’s the classic Sparks romance such as the long stares, emotional walks on the beach, and late night confessions but the Shyamalan twist makes it feel so much more layered. There’s this slow, eerie suspense building under all the soft moments, and by the time things start unraveling? I was emotionally wrecked and also low key terrified 😭🔮
⸻
What I liked:
✔️ Wren is giving “manic pixie dream ghost girl” but in a smart, fully developed way
✔️ The supernatural stuff actually felt meaningful, not just thrown in for drama
✔️ Tate’s emotional journey was raw and relatable. I was rooting for his healing
✔️ The twist was signature Shyamalan: emotional, unsettling, and totally unexpected
✔️ The Cape Cod setting?? Beautifully described. Moody and coastal and perfect
✔️ Paulie the cat 🐱was an absolute scene stealer, iconic, emotionally supportive queen
⸻
What I didn’t love:
⚠️ Some pacing issues in the middle (Tate was spiraling and I was like okay bestie…deep breath)
🌀 The ghost “tethering” lore got a little confusing at times. Shyamalan’s twisty worldbuilding isn’t always super clear
💘 Slight insta love vibes, but it’s a Sparks collab so I expected it
💔 That ending hurts in a way I wasn’t emotionally prepared for
⸻
Final Thoughts:
If you love stories about grief, fate, the supernatural, and healing love then this is for you. It’s not your typical Nicholas Sparks book, and it’s not your typical Shyamalan thriller either, it’s something totally unique that blends both their strengths in the best way.
It’s cozy, eerie, romantic and a little philosophical. It asks big questions about life, death, and what it means to remain connected to the people we love. Some souls just don’t let go and maybe that’s not always a bad thing. 💫
Also yes, Netflix or Apple TV+ needs to adapt this like yesterday. I can already see the foggy beach cinematography and the haunting piano score. 🎬📺
⸻
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
📖 Griefcore meets ghostcore
🌊 Ideal for stormy night reading
🖤 Sparks is in his supernatural era and Shyamalan brought the existential dread
🐾 Bonus points for Paulie, because she deserves her own spin off
Read it if you’re into:
• Sad boys with ghost problems 👨🎨👻
• New England aesthetics 🐚
• Love that bends time and space 🕰️💘
• Stories that whisper “it’s okay to not let go just yet…”
• Cat sidekicks who see more than they let on 🐈⬛
⸻
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Tropes & Themes:
👻 Star crossed lovers
🏡 Small town secrets
🕊️ Love after loss
💔 Haunted pasts
🧠 Man healing from trauma
🌀 Supernatural twist
🧩 Reality bending mystery
🐈 Beloved pet companion
⸻
Okay, so I picked up Remain expecting Nicholas Sparks to give me a beachy grief romance with sad boys and second chances but what I didn’t expect was M. Night Shyamalan jumping out with literal ghosts and a full on psychological twist 😳💀 This book is basically The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense, and weirdly?? It worked.
We follow Tate, a brooding NYC architect who’s fresh out of a psychiatric facility and grieving his sister’s death. He heads to Cape Cod to design his bestie’s summer house (rich people vibes 🏠) but instead of just finding peace, he meets Wren, a mysterious small town girl who may or may not be more than she seems 👀✨
Yes, there’s the classic Sparks romance such as the long stares, emotional walks on the beach, and late night confessions but the Shyamalan twist makes it feel so much more layered. There’s this slow, eerie suspense building under all the soft moments, and by the time things start unraveling? I was emotionally wrecked and also low key terrified 😭🔮
⸻
What I liked:
✔️ Wren is giving “manic pixie dream ghost girl” but in a smart, fully developed way
✔️ The supernatural stuff actually felt meaningful, not just thrown in for drama
✔️ Tate’s emotional journey was raw and relatable. I was rooting for his healing
✔️ The twist was signature Shyamalan: emotional, unsettling, and totally unexpected
✔️ The Cape Cod setting?? Beautifully described. Moody and coastal and perfect
✔️ Paulie the cat 🐱was an absolute scene stealer, iconic, emotionally supportive queen
⸻
What I didn’t love:
⚠️ Some pacing issues in the middle (Tate was spiraling and I was like okay bestie…deep breath)
🌀 The ghost “tethering” lore got a little confusing at times. Shyamalan’s twisty worldbuilding isn’t always super clear
💘 Slight insta love vibes, but it’s a Sparks collab so I expected it
💔 That ending hurts in a way I wasn’t emotionally prepared for
⸻
Final Thoughts:
If you love stories about grief, fate, the supernatural, and healing love then this is for you. It’s not your typical Nicholas Sparks book, and it’s not your typical Shyamalan thriller either, it’s something totally unique that blends both their strengths in the best way.
It’s cozy, eerie, romantic and a little philosophical. It asks big questions about life, death, and what it means to remain connected to the people we love. Some souls just don’t let go and maybe that’s not always a bad thing. 💫
Also yes, Netflix or Apple TV+ needs to adapt this like yesterday. I can already see the foggy beach cinematography and the haunting piano score. 🎬📺
⸻
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
📖 Griefcore meets ghostcore
🌊 Ideal for stormy night reading
🖤 Sparks is in his supernatural era and Shyamalan brought the existential dread
🐾 Bonus points for Paulie, because she deserves her own spin off
Read it if you’re into:
• Sad boys with ghost problems 👨🎨👻
• New England aesthetics 🐚
• Love that bends time and space 🕰️💘
• Stories that whisper “it’s okay to not let go just yet…”
• Cat sidekicks who see more than they let on 🐈⬛
⸻
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 29, 2025
I picked this up thinking I was getting M. Night chills… turns out I just got Nicholas Sparks with a flashlight.
I saw this couched as a “one of a kind novel” and I’d say it’s anything but. If I had to describe this book in one word I’d say - generic.
While the two supposedly brainstormed the concept together, Sparks wrote the book and M. Night is just making the movie. M. Night’s vibes are on the cover, not in the pages. If you’re hoping for any mind-bending, didn’t-see-it-coming twists, abandon that dream completely.
In the author’s note Sparks explains that this is his first attempt at writing a horror novel…. is the horror in the room with us right now?
I saw this couched as a “one of a kind novel” and I’d say it’s anything but. If I had to describe this book in one word I’d say - generic.
While the two supposedly brainstormed the concept together, Sparks wrote the book and M. Night is just making the movie. M. Night’s vibes are on the cover, not in the pages. If you’re hoping for any mind-bending, didn’t-see-it-coming twists, abandon that dream completely.
In the author’s note Sparks explains that this is his first attempt at writing a horror novel…. is the horror in the room with us right now?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,228 reviews