Set in Beaufort, North Carolina in 1958, A Walk to Remember is a bittersweet love story written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. The novel revolves around two seventeen-year-olds, Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan. It is told through first-person narration by an older Landon looking back on his last year of high school. The pair go to the same school and are even working on the school play together.
However, the two teenagers are worlds apart. Landon does not mind living on the edge and seems to be mixed in with the wrong crowd. Jamie, on the other hand, is shy, incredibly kind, and the minister’s daughter. She spends her free time at the orphanage and carries her bible everywhere. With a school dance fast approaching, Landon becomes at a loss when he still doesn’t have a date. He is the class president and cannot be seen without a date at the school dance! After asking around, he figures sweet Jamie Sullivan is his only chance. He knows she’ll say yes, he won’t be too embarrassed about taking her, and it will all be over soon. Despite his bad reputation, Jamie does agree to go the dance with him… on one condition: “You have to promise not to fall in love with me.” Landon gives her his word, thinking she’s joking.
The Beginning of a Tragic Love Story
Going with Jamie to the dance wasn’t as bad as Landon thought it would be. A few days go by and Jamie asks Landon if he will join her in the school Christmas production. Landon reluctantly accepts, hoping his friends won’t find out. The unlikely pair begin to spend more and more time together and Landon often walks her home after rehearsals. He learns how much she helps others and enjoys his time with her. When the performance of the Christmas play comes around, he begins seeing Jamie in a different light. After he delivers his line telling Jamie’s character that she’s beautiful, he soon realizes he meant it.
They spend Christmas Eve at the orphanage and he invites her over for Christmas dinner. By this point, Landon has completely fallen for her. He goes over to see her almost everyday and after their first kiss and first date, Landon tells Jamie that he loves her. They spend the New Year together as much as they can, only for Landon to learn the tragic secret that Jamie has kept from him all this time. It is a secret so immense that it leaves him heartbroken and bereft.
This beautiful, yet sad story will leave you wanting to know more. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever been in love, is a hopeless romantic, or just enjoys a great Nicholas Sparks novel. I won’t spoil the ending or reveal Jamie’s secret. What I can say though, to quote Landon, is this: “First you will smile, then you will cry - don’t say you haven’t been warned.”
Written by Emily Mack
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