This couldn’t be further away from his novels which are packed with drama and romance.
But Sparks’ love for books and writing started at a very early age and it continued all the way through to college.
After he graduated, Sparks worked as a pharmaceutical salesman. He also had a job in real estate for a while, even though by that time he had already published his first successful fiction book.
Nicholas Sparks’ second book hit the New York Times bestseller list and he even managed to secure a million-dollar advance.
After this breakthrough, most of his fiction novels became bestsellers that sold millions of copies across the world.
If you want to enjoy Nicholas Sparks’ award-winning novels, then it’s a good idea to read them in order. This gives you a good understanding of Sparks’ writing style and the characters.
Here is our recommended reading list for all 23+ Nicholas Sparks books in order.
About Nicholas Sparks’ Books
Nicholas Sparks is one of the few authors whose books had the most film adaptations. This is proof of his great success and his excellent storytelling.
His dramatic fiction novels create a beautiful atmosphere but they also stir the reader’s emotions.
Sparks’ characters are well-developed and his storylines are so fascinating that it’s hard to put a book from him down.
This is not just a recipe for success in literature but also in Hollywood. Sparks’ first movie was Message in a Bottle and since then, many of his other novels were turned into films.
The Wedding is the second book in Sparks’ Calhoun saga. After the success of Noah and Allie’s marriage, their son-in-law Wilson is struggling with his own emotions.
While Wilson is a successful real estate attorney, he is deeply unhappy with his wife Jane.
Just as his daughter’s marriage approaches, the rifts between him and Jane start to open up.
And the question of how much they truly still love each other comes out into the open.
Pros
This is a fantastic sequel to The Notebook. It’s an emotional and engaging storyline with well-developed characters.
True Believer is Sparks’ first book of the Jeremy Marsh & Lexie Darnell series. This romantic drama follows New Yorker Jeremy Marsh who is looking to debunk paranormal phenomena.
After he follows a tip-off from a letter about unusual lights, Marsh travels to Boone Creek in North Carolina.
Boone Creek is a sleepy town where Lexie Darnell manages the local library. As their two paths cross, they both have to make a choice that’s going to change their lives.
Pros
True Believer is a beautifully charming story about the gentle beginnings of love.
Cons
While the story itself is a good concept, the plot is very basic.
Denise Holton and her son Kyle have a terrible car accident. When the firefighter Taylor McAden discovers the young mother bleeding and unconscious, he instantly helps.
But Denise’s nightmare hasn’t come to an end yet as Kyle has gone missing. When Denise and Taylor look for her missing son, they start to develop a bond that surprises both.
Pros
This book has a fantastic ending that’s not as obvious as you might expect.
Cons
The story is overall sad and tragic, even with the budding love between Taylor and Denise.
When Miles Ryan’s wife is killed in a hit-and-run, he is determined to bring the unknown driver to justice.
While Miles believed that Missy was his forever love, he struggles to come to terms with her sudden death.
As a deputy sheriff in the small district of New Bern, he encounters needy people all the time, so he hadn’t expected to fall head-over-heels for newbie Sarah Andrews.
John is a young rebel who ends up in the Army but only when he meets Savannah is he ready to settle down and enjoy his life with the girl of his dreams.
But 9/11 comes between the two young lovers and John re-enlists for a new challenge. When he receives a letter from Savannah, his life changes once again.
Pros
Nicholas Sparks is a masterful storyteller of complex stories and emotional characters.
Cons
There is no classic happy ending to this sad story.
Travis Parker has a stunning house by the sea, loving friends, and a fantastic career. He spends most of his time with his friends, sailing, and swimming.
With such a happy lifestyle, Parker is convinced that a relationship would just get in the way.
When he sees moving vans show up next door one day, he suddenly finds that the ideas about love aren’t as fixed as he had thought.
But his new neighbor Gabby Holland isn’t really interested in Travis, and there is trouble stirring with her boyfriend.
When Logan Thibault uncovers a photo of a mysterious lady in the sand of Iraq during a military mission, he decides to keep it.
He is followed by nightmares of the terrible combat missions and yet something tells him that the woman in the photo has the answer to how to get rid of his terrifying dreams.
When he finally meets the mysterious woman Beth, he is instantly in love with her.
But it takes a lot more courage than he thought to explain to her how he managed to track her down.
Pros
The ending of this tragic love story is absolutely beautiful.
Cons
The movie of The Lucky One has the same plot and it seems more interesting than the book.
Teenager Veronica Miller doesn’t have an easy time. After the separation of her parents, she is forced to commute between New York City and a small town in North Carolina.
Veronica is unhappy and angry about the breakup and her new life in the middle of nowhere.
When her mother decides that Veronica should spend the summer with her father in North Carolina, Veronica’s mood doesn’t improve.
But she soon finds herself swept up in her father’s enthusiasm for a new art project in this small town by the coast.
Pros
This is a classic teenage story that feels so realistic.
A beautiful woman called Katie ends up in a small town in North Carolina. When she starts to fall in love with the town’s store owner, dark secrets come to light on both sides.
Pros
Safe Haven is a true Nicholas Sparks fiction novel with plenty of love and thrill.
Cons
The plot itself isn’t too exciting, and it’s very slow going at the beginning.
Colin Hancock is a tough man with a prison sentence looming over his head. When he meets hard-working Maria Sanchez, his idea of life turns upside down.
Both hold assumptions about each other but there is something that draws them closer to each other.
Pros
This eventful novel is suspenseful and romantic at the same time.
Cons
The plot itself of a successful woman falling in love with a bad boy isn’t new.
32-year-old Russ seems to have the dream life, a charming wife, a young daughter, and a big house.
But when he finds himself without all this a few months later, he wonders how it could all come to this. And the answers lie not just with the people around him.
Pros
Two by Two is packed with emotions, so keep your tissues close.
Cons
There isn’t the usual suspense in this Nicholas Sparks novel.
We don’t always get to choose where our life takes us. Beverley and her young son Tommie find this out after Beverley’s break-up with her husband.
Pros
This book shows us what it means to follow your dreams.
Cons
There is a little too much dreaming in this book as it doesn’t feel real.
Final Thoughts
Nicholas Sparks’ emotional fiction novels are packed with drama, tragedy, and the sorrows of love. But they also contain the hope that our feelings for someone can change everything.
It’s not hard to see why many of Sparks’ emotional suspense books were turned into films. They have everything a good romantic movie needs.
While most of Nicholas Sparks’ love novels are standalone stories, you can also choose to read them in order.
This is especially useful for the two short series, the Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell series, and The Notebook saga.
This being said, you can also stick to the publication order of his other books to get a feeling for how Sparks’ writing style has developed over his thirty-year writing career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Any Of Nicholas Sparks’ Books Based On A True Story?
Yes, Nicholas Sparks has confirmed that his first three books, “The Notebook”, “Message in a Bottle” and “A Walk To Remember”, are all based on true stories of his family.
Is There A Sequel To Dear John?
Yes, the sequel to Nicholas Sparks’ book “Dear John” is “The Choice”. Sparks published “The Choice” a year after “Dear John”.
What Is The Masterpiece Of Nicholas Sparks?
Nicholas Sparks’ best book is his very first book “The Notebook”. Written in 1993, the book was also the basis for the film of the same name.
How Many Times Was Nicholas Sparks Rejected?
Just like many other famous authors, Nicholas Sparks was rejected several times. In fact, 24 literary agencies turned his famous “The Notebook” book down.
When an agency finally accepted the book, they sold it to Time Warner just a week after the deal for over a million dollars.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
