At 32, Russell Green has it all: a stunning wife, a lovable six year-old daughter, a successful career as an advertising executive and an expansive home in Charlotte. He is living the dream, and his marriage to the bewitching Vivian is the center of that. But underneath the shiny surface of this perfect existence, fault lines are beginning to appear…and no one is more surprised than Russ when he finds every aspect of the life he took for granted turned upside down. In a matter of months, Russ finds himself without a job or wife, caring for his young daughter while struggling to adapt to a new and baffling reality. Throwing himself into the wilderness of single parenting, Russ embarks on a journey at once terrifying and rewarding—one that will test his abilities and his emotional resources beyond anything he ever imagined.

It’s been years since I read a Nicholas Sparks book and now I remember why.

So. Many. Tears.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the way it resolves, but would have loved to see Russ grow more as a character. Even though he tells the story (and it’s HIS story) he just sort of sits back and let’s his wife dictate how things will turn out. When things are good, it’s because Vivian decides they’ll be good. He felt like a bit of a pushover, but it apparently works for him. I do wish, however, that the book had been a bit shorter. There were a lot of fun stories within the larger story, but I often just wanted him to get to the point and show what was happening in that moment (instead of starting each chapter with a story about the past).

I appreciate so much that Sparks keeps his books clean. It’s nice to be able to listen to the audio book and not have to worry about other people hearing something inappropriate when they walk into the room.

Overall, though, this is was a decent book. There are no surprises and it drags a bit, but if you need a good cry, I highly recommend it.