REPOST: Nicholas Sparks’ latest love story appeals to teen readers

Nicholas Sparks' novels have tugged the heartstrings of largely mature (and later young adult) readers for years. Teens and Twenties' Kristian Whitesell writes about how Sparks' 2011 book “The Best of Me” would fare with teen readers.

Image source: NicholasSparks.com

Nicholas Sparks has done it again. He’s added another novel of romance and tragedy to his already extensive list of novels. “The Best of Me,” released on Oct. 11, is a story about two high school sweethearts, Dawson and Amanda, whose teenage romance was quickly halted because the two were not from the same social status. Amanda was born into a family that was highly respected by others.

Against her family’s wishes, she began seeing a man whose family was in and out of prison. Amanda didn’t judge Dawson because of his family; she didn’t care who his father was.

Image source: NicholasSparks.com

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always let us make our own choices. Dawson cared for Amanda more than himself, so he let her go. Neither of them ever forgot each other, but they created lives for themselves and moved on. Amanda went to college, married a good man and raised a family with him. Dawson’s life changed, too. After another incident with his family that landed him in jail, he determined that he would never go back to that town.

As is everything in life, though, things happen that we don’t expect. When a mentor of Dawson and Amanda passes away, his last request to them brings them back together in the small town in North Carolina where they first met and fell in love.

Image source: moviexclusive.com

Through a series of events afterward, Dawson and Amanda fall in love again and face hard decisions that result from it.

Nicholas Sparks is famous for his use of many emotions in his novels. Gripping everyone’s hearts with its believable characters and tragic events, “The Best of Me” is no different.

For more on the works of Nicholas Sparks, visit this Sheryl Pouls blog.

REPOST: Michelle Monaghan joins Nicholas Sparks film 'The Best of Me' (Exclusive)

Nicholas Sparks has done it again with The Best of Me becoming the ninth of his novels to be turned into a movie. Hollywoodreporter.com has the details on the potential blockbuster.

Michael Hoffman will direct the pic for Relativity.

Michelle Monaghan will star in the next romantic Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Best of Me.

Image source: hollywoodreporter.com

Gambit helmer Michael Hoffman will direct the film, which follows a pair of former high school sweethearts who reunite after many years when they both return to their small North Carolina hometown.

Sparks wrote the book, which was released in March 2013. He is also producing along with Ryan Kavanaugh, Theresa Park.

J. Mills Goodloe and Will Fetters wrote the script.

In July, Relativity picked up the rights toThe Best of Me, making it the third partnership between the author and studio. Warner Bros. initially bought the rights to the novel back in 2011.

Best of Me will be the ninth Sparks book made into a film.

Relativity worked with Sparks on his previous film adaptation,Safe Haven, which starred Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel. That film, which opened on Valentine's Day this year, has earned $71.3 million domestically to date.

Monaghan's previous work includes Mission: Impossible III, Gone Baby Gone and Source Code. Her upcoming projects include HBO's drama True Detective, and on the film side, she'll be in Claudia Myers' Fort Bliss with Ron Livingston, A Many Splintered Thing opposite Chris Evans and Better Living Through Chemistry. She's repped by ICM Partners, Circle of Confusion and Sloane Offer.

Sheryl Pouls is a mother of two and a fan of novelist Nicholas Sparks. For articles on her interests, visit this blog.

REPOST: Michelle Monaghan will front Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Best of Me

There's a new film in pre-production based on a Nicholas Sparks novel on the works and actress Michelle Monaghan is taking the lead. Cinematic Blend shares some of the details here:

After years of playing the love interests and sidekicks to quipping action heroes in movies like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Mission: Impossible III, Eagle Eye and Source Code, Michelle Monaghan is finally stepping into a lead role in the romantic drama The Best of Me. THR reports the American actress will headline the project, which is based on the 2011 Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name. This production will mark the ninth movie made from Sparks' tragedy-strewn romance novels, following A Walk to Remember, Dear John, The Notebook and Safe Haven, which proved a hit for Relativity Media earlier this year.

Set in 1984 North Carolina, within the small town of Oriental, The Best of Me follows the troubled love story of Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole, two high schoolers who come together despite coming from opposite sides of the tracks. But their relationship turns out to be short-lived, and they break up the summer of their senior year. Leap ahead twenty-five years spent without each other, and the two, whose lives haven't turned out as they'd hoped, are forced to return to Oriental and reunite at the funeral of a beloved and departed mentor, Tuck Hostetler. Urged by Tuck's final request to reconsider the past they once shared, Amanda and Dawson have a second shot at love and the life they truly want. But will they be brave enough to take it?

While the THR piece never says so directly, we expect Monaghan is set to play Amanda, though no hint is given to who might play opposite her as Dawson. Former leading men in the Sparks adaptations include Josh Duhamel, Shane West, Ryan Gosling, and Channing Tatum. So presumably only the strapping and dreamy need apply to this casting call.

Perhaps more than any other Sparks adaptation, The Best of Me was made to be a movie. The rights to the book were bought by Warner Bros. executives based on a pitch Sparks had offered back before he'd written a word of the would-be novel. However, WB dropped the project last summer, selling to Relativity, who was eager to get back into business with Sparks following the success of Safe Haven, a $28 million production that pulled in more than $71 million worldwide. Back in September of 2012, Warner Bros hired One Fine Day director Michael Hoffman to helm the feature, and J. Mills Goodloe to pen its adaptation. Even with the studio shift, both names are still attached to the project. However, The Lucky One scribe Will Fetters has since been added as a co-writer.

It's unclear when production on The Best of Me will begin. But considering how well these movies tend to play in the first quarter of the year, I'd bet that we'll see this romance debut around Valentine's Day 2015. In the meantime, you can look for Monaghan in the upcoming drama Fort Bliss, the star-studded dramedy Better Living Through Chemistry, and the Chris Evans-fronted comedy A Many Splintered Thing.

Sheryl Pouls is an avid reader of Nicholas Sparks' novels. She also enjoys watching films with her two teenage daughters. Visit this blog to read more updates like these.