The Longest Ride - Book Review

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Published September 17th 2013 by Grand Central Publishing 

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart. (goodreads)

My Rating

5/5

My Thoughts

I jumped on the "Nicholas Sparks has a new movie coming out?!" bandwagon and picked up The Longest Ride. I was in the mood for a lovey dovey romantic contemporary book and man did this book deliver?! 

I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with both of the couples and their love stories. I loved reading about Ira and Ruth's vintage love. I loved how they weathered different storms life and the war through at them. Even though it is heart breaking I loved how Ira coped after the passing of his wife. It is so sad but so beautiful that they had created a love that strong. I cried multiple times throughout this book.  I was emotionally invested to say the least. I also enjoyed Sofia and Luke's blossoming love. I loved the rodeo aspect. As a huge Garth Brooks fan I am always fascinated by rodeo cowboys and the bizarre lives they live with their dedication to the rodeo. 

I was worried the book would drag on but it diffidently did not. The book is told from multiple perspectives so that kept me in. While I did guess the ending about half way through I could figure out how it would happen until the bit. Guessing how it would end didn't ruin it for me at all because it was how I would have wanted it to come to a conclusion. 

Overall it was a very satisfying read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this to anyone who is pumped to see the movie, loves Nicholas Sparks or The Notebook, or just wants a great contemporary romance. 

Thanks for coming by you guys! To get updates, discounts on ALWLF merch, & newsletters, make sure you subscribe over in the side bar! Follow us on instagram!!

Love y'all!