I should have known better than to read a Nicholas Sparks book and expect a happy ending. However, as much as it broke my heart with its bittersweet ending, I'm still glad I read it.

The story begins with Amanda and Dawson, two highschool lovers who were madly in love. Amanda came from a proper, middle-class family and Dawson was a Cole, a low down family with a bad reputation. With their relationship full of hardships, both of them are forced to come back to reality. Amanda's parents disliked Dawson and wanted Amanda to grow up and go to college. Dawson, on the other other hand, was plagued by his ill-omened family who Dawson wants to be no part of. The only thing Dawson, it seemed, was Amanda and Tuck, the man who had opened up his garage to Dawson, becoming more of a father than Dawson's own father had been. Unfortunately, their relationship was forced to end and Amanda and Dawson parted ways.

Now both middle aged, their paths merge again when they must come back to their hometown after Tucks' s death. Following the romantic clues that Tuck left behind for them, they are both reminded that they never really fell out of love with each other. However, Amanda has a family and Dawson has demons that he had still yet to face.

Yet, Fate seemed to play itself out after a tragic accident changes everything for both of them and Dawson, Amanda knew, had once again given her the best of him.