The Best of Me (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Best of Me is a romance novel from the United States authored by Nicholas Sparks.
Plot
After two decades, Dawson Cole comes back to his hometown to carry out the final wishes of his surrogate father, Tuck Hostetler. To Dawson’s surprise, Tuck has arranged for his former high school sweetheart, Amanda, to join him. Tuck’s aim was to revive their past relationship, despite Amanda being married. The Cole family’s notorious criminal reputation threatens both Tuck’s intentions and Dawson’s prospects.
While employed on an oil rig near Louisiana, Dawson survives a blast with assistance from an unknown man. Upon hearing about Tuck’s passing, he returns home despite a complicated history. Raised in the infamous Cole family known for minor offenses, Dawson aspired to live honestly but endured abuse from his father Tommy and cousins Abee and Crazy Ted. At sixteen, he escaped home to live with Tuck, who became a lifelong guide.
During high school, Dawson fell for Amanda Collier, the daughter of a well-established family. Their romance created friction, and after graduation, Dawson encouraged Amanda to pursue college. Soon after, Dawson inadvertently caused the death of local physician David Bonner, pleaded guilty, and served four years behind bars. While on parole under Tuck’s supervision, Dawson defended himself against family threats before leaving town.
In Dawson’s absence, his family’s illegal activities intensified; Crazy Ted was imprisoned for assault and Tommy died from alcohol-related causes. Law enforcement increased pressure on the Coles.
Back at Tuck’s residence, Dawson reunites with Amanda. She had grown close to Tuck before his death and was summoned by his attorney. Despite Amanda’s troubled marriage—strained by her husband’s alcoholism following their daughter’s death—she briefly reconnects with Dawson.
They visit Tuck’s lawyer and discover they must spread his ashes at a cabin he once owned. During this period, Dawson repairs Tuck’s vehicle but is pursued by Crazy Ted seeking vengeance for past injuries. After spotting the stranger who saved him during the rig explosion, Dawson locates Ted’s truck and confronts him. Dawson overpowers Ted and returns him to the family compound. Ted then recruits Abee to settle conflicts involving Dr. Bonner’s son Alan and Alan’s girlfriend Candy.
At the cabin, reading a letter from Tuck motivates Dawson and Amanda to spend the night together. Amanda soon chooses to return home while Dawson prepares to leave but comes back after finding a letter left by Tuck. He follows the mysterious man to a bar and discovers Alan being assaulted by Abee and Ted. When Dawson intervenes, Crazy Ted fatally shoots him.
Meanwhile, Amanda’s son requires a heart transplant. After news of Dawson’s death spreads, Amanda grieves profoundly.
Two years later, Amanda and her husband Frank have reconciled their marriage, though tension remains. Abee and Crazy Ted are incarcerated for Dawson’s murder. Amanda’s son thrives with his new heart but wonders if he can express gratitude to the donor family; Amanda explains that organ donation is anonymous as she embraces him tenderly—honoring both her child and Dawson’s memory.
Publication history
The Little Brown book group reports that this title has been rendered into over 40 different languages. Grand Central Publishing released the book on October 11, 2011.
Awards and nominations
The Best of Me achieved the #2 position in the overall Top 10 list compiled by Publishers Weekly.
Reception
Denise Garofalo characterized the story as formulaic and hurried, containing numerous clichés and concluding with an underwhelming finale. Laura Santana observed that it "satisfies every craving readers have to swoon and be surprised."