Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Oh how I love thee! Nicholas Sparks is a hit and miss author for me. I find I either love or hate his books. Counting Miracles is going to go down as one of my favorite reads this year. Great character building. I was able to fall into the story and connect with the characters. If you love his books you'll definitely want to grab a copy of Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks!

This was a beautiful story. Tanner had been raised by his grandparents and when he was old enough, he joined the military and traveled all over the world, stopping in to see them when he could. When his grandmother died and there was no one left for him, he focused on the last thing his grandmother said to him. That was the name and own where his father lived. His mother died when he was born and his father was never in the picture. He was traveling around the country giving regards to members of his military team that had died and when to the town where his father had lived at one time. There he met a teenager that was being harassed by a boy and stood up for her. She was upset and crashed into his car as she was leaving. He took her home and met her mother who he was attracted to. they met a couple times and started seeing each other. She was leary as he was supposedly leaving for another USAID location helping an old friend. The sweet part of the story was Jasper, who was an elderly man with major burns on his body and was pretty much considered a hermit. He knew most people in town but kept to himself due to his appearance. When some teens caused some trouble for him and left him stranded, Tanner went looking for him and discovered someone he would very much like to know. A good story that is well worth reading

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Counting Miracles written by Nicholas Sparks was absolutely beautiful and heart breaking. In my honest opinion, Counting Miracles is Nicholas's best work yet, this was an all time FAVORITE for me. There will NEVER be a time where I am NOT in awe over Sparks's stories. I will forever be honored to have read this book, because anyone who knows me, knows I'm a HUGE fan of Nicolas Sparks. This book, the characters, and their stories left me completely speechless and heart broken. I know these are just fictional characters, but as you read their story, they feel like real humans to you and I love that about Nicholas Sparks, he makes you feel like you have known these characters forever. Nicholas Sparks writes from his heart and you can truly feel that pain. You can feel the pain and rawness from each character. There were many times where I just wanted to reach into my kindle and hug these characters based on their stories and emotional baggage. The snot bubbles were bubbling the entire time I was reading this book. Please do yourself a favor and mark your calendars for September 24th, 2024 because Counting Miracles is no exception. I love love love this book with my whole entire heart.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP- BALLANTINE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Tanner Hughes has been raised by his grandparents for as long as he can remember. His mother died minutes after giving birth to Tanner, and he also knows nothing about his biological father. Tanner's grandfather was a former Army mechanic and Tanner wanted to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and make him proud, so Tanner became an Army Ranger. Before Tanner's grandmother passed away, she left him a note: Find where you belong and make that place your own. On the back of that note, Tanner's grandma left the name of his biological father and where can possibly be found. Tanner was in the Army for fourteen years, he then left the service and worked for the USAID for over six years, then Tanner left for Cameroon to work for the International Rescue Committee. Tanner Hughes is boyfriend material, both of his arms are covered in tattoos, he has green/hazel eyes depending on sunshine on light, muscled, high cheek bones, defined jawline, and wavy dark hair, if you ask me, Tanner Hughes is a cinnamon roll. After Tanner receives this note from his grandmother, he sets out for Asheboro, North Carolina to look for his biological father. I couldn't help but cheer Tanner on as he went on this beautiful journey.

Tanner has been in town for less than twenty four hours when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper. Kaitlyn's daughter backed into Tanner's car at this bar/restaurant. Kaitlyn is a doctor and a single mom to Casey and Mitch Cooper. Kaitlyn divorced from her husband George who is an interventional cardiologist. Following the divorce of her parents, Casey became the queen of excuses, but she never gave her mom a hard time, Mitch viewed his father as a real life super hero. Kaitlyn Cooper has a story to tell, but Tanner can't exactly put his finger on what her story might be. As Kaitlyn and Tanner start spending time together, their stories eventually spill out. Jasper Johnson is just a widowed eighty-three year old man that lives alone with his dog Arlo in a cabin bordering a national forest. Arlo was such a cute and sweet pups, he's part Labrador and part mystery mutt. Jasper has many medical conditions, including burn and grafting scars that cover more than half of his body. Jasper, Tanner, and Kaitlyn find a way to connect with one another throughout this book, but you will need to read Counting Miracles to find out their connections. Jasper, Tanner, and Kaitlyn will forever remain in my heart. Like I said before, Counting Miracles is a heart breaking story, so do yourself a favor and keep the tissues close by.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for giving me an early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I have always loved reading Nicholas Sparks books. I hadn’t read one in ages though.

This book explores themes of faith, hope, and the search for belonging.

It mostly follows 3 characters. Tanner, a former Army Ranger who is looking for a family member. Kaitlyn, who’s a doctor and divorced mother of two. And Jasper, an old man who keeps to himself after losing his entire family in a fire.

The story was sweet. I cried at the end. In true Nicholas Sparks fashion I was not let down. I do wish the epilogue would’ve gotten into the blossoming relationship some more.

Nicholas Sparks books never fail to leave me teary and emotional after I finish them. That said I savor his books and think about them long after I am finished reading them. I feel that the plot was a bit predictable but the emotions in the story felt very real and made this a riveting read.. A great story about how family and faith help you through life's struggles . I am reminded of my favorite quote that is my mantra for life " everything happens for a reason". I will be reading this book again in the future.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks is a poignant story that explores themes of faith, hope, and the search for belonging. The novel follows Tanner Hughes, a former Army Ranger, on a journey to discover more about his father after the death of his grandmother. Along the way, he crosses paths with Kaitlyn, a compassionate, divorced mother of two, whose kindness and warmth begin to reshape his life. Their connection is the heart of this touching tale, as they navigate love, loss, and the beauty of second chances.

Set in the charming town of Asheboro, this story brings together a diverse cast of characters, each facing their own struggles. Jasper, a reclusive man scarred by tragedy and loss, is perhaps the most compelling of all. His journey of reconciling his faith with his past is beautifully rendered, highlighted by his belief in a miraculous white deer—a symbol in Celtic mythology of a messenger from another world. This moment, reminiscent of the biblical story of Job, leads to Jasper’s renewal as he forms unexpected friendships and finds new hope.

The novel is classic Sparks, filled with endearing characters, emotional moments, and a touch of humor. The interactions between Tanner, Kaitlyn, and her children feel genuine and heartwarming, particularly the bond that develops between Jasper and Kaitlyn’s son, Mitch. Through these relationships, Counting Miracles illustrates the transformative power of human connection and gratitude.

While some might find the religious undertones prominent—especially in Jasper’s reflections—this book is more about a universal struggle with faith than overtly religious messaging. Jasper’s character grapples with his beliefs in a way that feels authentic and relatable, making this exploration of faith stand out from typical Christian fiction.

In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, the story balances heartbreak with moments of unexpected joy. The resolution is predictable in some ways, but still manages to tug at your heartstrings, leaving you with a sense of warmth and closure. If you’re a fan of heartwarming romance, stories about family ties, or are simply in the mood for a tale that mixes love and faith with a bit of mystery, Counting Miracles won’t disappoint.

Nicholas Sparks can honestly do no wrong. Every book leaves me in tears and this one kept the streak alive.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for giving me an early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I have always loved Nicholas Sparks and his novels. This one sort of reminded me of The Longest Ride. It had 3 POV’s and while I loved Jasper’s part of the story, I don’t feel like it had much romance. I kind of wanted more of a connection and more scenes with Tanner and Kaitlyn.

I wish it had gone into more detail or evening just had an ending where the Littleton’s got what was coming to them. I feel like this book was really short and just had a lot of lose ends.

With all that said; I did enjoy the book. I just really wanted more because I know how great of a writer Sparks is.

3.5 rounded to 4

First, thank you for allowing me to ARC read this book. I’ve been a huge Nicholas Sparks fan since high school so I was very excited to read his latest novel.

I should start this review by saying I may have set myself up for failure here. I am not a religious person and this book is very deeply religious. The story got lost to me in the numerous Bible verses and stories. I found myself skimming several portions.

That being said, I overall enjoyed the story and I did bring me to tears in the same way Nicholas Sparks has always done. The love story, although rapid, felt real and raw. Jasper’s story was heartbreaking and hard to read, but a good reminder that even when things are hard, there’s always light on the other side.

This book was amazing! I’m a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and this book was another great one. The story is very well written, true to Nicholas’s style. The characters are easy to follow and I found myself wanting to know more of their stories as I read on. I was lucky enough to get an advanced read from NetGalley. Sad I’ve finished it, but yet can’t wait to read it again.

An excellent modern day version of the Book of Job. A man’s search for his father leads to a small town where a car accident introduces him to a devoted mom/doctor who cares for her family and patients but knows there’s something is missing in her life. An old man, disfigured by an earlier accident has problems living in the present and reflects on his loves lost. The author brings these broken people together in a way he has done so many times.

I am a long-time reader of Nicolas Sparks books, and while this one wasn’t my favorite of his, it was still an enjoyable read! Overall, it was a beautiful story about the importance of family. It was filled with tension, and I found it hard to put down at times because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the honor of receiving an advanced copy to read!

“Then I remind myself that my broken heart also means that there was a time when it wasn’t broken, when my heart was light and full.”

Would it really be a Nicholas Sparks book if I didn’t tear up while reading it?! The invisible string and the white deer were two of my favorite metaphors throughout the book. That what’s supposed to happen will happen and sometimes what you think you are looking for is sometimes right in front of you. My favorite character was Arlo, of course. He was the real MVP throughout the book from attacking the teenage boys and getting help for Jasper. I thought that Casey had a great character development. The ending came together beautifully and everything that needed to happen did.

I have never not cried while reading a Nicholas Sparks book. The characters are always relatable, and I get way too invested. Somehow through all the heartbreak and sadness, he finds a way to make me ok again! A five star read for me as always!

There's always something about the way Nicholas Sparks tells a story that will always have you sobbing. This was such a beautiful story that had me crying multiple times.

Love Nicholas Spark's novels. I want to read many more novel by him including the wish and the notebook! This novel opened my eyes to his writing style which is amazing. It you have not read a novel by nicholas sparks than I highly recommend this one!

Counting Miracles is about loss, love, and faith. The narrative is filled of with the emotional weight of life’s storms—those inevitable trials that we all must endure. Yet, the book doesn’t leave readers in despair. Instead, it serves as a testament that God never abandons us when life becomes overwhelming .

Counting Miracles encourages readers to focus on the miracles that surround us, both large and small. It reminds us that these miracles, though sometimes unnoticed, are a constant presence in our lives.

I am a BIG Nicholas Sparks fan. I named my son Noah after reading the Notebook, so it’s safe to say I’m a tad partial. That being said, I can honestly say that this book is absolutely one of his best- and that is saying something.
I enjoyed the characters and how they navigated through their journey. As always, there was laughter, tears, laughter through tears. I loved it. I highly recommend to everyone I know!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This book follows Tanner, a retired Army Ranger looking for his biological father, Kaitlyn, a doctor and divorced mother of two, and Jasper, an elderly man with a traumatic past. I liked how the POV shifted between the three main characters with seemingly no connection between them until the plot began to unfold. Jasper’s backstory is heartbreaking and the most detailed of the three, but I felt his storyline was very slow. This novel is different from other Nicholas Sparks novels I’ve read, but overall, I liked the romance plotline and how the three characters stories intersected at the end.

Gorgeously written, I found myself so invested in these character's lives. This is a tear jerker, but a beautiful one. I loved this book!