ARC REVIEW ✨3.75 (rounded up to 4 stars)

What happens when the master of romance and the master of supernatural suspense write a novel together? An eerie paranormal romance.

Tate is visiting a small town on the Cape to design his best friend’s dream vacation home. After a stint in a psychiatric hospital triggered by the loss of his sister, Tate is excited to get back to work. In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, Tate meets a beautiful woman Wren at his bed and breakfast; however, this was co-written by M. Night Shyamalan, so she’s a ghost…

I enjoyed the whodunit storyline, Shyamalan’s signature creepiness, and the grief and mental health representation throughout. Tates best friend Oscar was hands down my favorite character. He was the true definition of a ride or die best friend and had me cracking up. I unfortunately found some parts slow and expected more from the twist. Overall a very solid read!

🫶🏻 Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

🗓️ Remain will be available in bookstores on October 14, 2025! (movie slated for 2026)

ARC Review

Did you know that Nicholas Sparks is a huge horror fan? He has an encyclopedic memory of horror films and has wanted to write a paranormal book for years. So I was super interested in reading this paranormal romance mystery that he co authored with M. Night Shymalan. I loved the idea of Sparks crossing genres and Night crossing over from film to books.

This book follows Tate Donovan as he transitions out from a psychiatric facility to Cape Cod to help a college friend design their summer home. Tate is recovering from depression after his sister dies and is ready to get lost in his work.

While working in the Cape he stays at a bed and breakfast and is intrigued by the beautiful BnB owner. The more time he spends with her the more he wants to get to know her. The only problem is, she is a ghost and doesn’t realize it. Tate is convinced she is murdered and goes on an unsanctioned investigation to figure out who did it.

This story explores the spiritual realm of love and relationships. As well as, explores coincidence over destiny. Will you get pulled into the mystery and romance of it all? Or will you get held up by fear and logic?

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the opportunity to read and review this book! Remain will be available on October 14, 2025 at your local bookstore.

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This book was amazing. I was a little scared going into this knowing that Nicholas Sparks wrote about some thing that has to do with like the supernatural and all that. I was blown away. This book was easy to read and had me guessing the whole time and had me crying at the end. It was an amazing book and I love all aspects of it. I would definitely recommend to any of my reader friends and those looking for a new book to get their hands on. Thank you for this moving story that had me guessing and crying at the same time.

Remain had a beautifully atmospheric setup that immediately pulled me in—grief, ghosts, Cape Cod charm, and a main character trying to rebuild his life after a mental health crisis? I was all in.

Tate is a compelling protagonist. His quiet grief and skepticism felt real and grounded, and I appreciated the way the story handled themes of loss, trauma, and the struggle to believe in something beyond what we can see. His connection with Wren was sweet and emotionally charged, and I genuinely enjoyed watching it develop.

That said, I found the story more predictable than I expected. The twists, while heartfelt, didn’t quite surprise me, and I had a good sense of where things were headed pretty early on. Some of the emotional beats—especially around Wren’s past—felt a bit familiar, like I’d read variations of this story before.

Still, the writing was lovely, and the book had a quiet intensity that kept me turning pages. It’s introspective and tender, with just a touch of the supernatural, and if you’re in the mood for a moody, slightly eerie romance with deeper emotional layers, Remain might be your kind of read.

Not quite unforgettable, but still moving and worth the time.

**Rounded up from 3.5 stars**

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Remain" and all opinions expressed are my own. I used to be a big Nicholas Sparks fan and then his books just became boring, same old, same old. But I decided to try this new one. I did like the characters and the supernatural aspect of the book. I love a good ghostly theme. It was an easy read.

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to read an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book that is due to be released on October 14th of this year! Many people know Sparks for his tearjerking romance novels, but is different than anything he’s written before as he’s teamed up with famed thriller director M. Night Shyamlalan whose films are known for their unexpected twists (like The Sixth Sense). In this story, architect Tate Donovan visits a small coastal town called Heatherington to help draft and draw up plans for a house there for one of his best friends. While in town, Tate stays alone at a recently reopened bed and breakfast… or at least he thinks he’s alone… This book is labeled as a paranormal romance. I haven’t read many books of this kind, but it definitely gives vibes similar to Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze’s Ghost performance, “Layla” by Colleen Hoover,” and Kristin Hannah’s “Comfort and Joy.” That’s really all I’ve got to compare it to. It was an interesting, intriguing story with a big, spooky house feeling, plenty of mystery and suspense, and a surprising amount of emotion that will tug at your heart strings. I called the twist from a mile away, though, so I wasn’t shocked by how everything turned out, but I still enjoyed my time in this book’s world! Thank you, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early!

⚡ Gripping, Twisty, and Impossible to Put Down! ⚡

This thriller had me hooked from page one! The pacing was razor-sharp, the tension relentless, and every chapter seemed to end with a twist that made it impossible not to keep reading “just one more.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, Nicholas Sparks, and M. Night Shyamalan for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If you had asked me to predict what this unexpected collaboration would deliver, I’d have guessed: <i>a tender yet heartbreaking romance, plus someone who sees dead people. </i> And honestly? That’s exactly what it is.

I haven’t read either author’s books before, though I’ve seen the films. The story follows a fairly predictable structure, and while I hoped to be more on edge, the familiarity made it an oddly cozy read despite the subject matter. There are paranormal threads and a central mystery, but by the time the final reveal arrived, I wished for sharper twists and more surprises.

Overall, I liked it but didn't love it. A solid, if not standout, read.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. Rating: 3.5/5

3.75 stars ⭐️ I was so expecting to love Remain because it’s Nicholas Sparks AND M. Night Shyamalan. I love them!! However, this book was slow and very bare bones. It took me a while to read it but I did still enjoy it because I’m such a fan of both authors! I just wish it wasn’t so slow!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Nicholas Sparks is known for his heart-wrenching love stories, and Remain absolutely carries his signature voice. Fans of Sparks and other romance novelists who also enjoy authors like Alice Feeney or Riley Sager, may find this book to their taste.

That said, this was a 3⭐️ read for me. I went in hoping for M. Night Shyamalan’s signature brand of eerie, mind-bending storytelling, but the suspense fell a bit flat. While there were paranormal elements and a mysterious plotline, the twists felt easy to predict, and the tension wasn’t as sharp as I’d hoped.

Still, this is undeniably a beautifully written love story, with some lovely poetry references woven throughout. While I was seeking more horror and “keep me up at night” twists, I can see this book resonating with readers who enjoy romance with just a touch of the supernatural.

Remain was such an interesting mix of Nicholas Sparks’ heartfelt style and M. Night Shyamalan’s suspenseful twists. I really liked how the characters felt so real and emotionally layered, but at the same time there was this uneasy, mysterious atmosphere that kept me turning the pages. A couple of spots dragged a bit, and sometimes the romance and thriller elements didn’t blend perfectly, but overall I thought it worked really well. The ending definitely surprised me! Solid 4 stars.

A paranormal mystery to ponder as you read. The ghost of a young woman was found dead in her bathroom. Her presence takes form when an architect rents the house. They grow close as he grapples with the mystery of her death. Was it an accident or murder? The end is crazy good.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Multiple times while reading this I had to remind myself that this was a Nicholas Sparks book. Definitely not like anything else he has written before. While I do realize this was a collaboration, it still didn’t live up to a standard I’m used to with his books. There was still a love story like most of his books, but I didn’t really love it.

I am not a huge reader of this author’s books however the description of this novel intrigued me. The paranormal aspect mixed with romance is a different sort of love story. I quickly became invested in this unusual story routing for Tate and Wren. Not a big fan of the ending because it felt a little predictable but I enjoyed the ride getting there. I can’t wait to see the movie version! Love stories are this author’s trademark but my absolute favorite is an old nonfiction he wrote, Three Weeks With My Brother. Highly recommend this one for those looking for a different type of love story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance eGalley . All opinions expressed are truly my own.
#Remain #NicholasSparks #NetGalley #RandomHouse

3.5 stars - this was definitely unique. Suspense-ish. Romance-ish. But there were moments that it was drawn out. I never really connected with the characters, but still wanted to know what happened.
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set in Cape Cod and follows Tate, an architect, as he recovers from the death of his sister. When he found out that she was able to communicate with ghosts, it pushed him over the edge and into a psychiatric ward. After his release he heads to Cape Cod to help a friend design his new house while staying at a charming B&B, where he meets Wren. Love, mystery, and creepy factors fill the rest of the book. Sparks wrote his usual captivating love story while Shyamalan wove in his wonderful paranormal plot. This was a good read, but not my favorite from either author. I will definitely be watching the movie when it comes out!

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Remain is a bold and unusual collaboration—melding Sparks’s signature emotional romance with Shyamalan’s uncanny supernatural touch. If you enjoy atmospheric, emotionally driven stories with a sprinkling of mystery and ghostly intrigue, there’s much to appreciate here.

That said, if you prefer slow-building romances, tightly woven mystery arcs, or more nuanced dialogue, you might find it uneven or reliant on familiar tropes.

I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. I've read every book he's written. This one is no different. I did wonder if it's like it, but it turned out to be a great book. You can feel the M Night Shyamalan vibes, but there's the romance too. I will admit it's not Nicholas Sparks usually type, but it works. I can't wait for the movie.

Not a fan of this book. It seemed to lack depth and emotion, and the writing was too sluggish for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy.

In Remain, Nicholas Sparks teams up with M. Night Shyamalan to create a story that mixes heartfelt drama with a touch of the supernatural. The ghostly theme makes it a great choice for fall reading, when a little atmosphere feels just right.

There were a few parts in the middle that slowed the pace for me, but I still wanted to see where the story would go. Shyamalan’s influence adds mystery and tension to Sparks’ familiar style, and overall the result is a fun and engaging read.