As a long time Nicholas Sparks reader when I saw the authors and the description of this book I knew I had to jump on the chance to read it early and I was not disappointed! This book was true to Sparks nature and his wonderful talent of showing love grow while adding in a little mystery. It’s a perfect book for when you want a little something more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Two authors at two very different ends of the spectrum makes for a very out of box experience. Overall, I wanted to love this because I find Shyamalan to be either really great or a little too creepy but good and who doesn't love a good gut wrench with Nicholas Sparks. The read was decent, not without flaws but overall still a good story.

There were some lagging moments where I had to force myself to push thru but I enjoyed the journey for the most part.

Remain is a supernatural romance novel that explores the boundaries of love, loss, and the possibility of something more beyond our comprehension. We follow Tate, a brooding NYC architect who’s fresh out of a psychiatric facility and grieving his sister’s death. He heads to Cape Cod to design his bestie’s summer house where he meets Wren, a mysterious small town girl who may or may not be more than she seems. It’s eerie, romantic and a little philosophical.

I was really excited about this book but unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into it. The author combination sounds wonderful in theory, but this one didn’t hit the mark for me. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

After some mental health issues following his sister's death, Tate moves to Cape Cod to be near a friend for whom he's designing a house. He stays in a bed and breakfast and believes he is the only occupant but is surprised to see a woman in the house from time to time. Tate realizes something isn't right about Wren, she disappears from time to time and is unable to hold physical objects. He remembers his sister telling him that she was able to see spirits. As Tate learns more about Wren's life, he starts to learn the truth about her. This is a mystery combined with the supernatural along with romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A Hauntingly Beautiful Blend of Romance and Mystery

Remain is a mesmerizing fusion of supernatural love story and murder mystery, and Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan absolutely hit it out of the park with this stunning collaboration. Their combined storytelling voices create a gripping atmosphere that’s both heartwarming and chilling. I’m already counting down to the film adaptation—especially knowing the authors’ close working relationship, I have no doubt it will be a hit on screen.

The story follows Tate Donovan, an accomplished architect grappling with the devastating loss of his beloved sister. His grief leads to a short stay in a psychiatric hospital, but after his release, his best friend hires him to design a home in the quaint coastal town of Heatheringen. Tate takes up residence at a charming Cape Cod bed & breakfast while working on the project, and it’s there he encounters Wren—a woman whose sudden presence is as mysterious as it is magnetic.

Their connection feels fated, especially since Tate’s sister hinted before her passing that he should stay open to love. But Tate soon realizes something is deeply wrong—every night, he’s forced to witness Wren’s death. As the supernatural events intensify, he becomes determined to uncover the truth about what happened to her, only to discover that the Wren he’s falling for may not be the same Wren in those haunting visions.

The investigation into Wren’s murder leads Tate through a cast of characters with plausible motives, and just when you think you’ve guessed the culprit, the truth blindsides you.

Remain is heartfelt, eerie, and compulsively readable—a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

“Loving another is a gift you give yourself. Haven’t you learned that yet?”

Absolutely amazing. The most perfect read for a summer night! I have read all of Nicholas Sparks and own every single book and this has officially become my number one favorite book and hope to see more like this in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan is a slow burn mystery novel with a supernatural undercurrent. When Tate Donnevan leaves the psychiatric hospital following a bout of depression he is focused on nothing but designing a new house for his long time friend. What he doesn’t count on is the unbelievable experience he will have in the bed and breakfast he’s staying in. I was a little confused when I started the story and had a hard time getting into it. However, once I understood the premise, I couldn’t put it down and I definitely was not expecting the ending. Overall, a story I would definitely recommend to others.

Took me 1 day to blow through this book! This was the mashup we didn’t know we needed! Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan knocked this out of the park. The perfect blend of emotions. This book had me happy, sad, completely utterly terrified and excited! 10/10 would recommend to everyone. It’s the perfect fall cozy, creepy vibe we need right now!

Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan was not a collaboration I expected, but mixing romance with thriller was such a fun surprise for the 2025 TBR. An infusion of whimsical romance and the tragedy of a ghost story, this book was a bit of a slow burn but a fun revisit to some of my favorite books I read growing up!

We follow Tate Donovan who is trying to piece himself back together after the loss of his sister Sylvia.. which ultimately led him to a stay in a psychological rehabilitation facility. The story begins with a newly released Tate arriving in Cape Cod to help his best friend Oscar and his family build/design their dream home. As part of his stay, Tate is living at an old bed and breakfast. Here he meets Wren, a mysterious guest who seemingly comes and goes in a flash. The aura of Wren becomes overwhelming for Tate, who finds himself drawn to her story, her past and slowly falling head over heels for her. Will Wren and Tate ever be together? Who is she really and why is Tate the only one that can see her?

There were many elements of this book that I enjoyed. It felt very reminiscent of "classic" Nicholas Sparks novels: a barrier between lovers, a small-town coastal setting, and a relaxed summer romance developed over a full glass of wine. Beside some of the "ghostly" elements, I wanted a bit more of the bone-chilling thriller moments. The end of the story increased in terms of action and suspense, but I was hoping for a little extra hints of Shyamalan woven into the plot.

Overall, if you're a fan of Nicholas Sparks, this is a unique twist of one of his novels with the same emotional and heart-warming qualities readers love from his books.

I’ve got the perfect spooky season book for you - a sometimes sweet/sometimes scary ghost romance, anybody? Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan is a paranormal romance with a sprinkle of thriller throughout and so so hard to put down!

This book gives you everything! Small town vibes. Unreliable characters (or just not knowing who was a liar and who was a truther 🤪). Falling in love. Solving a murder mystery (what!?).

Sparks usually has some heavier themes in his books, and Remain follows suit with processing grief and mental health struggles that can come along with tragedy. Sparks does a beautiful job with highlighting the importance and realness of these themes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of a great ghostly romance thriller (a genre I didn’t even know I needed)!

PS apparently this is going to be a movie!? Going ahead and booking opening weekend tickets ASAP.

I have mixed feeling about this book. It was a paranormal, romance, and mystery/thriller all rolled into one. Which is a lot. Truly, I think I would have liked this book as just a romance and with the rest of their back stories playing a bigger roll. Unfortunately paranormal isn’t my thing. I did like the suspense and mystery part of it although I had a good feeling as to what the ending would be. It was not a bad book, just not completely up my alley. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

So glad I read this book! I have enjoyed books from Sparks and movies from Shyamalan, but didn't know what to expect from a coauthored book. Romance? Twists? Thrilling action? Moral of the story? The answer is YES!

I did guess who-dun-it about halfway through, but it was a fantastic read.

Question for editor: what is "October 12, 2024– January 29, 2025" on last bolded line of book? Am I missing something?

Remain is a sweeping, supernatural love story where Nicholas Sparks’ trademark heartache meets M. Night Shyamalan’s eerie tension. When a grieving architect meets an enigmatic woman in a Cape Cod inn, their instant connection unravels secrets that blur the line between the living and the dead. Lush, romantic, and tinged with foreboding, it’s a haunting meditation on love, loss, and the forces that bind us beyond this life.

Remain is an intriguing supernatural mystery born from the unexpected collaboration between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. Sparks pens the novel with his trademark emotional depth—vivid characters, heartfelt relationships, and moments that ache with sincerity—while Shyamalan infuses the story with an undercurrent of unease that steadily builds. The upcoming film adaptation, written and directed by Shyamalan and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, is sure to draw even more eyes to this unique project.

Set in a small coastal town shrouded in secrets, the book follows a love story shadowed by something… otherworldly. Sparks delivers the emotional pull, while the supernatural elements give the plot a compelling tension. The pacing is measured, letting both the romance and mystery breathe, though I wished the supernatural aspect took center stage just a bit earlier.

Still, the blending of heartfelt storytelling and eerie atmosphere makes Remain stand out. It’s tender yet unsettling, a love story with ghostly edges, and I’m eager to see how Gyllenhaal and Shyamalan translate its twists and emotions to the big screen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of this book!!

When I first read the cover of this book I had to do a double take. This duo was not on my bingo card.

Those reading this are witnessing a D-list phenomenon. I literally swore an oath to myself over a decade ago now, that I would never ever everrrr.. read & or watch anything Nicolas Sparks.. EVER!..Even now in my early 30's I've never so much as watched the opening credits to the Notebook. Nothing personal, again I have just always been such an "anti romance" Kinda gal.. HOWEVER, I still can recognize talent, and after watching him make literally EVERYONE in my generation swoon. (to the point it started to feel like a pandemic) I think it's safe to say, the man clearly has talent. I just haven't been personally interested, UNTIL TODAY! 😭

To put into prospective, the velocity at which I devoured this book,a reference for my fellow 90's babies. (& anyone else with top tier movie taste).. I was Bruce and this was my chocolate cake.

This was just like a good ole fashioned ghost story peppered with heart and salted with soul. It was exquisitely written & heartfelt. But with that heart pounding suspense that is the magic of M. Night Shyamalan woven all the way through. The messages were beautiful and thought provoking. It really isn't the quantity of time someone is in your life , but the quality of the time.

Could there hopefully be layers to this duo, like perhaps they both come up with the idea & while Mr. Sparks writes the book, Mr M works a nice little movie for us??🫣🫣 .. I wouldn't mind

I hope these two are the start of something great! Can you imagine if more great filmmakers and great authors collabed?? Imagine the masterpieces we'd get?? You can't tell me you wouldn't be MORE than intrigued if one day, you were strolling down the book Isle and saw Steven Spielberg and Sarah J. Mass named on the same book cover. Because honestly, my bowels would probably exit stage left on sight. Id probably cry a little too , if we're keeping it honest.

Needless to say I will definitely be recommending, purchasing my hardcopy book trophy, and reading this again.. while I wait for my movie 🫣🫣

This is my review which as of today can be found on the following platforms:
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I’ve always enjoyed Nicholas Sparks’ books and Remain just reminded me why. This story felt both familiar and new, with the emotional depth I’ve come to love and a haunting, almost otherworldly layer that made it impossible to put down.

Tate and Wren’s connection is moving and mysterious in a way that lingers. Sparks captures grief, healing, and love with such tenderness, and the Cape Cod setting adds the perfect touch of atmosphere.

I’ll always read whatever he writes, and Remain is another one that will stay with me for a long time.

Sparks and Shyamalan make an unexpectedly perfect pairing, blending heart and suspense in a way that feels fresh, yet deeply familiar.

Highly recommended for longtime Sparks fans and anyone who believes that love might just be strong enough to reach across time, memory, and maybe even life itself. 💫

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this emotional and hauntingly beautiful story, soon to be a film I absolutely can’t wait to see in 2026!

I am a long time fan of Nicholas Sparks and have of course been wowed by M. Night Shyamalan, so when I saw this was by both of them I was intrigued!

The story follows Tate after a really challenging life event. He’s finally feeling ready to get back to his new normal, and starts by working with his best friend Oscar on his new home in Heatherington. The house he is staying in winds up having a random stranger come through. From there Tate is never the same!

It was a story that felt so much like Nicholas Sparks, and yet I felt M. Knight Shyamalan in throughout too! I was deeply invested, and highly recommend if you are a lover of mysteries!

Thank you to Nicholas Sparks, M Knight Shyamalan, Random House, and NetGalley for the Advanced

As soon as I saw that this book was written by Nicolas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan I knew I needed to read it! I would say this book held true to many of Sparks other works in that his theme seems to be it’s better to have loved and lost than not loved at all. Except this time it held a supernatural twist! I enjoyed the mystery woven through and thankfully it wasn’t too creepy that I could read before bed. It’s not my favorite Sparks book, but still worth the read if you enjoy a little mystery with your romance. Thank you Random House via NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this collaboration. Could not put it down. Such a fun read. Highly recommend it when it releases October 14th.

Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan
Publishing date - 10/18/25
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Random House Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC. When I saw this book was a collaboration between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan I was immediately intrigued. Such an interesting collaboration. It was definitely surreal reading a Nicholas Sparks book that involved murder and the supernatural. The mix of genres (romance, whodunnit mystery, and slight horror) make this book a (5/5) star read!

Remain is a haunting, emotional, and unforgettable read. Highly recommend it when it releases on October 18th.