I have wanted to read this book since the first time I saw it announced 😍📚. This duo is so unexpected and fun 🙌 and I absolutely devoured this book 🔥. Read it in two days and could not put it down 🫣📖.

It had the perfect mix of Nicholas Sparks' classic tearjerker romance 💔🥹 and the paranormal thriller vibes that M. Night Shyamalan always delivers 😱👻. Best part is. there’s already a movie in production 🍿 coming out NEXT October!! 🎃🖤

This book pulls you in so quick and the characters have so much to offer. The book is hauntingly beautiful (is that a thing?) 🖤 and provides such an eerie, mysterious, stressful storyline that brought me to tears a few times 😭.

And honestly… I didn’t expect some of it to creep me out as much as it did 😳👀 but there were definitely moments that gave me the chills 🧊🫣. This book is really so unique and I can’t wait to see it come to life next year!! 💫📽️✨

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the spooky aspects that also had a romance in there. Such a fun collaboration between the authors here! Would highly recommend. Not a traditional love story but a love story all the same. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

When I found out that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan had teamed up to write Remain, I knew it was going to be something special and a must-read for me. These two masterful storytellers each bring such unique strengths to the table: Sparks with his emotional depth and heartfelt romance, and Shyamalan with his jaw-dropping twists and suspenseful supernatural storytelling. The idea of them collaborating? Pure magic.

From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The characters felt so real, so relatable, and so incredibly endearing. With their talents seamlessly woven together, Sparks and Shyamalan crafted a story that tugged at my heartstrings while keeping me guessing at every turn. Remain was everything I hoped it would be and more-
it exceeded my already high expectations. Whether you’re a fan of emotional love stories, suspenseful twists, or both, Remain delivers on all fronts!

Nicholas Sparks has been the author that I have read throughout my life, so his books always feel like a nostalgic gift. I was so intrigued to see him partner with Shyamalan, one of the only thriller genre movies that I will watch. This book did not disappoint as it has Nicholas Sparks quintessential heartbreaking love story with the mystery and intrigue Shyamalan is so skilled at. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I’m sorry, but this was not for me. I expected to love it because The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe are some of my favorite romance novels, and this was disappointing to me because the supernatural aspect combined with the Lifetime-like plot line did not work for me.

Such a great book. I couldn't put it down. Stayed up all night trying to find out what happened. Thank you for letting me read in advance. Five stars!

I loved this book . Remain was a really interesting blend of romance and the paranormal. The paranormal twist was unexpected, but it worked it added something different. A unique mix of Sparks' emotion and Shyamalan's mystery. I would definitely recommend this one if you like romance with a little mystery or something a bit outside the usual.. It’s a love story, but it’s also about memory, loss, and what remains with us even when people are gone. It gave me chills and tugged at my heart at the same time. Emotional, mysterious, and quietly haunting. I didn’t expect to feel this much, but I did. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy..

I have always been a fan of Nicholas Sparks, but when I was offered the opportunity to preview Remain by netgalley.com, I was ecstatic! The story of Tate and Wren will suck you in and not release you until you are safely on the other side. The suspense, the questions I had, my theories along the way, made this one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in awhile!! This book had the heart of every Sparks book but the thrill of the Shyamalan movies. I will not be surprised if this is made into a movie. It’s that good!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Okay so listen—this book had me feeling things. Not call-my-therapist levels of emotion, but definitely clutch-the-Kindle and say “aww” out loud while my dog looks at me weird. Sparks is still out here doing Nicholas Sparks things: delivering romance, trauma, and just enough plot twists to make you yell “EXCUSE ME?” into the void.

This one?
✔️ Not super scary
✔️ But still kind of intense in that “I probably shouldn’t be reading this before bed” way
✔️ With a love story that felt genuine and quietly sweet—not fireworks and chaos, more like a rainy Sunday and warm coffee ☕️

Tropes you’ll find:
• ✨ Trauma bonding but make it swoony
• 🛑 Slow burn with emotional baggage
• 💥 Survivor meets protector vibes
• 🫢 “We shouldn’t, but we do anyway” tension

Some scenes definitely punched me in the chest (rude), but overall it was more comforting angst than emotional obliteration. I smiled a lot. I “awwed.” I maybe hugged my pillow during one particularly soft scene like a YA reader at 2 a.m.

Would I remember these characters five years from now? Meh, probably not.
Would I recommend it for a cozy weekend read when you want low-effort emotional payoff and a soft twist at the end? Absolutely.

P.S. The ending? Not wildly predictable, but I didn’t see it coming either. I did that little blinky thing readers do when the page turns and you go, “OH. OH OKAY.” 👀

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review—and honestly? It was a good time.

Surprised I loved this book. I am a fan of M.Night Shyamalan, but I don't like romance books. This was a fantastic book! A lonely architect helping his friend. He is staying at an old B&B and falls for a beautiful ghost. He helps her solve the mystery of how she was murdered. I usually need more action in a book, but the story and mystery was done well. There is plenty of action in the end. The very end makes me hope for a book series.

I had the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of Remain, and while no review was required, I felt compelled to share my thoughts.

I was expecting this book to be more on the thriller side, expect it was more paranormal. It reminded me of True Believer by Nicholas Sparks that had more romance than paranormal activity. This time with the help of M. Night Shyamalan, I can say Nicholas Sparks has upped his game in the paranormal world.

If I’m honest it started out slow and I was little disappointed. Nicholas Sparks always gives plenty of detail and I’m the reader that wants dialogue. Once I got past the first few chapters, I was more intrigued and willing to stay for the story.

The romance was a slow burn as per usual from Nicholas Sparks. He holds out until the end. As for the paranormal, it kept my interest. It wasn’t the thriller I expected, but it was worth the read. Because of the situation the paranormal aspect was ingrained heavily in the story, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed it and it added some depth to the romance.

I had plenty of theories and the last one I formed towards the end came to be true. This isn’t a book that you won’t be able to figure out if your paying close attention to the characters. It isn’t given away immediately.

The only reason I gave this 4⭐️ Instead of 5⭐️ is because there were dialogue that the MMC had with other characters where he said something in one chapter and a few chapters later he mentioned it again to the same character as if he had never said anything to the character. It only happened two or three times, but that was enough to stick me. This isn’t typical of Nicholas Sparks writing and I’m sure with suggestions from readers can be fixed before the final copy releases.

Please keep in mind this is Nicholas Sparks, this is not a cut throat thriller with 30 twisty turns and an unimaginable end. He is a somewhat contemporary writer with still seemingly real plots. This genre is not his norm. I understand the expectation might be because M. Night Shyamalan is apart of this project that the book will be more thriller based. There is a happy medium built between the two creators, with that in mind expect paranormal activity, love, and a fresh start.

When I first learned of this book written by the two, an unlikely pairing, I thought it would be like The Lakehouse. Something crossing different eras. This book draws you in, wanting to know the trajectory. Fascinating plot and wasy to read. Will definitely be recommending this to patrons.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

Thank you to Nicholas Sparks, M. Night Shyamalan, and the publisher for the ARC copy of Remain. I went into this one completely blind, and I think that was the best way to experience it.

While it wasn’t mind-blowing, Remain was a captivating read that held my attention from beginning to end. The blend of emotional depth and suspenseful storytelling was unexpected but worked surprisingly well. I stayed invested in the characters and the unfolding mystery throughout, always wanting to see where it would go next.

It’s a unique collaboration that offers something different, and I truly enjoyed the ride. Definitely worth a read for fans of both authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book. Here we have the result of a collab between the undisputed king of romance, and the movie king of thrillers/suspense – I was so excited for this for this blending. Tate will forever be one of my favorite main characters, he was so well written and everything he had been through. I’m not going to say much more as I don’t want to spoiler this book for anyone, but if you LOVE Nicholas Sparks’ romance and then you want the supernatural/ghostly thriller elements that we know from MNS, then this book won’t disappoint. I did binge this book in two days, and it was worth it.

“REMAIN” by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shymalan is a book I could not wait to read. It blends the romantic style of Mr. Sparks with the supernatural suspense of Mr. Shymalan in an unexpected and deeply moving way. We have an emotionally closed protagonist falling for and connecting with an ethereal beauty whose story and mystery completely consumes him. This is a supernatural thriller with a huge amount of love and emotional depth. I did have a feeling of where the mystery was going right from the start but it did not take away from the psychological suspense, not for one second!
This novel was moody, haunting and wrapped in atmosphere. It was over way too soon, I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a decades long fan of Sparks, I was surprised to hear of the collaboration with M. Night Shymaylan. The King of Romance novels and the King of Thriller movies had a book baby?! So the stakes were high for me. I wouldn’t have wanted to feel disappointed by either party for merging lanes. And I was not disappointed. I felt the build of the story both romantically and mysteriously. There was the anticipation I desired from a thriller, but a softness to the character building. I loved every minute reading this, and found it difficult to put down at times.

I was so excited for this book because M. Night Shamylan helped co-write this and he is absolutely masterful with his movie twists. It took me a minute to get into the story, but once there was a mystery to be solved, I became more invested. However, I called the twist way early and that was a bit disappointing. I know this was intended to be a love story, but it was just not what I had envisioned with these two teaming up together. I did still enjoy the story for the most part.

Tate is recently discharged from a psychiatric facility for his depression after he loses his beloved sister. His sister Sylvia has always believed in the afterlife and shares her beliefs with Tate, who is skeptical, on her death bed. But when Tate goes to stay at a bed and breakfast in Cape Cod, he discovers that Sylvia may have been right after all. He meets a woman named Wren who appears randomly and he begins to form a deep connection with her. Tate realizes that Wren's death by accidental drowning may not be what really killed her. The more he investigates the details surrounding her death, the more danger he finds himself in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nicholas Sparks never fails to sweep you away. This time Sparks teams up with M. Night Shyamalan to write a novel of self discovery. Remain is an exploration of grief, loneliness, creativity, and the delicate balance between reality and supernatural phenomena.

Set in present day Cape Cod, MA, the novel follows Tate Donovan, a New York City architect who is recovering after the recent loss of his sister Sylvia who he discovers had an ability to communicate with the dead. After being released from a psychiatric hospital, Tate is commissioned by his best friend to design and oversee the building of his mansion on the Cape. Staying in an historic bed and breakfast while working on the project, Tate encounters a beautiful young woman, Wren, who died in the home a few years before. The two form an intimate connection. Tate is invested in finding out the true cause of her death.

This book is engaging and will draw you in from the first chapter. The reader will develop a deep connection with Tate and cheer him on in his quest to uncover what really happened to Wren.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan for the advance reader copy.

As a longtime fan of both Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, I was beyond excited for this collaboration. Sparks brings the emotional depth, Shyamalan the mystery—and Remain beautifully blends both.

Tate’s connection with her was moving and believable, and the slow unraveling of her truth kept me hooked. But here's why it’s a 4-star for me: she’s a ghost. From the title and Tate’s efforts, I truly thought she would remain—that love or connection would find a way to ground her. The ending, while poignant, left me wishing for something more permanent.

Still, this is an original and powerful read that fans of both authors will appreciate. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a different book for Sparks. Hard to put down and couldn’t have ended any better!! Great collaboration