I liked the idea of these two authors coming together to write a book but it was a little lackluster. The love story was ok. I wasn't blindsided by the paranormal romance conclusion but it was a pretty solid love story. For a Shyamalan product I was disappointed. I am unusually apt in figuring out the twist pretty early and I was hoping for a challenge. Overall it was a captivating book and I would recommend it to a friend who enjoys romance and Nicholas Sparks.

I was excited about this collab, though not entirely sure what to expect.

Ultimately it had a lot of the elements I associate with M Night Shyamalan - supernatural elements and a mystery I’m interested to unravel, though no big twist (which I was fine with, the mystery itself was logical and dare I say predictable, but I still liked it). There was also the lovely writing style I expect of Nicholas Spark.

The biggest surprise though, was that I never really bought into the romance between Tate and Wren. Instead of romantic chemistry, it seemed like Wren was receiving emotional support as she accepted her reality, while Tate was learning to open himself up to people generally.

Thank you to Nicholas Sparks, M. Night Shyamalan, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely different than his normal writing but I thought it was a good read.

The mash up absolutely no one saw coming. Or asked for. What in the Scooby Doo did I just read?! I was a Nicholas Sparks fan a couple of decades ago, when my tastes were simpler. When I could enjoy a Barbara Delinsky novel 😂 but I aged out of the cheesy emotional manipulation and began to love a more literary experience. But one genre I have NEVER stopped loving is horror/sci-fi and anything with the supernatural. So when I saw this book pop up on NetGalley, I scratched my head at its existence for a bit and then requested it. Why not, right?

The past week of reading this has felt like such an uphill trudge through bland dialogue, characters with no personality, love for no reason and a haunting that so ho-hum that everyone the MC told about it acted as if they were just hearing a friend recount their daily tasks.

Tate is a ridiculously wealthy architect with a ridiculously wealthy best friend, Oscar, who commissions his services to design him a 12 bedroom mansion in Cape Cod, and arranges for him to stay in a bed and breakfast, by himself, that no one is allowed to stay in, so they can have their discussions about designs over eggs and beach walks instead of on Zoom and via email. I don’t know, rich people, I guess? When Tate reveals to Oscar that the house has a ghost, Oscar doubts him for approximately 3 seconds, before just accepting it all and offering to help the ghost move on. The fact that Tate was just released from a mental institution after a downward spiral following his sister’s death seems to have no bearing on anything. Just the occasional, “you ok, buddy?” I won’t go further so as to avoid spoilers, but here’s one spoiler worth knowing ahead of time. This book is really boring. But speaking of rich people, apparently this is already being made into a movie. I guess it pays to be Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shayamalan. If the movie is anything above a Lifetime ghost movie, I’ll be delighted.

Remain is a surprising blend of heartfelt storytelling and eerie suspense—exactly what you might expect when Nicholas Sparks teams up with M. Night Shyamalan. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of the paranormal aspect, but once I got my head around it, I found myself into it.

The emotional core of the novel is classic Sparks: love, loss, and the enduring power of connection. But layered on top is Shyamalan’s signature atmosphere—a creeping unease that grows as the story unfolds. The result is a unique narrative that’s both tender and unsettling.

I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but the combination works. It’s haunting in a way that lingers after the last page. A truly unexpected genre-bending read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

When I saw the authors I thought wow exciting Sparks and Shyamalan? I mean this will be amazing, right? Well it was beyond amazing, I loved it. Tate is such a beautifully written character, his loss is felt throughout the story. The storytelling was heartwarming and shows that his sister loved him so much that she knew how devastating her departure would be for Tate that she created a way for him to heal after she was gone. And of course with the M. Night Shyamalan plot as well you have the thrilling story that only he can write. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This was a fun read!

I loved seeing a Nicholas Sparks romance twist into an M Night story!

A part of me wishes M Night’s name wasn’t attached because I felt like I was constantly waiting for a twist and trying to anticipate what would happen next. In a way it sort of ruined the mystery knowing that whatever new suspects or ideas that came into play were likely red herrings. .

All in all I I did enjoy the read and loved Tate and Wren’s story — as emotional of a journey it was.

I was so excited about this book the second I saw Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan’s names on the cover. Like, romance meets ghost story? Sign me up.

There were definitely things I liked. the setting was crazy, some of the creepy moments in the B&B were really well done, and the whole concept of spirits being “tethered” to the living world was cool. Tate felt like a real person, heartbroken and trying to start over.

Unfortunately, the romance didn’t totally suck me in. It felt more like emotional support than romantic chemistry, if that makes sense. I kept waiting for a M. Night Shyamalan twist that never really happened. The “mystery” was predicatable, and once I figured it out, I kinda coasted through the rest of the book just to see how it would wrap up.

I also wanted more from Tate’s sister’s storyline and the whole “gift” thing. It got brought up, then kind of dropped.

It was a decent read, but not as mind blowing or emotional as I hoped. If you’re into light paranormal vibes and don’t mind a slower pace, it’s worth checking out. Otherwise, from these writers, I was disappointed.

I hoped this collaboration would create a ghost story with heart, but it fell flat. I used to love Nicholas Sparks, but unfortunately this story did not have the same charm that his early novels had. A lot of potential that didn’t come to fruition.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Remain, and true to form, Nicholas Sparks delivers a tender, emotionally resonant story about love, loss, and the courage it takes to move forward. The sequence of writing is smooth and familiar, and the emotional beats land with just the right amount of weight. What sets this novel apart is a subtle supernatural thread that adds atmosphere and depth without ever overshadowing the heart of the story.

The ghostly presence woven throughout isn’t just for dramatic effect. It serves as a powerful metaphor for grief, memory, and the lingering hope for love. It’s an unexpected but welcome addition to the classic Sparks formula, offering something fresh for longtime readers.

The characters feel grounded and authentic, especially the lead, who carries the weight of sorrow with quiet, relatable strength. Sparks continues to excel at portraying the messy, beautiful complexity of human relationships, and Remain is no exception.

Fans of Sparks will feel right at home, and new readers will find this a strong entry point into his emotionally rich storytelling. Remain is a moving reflection on how love endures. It’s a reminder that healing often begins where we least expect it. A worthwhile and memorable read.

Thank you Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

OOOHHHH.... I love me some Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan....and together...they just work!!! "Remain" was such a great book---read it!!!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to preview Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M.Night Shyamalan. I will read anything Nicholas Sparks writes. I was definitely curious why he teamed up with M. Night Shyamalan to write this book since he is brilliant on his own. Well, the answer is, a very different type story was told. Yes, there was a love story, of course, but it was mixed with ghosts and the supernatural. It was told in a very believable format too! I think I read the entire book in two days it was that good. And, I was sad it was over. I don't want to give the ending away, so all I will say is preorder this book now. It was fantastic!

I thought this was going to be a fun mashup between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan where both of their unique voices came together to create something special. Instead, it feels like both of their voices got watered down rather than combined, and it reads very generic, unfortunately. I had to give up on this one, because it felt like I was reading a movie trailer or something. The characters were cardboard cutouts of authentic characters, and I felt like there really wasn't a plot. Ultimately I think this just wasn't a great collab. In trying to combine their unique voices, they lost them completely. I'm going to give it 3 stars to be fair, since it might have gotten better as it went on.

I love M. Night Shyamalan and his brilliant twists written into his films, so I jumped at the chance to read this co-authored book ASAP. Remain follows Tate, a wealthy NYC architect who is grieving the loss of his sister as he develops plans to build his best friend’s summer home just outside of Cape Cod. The mystery unfolds as he meets Wren and digs into the secrets hidden in the small costal town. Definitely worth the read and cannot wait to see the film adaptation either!

I will give this one a 3.5.
I was so excited to see this collab, who would have ever guessed it!
Remain was a bit underwhelming for me in the end. I liked it, but I wasn't blown away as I hoped to be.
The romance was deeply tragic, but I didn't quite bond with the MC's enough to really be engrossed into the love story with them. There was a lot unanswered questions surrounding the FMC that I think kept me from fully deciding if I liked her or not.
The MMC was a bit soft for my usual taste, and he has a cat.
The paranormal, and mystery was intriguing, but I didn't get that mind-blowing twist I would have expected.
I really did want more of the story with the MMC and his sister and kept hoping for more information surrounding the gift passed on.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, but it was a bit.... underwhelming in the end.
Maybe my expectations for this awesome collab were just too high.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC copy.

I knew with Sparks and Shyamalan on this, it would be good. And it was. What a beautiful, sad story. And spooky, with a decent twist. I kinda figured it out early, but I was happy I was right. I really enjoyed this book, and I can totally see it as a movie. Glen Powell, jump on this. :)

I received an Advance Reader Copy of Remain through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
[M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks jointly developed the original concept, characters, and core story.]

This novel is a haunting departure from Nicholas Sparks’ usual fare, blending romance with supernatural suspense in a way that’s both unexpected and deeply moving.
The atmosphere is rich and moody, with the coastal setting amplifying the novel’s quiet tension. Sparks’ prose is elegant and restrained, and the pacing kept me invested throughout. The supernatural elements are woven in subtly, enhancing rather than distracting from the emotional core.

Tate Donovan is a protagonist you root for, even when he’s emotionally closed off. His unraveling and slow rediscovery of purpose felt raw and authentic. His connection with Wren is tender but tinged with mystery, and as their story unfolds, Sparks masterfully peels back layers of grief, memory, and fate.
Wren’s character is beautifully written, she is ethereal yet grounded, enigmatic yet emotionally resonant, she anchors the novel’s more metaphysical elements and her secrets kept me flipping those digital pages.

The Cape Cod setting adds a moody, atmospheric backdrop that enhances the eerie undertones. Sparks’ writing is lyrical and restrained, and the pacing kept me engaged from start to finish. While the supernatural twist may surprise longtime fans, I found it added depth and intrigue without overshadowing the emotional core.

Remain begins as a quiet, genre-blending gem then morphs into a bold fusion of thriller and romance, with Sparks’ heartfelt storytelling meeting Shyamalan’s psychological edge. Whether it becomes a genre-defining masterpiece or a polarizing experiment will depend on how well it balances emotion and suspense.

While I haven’t read many of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, I’m familiar with his signature style—and Remain feels like a striking departure from it. This genre-blending story is haunting, tender, and quietly unsettling. It begins as a seemingly familiar tale of grief and healing, but quickly deepens into something far more mysterious and metaphysical. What surprised me most was how seamlessly Sparks wove in supernatural elements without sacrificing the emotional depth. Themes of memory, loss, and fate lingered with me long after I turned the final page.

If you’re looking for a romance that dares to explore the unknown, Remain is a quiet stunner. It’s not just about love—it’s about what remains when everything else fades.

Nicholas Sparks meets supernatural thriller in this wild ride. I had no idea what to expect when I saw Sparks and Shyamalan on the cover, but I knew I had to read this story. I was not disappointed in the slightest! Not only did I have to keep reading to figure out what happened with the mystery, but I wanted to know what happened with the romance! This book kept me up late at night reading until I fell asleep. 5 stars and wishing I could experience it again for the first time!

Unfortunately… incredibly mid. The premise—falling in love with a ghost and helping them move on—feels stale. With Shyamalan as co-writer, I was hoping for some mind-bending twist or psychological depth. Nope. Just a “solve the crime, surprise it’s not who you think” plot that’s easy to figure out and not all that exciting.

I really wanted to love this, but it didn’t hit. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, and the whole “troubled rich boy who can’t cook or do laundry” thing did it no favors. Even the romance wasn’t great. Again, predictable and logistically confusing. Just disappointing.

Thanks to the authors and published for the ARC tho <3

Nicholas Sparks die hards beware...this is not your typical love in the Carolina's. Going into this book with no idea how these two people would put together a book I was shocking surprised at the outcome. M. Night with sprinkles of Sparks. I really did enjoy it, but you have to go in every open minded and be open to getting something different! Definitely worth the read.