Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan tells the story of Tate, an architect fresh off a mental breakdown caused by the death of his sister, as he meets a young woman named Wren who may not be who she seems. This book is a classic Nicholas Sparks tale, filled with romantic moments and tragic twists. If you are a fan of his other novels, you will like this one. The main issue with the book is that at times it feels like it was already being written as a script to make the film adaptation easier to navigate. This might just be because of Shyamalan's influence, but it did take me out of the story the way that characters were described. The book holds the reader's attention and the mystery of what happened to Wren contains enough missing pieces to keep the reader guessing. The imagery of the book is well done, especially the more supernatural/horror elements. I was concerned about how the two author voices would mix, but I think they worked well together.

For someone who has read EVERY Nicholas Sparks book this one hit the spot once again!! My jaw hit the floor!! Two very great masterminds collab was a beautiful duo!

I can only imagine if this were to open as a movie how wonderful it would be a little Jake Gyllenhaal mixed with the actress from Bridgestone that played Daphne oh what a duo.

Romance mixed with Paranormal? Who would have thought about this type of collab I am in awe and I was so thankful I was able to get my hands on this!!!


Thank you to Net Gallery and Random House for an ARC of this book!!
#Remain #NetGalley

Ghosts, grief, and a romance bold enough to flirt with the afterlife, this book isn’t here to whisper; it’s here to haunt. Perfect for readers who like their love stories with a side of goosebumps. Imagine Shyamalan’s signature twists draped in a Sparks-y romance with two hearts haunted (literally), tethered by grief and the supernatural.

Bestseller Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) and filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) have spun a paranormal love story that is equal parts aching romance and unease. At its heart is Tate Donovan, an architect hollowed out by grief. After the death of his sister Sylvia and a descent into a paralyzing depression, Tate retreats to Cape Cod.

It’s there that he sees her. Wren. A woman too alive to be a memory, too captivating to be dismissed, and yet. . . Their connection is undeniable, but it hums with danger as if love itself will awaken what should be left sleeping. What begins as a ghost story curls into something deeper: a romance that tests the limits of what it means to remain.

The mystery surrounding Wren tugs at the narrative’s edges, but the true power here is in their relationship. Sparks lends his gift for heartfelt intimacy, while Shyamalan threads in the uncanny, leaving the reader always a step away from dread. The result is a love story that feels inevitable, impossible, and haunting all at once.

Remain is a story of grief that refuses to stay buried, of love that lingers long after. It’s a Gothic hymn to what binds us, even when logic insists, we let go. Eerie and unexpectedly tender, this collaboration makes suspension of disbelief not just possible, but irresistible.

There is no gut-punch in Remain that flips the entire story on its head and makes you whisper “Oh, no, they didn't.” The reveal? Clever, yes. Satisfying, sort of. But let’s be honest, I want the plot twist to twist like a pretzel at Oktoberfest. Still, I’m holding out hope that the “Master of Twist Storytelling” film adaptation will once again make us gasp, scream, or sit in stunned silence with an emotional gut punch at the movies.

And that’s why it’s a 4-star read. I was expecting more. However, fans of both will find themselves haunted, in the best way.

Remain follows Tate Donovan, a New York architect recovering from loss and depression, who retreats to Cape Cod only to discover that his late sister’s strange gift of seeing spirits may also shape his own future. When he meets the mysterious Wren, their deepening bond forces him to confront love, grief, and the blurred line between life and death.

This book had a very unique premise, unlike anything I’ve read before. While I appreciated the originality, I found myself losing interest at times, especially through the middle where the story dragged before picking up again around the 75% mark. Some of the more intimate moments between Tate and Wren required a suspension of disbelief that did not always work for me, particularly since their connection across life and afterlife sometimes felt inconsistent. Still, I admired how the story dared to explore love, loss, and the unseen in a way that was both haunting and tender. In the end, I liked this book but did not love it. It was different and I am not mad that I read it, but it never quite reached its full potential for me. 3-1/2 stars.

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

This is actually the first book by Nicholas Sparks I have actually read. I read this on the cape not realizing it was set there which was cool. I enjoyed this paranormal mystery/romance a lot! It was bittersweet but so well done.

Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan was such a fun read! It’s a supernatural love story with just the right amount of suspense and thriller vibes, perfect for spooky season. The world-building pulled me in right away and the pacing kept me hooked the whole time. Definitely a solid 4 stars from me!

Thank you Net Galley for this eARC. I was super excited to see Nicholas Sparks had a new book out and the have paired with M. NightShyamalan made it even better. Great fast paced, intriguing book.

I really did not know what to expect from a book written by an author of love stories and an author of thrillers but I was pleasantly surprised. Tate and Wren's love story is very unique. New York architect, Tate, who was just released from a psychiatric facility after suffering severe depression after the loss of his sister, is hired by his best friend to design his New England beach house. While Tate is staying in the small town where the house will be located he meets Wren. She is a spirit who died in the old house Tate is renting during his visit. Her death was ruled accidental by the police two years earlier. Tate learns that Wren actually died under suspicious circumstances and he vows to help find her killer. Will Tate solve the mystery before he becomes a victim himself? I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own. Publication date October 13, 2025.

I really enjoyed this book! It follows Tate, who is dealing with grief and depression after the loss of his sister, after he is released from a psychiatric facility. He goes to Cape Cod to stay for a while so he can design his best friend’s home. This is where he meets Wren and the supernatural element comes into play. Tate realizes he needs to help Wren solve what happened to her before it’s too late and leads you on a journey to solve this mystery.

I knew I was going to love this book - Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan - I mean come on! But I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. This has it all - romance, mystery, paranormal. My favorite genre is mystery/thrillers and romance and merging them together? Chefs kiss. It pulls at your heart strings and keeps you absolutely absorbed and gripped that it will take over your days to read and your dreams at night. Tate is an architect and is helping design his friend’s summer home. Tate recently had a visit in a psychiatric ward after the passing of his sister and he’s looking for a fresh start. His sister, Sylvia, told him on her death bed that she can see spirits. Tate is very skeptical about that and wonders why. As Tate is designing his friend’s summer home, he stays at a bed and breakfast that hasn’t been in use for 2 years. Tate meets Wren who will forever change his life. As they get to know each other, there is more than meets the eyes. He must uncover her past and the small town secrets to see how he can help her. As he learns more about Wren and this town, Tate uncovers a lot more about himself as well. Always at the center of everything is love and he must uncover the true meaning of it. This book will be one that stays with you for a long time as it should. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan for an ARC of Remain - a must read book!

A fun twist on the ghost story, and it will make an entertaining film. To be honest though, it lacked depth of emotion for me. All a bit simple and hokey. It feels like a script more than a novel. That said, it’s paced briskly and holds interest.

I picked this book up solely on the fact that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan collaborated on this project. I didn’t even read the blurb – my instincts chose this one for me. I love Nicholas Spark’s books and M. Night Shyamalan’s work on the big screen, so this had to be a win. I was right. Let’s make this a little better – there is going to be a movie based on this book with M. Night Shyamalan directing the movie and writing the screenplay so watch for in October 2026. That being said, go into this blind and just love it.

Remain is a rare beast—a mash up of genres for all the right reasons. Nicholas Sparks brings the tender, soul-deep romance, while M. Night Shyamalan layers in an eerie, slow-creeping dread. Tate Donovan isn’t just another wounded hero looking for a fresh start; he and his late sister Sylvia share an otherworldly connection that defies reason. When Wren walks into his life—magnetic, mysterious, and possibly not of this world—the line between healing and haunting blurs into something unforgettable. It’s part romance, part supernatural thriller, all wrapped in Cape Cod’s windswept, salt-bitten atmosphere.

And then come the twists. The kind that rearranges everything you thought you knew about the characters, the powers at play, and even the nature of love itself. Sparks makes you ache for these people, and Shyamalan makes you question every page—right up until the ending hits like a full-blown tilt, flipping the board and leaving your heart in freefall. It’s haunting and beautiful, impossible to put down.

Going into this book, I was genuinely excited. I’ve long admired both Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, so the idea of them collaborating had me expecting something truly special—a heartfelt love story with an unforgettable twist.

Wren and Tate were easy characters to fall in love with and relate to, and the romance carried Sparks’ signature touch. But when it came to Shyamalan’s influence, I was left wanting more. The ghost element hinted at his style, yet there was no real twist or unexpected turn that I’ve come to associate with his work. It felt like the story leaned heavily toward Sparks’ style, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I had hoped for a more balanced collaboration.

The love story was good—not on the level of The Notebook, but still heartfelt enough to keep me engaged. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was an opportunity for something bigger, bolder, and more surprising.

I’m grateful to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5⭐️ ; Thank you NetGalley, Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan, and Random House for the ARC for review!

Wow - Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan - the collaboration I never saw coming but enjoyed so so much!!! Remain follows Tate, an architect who recently lost his sister and needed professional inpatient mental health treatment to help process his grief. After he completes treatment, Tate is hired by his long time best friend, Oscar, to build his family’s new summer house in Cape Cod. Tate stays solo at a small bed and breakfast during the early phases of home development, but soon realizes he’s not alone. Wren, a beautiful and complicated woman, who used to own the B&B, helps Tate with his transition back into the “real world” after his treatment, teaching him laundry, cooking, and about importance of love. But it’s Tate, who ultimately needs to help Wren. Wren passed in 2023 but doesn’t seem to know it - lost to the world and forced to relive her most painful moment every night. Tate is determined to find out who killed Wren and help her soul depart before it’s too late.

I loved the mystery thriller aspect of the book. Additionally, I thought “talking to ghosts” was interesting topic and Tate trying to figure out the laws of physics around them (eg, can she hold anything, can she leave).

I can’t wait for the movie and hope for more continued collaborations!!

Remain is supernatural romance thriller about a MMC Architect who is grieving the loss of a loved one and trying to find a reason and purpose to push on through life. He decides to help his good friend build a summer home and stays at an old shut down bed and breakfast in the local town. While he is there, he finds something unexpected in that house and realizes he has a gift that he often refused to embrace his whole life.

This book is written with the romance and self discovery of Nicolas Sparks and sprinkled with spooky paranormal from M. knight Shyamalan. The combo of the 2 authors was refreshing, interesting, and I enjoyed the collaboration! I could see it becoming a movie.

Thank you @netgalley for letting me read and review this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book is the perfect blend of Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan—a heartfelt love story woven with suspenseful, unexpected twists. The romance is tender and moving, while the tension keeps the pages turning. I don’t include spoilers in my reviews because this is a story best experienced without knowing what’s coming, but I can say with confidence that it did not disappoint. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy emotional romance with a touch of suspense.

I could picture this novel being turned into a movie. I am thankful that I went into this book blind (not reading the synopsis) as once I see any book written by Nicholas Sparks, I immediately will be reading it. I am so glad I did because it enhanced my experience as I wasn't sure where the story was going to turn. I have never read anything by M. Night Shyamalan but loved the fusion of paranormal with a little romance sprinkled in. The idea that Tate is not only falling for this woman (who doesn't realize she is a ghost) but he is helping her eventually solve her own murder caused me to not want to put the book down.

I have loved Nicholas Sparks' writing and was so excited when I saw this new title (and learned I would be getting to read this early). He is one of my favorite authors and is an "instant buy" when his books comes out. I cannot wait for this book to be released and other to experience this duo's creation. They are going to want these two to cowrite more books in the future!!

I’ve never picked up a Nicholas Sparks book before, but I’ve seen plenty of M. Night Shyamalan movies—so this collab definitely caught my eye. And honestly? I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn’t sure how the mix of heartfelt romance and supernatural suspense would work, but it totally did.
Tate, fresh from an upscale psychiatric hospital after the loss of his sister, is still trying to find his footing. His sister had always believed in the supernatural and, before she died, urged him to open not just his mind to the unknown but also his heart to love. Trying to focus on designing a dream summer home for his best friend, the last thing he expects is to be drawn to Wren, the enigmatic B&B owner whose presence turns his carefully guarded world upside down.
This book has mystery, intrigue, a sprinkle of spice, and a whole lot of heart. It’s a unique story that blends both authors’ strengths in a way that really worked for me. Highly recommend giving it a try!

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

This book was interesting to say the least. I honestly was not sure what to expect when I started it because of the origin of the two authors, but overall, it was a decent read. I don't think it would have been the first book I would pick up off the shelf. At times, it did feel a little bit slow, and there was a handful of supernatural scenes in the book that did creep me out. Also, I felt like there was something missing while reading - not much action.

It will be interesting to see which type of reader this book resonates with more.

I was SO EXCITED for Remain by Nicholas Sparks, but sadly, it didn’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from him. I ended up not even finishing it, which has never happened with a Nicholas Sparks book for me. In fact, it’s the usually the opposite where I can’t put the book down and so I end up ignoring my family for days until I finally finish it—and then feel sad that it’s over! The premise for Remain had potential, and I was excited to dive into the characters and storyline, but it just didn’t grab me. The pacing felt slow and I found myself losing interest early on. I really wanted the emotional depth and heartfelt moments that this author is known for but this one fell flat for me. It’s disappointing because I’ve enjoyed so many of his other books. Maybe others will connect with it, but for me, it wasn’t the gripping, moving story I hoped for. Definitely not one I’d pick up again.