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

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!!!!