What a duo! This book is unlike anything I’ve read by Nicholas Sparks before & I hope to see more of these authors work together again in the future.

Romance meets paranormal activity meets murder mystery. This book had me tuned in from the start.The story starts off describing Tate’s struggle with depression after his sisters passing to Wren’s accidental death. As the pages turn, I found myself biting my nails, holding my breath, and crying (just a little). I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you NetGalley for the incredible ARC!

Remain is one of the most unexpected collaborations I’ve seen in a while—and the premise definitely hooked me. The book blends Nicholas Sparks’ emotional depth with M. Night Shyamalan’s signature eerie twistiness, and at times, that combination really works.

I admire the ambition here—it’s definitely not your average love story—but the pacing falters in the final act, and the genre mash-up doesn’t always feel cohesive. Still, I appreciated the risks it took and wouldn’t be surprised if this gets a film adaptation someday.

Nicholas Sparks is one of the best storytellers of my lifetime. This one just didn’t do it for me. At all.

I believe the ending was predictable and I didn’t feel for any of the characters. Sparks books always make me feel.

I was asked for my honest review so 2.5 starts. HOWEVER, I will still read anything he writes in the future. This just wasn’t it.

I loved this SO MUCH. I loved Oscar and Tate’s infallible friendship. I loved Wren’s mysterious love history. The supernatural elements and the tragic way they would never be with another. Ugh.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this advance reader copy of Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and gave it 4 stars. I was drawn to this book because of this intriguing combination of author and producer, who are both well known in their fields. I have been a fan of Nicholas Sparks and his stories for a while and the addition of M Night Shyamalan, who is known for his supernatural thriller films, had me immediately interested.
I enjoyed Tate's, the main protagonist, journey and how he had to open himself up to new possibilities in order to experience the love he was looking for. The addition of some psychological thriller aspects and the supernatural gave this book an unexpected element that set it apart from the typical contemporary romance novel. Whether you are looking to branch out into psychological thrillers or stick with romance, this book covers both. You will enjoy reading this story of thrills, suspense, friendship and romance. I'm excited for the release of the novel in October and the movie whenever it comes out.

Thank you for the ARC.

I did not finish this book. I thought I could handle the supernatural aspect but it wasn’t for me.

Remain is a moving blend of romance and supernatural suspense. After his release from a mental hospital, architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to help his best friend/ family build their dream home. He rents a local home, only to find he’s not alone. A ghostly young woman appears, lost and searching for answers. As Tate helps her uncover her past, he begins to heal his own.

Sparks brings emotional depth, while Shyamalan layers in quiet, haunting mystery. I can only imagine what the film will be like; terrifying. The result is a story about memory, redemption, and the kind of love that lingers, even after death.

Beautiful, eerie, and unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a supernatural love story and with these 2 authors what more can I say? This book definitely gives vibes of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies which I love!. I would not be surprised at all if this story makes it to the screen eventually!
Tate Donovan, a New York architect, travels to Cape Cod to design his friends’ summer home. He is still recovering from his sister's death and severe depression when he meets a beautiful woman, Wren, at the bed and breakfast he is staying at. A connection forms between them and challenges Tate's preconceptions about love, human connection, and the supernatural world. The story takes a turn when Tate realizes the small town he’s staying in has been hiding a few sinister secrets and he is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Remain is atmospheric, haunting, and emotionally charged, Remain is a thriller that blurs the line between love and the supernatural. When architect Tate Donovan retreats to Cape Cod for a fresh start, he meets Wren. She is a mysterious woman who challenges everything he believes. As their connection deepens, so does the danger surrounding them.

This story is part ghost tale, part psychological suspense, and wholly unforgettable. Perfect for fans of slow-burn thrillers with emotional depth and eerie twists.

First of all, seeing M Night Shyamalan listed on this you need to realize this isn’t the normal Nicholas Sparks contemporary romance book you are reading. This book has romance in a different way and mystery. Tate is an interesting character with a lot of personal struggles. He is very easy to relate to. I liked the mystery plot in this. It makes it a little more interesting than just a romance book. There is a problem to solve and Tate needs to help do this. It helps him deal with his loss. I also enjoyed the other characters like Oscar. I would say if you like mystery novels you will like this, but if you read romance you may like it too with the little bit of romance in it.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to read the ARC for Remain. Nicholas Sparks has been one of my favorite authors since I first read The Notebook (and wrote a reaaaaalllly long book report about it) my junior year I. high school. When I found out that this novel is a collaboration with M. Night Shyamalan, I knew it would be spooky and different for Nicholas Sparks.

The supernatural aspect of this novel was nicely done, and, dare I say, realistic. This book perfectly combines romance, suspense, and horror. The characters were fully developed and the backstory built up, slowly adding to the tension. There were some tears in my eyes at the end, and I loved the resolution.

Saying too much would spoil the important information you’ll gather as a reader as you meet Tate, Wren, Oscar, Sylvia, Reece, and Louise, so I’ll just say this: add this to your TBR!

Tate wants a new start and arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend's summer home. He meets Wren and immediately feels a connection with her. Just like Tate who lost his sister, Wren has a tragic past... There are lots of supernatural vibes and chills/suspense.

Romance, suspense and supernatural all in one book. Very suspenseful and the ending is terrific. A very enjoyable book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

The two author’s created a ghost story that naturally is linked to a murder. The spin is that the ghost and Tate become emotionally involved.

The killers are fairly easy to determine, so don’t read expecting a mystery. Instead, read for an unconventional relationship.

Four stars.

Remain
by Nicholas Sparks
3 out of 5 stars
Estimated publication date: October 14, 2025

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

One sentence summary: After Tate leaves a mental health program, he stays at a bed and breakfast and has an unusual relationship with Wren.

This is Nicholas Sparks' first attempt at writing a novel with supernatural elements, and he paired up with M. Night Shyamalan to do so. The book was okay, but it wasn't as powerful as others by Nicholas Sparks. There were moments of Sparks' emotional writing that shined through, but the overall concept didn't quite grab me the way some of his other books have.

I would recommend this book to fans of M. Night Shyamalan and those who really enjoy a supernatural element.

NY architect, Tate, goes to Cape Cod to design a house for his best friend Oscar. He stays in large empty house and is visited by a ghost, Wren, who died in the bathroom of the house. He decides to solve her death which could possibly be a murder. There isn’t enough story line and the ending is unexpected and not realistic. I do not care for supernatural so this book was a disappointment.

One of my favorite authors and this book ranked up there with his best yet! This one immediately captivates your attention with such vivid descriptions of the environment…he really knows how to transport you there! A very different book from his built collection but I loved it! In fact, it really appealed to my thriller interests. He also does a magnificent job weaving in the romantic story.

Thank you Nicholas Sparks, Random House and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!

I have been a longtime fan of Nicholas Sparks and will read ANYTHING he writes. I was dying to know what this book would be like since it had a supernatural element to it. I don't think I ever would have guessed we'd see a book from this duo! I typically do not read supernatural books and was skeptical when starting it. I was pleasantly surprised by how Sparks wove that element into the story and made it feel like it could happen. There were a few creepy moments that I as a someone who is extremely jumpy and a scaredy cat found uncomfortable but they were brief and nothing to be scared of.
To me, this book read as more of a thriller with a dash of romance. I would've liked to see more romance (granted, this is difficult when a ghost is involved) and more depth to some of the characters. I felt as though Oscar, family, and house were simply implanted with shallow character development just to serve a purpose and didn't find myself caring about any of the secondary characters. I also did not find the mystery to be all that mysterious and finished the book just wanting more substance and a deeper romance and instead felt "yeah that wasn't bad for a ghost story." There is nothing better than a Sparks book that moves me to tears. I will forever remain a Sparks fan! 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fans of Stephen King will enjoy this other-worldly romance from an unlikely author duo. With moments of total creepiness and adorable banter, it rides the line between romance and horror. A bit predictable and hokey, but enjoyable enough.

As a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, I was so excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. I loved every second of this book. The supernatural love story was spot on. It still had the foundation that makes a Nicholas Sparks book good, but the added bit of the unknown had me turning the page. I am so glad I read this and will be buying it to add to my collection when it comes out.

I've been a Sparks fan for over 20 years so I was so excited to see him do romance with a twist. This was unbelievably good. It had all the things I crave and look for in a Nicholas Sparks book but with the added supernatural bonus. HIGHLY recommend if youre a Sparks lover like me!