Dear John

John was raised by his quiet, socially awkward father, a mail carrier whose only passion is his coin collection, and the two have never really connected. Savannah helps John see his father differently, suggesting that his father's unusual habits might be explained by a condition that makes social connection difficult. With her encouragement, John begins to understand and appreciate the man who raised him.

After John returns to his unit, he and Savannah write letters constantly. When the September 11 attacks happen, John feels he must reenlist, a decision that delays their future. Then Savannah writes a letter that changes everything, the kind of letter soldiers dread. Years later, John returns to find her life has taken a different path, involving a friend's serious illness, and he must decide what true love requires of him. Sparks avoids an easy happy ending, and the book's most powerful scenes involve John and his father. The novel was adapted into a film.

Emotional, bittersweet and touching, a story that lingers long after the final page. About 288 pages in the Grand Central paperback.