Nicolas Sparks has shocked the nation again, captivating the audiences with his latest production of ‘The Best of Me’, which opened in theaters on October 17^th, 2014. The story begins with the idea of young love and the impact a first love has on someone’s life. The movie flashbacks to present day and then to the past of how they fell in love and why it didn’t work out for them. Amanda and Dawson, the main characters, quickly make the audiences fall in love with the idea of them. The flashbacks of how it used to be are happy, while the present day ones dwell on the stupidity of why they didn’t work out. We later find out that they never stopped loving each other, which makes the audiences believe that love will be like that, creating a false hope for what future relationships will be like.

The happiness and the love in the movie is quickly forgotten as the climax of the movie takes its toll on the audience. For those who have seen it, know the heartbreak that comes, and for those who have yet to see it, bring a box of tissues for the ending of the movie is the opposite of any other happy ending of a Nicholas Sparks movie. The audience falls in love with the idea of Amanda and Dawson, for that to be ripped apart and shattered of the not-so happy ending of happily ever after. Ryan Grizzle, senior commented that “the movie was perfect; the love is what everyone wants but, the ending ruins the whole movie.” While Grizzle believes the endings should be different, Melissa Aharrah says that, “The end shows what real relationships are like, that not all of them end with a happy ending.”

A warning to all those who want to experience the love of ‘The Best of Me’, while the love is beautifully showcased throughout the movie, it will quickly be overshadowed with the pain of heartbreak.