Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Modern & Contemporary Fiction, general Fiction
Year of Release: 2017
Release Date: 30th May 2017
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Russell Green has it all: a loving family, a successful career, and a beautiful house. But underneath his seemingly perfect world, cracks are beginning to appear . . . and no one is more surprised than Russ when the life he took for granted is turned upside down.
Finding himself single-handedly caring for his young daughter, while trying to launch his own business, the only thing Russ knows is that he must shelter his little girl from the consequences of these changes.
Review
Russell Green, loving husband to Vivian and devoted father to London, he’s also close to his family spending most weekends with his parents and sister. Recently Russell has decided to launch his own business; some might say Russell has it all, but Russell’s life is a about to need some major repair work as suddenly Russell finds himself the main caregiver for his five-year-old daughter Landon.
If only life didn’t happen when you were busy making other plans.
I’ve been a fan of Nicholas Sparks books for many, many years my last being The Wish so I needed no convincing to read this title, in fact I’ve wanted to read Two by Two since it was released, I was once again pulled into North Carolina and becoming quickly invested in the Green family.
As always with a Sparks novel the location is described perfectly, North Carolina springs to life in the reader’s mind. The story is descriptive without feeling like an overflow of unnecessary information is being given to the reader.
I’ll admit in the very beginning chapters of Two by Two I was worried I found the first Sparks offering I wasn’t keen to finish, there were quite a few chapters that nearly continued into the middle of the story where the book felt somewhat repetitive to the point I feared I was slipping into a reading slump, this is never a good thing especially when it’s a library book; but I am pleased to say I made it over the hurdle and made it to the end, there was some minor grammar errors in this book.
The main reason I persevered with this read as well as the reason for my five-star- rating were the characters of this book, this is one of the many strengths I believe Mr Sparks has as an author; his characters are always three dimensional however not all characters are likeable in this case the winner for that title in this book is Vivian. I found her involvement throughout the book left me deflated and at times angry, I believe she made for an interesting character.
“Friendship isn’t about how long you know someone. It’s about who walls into your life, says ‘I’m here for you,’ and then proves it.”
― Nicholas Sparks, Two by Two
The author has made sure to develop even what some might consider minor characters, they felt as though they took centre stage, I even felt I got to see all their sides too, this reader found their lives just as interesting making it hard to find a stand-out, and I believe you could make a stand-alone book of their lives, in particular the lives of Russell’s parents.
Given the beginning felt repetitive to this reader it’s no surprise that the plot felt slow once you reach the conflict stage, the book did seem to take off however once I reached the resolution stage, the book felt as if it slowed once again.
Having now finished this book I will say my interest in finishing this book came from wanting to make sure that the Green family were going to be Ok.
I am always hesitant to use the word predictable but if you’ve read any of the authors previous novels you have some idea what you’re going to be in for and as someone who doesn’t enjoy surprises, I am Ok with a little of the knowing.
“Here’s what else I’ve learned: Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom, any more than age guarantees intelligence.”
― Nicholas Sparks, Two By Two
Divorce, same sex relationship and terminal illness are main sub plots that feature in Two by Two,
second chance love is the main trope that features in this book.
I found the ending adequate.
I’ll admit I haven’t felt this deeply saddened by one of Spark’s novels since A Walk to Remember
I recommend this novel to Nicholas Sparks fans if you read Modern & Contemporary Fiction you might want to investigate Two by Two