The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Ex-marine Logan Thibault lost many friends during his three tours in Iraq. He was lucky to survive himself, too lucky some think. Thibault attributes his luck to a photograph he found while going for a morning run during his first tour, a photo of a smiling blonde woman.

When his friend Victor tells him he needs to do something for the woman in the picture, to balance things out, Logan doesn't believe him. Then a tragedy changes his mind and sets him on a journey across America to try and find her. He only has a few clues about her location, and only an initial of her name, but somehow he knows that he will meet her.

Beth, the woman, has troubles of her own. Her Grandmother is recovering from a stroke, her ten-year-old son hates visiting his father, and since her divorce no one has showed much of an interest in her. Lonely and struggling to cope, there is plenty Thibault can help her with, but Beth has reasons to dislike marines, and her ex, Clayton, isn't happy to see another man moving in on his ex-wife.

I don't think there are many people out there who aren't familiar with Nicholas Sparks' work. If you haven't read one of his books, several have been made into films – The Notebook being probably the most famous. It promises heart-warming storylines, plenty of romance and a chance to cry your eyes out.

The Lucky One certainly doesn't disappoint. Though not as weepy as I've come to expect from Sparks, it is an example of chick-lit at its very best. Though from the blurb you have a good idea where the plot is going, it's still great fun to follow the journey, and there are enough twists and surprises to keep it fresh and different. It's the sort of chick-lit that people who don't like chick-lit enjoy. This reviewer is not a great fan of the genre but stayed up until two in the morning to finish this offering.

The characters are great – from barmy Nana to exasperated Beth. Thibault is the guy we wish our boyfriends could be, but with the flaws that make him believable, and while Clayton is a piece of work, he is difficult to hate. He has certain qualities that make the reader empathise with him, which makes him a much better character, and the book much stronger than it might otherwise have been. Too many chick-lit books have shallow, two-dimensional 'bad guy' characters. It's nice to see one that isn't afraid to put you in the shoes of the antagonist and dare you to like him just a little.

Overall an excellent book, and much better than your average chick-lit offering, which is why it's a recommended buy, not just borrow.

My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.

Fans of this might enjoy In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. For something a little more light and frothy, try the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.

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