Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks Book to Movie Review | #BlissfulBookTalk

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks Book to Movie Review | #BlissfulBookTalk

the longest ride book to movie
The April read for #BlissfulBookTalk was an awesome one - The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. Have any of y'all read this book? It was amazing, and I definitely wanted to read it before I went to see the movie. 

The Longest Ride follows the lives of four people living two love stories several decades apart. The first couple is from the 1960's - Ira and Ruth. You meet Ira after he gets into a fatal car crash after running off the side of the road in a snow storm. While he's fighting for his life, he's also envisioning his late wife, Ruth, sitting next to him. He's reliving their life together one memory at a time. 

The second couple is Sophia and Luke, and their love story has a few parallels to that of Ira and Ruth's even though their story forms in the modern times. Sophia is a college senior from New Jersey living in North Carolina. She loves the arts and dreams of working for a big art museum in New York City. She's in a sorority and super smart, but as a senior, she's focused on getting out of college and starting the next chapter of her life. When her roommate, Marcia, convinces her to go to a bull riding event, she meets Luke, a professional bull rider, and their story just escalates from there. 

I very much enjoyed both the book and the movie for different reasons. If you haven't read the book, the rest of the review will contain spoilers, but you can watch the first half of my video review (don't worry, I let you know before I start talking about the movie) to hear more of my thoughts on this awesome book. 


As for the movie, it follows a similar plot, but the two couples' lives are intertwined a bit more, particularly when it comes to Ira and Sophia. In the book, they meet at the very end when Sophia and Luke discover Ira after a weekend away at a cottage. In the movie, they find Ira's car pretty early on while driving through the rain. When Ira wakes up in the hospital, Sophia is there, and she reads the letters in Ira's box. From there, their lives are intertwined, and I loved it. I think that's my favorite change from the book version. 

I have tons more thoughts on the book to movie adaptation, and I spill the beans about all of it in my review, which you can watch above.


Overall, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. My main complaint is that I wasn't really that interested in Ira's story even though he was a super integral part of the book. I liked Ira as a character, and I thought he was important, but he just wasn't that interesting to me. That being said, I loved Ira's character in the movie.

So if you want to read along with me in May, the book for #BlissfulBookTalk is going to be The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith. I'm super excited to finally read this book! If you read along with me be sure to tag me on social media (@tiffanykhyla) and use the hashtag #BlissfulBookTalk!

Have you read The Longest Ride or seen the movie? What book would you like me to choose for next month's #BlissfulBookTalk book?


the longest ride by nicholas sparks

32 comments :

  1. This book sounds really good.
    I've always liked Nicholas Sparks' books.


    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

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  2. I gave up on Nicholas Sparks after reading Dear John. I finished it on a long plane ride and I was the passenger sitting by the window, sobbing uncontrollably into the pages of a book. But I've heard decent things about this one, so maybe I'm willing to give him another shot.

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  3. I'm not really into Nicholas Sparks books (says the girl who's read all of them but this one,) but this one sounds like I would really enjoy it! On to the book list it goes :)

    XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass

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  4. I'm a huge NS fan and have had this book sitting on my bookshelf for months now! I think after seeing your review its definitely going to be next on my list!

    Pick Your Beau

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  5. I have to admit that I scanned this quickly in case you gave away any spoilers because I've bought the book, but I haven't gotten to read it OR see the movie yet. It's on my must see, must read list :)

    xoxo, SS

    The
    Southern Stylista

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  6. I've read a few Nicholas Sparks books and have really loved some and really disliked others. Based on your review (I only read the first part because I didn't want to see the spoilers) it seems like an interesting one. Happy reading! <3

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  7. this sounds like such a cute book/film ! I love Nicholas Sparks films haha. I'm such a sucker for those.


    great review hun ♥

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  8. Adding this to my summer reading list! Thanks for a great review! And obviously I need to watch the film, because.... Nicholas Sparks, cow boys and old timey love? YES!

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  9. I read the book a few months ago. Waiting for the movie to come out on DVD. Can't wait to see it. I really enjoyed the book too but often found myself skim reading Ira's parts.
    Angela @ Stepping into Motherhood

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  10. I'm seeing the movie with my mom this Saturday and am so excited! Have a great weekend!
    xoxo
    Lauren Ashley
    www.thefashionistasdiary.com

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  11. I LOVE book reviews! So happy that you posted this because I have been wondering about both the book and the movie. I will definitely be reading!

    XOXO

    Marie H.

    Progression By Design

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  12. Stephanie @ Diary of a DebutanMay 2, 2015 at 5:34 AM

    I haven't read this YET, but I'm a Nicholas Sparks freak! Definitely going on my reading list!

    xo,

    Stephanie
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.thediaryofadebutante.com

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  13. You're definitely going to love this book, Stephanie! It's officially one of my favorites by him.

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  14. Yay! I really enjoyed both versions, and I hope you do too!

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  15. Yay! I think both of y'all are going to love it. Have fun!

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  16. I did the same thing, Angela! I really liked Ira's character, but he just wasn't interesting to read about. I liked him a lot more in the movie, and I think you will too!

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  17. Right?! Cowboys and Nicholas Sparks. Obviously it was meant to be awesome.

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  18. I am too! Nicholas Sparks creates some great love stories.

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  19. This one was amazing. Of course, I love cowboys, so that was an extra plus for me. I hope you enjoy it!

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  20. Do it do it do it! I hope you enjoy reading the book! AH!

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  21. You should totally pick it up. I think you're going to love it!

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  22. Haha! I've only read a handful (mostly the ones that have turned into movies), and I've really enjoyed them all!

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  23. Yea, I don't think Nicholas Sparks books were meant to be read in public haha!

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  24. I love Nicholas Sparks books. I think you'll enjoy this one!

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  25. I have not read the book but loved the movie! Two words: Scott Eastwood!!!
    I did hear that the movie is done differently than the book, but in a good way. Love the book to movie review:)

    HTTP://www.strolldownsomerdelane.weebly.com

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  26. Nothing by Sparks will ever be A Walk To Remember or The Notebook... #TEARS


    BUT, you did a good job selling so... you may have converted me to want to watch this movie now... I do like the girl in it (from Under the Dome/Scream 4/Secret Circle....)

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  27. Oh yes. Scott Eastwood. Swoon. How can he be that attractive? The book was definitely different, but I love the changes they made. They all made sense.

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  28. So so true. And why are you the only person I know (besides Jon because I convinced him to watch it) who has seen the Secret Circle? That show was so amazing, and then they just cut it off. I went and read the books afterward, but they're so different. I wish they would have kept going with it!

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  29. I was going to comment, but realized that what I was going to type was pretty much exactly what you wrote, so...word! ;P Adding to my summer (not that I have one, but one can dream) reading list! :]

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  30. This just made me want to make a summer reading list. I have way too many books I want to read.

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  31. If any films feel cookie-cutter and and manufactured, it’s Sparks’. Full of pretty people doing boneheaded things, with a big twist that typically makes zero sense.

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  32. Well, it's definitely not for everyone, but with so many loyal readers and followers, he's gotta be doing something right.

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