Two by Two - Nicholas Sparks

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I’ve read all of Nicholas Sparks’ books now by adding this book to my wish list for Christmas. I think it is now becoming a tradition that my husband gives me the new Nicholas Sparks book for Christmas. He writes small loving notes in the book, so I have something to look forward to when reading.

Two by Two is N.S’ newest book, number 20! It is not the best book; however, it is very cute. On the book preview is giving the reader a thought that they’re about to read how a dad realizes how he should love his daughter. Nonetheless, the book is more about how the main character Russ married the wrong woman, and his own reflection on how he should have seen the marriage wouldn’t have lasted.

Russ Green, the main character, is very spineless. He let’s Vivian, his wife, drag him around the circus tent and he never confronts her, even though his blood his boiling with rage. Russ Green develops through the book, which is pleasant for the reader, and he realizes that he has always been a pleaser. He also realizes that he shouldn’t just be a pleaser to be a pleaser, and it is OK to say no. Moreover, understands Russ that it’s more rewarding to please people out of love.

Russ Green has a close relationship to his family, and it didn’t come as a surprise that Marge had the cancer when she wouldn’t stop coughing. But how is a N.S book without someone not dying? It was a tearjerker reading about Marge’s dying, but it wasn’t a surprise.

Most of the book was conversation, which can be annoying to people; to me, it gave it a good reading pace. This can be me putting more into the pot than what can fit into the pot, nevertheless there should be a lot of conversations in families. Like Russ had with his family, and you saw how he was never able to talk to Vivian. Hense it wasn't real love between them. 

The reader can also ask it’s self why N.S decided to write a book about divorcing a spouse. He is the king of romantic novels for crying out loud! I can imagine that he maybe filled the need to after his recent divorce.  It was OK reading, although I hope his next book will be yet another grand love story.

My biggest issue about this book, was that I thought before beginning to read it that there would be more about this father daughter relationship that the preview lead up to. London, Russ and Vivian’s daughter, is a sweet little smart thing. It is clear that she loves both her mom and dad, and she, as a little girl, needs both her mom and father in her life. So for Russ Green, on the second to last page out of 400 pages, to realize how he is a good father to his daughter and move to Atlanta was quite annoying. What was more annoying was Vivian, who believed that she should just have sole custody over London. What kind of mother would do that to her daughter, knowing she has a good dad, who is taking care of his daughter to an A+? I know I wouldn’t.

Two by Two is a good book by Nicholas Sparks. It is not his greatest, but I will definitely re-read it eventually. I had a hard time putting it down, and I finished the book in less than a week despite being busy with the Holidays.  If you like to read cute stories, where you can just fall in to the universe by opening the book. This is the book you should read.   

The last note from my husband on the last page <3