in the romantic tradition of the notebook and nights in rodanthe 1 new york times bestselling author nicholas sparks returns with a story about a chance encounter that becomes a touchstone for two vastly different individuals transcending decades continents and the bittersweet workings of fatehope anderson is at a crossroads at thirtysix shes been dating her boyfriend an orthopedic surgeon for six years with no wedding plans in sight and her father recently diagnosed with als she decides to use a week at her familys cottage in sunset beach north carolina to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her futuretru walls has never visited north carolina but is summoned to sunset beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father a safari guide born and raised in zimbabwe tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mothers early life and recapture memories lost with her death when the two strangers cross paths their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable but in the immersive days that follow their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating waysilluminating lifes heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope every breath explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties and asks the question how long can a dream survive