Remain (by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan)
I was drawn to Remain by the intriguing collaboration between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. I enjoyed The Notebook years ago and have a soft spot for the film adaptations of Message in a Bottle and Nights in Rodanthe, largely because of their Outer Banks, North Carolina settings—one of my favorite vacation spots. That said, I seldom read romance novels, and my recent forays into the genre have reminded me why it’s usually not my go-to.
Shyamalan, on the other hand, has delivered some of my favorite films, including Signs, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, The Happening, and Split. Curious what a book co-written by these two storytellers would look like, I promptly placed a hold on the audiobook through Libby.
In Remain, architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home while still reeling from his sister’s death and a recent psychiatric hospitalization. There, he meets the enigmatic Wren at a bed-and-breakfast. She challenges his logical worldview, and as their connection deepens, the story explores the supernatural mysteries of life, death, and human connection. Tate must uncover the truth about Wren’s past before time runs out.
As a supernatural love story, Remain felt refreshingly different from my recent reads, though it took me a while to fully buy into its premise. The story carried subtle Sixth Sense vibes that kept me engaged, and I grew to like both Tate and Wren. Their relationship felt authentic, the central mystery was intriguing, and the ending proved satisfying—tying things together in a way that left me content, even if the book as a whole didn’t quite reach “love it” territory for me.
Sparks’ acknowledgments section ran overly long and felt tedious in the audiobook, so I fast-forwarded to the recorded conversation between him and Shyamalan at the end. That discussion was insightful and well worth listening to. Narrators Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan delivered excellent performances.
My research shows that Remain is slated for a 2027 film adaptation directed by Shyamalan, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor. I’m not surprised—while listening, I could easily picture it as a compelling movie. I’ll be curious to see how the trailer captures the story’s unique blend of romance and supernatural elements.
A few more pictures of the beautiful night-blooming daturas showing off in our garden this summer — their fragrance is intoxicating once the sun goes down.
Photo credit to my husband: https://lostthepath.com/
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