The Lucky One

by Nicholas Sparks

Hardcover, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Genres

Romance

Collection

Your library

Publication

Grand Central Publishing (2008), 336 pages

Description

Is there really such thing as a lucky charm? The hero of Nicholas Sparks's new novel believes he's found one in the form of a photograph of a smiling woman he's never met, but who he comes to believe holds the key to his destiny. The chain of events that leads to him possessing the photograph and finding the woman pictured in it is the stuff of love stories.

User reviews

LibraryThing member julyso

The Lucky One is about Logan Thibault, a veteran, who is returning from a tour of duty in Kuwait. While on his tour, he finds a picture of a lovely young lady. He cannot find the owner of the picture and begins to carry it with him. The photo seems to bring him luck, apparently saving him from a

couple of near misses. He returns home and decides to find the lady in the picture who brought him good luck. He walks to North Carolina where he finds Beth, and there the story really begins...

This wasn't my favorite Nicholas Sparks book. I had a really hard time getting into it and finishing it. It talked a lot about war, which I found boring. The story really didn't get good until the last couple of chapters. All in all, a good read, just not a great one.

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LibraryThing member BethsLibrary

Logan, a marine, finds a photo of an unknown woman while serving in Iraq. He’s convinced the photo has saved his life through three tours in Iraq and that this woman is his lucky charm. After Logan’s military time is over, he sets out to find the mystery woman. He finds her (Elizabeth); they

fall in love and Logan struggles with whether to tell her about the photo.

Their obstacle…Elizabeth’s ex-husband, Keith. He’s a crooked cop who has his position because his grandfather owns everything in the small town and his father is the sheriff. Even though Keith doesn’t want to be married to Elizabeth, he doesn’t want her to love anyone else either. He has been sabotaging all her relationships since their divorce.

Keith has met his match in Logan. Logan is much smarter so Keith’s typical tricks aren’t working. Of course, this infuriates him and leads to the climax of the story.

This is a classic Nicholas Sparks novel. If you are a Sparks fan, you’ll like it. The book is close to 400 pages but it is a very quick read. It’s a typical romance so it’s pretty predictable but still a touching love story. I particularly liked that it ended well. I don’t always like how his novels end…usually with me in tears!

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LibraryThing member mrstreme

The Lucky One is the latest novel by Nicholas Sparks. This was the story of Logan and Beth – two lovers who must overcome secrets and a meddling ex-husband to make their relationship work.

While stationed in Iraq, Logan found a picture of a pretty American woman in the sand. After no one claimed

the photo on base, he pocketed the picture and began a very lucky streak – first, at poker; later in combat. Logan’s best friend, Victor, claimed the photo was Logan’s good luck charm. Later, when both men reunited after leaving the Marines Corps, Victor encouraged Logan to find the woman to “repay” her. And so, Logan began his journey, eventually ending up in Hampton, NC, where he met the girl in his picture, Beth.

All in all, this was a good story with memorable characters, including Zeus, Logan’s German shepherd; Ben, Beth’s son; and Nana, Beth’s grandmother. It’s a boy-meets-girl story, but I liked the added elements of tales from the Gulf War and life in the South.

Sparks’s storylines can be formulaic, which is why I read his books only once or twice a year. Sometimes I am in the mood for an uncomplicated tale, and when I am, Nicholas Sparks is perfect. If you liked The Guardian or Dear John, then The Lucky One would be a good selection for you.

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LibraryThing member whisperingfen

In general I am not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. Admittedly this is the first book of his that I have read, but I haven't liked many of the movies that were based on his books. I don't like Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The ending of the notebook, etc. The theme seems to be an ending

that is just going to piss me off. That ending is what I was expecting here as well. But I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book. It has an ending I didn't suspect was coming, that didn't make me want to walk out of a theatre, or throw something at a TV, or in the case of reading a book lob said book into the nearest flame. This is a sweet book, a quick enough read, and interesting enough to keep you entertained long enough to get through it. I would recommend it to someone looking for a little bit of a pick me up.

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LibraryThing member krizia_lazaro

Nicholas Sparks is one of the most known authors of our time. Maybe because his great at putting words together. He can string crappy words together and still make a beautiful sentence. That's why I gave him 4 stars, for his beautiful writing, simple yet believable and beautiful.

However, I still

having problems with his characters and the story. First, the characters. The women are always insecure, unsure of themselves, very fickle. The women always had some rough patch that they went through and are afraid or at least haven't been in any relationship for the longest time, e.g. single mom or trauma with previous relationship. Meanwhile, the leading men are always so romantic, sweet, thoughtful, etc. The leading men make your boyfriend or your husband look like crap in comparison. They are just too good to be true that sometimes the story is just too unreal for me.

Second, the story. After several Nicholas Sparks' novel, I felt that they practically are all the same stories with different characters. I'm getting tired of soldiers falling in love with damsels in distress in need of their protection.

Nicholas Sparks' "A Walk to Remember", "Nights in Rodanthe" "The Notebook" and "Message in a Bottle" were astounding romantic novels. What happen after them? Should someone die at the end to make a great story? I actually like the book "The Lucky One" but the similarities with other books was a real let down for me. I was just expecting something different from Nicholas Sparks. I would still recommend this book for people who like an easy read for the holidays.

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LibraryThing member fueledbycoffee

WARNING: this review DOES NOT have spoilers and may or may not have anything redeeming as a book review.

I snagged this at a second hand shop on the cheap. I haven't read NS in a long while and was needing a little fluff after bending my brain around a textbook for an exam this last weekend. Yes,

feel very, very jealous.

This book was easy-reading for me. A palate cleanser. A poolside beach read, if you will. Its like a raspberry sorbet book to cleanse the reading palate. So clean, in fact, it makes your mother weep and you've managed to plow through a Nicholas Sparks novel in one sitting.

I read it. I effectively growled at the bad guy, ooohed and awed at Zeus (aka badass doggy), and giggled at Grandma's sass.

I also refrained from internally yelling (this goes for external yelling, too) at Logan to get a haircut and shave. Am I the only one who does this with fic characters?

I really liked Logan's quiet strength and Gran's quips and ability to let her granddaughter work things out on her own.

Overall, an easy read. I'm off to graph parabolas now.

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LibraryThing member loubigfish

Enchanting and yet mysterious. Very enjoyable and moving. Strong characers and good script. But I kept looking for more?

LibraryThing member MrsHillReads

This was a fun read. Yes, it's a sappy love story--but that is great to read occassionally. It was typical Nicholas Sparks--sure to please his many teenage fans. The ending was unexpected; but it tied up loose ends nicely.

LibraryThing member sharlene_w

Typical Nicholas Sparks romance. Will probably make a reasonably good movie as there is a tad of drama and a heartwarming tale...to say nothing of their being a dog involved in the whole thing. Enjoyable, easy, quick read.

LibraryThing member stephaniechase

Typical Sparks... and an improvement over the previous few. Logan Thibault is a likable, conflicted protagonist, and it is entertaining-in-a-heartbreaking-way to see him grow, as with most Sparks men.

LibraryThing member Kathy89

Sweet love story involving a soldier who finds a photo in Iraq of a woman who then he believes to be his Lucky charm. When he returns home he sets out on a cross country journey to try and find her.

LibraryThing member irishwasherwoman

Pretty much the same fare as other books, but still an enjoyable read.

LibraryThing member cyderry

Have you ever held on to something simply because you thought it brought you good luck?

Logan Thibault was a marine in Iraq when he found a picture of a young woman wearing a T-shirt with the slogan Lucky Lady across her chest. He tried to find who it belong to, but when no one claimed it, he put it

in his pocket. His luck began to change. He survived 3 tours in Iraq before he went home. His buddy from the marines felt that the picture had kept Logan safe and when his buddy was killed in a fishing accident in the boat right next to him, Logan began to think that he needed to find the girl.

Logan left his home in Colorado and starting walking… ending up in Hampton, NC. Along with his dog, Zeus, Logan not only found the girl, the reason that he was meant to find her.

I've read nearly all of Nicholas Sparks' books. I liked the idea of this one, but the beginning was slow and sometimes it was too wordy. I liked it, but not as well as some of his others.

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LibraryThing member sleepytimetea

Excellent. Elizabeth has a bad exhusband and they have a son Ben. Logan walks across the country to find the lady in the picture that he feels is his lucky charm that has kept him alive during the war. They meet and fall in love.

LibraryThing member dbhutch

Nicholas Sparks has done it again. This is a wonderful story of love, luck and family.
While Logan was in Iraq he found a picture , posted on the board for who ever lost t to find it after awhile no one claimed it so he carried it around for the next 5 years while in the war and after , always

narrowly escaping dangers while others fail to it.
Beth is a single mom in North Carolina , her and her son Ben live with Nana who raised Beth , and has a kennel that Beth is now helping with since Nana's stroke.
Clayton is Beth ex husband and "prince of the county" meaning he is the son and grandson of a very wealthy family in their small town, he is always a deputy.

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LibraryThing member leseratte4

I couln't put the book own until I was done. Great story. Kept me guessing until the end. New for Sparks: villain (clayton - exhusband). The ending was a bit rushed. It wasn't very clear first who died. I liked the ending, even if it's a little bit too much of a "happy ending".

LibraryThing member kamgirl

Wow! Nicholas Sparks has done it again!! I fell in love with this book! In my opinion, it is just as good as the last song, but with a completely different kind of story. Its a romance about a soldier that on his tour in iraq, finds a picture of a woman in the dirt. It says, Keep Safe!-E and was

taken at the Hampton fair. As soon as he has the picture in his pocket all he has is good luck. He wins poker, and beats the record and survives 11 car bombings!! So with his friend's advice, Logan Thibault and his german shepard Zeus walk from colorado to Hampton, North Carolina and with only a first letter finds the girl in the picture, a divorced single mom, named Elizabeth. He starts to work at the kennel where Elizabeth lives with her son and Nana. Not knowing whats going to happen, but not ignoring the feeling that he needs to stay, Thibault never imagined falling in love with Elizabeth, her son and her Nana.It has an ending that will make you completely on edge because its very suspenseful, and you will have completely no idea what happens at the end, untill he tells you!! this book should definatly be made into a movie. Its amazing!!

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LibraryThing member BONS

First, my "type" of book isn't love stories BUT if I do read one the story needs a bit going on to keep my attention. Which is true of The Lucky One. The first couple of Chapters will tell me if I want to bother. Sparks had my interest with immediate dislike for Keith and an immediate interest in

the walking stranger with a well trained dog.

I enjoyed this book much to my surprise and I read it in 2 sittings.

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LibraryThing member acoogan

This book was absolutely splendid. I loved it!! It had many plot twist that kept me interested through out. I would recommend it to everybody.

LibraryThing member IRC_Manila

The movie Dear John was an impetus for me to get interested of grabbing this Nicholas Spark's book. The movie dont seem be trite and boring emotion-packed love story. It's more sublime, I saw more the contett of life, commitment, purpose, ideals, complexity amidst ordinary situations. All these are

found in "The Lucky One". The Lucky One give a charming and simple plot with intellectual conversations and thought provoking questions and surmises in life. Its something easy to get into personal experience (vicarious or first-hand). I see real life character in the persona of Thibault. I never stopped getting amused with Zeus and Nana's choice of words and this octagenarian's metaphors rock! Imagine an old lady comapring two timid and trying not to be obvious lovers as "a camel in Sahara" or "its like hair and slippers"... well, guess what these two means? the camel in Sahara infers compatibility and slippers and hairs alluded to Cinderella and Rapunzel is all about a fairytale.

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LibraryThing member rayski

Man goes in search of a woman in a picture he’s held through the Iraq war as a lucky charm. Poorly written, totally predictable after 25 pages and the author writes with no confidence in his readers’ knowledge of general facts.

LibraryThing member erineell

The Lucky One, is yet another love story by Nicholas Sparks, that leaves the reader rooting for the protagonist to have a “happy ever after.” Sparks’ keen to writing in detail vividly develops each character, causing the reader to become emotionally invested in the story. US Marine named

Logan Thibault arrives in small town Hampton, North Carolina with his faithful German Sheppard and a picture of a young woman. Quickly, the storyline takes off and readers learn of the times Logan spent serving in Iraq and how a picture that he found had been the reason for his good fortune- a lucky charm. Feeling in debt to this woman with the initial E, Logan travels across country in search for her- doing so with little information and with an uncertainty of what debt he truly owes. In a series of events and interactions with others, Logan begins working for the grandmother of the woman in the picture (Elizabeth). Being viewed as mysterious and a gentleman, Elizabeth’s interest in Logan is peaked. Not knowing how to open up about the photo and the true reasons for coming to Hampton, Logan’s feelings for Elizabeth grow and a relationship develops. Yet conflict arises as Elizabeth opens up about her bitterness towards the death of her Marine brother and difficulties caused by her ex-husband Clayton, while Logan remains mum about his secret. Sparks makes it clear that this love was unplanned for Logan and that while in search of the meaning of his debt Logan realizes that Elizabeth is the woman he wants to be with forever. This novel is not lacking drama or romance. With some twists in the story, readers will be in suspense to find out if Logan is lucky in love too. The Lucky One gives its readers hope of new beginnings and the possibility of destiny.

Age Appropriate: 17 and up
This story will be appealing to young adult romance novel enthusiast. The theme of destiny, especially in love, will get readers gushing over future possibilities. Moreover the reference to Iraq, loss of loved ones and a failed relationship might make this novel more relatable to readers. Also, the book’s appeal might increase with young adults once the movie is in the box office because teen heartthrob, Zac Efron, plays the role of Logan Thibault. A brief, but tasteful sex scene is in the book.

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LibraryThing member Deserie.Comfort

Nicholas Sparks never ceases to amaze the heck out of me!!! What a lovely book and an "I-cant-seem-to-put-the-book-down" story. I feel as though Sparks did an awesome job of putting this story together and giving each one of the characters a chance to tell their story. The way Logan came to find

the picture and then Elizabeth was everything and touching at the same time. The way their relationship developed was very sweet and I loved how he treated Beth's son. Zeus was an awesome addition as well, and most can't say that about dogs, but somehow Sparks made him memorable.
I lost sleep with this book due to not wanting to put it down but don't regret it one bit. This is a book that I would definitely recommend to others and hope my next Sparks read "A Bend in the Road" is just as good. I'm sure it will be.

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LibraryThing member millhold

Excellent book. The story was well written; the characters were well developed. I cared about these people. The ending was perfect.

LibraryThing member TerriBooks

Another Nicholas Spark formula book, but he does his formula well. I love the way he can place you right in the Carolina piedmont, remembering sweet tea and coastal rivers. I was quickly taken in by the idea of a guy and his dog who walked all the way from Colorado -- I always enjoy a book better

when I can like the characters. Nothing surprising, but it was a good summer read that kept me involved.

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