Audiobook9 hours
Bend in the Road
Written by Sara Biren
Narrated by Laura Knight Keating and Nick Walther
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
A teen rock star returns home to Minnesota and finds himself falling for a local farm girl in Bend in the Road, an electric YA romance from Sara Biren.
Seventeen-year-old Gabe’s life is a mess. His debut album—produced by his rock star dad—made him an overnight sensation, but his second album tanked, he just got dumped by his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and he’s desperate to come up with the money he needs to fix a major screwup. The only place he can be free from the paparazzi and rumors is the family farm—the farm that 17-year-old Juniper’s family has managed since before she was born.
When Juniper learns that Gabe’s about to inherit the farm, she worries that he’ll sell it. She comes up with a plan to get close to him and stop that from happening. At first, Juniper and Gabe couldn’t be more at odds, but the more time they spend with each other, the more they grow to like each other. Can they set aside their differences to do what’s best for the farm—and each other? Or will all the drama and secrets tear them apart?
“A beautiful and tenderhearted exploration of the meaning of home, Sara Biren’s Bend in the Road will stick with you like a favorite song that instantly transports you to a place and time you always want to remember.” —Marisa Reichardt, author of Aftershocks and A Shot at Normal
“A pitch-perfect, slow-burn romance combined with loveably complex characters and the most charming farm setting, Sara Biren’s Bend in the Road made my heart soar.” —Katy Upperman, author of Kissing Max Holden, The Impossibility of Us, and How the Light Gets In
Seventeen-year-old Gabe’s life is a mess. His debut album—produced by his rock star dad—made him an overnight sensation, but his second album tanked, he just got dumped by his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and he’s desperate to come up with the money he needs to fix a major screwup. The only place he can be free from the paparazzi and rumors is the family farm—the farm that 17-year-old Juniper’s family has managed since before she was born.
When Juniper learns that Gabe’s about to inherit the farm, she worries that he’ll sell it. She comes up with a plan to get close to him and stop that from happening. At first, Juniper and Gabe couldn’t be more at odds, but the more time they spend with each other, the more they grow to like each other. Can they set aside their differences to do what’s best for the farm—and each other? Or will all the drama and secrets tear them apart?
“A beautiful and tenderhearted exploration of the meaning of home, Sara Biren’s Bend in the Road will stick with you like a favorite song that instantly transports you to a place and time you always want to remember.” —Marisa Reichardt, author of Aftershocks and A Shot at Normal
“A pitch-perfect, slow-burn romance combined with loveably complex characters and the most charming farm setting, Sara Biren’s Bend in the Road made my heart soar.” —Katy Upperman, author of Kissing Max Holden, The Impossibility of Us, and How the Light Gets In
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Reviews for Bend in the Road
Rating: 3.6744060771058313 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
926 ratings27 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Enjoyable book but not as enjoyable as others by Sparks that I have read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5a quick predictable read
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good, not great. I gave it three stars because the final scene was a fade to black. I wanted the hero to grovel a bit (he was a total ass) and I wanted the heroine to have a bit more backbone with him at the end. But, it was an interesting enough read that I finished it in a day, so there's that.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5***BEWARE A LITTLE SPOILER IN THIS REVIEW***
It's an okay book for me. But it's definitely refreshing to read a book from NS with no tragic ending. I was actually bracing myself towards the end/last chapters thinking something terrible is going to happen. Love the happy ending. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The trees fly by so fast they're a blur. It's an old dirt road with one house around. There are big bushes at the end of the driveway and you soon notice a hole in the bush. Suddenly you turn the corner and don't see her until the last minute. You get out to find her lying on the ground and soon find yourself driving away, for what reason you don't know. In "A Bend In The Road" by Nicholas Sparks this is exactly the kind of tragedy that takes place and no one knows why in the shocking realistic fiction novel. The main character Miles Ryan is a rugged and skeptical man that strives to find the answer to the mystery that has darkened his entire life. Sarah is a fun-loving and cautious teacher that meets Miles and it drastically changes her life in more ways than she can ever imagine. In the middle of all of this is Jonah the son of Miles who struggles to understand the reason that all of this is happening. The setting is a small town in North Carolina where news spreads quickly and you always have to watch your back. When tragedy strikes Miles Ryan longs to not only fulfill his duty of Deputy Sheriff but to find the person who has ruined his life. When he meets Sarah Andrews he instinctively thinks he has found his soulmate again until another life changing moment is revealed. My opinion of the book is that there can always be forgiveness even in the darkest of moments. This is shown in the book, "She couldn't believe what she saw. She closed her eyes, then opened them slowly, hoping and praying it was true. It was. And Miles and Jonah were waiting inside for her." The quote explains how even after the shocking secret of how Miles' wife died and who killed her was revealed Jonah and Miles forgive Sarah because they know that the accident wasn't her fault and there was nothing she could do. The author creates tension by Mile arresting someone else for killing his wife and believing it is him before finding out who it really was. This book is for anyone that loves mysterious novels and love stories.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it...as have read all Sparks books....never disappoints! In A Bend in the Road, Sparks writes with a luminous intensity about life’s bitter turns and incomparable sweetness. His affirming message carries a powerful lesson about the imperfections of being human, the mistakes we all make, and the joy that comes when we give ourselves to love.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. I love that he has his "typical" romance, but he also added a twist of mystery. The chemistry between the characters is so strong that the reader cannot help but root for them in the end!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read this all day at work last night and was about 90% into it when I got home and couldn't put it down. even though I had to get up and work a 14 hour shift tonight I tried justifying staying up to read it to myself because if I didn't finish it I would just think about it all night and not sleep anyway right? well I finished it and still stayed up all night thinking about it. this is the third Nicholas sparks novel I have read and although the main focus of all three is a love story they are all completely different books, because most of his covers are all the same, a couple embracing and looking very much in love, I worried that the stories would all be the same only different characters and settings. that's not the case, the first one I read was a tragedy, the second was a thriller, and this one was more of a drama/crime mystery novel, I can't wait to see what the next one is. one other thing I can say about Nicholas sparks is that he knows how to write a great ending.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A love story that centers around a tragic hit and run that kills a young woman. Sparks, as usual, had me caring deeply for all of his characters and plucked on my heartstrings at the end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A typical Nicholas Sparks book. Cliche, but a cute read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I listened to this book while driving to DC and back with my Mom, and it kept us entertained. I think some of the plot points were pretty predictable and that Nicholas Sparks dragged it out too long, but I still enjoyed it overall.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This was what I expected...typical Sparks, so fluffy romance but well-written for what it is. I always enjoy these for the short time it takes me to read them, but they are clearly not excellent literature. Honestly, my mom gives them to me, and I am not one to pass up a free read!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Somehow I talked myself into reading a second Nicholas Sparks book, even though I hated the first one I read. "A Bend in the Road" is marginally better than "The Wedding". The story is a little too predictable: small town widower falls for his son's teacher who just moved to town. And sadly I figured out the circumstances of his wife's death long before Sparks reveals it. It's an OK book, but I'm definitely not reading more Sparks.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5OMG I loved loved loved this book - its a real chick book for sure. I have seen the movie notebook but did not realise that it was from the same author. I will be looking to read other books by this author.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So far, it's the only Nicholas Sparks book I've gotten the whole way through without shedding a tear, but it's very good - just not his typical tear-jerker. The story is interesting and well written, as usual with him.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5typ sparks with added element of suspense
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Two years ago Miles Ryan’s life came to a standstill when his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Though a deputy sheriff he wasn’t involved in the investigation, but he has kept his own private file on the accident. Sarah Andrews is new to New Bern, following her parents there after the failure of her marriage. Both Miles and Sarah begin the tentative path to recovery as they begin to fall in love.I said I wouldn’t read another book by Nicholas Sparks after I read Dear John. However, this was in my pile and was needed for a tag in a game. I felt the characters were developed better in this story and that the plot line was more realistic. While I may never be a big fan of the author, this was a more enjoyable read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I really enjoyed A Bend in the Road. This book had a lot of mystery, and there were many parts that scared me. The type of love story is new with the relationship consisting of a widower and a woman fresh out of divorce. Their situations are totally different, but they manage to love each other anyway. The twist at the end caught me by surprise, but I thought it was a great part of the story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another wonderful read from the awesome Nicholas Sparks. This story had lots of twists and turns in it. Miles Ryan was living the perfect life with the prefect wife and son. Until his wife is killed in a car accident. No more spoilers here.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Another best seller for author Nicholas Sparks. A story of tragedy, life's unexpected twist and turns and an endearing unconditional love.After losing his wife in a tragic unsolved hit and run accident Deputy Miles Ryan was devastated and lost without his wife. He then met her son's new teacher Sarah who recently moved to rebuild her life following a horrible marriage in Baltimore. Little did they know that their life is entwined by a secret, one fateful event that could change their lives forever. Highly recommended.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Nice romantic story, which was interspersed with the details of Miles's wife's death, and the events leading up to it.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5not my favorite sparks book, but very good all the same
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5After the loss of his wife, Miles Ryan never thought his live would be good again until he found out who took his wife and the mother of his son. Along the way he does find new love, but can he hold on to it through all the mystery that surrounded his late wifes death. Very well written love story with a few unseen twists that had me enjoying every moment. A few predictable moments makes it a comfortable story and at times emotional enough to keep me interested. Listened to as an audio book - read with just the right emotion that you could really tell who was talking.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This is the 1st book by Nicholas Sparks that I've read. I watched, and enjoyed, "The Notebook". What I liked about "A Bend in the Road" was it was very readable and at the very end did instill a little passion in me towards the characters. On the large dislike list - it was incredibly predictable & corny for my tastes.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I liked it...your average love story.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I was not overly impressed with this book. I felt that there was no real "clincher" that made me want to keep reading it. Also, before things would happen I had already figured out what was going to happen. It was a decent romance novel and alright for a little light reading but not a book that would draw me in and keep me there. It also went by too fast. I had this book read in one day.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wonderful romance book.