Dear JohnDear John
Score Modern
What it's about
John Tyree joined the Army after high school, angry and directionless. On leave at the North Carolina coast, he meets Savannah, a college student with a big heart, and they fall in love in two weeks. They plan to marry when his tour ends, writing to each other across the world. Then September 11 happens, and John reenlists.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's one of Sparks's most bittersweet love stories, with a tender relationship between John and his quiet father.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lucky One
The Last Song
Me Before YouGood to know
The title tells you where it's headed; it's sad. The 2010 film stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #51 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #63 of the 233 romances we rank
- #446 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #862 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Nicholas Sparks
The Last Song
The WishThe Lucky One
The RescueIf you like this, read next
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
Legendborn
The Deal
Throne of GlassExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Dear John worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #862 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Dear John about?
John Tyree joined the Army after high school, angry and directionless. On leave at the North Carolina coast, he meets Savannah, a college student with a big heart, and they fall in love in two weeks. They plan to marry when his tour ends, writing to each other across the world. Then September 11 happens, and John reenlists.
How long does it take to read Dear John?
About 8 hours (335 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Dear John?
If you liked it, try The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.