There’s a New Book by Nicholas Sparks — Will It Be Adapted Into a Movie?

Well, folks, he’s done it again. Novelist Nicholas Sparks has officially released yet another book — that makes for 21 novels and two non-fiction books by the 54-year-old writer. Incredible. The newest offering from Nicholas Sparks is called The Return, and if you’ve enjoyed his other books, this one will probably be right up your alley as well.

At this point, several of Sparks’ books have been adapted into movies. Naturally, we were wondering whether The Return might end up on the silver screen as well. Here’s what we found out.

Ever since the film Message in a Bottle came out more than 20 years ago, audiences have been able to enjoy quite a few of Sparks’ novels in movie form. It’s always a special treat to see a good story you’ve read come to life in a movie. Even people who always swear the book is better (because it usually is!) can’t keep themselves away from a good, sappy film based on a good, sappy book. As of right now, 11 of Sparks’ 21 novels have been adapted into films.

As far as whether The Return will exist in movie form, no official word of an adaptation has been released yet. In 2016, Nicholas Sparks Production — the writer’s film and television production company — shut down shortly after the film adaptation of The Choice came out. If The Return were to be made into a film, it would need to be optioned by a separate studio. It could definitely happen, but at least so far, it doesn’t appear to be in the works.

Sparks’ newest book tells the story of Trevor Benson, an orthopedic surgeon who was working in Afghanistan when a mortar blast sent him home with devastating injuries. He moves into his late grandfather’s dilapidated cabin in New Bern, N.C. to recuperate before making a return to medical school to study psychiatry.

Since The Return is a book by Nicholas Sparks, you know there’s gonna be a love story. Trevor becomes smitten with deputy sheriff Natalie Masterson, who reciprocates his feelings but seems to be hiding something. Things are further complicated after Trevor meets Callie, a 17-year-old girl (or so she says, anyway) who apparently used to be friends with Trevor’s grandfather. He hopes that she might be able to help him learn about his grandfather’s mysterious death, but she remains reticent.

Eventually, Trevor (and readers!) learn the truth about the connections between Natalie, Callie, and Trevor’s grandfather, and the secrets held by the two women will change the course of his life. He also learns the true meaning of love and forgiveness. All in all, it sounds exactly like what we’ve come to expect from Nicholas Sparks’ books — and for many, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

The Return is now available wherever books are sold. Even if a movie adaptation doesn’t end up happening, that certainly won’t stop us from reading the book and picturing all of our favorite celebrities in the starring roles!