Remain
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 13
- 5 min read
A Supernatural Love Story
By: Nicholas Sparks
with M. Night Shyamalan
Narrators: Nicholas Sparks (Author, Narrator), Ari Fliakos, Julia Whelan
Random House Audio
ISBN: 9798217154043
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 10/14/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4 Stars
A one-of-a-kind novel that grapples with the supernatural mysteries of life, death, and human connection—an unprecedented collaboration between the globally bestselling author of love stories like The Notebook and the renowned writer and director of blockbuster thrillers like The Sixth Sense
The stunning hardcover of Remain features a premium dust jacket, beautiful endpapers, and a deluxe case stamped with replica images of the authors’ signatures! These stamped “signatures” are reproduced in gold foil.
When New York architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home, he is hoping to make a fresh start. Recently discharged from an upscale psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression, he is still wrestling with the pain of losing his beloved sister. Sylvia’s deathbed revelation—that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world, a gift that runs in their family—sits uneasily with Tate, who struggles to believe in more than what reason can explain. But when he takes up residence at a historic bed-and-breakfast on the Cape, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Wren who will challenge every assumption he has about his logical and controlled world.
Tate and Wren find themselves forging an immediate connection, one that neither has ever experienced before. But Tate gradually discovers that below the surface of Wren’s idyllic small-town life, hatred, jealousy, and greed are festering, threatening their fragile relationship just as it begins to blossom. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out . . . a quest that will make him doubt whether we can ever believe the stories we tell about ourselves, and the laws that govern our existence. Love—while transformative—can sometimes be frightening.
A story about the power of transcendent emotion, Remain asks us all: Can love set us free not only from our greatest sorrows, but even from the boundaries of life and death?
My Review
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Nicholas Sparks, (The Notebook) and filmmaker/director, M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) team up for their latest supernatural romantic suspense thriller, "REMAIN," out October 14, 2025. Fans of both will enjoy this mysterious, atmospheric, compelling, and captivating collaboration.
Upcoming FILM: REMAIN is also an upcoming American supernatural romantic thriller film written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. It is based on an idea he conceived with Nicholas Sparks, who separately wrote the novel version of the same story, and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor, and Ashley Walters. It is scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures in the US on October 23, 2026.
About...
TATE DONOVAN is a New York architect who has recently been discharged from a psychiatric hospital after being treated for acute depression. He is still grieving the death of his sister, who, on her deathbed, revealed that she could see spirits and that this ability ran in their family.
CAPE COD: Tate accepts a job to design his best friend Oscar's summer home on Cape Cod, hoping to start over and make a fresh start.
WREN: While staying at a charming historic bed and breakfast, Tate meets a beautiful and mysterious young woman named Wren. Still mourning his sister's death, this young woman disrupts his carefully ordered world. They form an immediate and deep connection, but Tate soon realizes she is not who she appears to be.
SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY: Tate discovers that Wren is a ghost who is tied to the house and that she died there some time ago. He becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of her death, which he believes is the key to freeing her.
The plot follows Tate's attempt to solve the mystery of Wren's death, navigating his grief for his sister and questioning reality, while a romance develops between him and the ghost.
My Thoughts...
"REMAIN" is a captivating blend of mystery and atmosphere, sure to enchant fans of M. Night Shyamalan with its supernatural elements, while also appealing to those who adore Nicholas Sparks’ romantic storytelling. A mysterious and moving love story.
The narrative beautifully intertwines Tate's quest to solve Wren's mystery with his own journey through grief, challenging the boundaries of reality. Amidst this haunting backdrop, a romance blossoms between him and Wren, exploring themes of love, loss, and healing
The novel delves deep into Tate's struggles as he grapples with the logical world against a backdrop of supernatural experiences, all while recovering from a mental health crisis.
Tate and Wren's romance is a poignant exploration of love and loss, set against the rich, evocative backdrop of Cape Cod. The layers of ghostly elements only add to the depth of this heartfelt haunting tale.
With such an intriguing and compelling narrative, I do not doubt that we’ll see more collaborations between these two powerhouse writers in the future.
If you enjoyed Mark Klein's "The In Between" both the movie and the book, REMAIN is sure to resonate with you as well! Check out the book before the film. I adore Jake Gyllenhaal, and look forward to the movie!
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub date: Oct 14, 2025
Praise
“Bestseller Sparks (The Notebook) and filmmaker Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) combine their talents to create a paranormal love story that makes suspension of disbelief easy through thoughtful characterization. . . . The mystery chugs along nicely but the romance is the stronger plot, and the authors deserve credit for making the relationship between the living and the dead moving. Fans of both authors will not be disappointed.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The blending of bestselling novelist Sparks’ signature romance with renowned film director Shyamalan’s supernatural touches is brilliant. . . . This mysterious and moving love story will attract legions of eager readers.”
—Booklist, starred review
About the Authors
Nicholas Sparks is the author of twenty-five books, including Counting Miracles and Dreamland, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers. His books have been published across more than fifty languages with over 150 million copies sold worldwide, and eleven have been adapted into films. He is also the founder of the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences. He lives in North Carolina. WEBSITE
M. Night Shyamalan is an internationally acclaimed director, screenwriter, and actor who has written and produced films such as The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Trap. His movies have grossed over $3.3 billion globally, and he’s best known for creating psychological thrillers with supernatural themes. He is the founder of the film and television production company Blinding Edge Pictures. Shyamalan lives in Pennsylvania. WEBSITE
