The Final Note by Kevin Alan Milne

Well, I haven't blogged here in longer than I care to admit...But here we go again! For the record, it's tricky to get your hands on YA Fiction when your college library only carries non-fiction books. However, that's no excuse!

The Final Note is by far one of the best books I have read in a very long time - probably at least a year. It follows the bittersweet tale of Ethan and Anna Bright, a young couple whose dreams get put on hold more times than they would ever wish. But still they manage to make the best of their situation, especially when they are graced with a beautiful baby girl, Hope. Told from Ethan's perspective, he recounts how he and Anna met, their romantic courtship, and then the harsh reality of the real world when it hits - and it hits them hard. As Ethan gets promoted up the line through his company, the time he is able to spend with his family dwindles and puts his marriage and his relationship with Hope on the rocks. One fateful day, catastrophe strikes, and Ethan is forced to reevaluate his life, his love, and his sense of self. Gripping, compelling, tear-jerking, humorous, poignant, and all-around phenomenal, The Final Note leaves readers on the edge of their seats until the final word.

Milne weaves a tale as deep as the ocean and as timeless as the world. Though the target audience is geared more towards adults, it can still pass as appropriate for teens. The only (very minor) qualm I have is that the timeline of the book gets a little hectic - like Ethan's life - in the Brights' early-to-mid years of marriage. Otherwise, this book is, in my opinion, absolutely perfect. There is no sexual content, and there are no curses (or if there are, they are hardly noticeable). Thematic material is prevalent, with a few tough-to-read passages. The calamity that faces Ethan, Anna, and Hope is definitely more mature material, but nothing unmanageable for teens around 15 years and older (especially for upcoming drivers!).

Utterly moved by the book, I emailed Milne immediately after finishing the novel. I must admit, the email may have been gushing a bit too much about how great this book was. Milne carries a bit of a Nicholas Sparks-esque passion to his writing and in his characters, but this book is far better than any Sparks book I've read (and I've read several of them). I believe his style surpasses Sparks by far (no offense to Sparks), and his characters are much more dynamic, with perhaps the exception of Jamie and Landon from A Walk to Remember. Basically, if you like Sparks, you'll love The Final Note.

And on that note (see what I did there?), I will leave you Bookenders to it! Expect a review of ML Roble's The Magician's Doll soon/on the shelf.

Enjoy, and happy readings!