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.
Remain is a romantic suspense novel with a supernatural twist. The book is Nicholas Sparks’s first collaboration with renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, and they both bring their strengths to this story—Sparks’s signature emotional storytelling with powerful themes of grief, healing, and enduring love beyond death, and an atmospheric mystery and ghostly suspense from Shyamalan!
The story follows Tate Donovan, a New York architect who’s just come out of a psychiatric facility, still grieving the loss of his sister. He takes on a job up in Cape Cod, designing his best friend’s summer home—and while staying at a historic home, he meets Wren, a young woman who unsettles his carefully controlled existence. No one else sees Wren, and soon Tate begins investigating Wren’s past and what may have happened to her.
The story is mostly told from Tate’s POV but also shifts to Wren occasionally. Tate is both the observer and the doubter, and through him readers get to experience his haunting interactions with Wren and the mystery’s investigation. A lot of the story’s tension comes from his logical mind conflicting with the illogical reality he’s experiencing, and his associated inner monologues are very compelling. His sister Sylvia’s death and her revealing recordings not only haunt him but also force him to open himself to new ways of thinking and eventually to vulnerability and love. Wren’s POV is presented in short chapters, dark memories, and scenes that feel dreamlike. As she doesn’t fully realize the truth of her existence, the reader often knows more than her. Through her eyes, readers also get glimpses of the truth behind the mystery and a sense that her connection with Tate is deeper than he understands. The different POVs are also in “dual realities.” Wren’s world doesn’t follow the same logic as Tate’s—and readers will find it both fascinating and difficult to wrap their heads around!
The story starts with great pacing—the atmospheric Cape Cod town setting, Tate’s past, and mysterious “symptoms” all draw readers in! The mid-section has more uneven pacing, with Tate and Wren’s compelling interactions, Tate’s initial investigation, reveals, and surreal supernatural moments all bunched together. Once the haunting romance takes shape, the story gets even more intense, and the stakes feel higher. This isn’t a book that’s easy to predict the ending of—there’s sudden, unexpected danger and thrilling moments that follow. When the ending arrives, it does offer closure, but not in the way readers might expect! Nevertheless, it still feels very much in line with Sparks’s typical endings that linger!
Overall, Remain is a thought-provoking and emotionally satisfying romance suspense novel. If you’re expecting jaw-dropping twists commonly seen in Shyamalan’s films, you may be a bit disappointed—instead the reveals carry emotional weight and offer readers an intense, reflective reading experience. This book will especially hit the mark for fans of supernatural mysteries and compelling love stories with elements of mortality, loss, and secrets. This book is also slated for a film adaptation, with megastar Jake Gyllenhaal to play Tate—just another reason to read the book and then watch the film, which is set for release in late 2026!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Remain is narrated by award-winning narrators Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan. Ari Fliakos portrays protagonist Tate using a steady, introspective-sounding voice with an undertone of grief, perfectly capturing a character burdened by loss and internal conflict. In the early chapters, Fliakos gives listeners the sense that Tate has lost his outer fire—there’s subtle pacing and careful modulation when the character is speaking. As Tate’s story unfolds, and the character’s arc shifts from guarded and withdrawn to someone opening up to love and mystery, Fliakos shifts his performance to give Tate a lighter, more hopeful voice. The dialogue between Tate and Wren is a highlight of the audiobook—Fliakos adds a trace of warmth and curiosity in Tate’s voice, and the chemistry between the characters is immediately tangible and captivating!
Fliakos perfectly paces the story, giving scenes of grief and interesting dialogue more deliberate pacing, allowing listeners to feel Tate’s emotional state. As Tate gets deep into his investigation and takes more risks, Fliakos increases the pacing and vocal range of his performance to mimic the escalating suspense and urgency of the mystery. Fliakos also provides distinct voices for all the side characters, most notably Oscar, Tate’s friend, who’s portrayed with an upbeat, animated voice (in stark contrast to Tate), making their friendship and interactions very heartfelt and engaging.
Julia Whelan’s performance as Wren is quietly mesmerizing—she gives Wren a voice that is soft and grounded, capturing the character’s mix of mystery, hurt, and inner strength. As Wren comes to harsh realizations, Whelan subtly shifts her performance to add more anxiety and vulnerability to her voice—especially when she relives horrific memories in the bathroom. Whelan’s mastery of pacing and emotional inflection is on full display, making Wren feel real and not just a “mysterious woman” that appears and disappears—and by the time her backstory is fully revealed, listeners will be fully invested in her outcome. Overall, Whelan’s performance builds in intensity and emotional resonance, and she helps make Tate and Wren’s haunting romance the real heart of the story—and listeners will be captivated until the bittersweet end!
In summary, both narrators elevate this story to a fully immersive, cinematic experience that will keep listeners glued to their headsets and fully invested in the character arcs. This is a must-listen for audiobook listeners who enjoy character-driven romantic suspense with depth and supernatural themes and who appreciate performances where narrators embody characters rather than simply reading the words! Don’t hesitate to grab a copy—you’ll be riveted by the performances!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Remain is narrated by award-winning narrators Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan. Ari Fliakos portrays protagonist Tate using a steady, introspective-sounding voice with an undertone of grief, perfectly capturing a character burdened by loss and internal conflict. In the early chapters, Fliakos gives listeners the sense that Tate has lost his outer fire—there’s subtle pacing and careful modulation when the character is speaking. As Tate’s story unfolds, and the character’s arc shifts from guarded and withdrawn to someone opening up to love and mystery, Fliakos shifts his performance to give Tate a lighter, more hopeful voice. The dialogue between Tate and Wren is a highlight of the audiobook—Fliakos adds a trace of warmth and curiosity in Tate’s voice, and the chemistry between the characters is immediately tangible and captivating!
Fliakos perfectly paces the story, giving scenes of grief and interesting dialogue more deliberate pacing, allowing listeners to feel Tate’s emotional state. As Tate gets deep into his investigation and takes more risks, Fliakos increases the pacing and vocal range of his performance to mimic the escalating suspense and urgency of the mystery. Fliakos also provides distinct voices for all the side characters, most notably Oscar, Tate’s friend, who’s portrayed with an upbeat, animated voice (in stark contrast to Tate), making their friendship and interactions very heartfelt and engaging.
Julia Whelan’s performance as Wren is quietly mesmerizing—she gives Wren a voice that is soft and grounded, capturing the character’s mix of mystery, hurt, and inner strength. As Wren comes to harsh realizations, Whelan subtly shifts her performance to add more anxiety and vulnerability to her voice—especially when she relives horrific memories in the bathroom. Whelan’s mastery of pacing and emotional inflection is on full display, making Wren feel real and not just a “mysterious woman” that appears and disappears—and by the time her backstory is fully revealed, listeners will be fully invested in her outcome. Overall, Whelan’s performance builds in intensity and emotional resonance, and she helps make Tate and Wren’s haunting romance the real heart of the story—and listeners will be captivated until the bittersweet end!
In summary, both narrators elevate this story to a fully immersive, cinematic experience that will keep listeners glued to their headsets and fully invested in the character arcs. This is a must-listen for audiobook listeners who enjoy character-driven romantic suspense with depth and supernatural themes and who appreciate performances where narrators embody characters rather than simply reading the words! Don’t hesitate to grab a copy—you’ll be riveted by the performances!
The audiobook of Remain is narrated by award-winning narrators Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan. Ari Fliakos portrays protagonist Tate using a steady, introspective-sounding voice with an undertone of grief, perfectly capturing a character burdened by loss and internal conflict. In the early chapters, Fliakos gives listeners the sense that Tate has lost his outer fire—there’s subtle pacing and careful modulation when the character is speaking. As Tate’s story unfolds, and the character’s arc shifts from guarded and withdrawn to someone opening up to love and mystery, Fliakos shifts his performance to give Tate a lighter, more hopeful voice. The dialogue between Tate and Wren is a highlight of the audiobook—Fliakos adds a trace of warmth and curiosity in Tate’s voice, and the chemistry between the characters is immediately tangible and captivating!
Fliakos perfectly paces the story, giving scenes of grief and interesting dialogue more deliberate pacing, allowing listeners to feel Tate’s emotional state. As Tate gets deep into his investigation and takes more risks, Fliakos increases the pacing and vocal range of his performance to mimic the escalating suspense and urgency of the mystery. Fliakos also provides distinct voices for all the side characters, most notably Oscar, Tate’s friend, who’s portrayed with an upbeat, animated voice (in stark contrast to Tate), making their friendship and interactions very heartfelt and engaging.
Julia Whelan’s performance as Wren is quietly mesmerizing—she gives Wren a voice that is soft and grounded, capturing the character’s mix of mystery, hurt, and inner strength. As Wren comes to harsh realizations, Whelan subtly shifts her performance to add more anxiety and vulnerability to her voice—especially when she relives horrific memories in the bathroom. Whelan’s mastery of pacing and emotional inflection is on full display, making Wren feel real and not just a “mysterious woman” that appears and disappears—and by the time her backstory is fully revealed, listeners will be fully invested in her outcome. Overall, Whelan’s performance builds in intensity and emotional resonance, and she helps make Tate and Wren’s haunting romance the real heart of the story—and listeners will be captivated until the bittersweet end!
In summary, both narrators elevate this story to a fully immersive, cinematic experience that will keep listeners glued to their headsets and fully invested in the character arcs. This is a must-listen for audiobook listeners who enjoy character-driven romantic suspense with depth and supernatural themes and who appreciate performances where narrators embody characters rather than simply reading the words! Don’t hesitate to grab a copy—you’ll be riveted by the performances!
