The Longest Ride

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Ron McLarty, January LaVoy

From the dark days of WWII to present-day North Carolina, this New York Times bestseller shares the lives of two couples overcoming destructive secrets -- and finding joy together.

Ira Levinson is in trouble. Ninety-one years old and stranded and injured after a car crash, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together - how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can't possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.
A few miles away, at a local bull-riding event, a Wake Forest College senior's life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death - loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy it first.
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

Critic reviews

"Sparks is a poet . . . a master."—Philadelphia Inquirer

"Epic Sparks . . . showcases the author's most accomplished work to date . . . There are moments of perfection . . . Reaching not only young and old, the novel is commingled with enough cowboy action, literary flavor, and a maturing gift for dialogue to reach across the sexes."—Mountain Times (NC)

"These parallel love stories are each rich in their own right, but together, they tell a broader and more complicated tale of love's growth and evolution over time . . . some surprising twists right up until the very end."—BookReporter.com

Could not stop listening

Where does The Longest Ride rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is by far one of the best ever!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ira...I just have a soft spot for the elderly and he was just so sweet and compassionate.

What does Ron McLarty and January LaVoy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They were great! Just the right amount of energy and I liked the change in voices and personalities

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love conquers all

Any additional comments?

I absolutely loved this book and Nicholas Sparks is one of the best authors ever

a must listen to

If you could sum up The Longest Ride in three words, what would they be?

Made me cry.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ira. I loved the way he loved his wife.

What about Ron McLarty and January LaVoy ’s performance did you like?

They both did a terrific job.

Who was the most memorable character of The Longest Ride and why?

Big mean critter.

Any additional comments?

Just a delight to listen to. Have the tissues close by.

Great story. Caution: A box of tissues required

Wow. Nicholas Sparks really knows how to pull the heartstrings. I found myself crying and sniffling dozens of times. Ron McLarty did a marvelous job with Ira’s part of the story ( major tissue use for that!) I had to stay up late into the night to hear the end of it, couldn’t go to sleep until I knew the ending. Now I just have to unstuff my nose after all the tears so I can breathe again. Worth it!!

fantastic listen

yet anuthr gr8 Nicolas Sparks creation.... fantastic twist at th end!!!
can't wait to get to anthr of his books!!!

my 1st Nicholas Sparks audio book

Although I started reading the book a few years ago... As did my grandmother whose name was also Ruth. My hopes was that we would both read the book and when it was available be able on DVD we would watch it together. Both of us huge fans of Nicholas Sparks. Unfortunately she passed away prior to me finishing the book. Life happened and soon I was back in a Registered nursing school program . I lost all time for personal reading so I never got to finish. I have since graduated and this has been a pleasure to be able to listen while finishing many home improvement projects. I now can absolutely look forward to watching it on DVD. I look forward to my next Nicholas Sparks audiobook! I truly regret not finding audible a lot sooner!! Thank you.