As beach-basking veterans can attest, there are few better ways to enjoy a day along the Carolina coastline than to erect a beach umbrella in the sand, kick back in a beach chair, and dive into a great book while enjoying the views, scents and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean. And on the Grand Strand — where, for countless vacationers each year, a great book serves as the ideal complement to the perfect beach day — sometimes the area’s beauty not only surrounds the reader, but it can color the book’s pages, as well.
Because the region’s beauty can be as inspiring to writers as it is to everyday vacationers, Grand Strand references can indeed be found in books from time to time. Consider this well-known example as prime evidence that the Myrtle Beach area is no stranger to the pages of fiction:
“Every Breath” by Nicholas Sparks — Coastal North Carolina-based romance novelist and screenwriter Nicholas Sparks has published 20 novels, several of which have become international best-sellers, and many of which (including “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember”) have been adapted into successful films. Much of his latest, “Every Breath,” is set in Sunset Beach, NC — which sits right next to Bird Island and Calabash on the northern end of the Grand Strand.
Here's a quick rundown on the plot of “Every Breath” from Sparks’ website:
Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. At 36, she's been dating her boyfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family's cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future.
Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother's early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable … but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating ways.
Illuminating life's heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope, “Every Breath” explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties — while asking the question: How long can a dream survive?
After a relaxing day of reading a great book like “Every Breath” on your Grand Strand beach of choice, head back to the comfortable accommodations and amazing amenities found at The Cottages at North Beach Plantation to end your perfect day in the Myrtle Beach area. Book your classic beach getaway today — and get ready to make some lasting memories on the Carolina coast!
