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The Best of MeFans of Nicholas Sparks’ romantic novels have been extremely lucky over the years. When The Best of Me hit theaters on October 17, it marked the ninth adaptation of the Omaha, NE native’s novels to hit the big screen.

The film stars James Marsden (Enchanted, Hairspray) and Michelle Monaghan (Made of Honor, The Heartbreak Kid) as a pair of old friends from high school who begin to rekindle their teenage romance after a mutual acquaintance passes away. The story takes a tragic turn, and, like all of Sparks’ novels, examines what true love really is and how it endures.

Filming took place in New Orleans, Lousiana during mid-late spring 2014. The soundtrack features tracks from numerous country music stars, including Eric Paslay, Hunter Hayes, and Lady Antebellum.

Other Nicholas Sparks novels to hit the big screen were Dear John, with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, The Lucky One, with Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling, A Walk to Remember, with Mandy Moor and Shane West, and, of course, The Notebook, with Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.

For more from Nicholas Sparks, make sure to check out our interview with him from last February!