In the Novel "The Longest Ride" by Nicholas Sparks two love stories are being told. By using a series of flashbacks the author transition's from the journey of one couple to the other. The story begins with the background information of Sophia and Luke. Sophia is a college student studying art and has an upcoming internship in Manhattan. Luke is a cowboy, he worked hard and gained experience to become a professional bull rider. Sophia and Luke met at a local bull riding competition that Sophia had been convinced to attend by her friends. Even though the two young adults come from two different worlds they fell in love. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia found herself imagining a future extremely differently. It seems as though she had not only a change at mind but a change at heart. Luke was badly injured during one of his competitions and Sophia rushed to his side. She turned down everything she ever wanted for him because she realized everything she needed was standing right in front of her.
As for the other couple, Ira and Ruth, they faced struggles of their own. They had fallen in love right before Ira went off to the war. He made it back to Ruth like he promised but was unable to have a family due to injuries from the war. All Ruth wanted in life was a family. She was a school teacher and loved children. She was faced with the decision to leave Ira and find someone who would be able to give her the family she had always dreamed of but she chose to stay with the love of her life, Ira. He was enough family for her, after all he brought her happiness in every way possible. 
Luke and Sophia met Ira in a tragic way. On a rainy night his car went off the road and caught on fire. Luke and Sophia we're on their way home from a date when they pulled over to rescue the ninety-one year old Ira from his burning car. Ira and Sophia became inseparable after because she would constantly visit him in the hospital and at his house after he was released. Every day she would read him letters he had written to his late wife. The two would exchange stories about their significant other and created a bond over the months they spent together. Ira guided Sophia and showed her the meaning of love. Ira's message in disguise to the young couple was "the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart." This novel made me step back and think about my goals in life. I replayed the past, present, and imagined my future. I thought I had everything figured out but the novel allowed me to be open-minded to change. I now know that not everything goes as planned but that's okay. Everything happens for a reason.
Overall, the theme of this novel is love. "The Longest Ride" is proof that no matter what love will always find a way. If it is meant to be it will be. Nicholas Sparks was extremely creative in the way he demonstrated despite the complications that made each couples love story and their lives difficult and different from what they once had pictured their future to be they always found their way back to each other. Life is a long ride but with the one you love by your side it makes it worth the while. Take the time to ask yourself, has there ever been a time in your life where you have reconsidered what you wanted? What was the main cause of your doubt? 