1. Setting: The story is set in Seabrook, North Carolina, during the summer of 1940.
2. Main Characters:
- Allie Hamilton: A well-off young woman who is visiting Seabrook with her wealthy family.
- Noah Calhoun: A poor but passionate local boy who works at a sawmill.
3. Love at First Sight: Allie and Noah meet at a carnival and are instantly drawn to each other. Despite their different social backgrounds, they fall deeply in love.
4. Obstacles: Their relationship faces many obstacles, including the disapproval of Allie's parents and the onset of World War II.
5. Separation: Noah goes off to fight in the war, and the two lovers exchange passionate letters during his absence. However, Allie's parents intervene and separate the couple.
6. Years Apart: Allie is pressured into a relationship with another man, Lon Hammond, a wealthy attorney, while Noah returns from the war and builds a house for their dream life together.
7. Reunited: Years later, Allie, now an elderly woman married to Lon, discovers an old notebook containing the love letters Noah wrote her during the war. She begins to read the letters and reminisces about their youthful romance.
8. The Notebook: The story alternates between Allie's current life and her younger days through the lens of the notebook, which chronicles the passionate and enduring love between her and Noah.
The novel explores themes of love, longing, class conflict, and the power of memories. Ultimately, it's a timeless tale of true love that transcends time and challenges societal barriers.