It's been long enough since I read the first book by this author that I don't remember details or my feelings about it aside from "I really liked it". Because of that, I can't really compare this one, and I kind of like that! I really liked this one as well, and think the author does well telling stories both in the present and past, along with diary entries in this one. I could feel the pull between Fern and Will and appreciated that they had things to work through before they fully made their way to each other.