It seems to be an awfully 'manipulative' film in the sense that it isn't a tragic story, it's a YOU-WILL-BE-SAD story. And besides that, all Nicholas Sparks' stories are basically the same. Girl and guy fall in love, but they are separated for some reason. One of them has parent issues. They sort that out, eventually. A disease is involved (usually cancer) and at least one person dies. Boo hoo.
In saying that, I loved the Notebook.