In a heartwarming tale of serendipity and literary fortune, Maine resident Jamie Clark experienced an extraordinary moment in her local Goodwill store earlier this year.

Clark, an avid reader and fan of Nicholas Sparks, made a discovery that has left bibliophiles everywhere envious: a first edition signed copy of one of her favorite books, The Notebook, for just $2.

While browsing through the store’s book section, Clark’s eyes fell upon a familiar spine that immediately piqued her interest. “When I saw the spine of the book, I recognized it immediately,” Clark told Newsweek.

“I have the same signed first edition sitting on my desk.” Overwhelmed with excitement, she hurriedly flipped to the front page, her heart racing as she confirmed the presence of Nicholas Sparks’ signature.

The exhilarating moment was captured on camera and shared on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, amassing over 290,000 views.

In the caption, Clark expressed her disbelief and joy: “I may never recover from this score at Goodwill.” Her elation was palpable in the footage as she exclaimed, “You have to see this. $2. You guys. First edition signed. I am dying right now. Oh my god.”

Back at home, Clark recounted the entire episode with a mix of disbelief and joy. “OK, so I’m home. This is the one I just got. I got the sticker off of it. $2.00 at Goodwill and I know that this is a big deal. I wanted to hurry up and get home because my husband bought me this exact book, 1st edition signed, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, two years ago,” she said in the video.

Her husband had purchased the book from AbeBooks for several hundred dollars as an anniversary gift, making the thrift store find all the more astonishing.

“He bought it from AbeBooks, spending several hundred dollars on it as an anniversary gift. It is the same one. There’s a signature in my book, and there’s this one, you guys. I am now an official collector of first edition copies of The Notebook. I’m so excited I still can’t even breathe.”

The Notebook, a romantic drama set in the 1940s, chronicles a summer romance disrupted by World War II, class differences, and other challenges.

The story gained immense popularity, further amplified by its 2004 film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Clark expressed her admiration for the movie adaptation, saying, “I love the way it was made for film; I think they did a brilliant job and did it justice on the screen, which is unheard of. Very, very simple story. Simple love story. Done so well.”

Clark’s husband had a humorous reaction to her discovery. When she showed him the newly acquired book, he jokingly reminded her of the sentimental value of his original gift.

“When I showed it to him, his reaction was, ‘Don’t you forget, the signed first edition I gifted you is better.’ We both started laughing,” Clark recounted.

The couple, who have two daughters, now proudly own two signed first edition copies of The Notebook.

Each book carries its own unique story and sentimental value, promising to be cherished family heirlooms. “They’ll each eventually get one. Each one has its own unique story,” Clark said, highlighting the special significance these books hold for their family.

Clark’s discovery is a testament to the hidden treasures that can be found in unexpected places, reminding us of the joy that comes with a serendipitous find. Her story not only resonates with book lovers but also underscores the sentimental value that certain objects can hold, turning them into priceless mementos.

As Clark continues to revel in her remarkable Goodwill find, her tale inspires others to keep their eyes open for their own serendipitous treasures.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

@jamiekennyclark I may never recover from this score at Goodwill. #booklover #goodwillfinds #fyp #booktok ♬ original sound – Jamie Clark

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