Noah Calhoun's lonely and sometimes painful nature reminds him of what his life has been like and how he met his true love. While walking through the nursing home, he comes across another patient's room and starts reading an old notebook to her, hoping it will remind her of his old flame.

This entire story begins in 1932, when Noah shared an intense and romantic summer with a young woman named Allie Nelson, whose family came to visit New Bern for several months. Various events unfold within this story. After standing and staring at each other, Allie and Noah hugged each other excitedly. Allie tells Noah that she found the item and congratulates him on his beautiful work. She apologizes for showing up out of the blue, but Noah assures her that he's excited to see her. Allie tells Noah about their engagement and the two take a walk to the river. The next morning, Allie and Noah are in the kitchen when there is a knock on the door. Noah goes to answer the door and is surprised to find himself face to face with Allie's mother. and as other events unfold, the narrative returns to the frame story in the future. Noah finishes reading the notebook and closes it. His partner, who readers can now infer is Allie, takes comfort in the story, asking if Noah wrote it himself. Noah endured several lonely, foggy days without Allie. One morning, while rereading old letters, he experiences pain, numbness, and loss of vision; You know you are having a stroke. After two weeks of being intubated and regaining consciousness, Noah is finally able to return to the nursing home