John’s true love in Nicholas Sparks’s Dear John is Savannah.
Savannah Lynn Curtis is the woman John Tyree meets during a summer visit home in North Carolina. John, a rebellious young man serving in the U.S. Army, and Savannah, a compassionate college student, fall in love while he is on leave. Their relationship is tested when John returns to military service and the two communicate through letters.
Dear John was published as a novel by Nicholas Sparks in 2006 and became known for its themes of love, separation, duty, and sacrifice. The title refers to the traditional phrase associated with a breakup letter, reflecting the painful turn their relationship takes during John’s deployment.
The story was adapted into a 2010 film directed by Lasse Hallström, with Channing Tatum playing John and Amanda Seyfried playing Savannah. A common mix-up is confusing Savannah with another Sparks heroine, such as Allie from The Notebook or Jamie from A Walk to Remember.