The story follows a young couple, Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, who meet one summer in the 1940s. Noah is a local country boy with a passion for poetry and a simple way of living, while Allie comes from a wealthy family and is expected to marry someone of her social standing. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they fall deeply in love. Their romance, however, faces multiple challenges, including societal pressure and disapproval from Allie's parents. As the summer ends, external circumstances force them apart, and both go on to live separate lives, haunted by the memory of their lost love.

Years later, they rediscover each other, and the powerful emotions of their youth come rushing back. As they confront their past, they must navigate complex emotions and the realities that have changed both of their lives. Set against the backdrop of a quiet Southern town, their journey explores themes of enduring love, heartache, and the impact of time on relationships. The narrative oscillates between their youth and an elderly man reading a poignant love story to an old woman in a nursing home, creating a tapestry of love and memory that binds the characters across generations.