In just over ten years there have been seven, yes seven, Nicholas Sparks novels that have been made into films. Beginning with the 1999 pic Message In a Bottle up through The Lucky One, which opens nationwide this weekend. So with seven films and seven couples fighting to stay together through some obstacle, be it their families, their differences or their, um, families, we decided to see how eight of these couples stack up against one another. And ultimately decide who was the best Nicholas Sparks couple.

Take a look at the seven runners-up and, at the bottom, the greatest Sparks couple of all time.

Zac Efron & Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One)

The kid from High School Musical who looks amazing is trying to become a leading man still and it seems like it is not going so great based on the reviews for Nicky's latest film. The girl from Mercy however is getting some praise for her performance and is super, super pretty. But no matter how pretty she is, it is hard to have chemistry with a man who is prettier than you. And Zac is prettier than everyone, in the world.

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus (The Last Song)

These two real life lovers were super cute together in this film though far too young to be sexy or have real chemistry. The story about the last song that one of their characters delivered was also very, very touching. We think. Fine we didn't watch it but can you blame us?

Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried (Dear John)

Again the same problems as Zac and Taylor have above. Amanda is a gorgeous girl but Channing is an even prettier girl. Can't we get some angry sexy looking men in these pics? Where were Nick Stahl and Clifton Collins Jr. when this was casting?

Richard Gere and Diane Lane (Nights in Rodanthe)

This movie was about a woman who lived in a hotel in the ocean and was sad, kind of like she was the female heroine in a Hayao Miyazaki film. Then she married Richard Gere and had an affair and sex at a French bistro so Richard killed the man she was sleeping with. Right? Either way very, very sexy couple but not sexy enough to land at number one.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams (The Notebook)

Bring on the hate mail. We love Ryan Gosling and we love Rachel McAdams, but we weren't really buying them as an onscreen couple. He had the rugged thing going and she was the perfectly uptight Southern belle but somehow, despite the rain kissing, these two never really had us sold. Also, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird?" What the fu*k does that mean?

Shane West and Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember)

A fine young couple and they could have been very sexy except for the fact that Mandy was dying of cancer the entire film and meant to look pale and tired. Touching and sad but no real fireworks.

Kevin Costner and Robin Wright (Message In a Bottle)

LOVE Robin but really, really want to throw Kevin back in the water. Sorry.

AND NOW FOR THE GREATEST NICHOLAS SPARKS COUPLE EVER...

James Garner and Gena Rowlands (The Notebook)

Watch and weep.