'The Notebook' Writer Nicholas Sparks & Wife Cathy Split After 25 Years of Marriage

Nicholas Sparks and his wife Cathy have split after 25 years of marriage, People reports.

“Cathy and I have separated,” the 49-year-old author of popular romance novels including “The Notebook” said. “This is, of course, not a decision we’ve made lightly. We remain close friends with deep respect for each other and love for our children. For our children’s sake, we regard this as a private matter.”

Nicholas and Cathy, who got married in 1989, have three sons and twin daughters, who are all between 23 to 12 years of age.

Nicholas‘ books have inspired tons of Hollywood movies including Dear John, A Walk to Remember, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, and more.