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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
Loveable characters:
Yes
Made me into who I am
Holly's beloved husband Gerry has passed away and Holly is devastated. After fifteen years together, she can’t imagine life without him - and yet somehow she has to keep living. When she’s given a box of letters that Gerry left behind for her, it’s as though he’s speaking to her from beyond the grave - and Holly needs that connection so badly. Will a supportive family and staunch friends be enough to help Holly heal?
This isn’t a particularly mind blowing book. It is rather repetitive and borders on cheesy sometimes. However, I was interested in Holly‘s journey and I was more than a little surprised by how it ended. I appreciate that there are people that could really benefit from this book and, I feel like the depth of Holly’s loss is portrayed in a pretty authentic way. There is no mincing around her pain, it is real and it affects everything. I liked the Irish setting as well, overall it just didn’t grab me.
This isn’t a particularly mind blowing book. It is rather repetitive and borders on cheesy sometimes. However, I was interested in Holly‘s journey and I was more than a little surprised by how it ended. I appreciate that there are people that could really benefit from this book and, I feel like the depth of Holly’s loss is portrayed in a pretty authentic way. There is no mincing around her pain, it is real and it affects everything. I liked the Irish setting as well, overall it just didn’t grab me.
This was a lovely book. I listened to it as an audiobook, and the experience was delightful. The concept was novel and didn't disappoint. Each letter of Gerry's allows Holly to let go of him and get a grip on herself. The side characters were amazing too. Sharon and Denise are Holly's best friends, and the way they support her throughout was heartwarming. I did feel that points in the plot were slow, boring, and unnecessary, but I loved the book. What I loved even more than the friendships, was the family. All Holly's siblings and her parents had unique, distinct personalities, and they all help change Holly. I found it to be the complete opposite of Lucy from The Time of My Life, a Cecelia Ahern creation. I also admire the way Ahern tackled a subject like death with such ease and honesty. Towards the end, we see a mature and independent Holly, able to deal with awkward conversations about her lost love. I think everyone who has lost someone, or is about to should read this. And even if you aren't in this situation, feel free to give this a read.
P.S.- I read this book a few months after my first personal loss and I didn't know how to feel. Then I found this audiobook, and it felt so much better. Like having a friend who you can relate to in some ways, but mostly, they're just the complete opposite. Thank you so much Cecelia Ahern for this precious read.
Visit https://bookguru-bookreviews.blogspot.com for similar book reviews.
P.S.- I read this book a few months after my first personal loss and I didn't know how to feel. Then I found this audiobook, and it felt so much better. Like having a friend who you can relate to in some ways, but mostly, they're just the complete opposite. Thank you so much Cecelia Ahern for this precious read.
Visit https://bookguru-bookreviews.blogspot.com for similar book reviews.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Positively surprised by the ending! I really did not expect it. In between there were things I didn't like so I can't give it more than 2 stars overall but the ending makes it a lot better.
One part I was annoyed about was how her job application went. It's extremely unlikely that she'd get a job without proper experience. She then proceeds to be amazing and handle advertising for the whole magazine and then even gets asked to write an article. Not very likely either. The secretary then ends up helping and is of course amazing. Then it looks like Holly is taking credit without telling her boss just so they then can surprise her with the amazing published article.
Another thing that annoyed me was how pushy Daniel was. He basically sets a person whose husband died that she needs to decide what she wants but pressure like that is extremely toxic when he goes on to leave countless messages and even goes so far as to reach out to her friends. Get the message earlier, man!
As other reviews mention some of the things that happen arw extremely unnecessary and I could have done without the bad family dynamic which then miraculously get so much better with one comment...
The most positive thing was the ending. I would have liked it a lot less had it been the obvious ending that most romance books have. Refreshing!
One part I was annoyed about was how her job application went. It's extremely unlikely that she'd get a job without proper experience. She then proceeds to be amazing and handle advertising for the whole magazine and then even gets asked to write an article. Not very likely either. The secretary then ends up helping and is of course amazing. Then it looks like Holly is taking credit without telling her boss just so they then can surprise her with the amazing published article.
Another thing that annoyed me was how pushy Daniel was. He basically sets a person whose husband died that she needs to decide what she wants but pressure like that is extremely toxic when he goes on to leave countless messages and even goes so far as to reach out to her friends. Get the message earlier, man!
As other reviews mention some of the things that happen arw extremely unnecessary and I could have done without the bad family dynamic which then miraculously get so much better with one comment...
The most positive thing was the ending. I would have liked it a lot less had it been the obvious ending that most romance books have. Refreshing!
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Physical book
Yikes this was campy. 469 pages of campy
Yikes this was campy. 469 pages of campy
This book is about how the wife who was grieving is help along by the husband who pass away. Not in some ghost way but more of letters. I didn't watch the movie cause i know i would cry, so i ended up reading the book but it made me feel too. At end of it, i come out satisfied though.
Enjoyed the movie a lot more.
1) I now want to scream very loudly every time I read the word "giggle." Does the author not own a thesaurus?
2) I prefer my protagonists to be good people (maybe even strong?) with enough realistic flaws. Not incredibly weak with tons of flaws and maybe two good qualities.
3) The fact that she never grew or posessed any strength apart from her husband is not romantic. It's just sad. She should have been enough of her own person by the age of thirty to have had a real job and her own hobbies that she could enjoy without Gerry.
I would be absolutely distraught if Cody or any of my family members died, but I like to think I have the strength to carry on a bit more than Holly was able to.
I think that about sums it up. I was actually glad when this book was over.
1) I now want to scream very loudly every time I read the word "giggle." Does the author not own a thesaurus?
2) I prefer my protagonists to be good people (maybe even strong?) with enough realistic flaws. Not incredibly weak with tons of flaws and maybe two good qualities.
3) The fact that she never grew or posessed any strength apart from her husband is not romantic. It's just sad. She should have been enough of her own person by the age of thirty to have had a real job and her own hobbies that she could enjoy without Gerry.
I would be absolutely distraught if Cody or any of my family members died, but I like to think I have the strength to carry on a bit more than Holly was able to.
I think that about sums it up. I was actually glad when this book was over.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No