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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
3.5 ⭐️
So this book was completely out of my comfort zone. It was alright. VERY different from the movie. The premises are the same but the in between is different. It’s been ages since I’ve watched it so you can guarantee I’ll be watching it again very soon to pick it apart from the book and decide which is better. Is it a book I’ll read again? Nope.
** Cecelia Ahern's debut novel, PS, I Love You, follows the engaging, witty, and occasionally sappy reawakening of Holly, a young Irish widow who must put her life back together after she loses her husband Gerry to a brain tumor. Ahern, the twentysomething daughter of Ireland's prime minister, has discovered a clever and original twist to the Moving On After Death concept made famous by novelists and screenwriters alike--Gerry has left Holly a series of letters designed to help her face the year ahead and carry on with her life. As the novel takes readers through the seasons (and through Gerry's monthly directives), we watch as Holly finds a new job, takes a holiday to Spain with her girlfriends, and sorts through her beloved husband's belongings. Accompanying Holly throughout the healing process is a cast of friends and family members who add as much to the novel's success as Holly's own tale of survival
So this book was completely out of my comfort zone. It was alright. VERY different from the movie. The premises are the same but the in between is different. It’s been ages since I’ve watched it so you can guarantee I’ll be watching it again very soon to pick it apart from the book and decide which is better. Is it a book I’ll read again? Nope.
** Cecelia Ahern's debut novel, PS, I Love You, follows the engaging, witty, and occasionally sappy reawakening of Holly, a young Irish widow who must put her life back together after she loses her husband Gerry to a brain tumor. Ahern, the twentysomething daughter of Ireland's prime minister, has discovered a clever and original twist to the Moving On After Death concept made famous by novelists and screenwriters alike--Gerry has left Holly a series of letters designed to help her face the year ahead and carry on with her life. As the novel takes readers through the seasons (and through Gerry's monthly directives), we watch as Holly finds a new job, takes a holiday to Spain with her girlfriends, and sorts through her beloved husband's belongings. Accompanying Holly throughout the healing process is a cast of friends and family members who add as much to the novel's success as Holly's own tale of survival
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
I watched the movie years ago and the book was very different from the movie. I just never got into it.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
💌 P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern 💌
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I watched the movie ages ago and thought I knew what I was getting into - cue emotional devastation, Irish charm, and a stack of heartbreakingly beautiful letters. The book? Still emotional, still romantic, but messier, more human, and honestly… better.
Holly is 30, newly widowed, and falling apart after losing her husband, Gerry. This isn’t a glossy grief story - it’s raw, often uncomfortable, and full of moments where you want to shake her and hug her at the same time. Which is what makes it feel real.
Now, about those letters: I didn’t find them as heart-wrenching as I expected, at least not at first. But as you get to know Gerry’s personality - playful, no-nonsense, and deeply loving - their short, simple nature makes sense. They’re not grand gestures; they’re gentle nudges from someone who knew her best.
I also really appreciated the honest portrayal of Holly’s friendships and family dynamics. They’re complicated, sometimes frustrating, but never shallow. The shifting POVs were a bit confusing here and there, but they added texture and gave the story more dimension.
So, if you’re expecting the movie in book form - think again. This is quieter, messier, and in many ways, more impactful. A bittersweet reminder that healing is never linear, and love doesn’t end when someone’s gone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I watched the movie ages ago and thought I knew what I was getting into - cue emotional devastation, Irish charm, and a stack of heartbreakingly beautiful letters. The book? Still emotional, still romantic, but messier, more human, and honestly… better.
Holly is 30, newly widowed, and falling apart after losing her husband, Gerry. This isn’t a glossy grief story - it’s raw, often uncomfortable, and full of moments where you want to shake her and hug her at the same time. Which is what makes it feel real.
Now, about those letters: I didn’t find them as heart-wrenching as I expected, at least not at first. But as you get to know Gerry’s personality - playful, no-nonsense, and deeply loving - their short, simple nature makes sense. They’re not grand gestures; they’re gentle nudges from someone who knew her best.
I also really appreciated the honest portrayal of Holly’s friendships and family dynamics. They’re complicated, sometimes frustrating, but never shallow. The shifting POVs were a bit confusing here and there, but they added texture and gave the story more dimension.
So, if you’re expecting the movie in book form - think again. This is quieter, messier, and in many ways, more impactful. A bittersweet reminder that healing is never linear, and love doesn’t end when someone’s gone.
"How presumptuous they both had been never to consider growing old as an achievement and a challenge."
"Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity."
"Some people do through life searching and never find their soul mates. They never do. You and I did, we just happened to have them for a shorter period of time."
2nd time around on this one. I just recently watched the movie and was curious how it compared w/ the book and since I read the book 3-4 yrs ago, I don't remember the details. I love this passage from pg 2 and will strive to remember it as I grow older: "Growing older became something he wanted desperately to accomplish, rather than merely a dreaded inevitability. How presumptuous they both had been never to consider growing old as an achievement and a challenge. Aging was something they'd both wanted so much to avoid." Definitely something to remember when dissecting all the flaws in the mirror due to aging.
I loved it the second time around, too! There were lots of similarities between the book and the movie and I thought both were really well done. One thing that I liked in the movie better--shocking, I know--movies are never as good as the books--but I loved the story of how they met and they way the portrayed it in the movie. A wonderful difference. I didn't like so much, though, how disapproving they made her mother in the movie. An excellent book turned into an excellent movie!
I loved it the second time around, too! There were lots of similarities between the book and the movie and I thought both were really well done. One thing that I liked in the movie better--shocking, I know--movies are never as good as the books--but I loved the story of how they met and they way the portrayed it in the movie. A wonderful difference. I didn't like so much, though, how disapproving they made her mother in the movie. An excellent book turned into an excellent movie!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is on my "Fun Read" shelf because I count it as chick lit-- It's like Bridget Jones meets The Notebook. It's a really inspiring book about overcoming loss and moving on. No joke-- I cried every 10 pages, but it was really cathartic! A great story and a page-turner.
This book has such a powerful message. I find it astounding that this was the author's first novel because it was so profound.