Product Description

A wonderfully warm and heartfelt debut from a stunning new talent. Everyone needs a guardian angel...Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He's left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed 'PS, I Love You'. As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing -- and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises -- but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6879 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 tumour. 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. In fact, it is these supporting characters' mini-dramas that make PS, I Love You more than just another superficial tearjerker with the obligatory episode at a karaoke bar. Ahern shows real talent for capturing the essence of an interaction between friends and foes alike; even if Holly's circle of friends does resemble the gang from Bridget Jones a bit too neatly to ignore (her best friend is even called Sharon).

While her style can be at times repetitive and her delivery is occasionally amateurish, Ahern deserves credit for a spirited first effort. If PS, I Love You is any indication of this author's talent, readers have much to look forward to as Ahern matures as a novelist and a storyteller. --Gisele Toueg, Amazon.com

Review
'A sensational debut novel that proves true love never dies.' Cosmopolitan 'A wonderfully life-affirming, witty debut.' Company 'A fun, fresh read.' Marie Claire 'Wild humour and heartbreak tangled up in one great read.' Cathy Kelly 'Insightful and true.' Deirdre Purcell, Irish Independent

Fluffy romance from the cute-as-a-button daughter of Ireland's Prime Minister. At the tender age of 22, film student Ahern pens her very first novel! The heroine: a young widow, Holly Kennedy, who discovers a batch of letters from her late husband Gerry, one for every month of the year. Yes, the posthumous postings are meant to help Holly heal, to laugh again and love again, and to remind her always to walk on the sunny side of the street, cherishing her memories and the happy future ahead (come to think of it, only a 22-year-old could write a book like this). Tra-la-la, come skip down the streets of Dublin with Holly and her chum Sharon. They spend a lot of time "laughing and joking about old times, then crying, followed by some more laughing, then more crying again." Though still consumed by grief, Holly can see that she has dark circles under her eyes, her hair is a fright, and her lips are chewed and chapped. Maybe now it's time to stop crying! And as she opens the first envelope to read Gerry's letter, she realizes that tomorrow is a new day. Reassured that Gerry is looking down from heaven, she vows to follow his lighthearted, loving advice and buy that new lamp, sing in a karaoke bar, etc. And each time she opens an envelope, it seems that Gerry is just playing a happy little game with her, even though they live in two different worlds. Holly knows he's right there, she can feel his spectral presence, she even talks to him. Of course, he'd know if she cheated at the happy little game, so she doesn't. There are other Big Questions, though, and our Holly searches for Answers. Get a Job or Keep On Shopping? Fall in Love with A Handsome Man or Start An Exciting Career at a Fashion Magazine? Don't worry! The ending is happy! Sappy rehash of some very familiar plots. (Kirkus Reviews)

Cathy Kelly
'Wild humour and heartbreak tangled up in one great read.'

Customer Reviews

Save yourself the trauma and read another book!
After rave reviews all over the TV and from friends, I have been wanting to read this for a long time. I'm quite sentimental so I expected to be bawling all the way through and really drawn into Holly's plight. I love a good depressing story! Instead I'm only 100 pages in and I can't take any more! I can feel my brain cells being destroyed with every word! It reminds me of the kind of thing I read when I was 12. The same simple, predictive style. It certainly makes me question Richard & Judy's choices, but then maybe they were paid to like it.
I echo other reviewers' annoyance and confusion at the 'hilarious' jokes that leave the characters rolling around with laughter. I'm glad my friends and family are a lot wittier than this insipid lot! Such a shame as I really wanted to love this book.
Granted, I'm used to reading literary classics, but I love reading and so will plough through almost anything. AVOID unless you're 12, or have the reading age of a 12 year old!! Although I wouldn't recommend this to any children I know - I wouldn't patronise their intellect.

Pleasantly surprised
I found this book in a charity shop for 0,50 Euro, and having heard of the film, I decided to try it. Why not for that price, right?
After a few pages, I couldn't put it down anymore. It's a reasonably mellow book, no major events, but defenitly a great read.
Not quite as predictable as I thought it would be, which is very refreshing.
It'll make you sad, happy, charmed and so much more.
I finished the book very quickly, and decided to try the film.
What a dissapointment. It is so different from this wonderful book, and doesn't do it any justice.. At all!

Just give it a try, I'm sure you'll love it!

Pleasant to read
I was determined to read this book before I saw the film as I know how films tend to destroy the book a bit.
I loved this book all the way through. At some parts I was feeling sorry for Holly at others I was feeling annoyed at how selfish she was becoming but it just goes to show how good a write Cecelia Ahern is if she can make you feel different emotions for one character.
I'm so glad Holly didn't get with Daniel at the end otherwise that would have bought the book down.
I recommend you read this before you see it