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P.S. I Love You #2
Postscript
It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband died – six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life.
She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind.
Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones, Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever…
She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind.
Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones, Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever…
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2019
1618 people are currently reading
31396 people want to read
About the author
Cecelia Ahern
94 books19.3k followersCecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries, and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,578 reviews
September 7, 2019
Cecilia Ahern writes a terrific sequel to PS I Love You, immersing us once again in the life of 37 year old Holly Kennedy seven years on since the loss of her beloved husband, Gerry, from cancer at the too young age of 30. She has established a new life with tree man, Gabriel, and is working at her sister, Ciara's second hand vintage shop, Magpie, and still close to her friends, Sharon and Denise. Despite misgivings, she has agreed to support Ciara by taking part in her podcast on grief and loss, and talking about her experience of losing Gerry and the letters he left behind for her. The huge response she gets makes her deeply uncomfortable. When a new group sets itself up as the PS I Love You Club and asks for her help, Holly's instinct is to refuse, it has taken so much out of her to find the strength to survive Gerry's loss, and she is reluctant to revisit and let Gerry once again consume a big part of her life.
However, she finds herself drawn into the club after meeting its members, a diverse group of characters led by Joy after the death of Angela, seeking her input into their very own versions of PS I love you letters. Her family are there to support her, despite their reservations, although Gabriel's opposition to her involvement is more intractable. Gabriel's dream has always been to reconnect with his daughter, Ava, who lives her mother, Kate, and has shunned his efforts to have her in his life. Holly has finally engaged in the process of selling her and Gerry's starter home and move in with Gabriel. As Ava's life becomes more troubled, and her relationship with her mother deteriorates, she at long last turns to Gabriel. Gabriel is overjoyed but it poses some challenges to the life he and Holly had planned. As Holly engages with the club, she finds herself getting closer to them, particularly the young Ginika, and her baby, Jewel, as she takes on the task of teaching Ginika to read and write.
Holly finds she gets more back from the club than she could ever have envisaged, not to mention the gift of the friendships that develop. She finds revisiting her past with Gerry proves to be a more rewarding experience than she expected as she becomes aware that she is now a different person from the one Gerry knew, because of his loss. The stories of the challenges faced by the club members and Holly herself show that our most heartbreaking losses have the potential to shape stronger versions of ourselves and build a new and better sense of who we are. Ahern writes with humanity and compassion on the poignant themes of grief and loss, the challenges of facing our own mortality, preparing for death, whilst providing glimpses of light and hope in the process. This is a wonderful read that I think so many readers will enjoy, and a pleasure to get reacquainted with Holly in this new phase of her life. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
However, she finds herself drawn into the club after meeting its members, a diverse group of characters led by Joy after the death of Angela, seeking her input into their very own versions of PS I love you letters. Her family are there to support her, despite their reservations, although Gabriel's opposition to her involvement is more intractable. Gabriel's dream has always been to reconnect with his daughter, Ava, who lives her mother, Kate, and has shunned his efforts to have her in his life. Holly has finally engaged in the process of selling her and Gerry's starter home and move in with Gabriel. As Ava's life becomes more troubled, and her relationship with her mother deteriorates, she at long last turns to Gabriel. Gabriel is overjoyed but it poses some challenges to the life he and Holly had planned. As Holly engages with the club, she finds herself getting closer to them, particularly the young Ginika, and her baby, Jewel, as she takes on the task of teaching Ginika to read and write.
Holly finds she gets more back from the club than she could ever have envisaged, not to mention the gift of the friendships that develop. She finds revisiting her past with Gerry proves to be a more rewarding experience than she expected as she becomes aware that she is now a different person from the one Gerry knew, because of his loss. The stories of the challenges faced by the club members and Holly herself show that our most heartbreaking losses have the potential to shape stronger versions of ourselves and build a new and better sense of who we are. Ahern writes with humanity and compassion on the poignant themes of grief and loss, the challenges of facing our own mortality, preparing for death, whilst providing glimpses of light and hope in the process. This is a wonderful read that I think so many readers will enjoy, and a pleasure to get reacquainted with Holly in this new phase of her life. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
October 8, 2022
This story happens six years after the death of Gerry. This book tells Holly's relationship with the P.S., I Love You Club.
Will revisiting her past for the club be painful for her? Will the association with this club be helpful to Holly? Cecilia Ahern answers these questions through this book.
My favorite three lines from this book.
I liked the first book more than this book. Still, I think it is a good sequel, and you should never miss it if you are someone who loved the first book, P.S. I Love You.
Will revisiting her past for the club be painful for her? Will the association with this club be helpful to Holly? Cecilia Ahern answers these questions through this book.
My favorite three lines from this book.
"We want to control our deaths, our goodbye to the world, and if we can't control it, we can at least control how we leave it behind."
“The cold, like the darkness, can become a deceptive comfort you never want to leave.”
“I hate goodbyes, but hating them is never a justification to stay.”
I liked the first book more than this book. Still, I think it is a good sequel, and you should never miss it if you are someone who loved the first book, P.S. I Love You.
June 18, 2020
Postscript picks up after PS, I love you, but about 6 years after the final letter. Holly is in a new relationship with a man named Gabriel, and she’s planning a move. Now, at the request of her sister, Ciara, she’s agreed to share her story about Gerry’s letters via a radio podcast discussing grief. Once aired, people want to know more about the contents of every letter and how Holly coped. Why? They want to write their own letters to their loved ones before they leave this earth. This conjures up the past which Holly has strived to put behind her, but could it be the exact thing she needs to truly heal?
You never know what to expect with sequels, but this book turned out to be so good. Once again, I fell in love with the writing beginning with the epilogue and pretty much devoured the book. It was wonderful reading about all the characters from the first book again and seeing how their lives have progressed. Not only that, new characters in the story make it incredibly emotional, and once again the author has done a beautiful job adding in the perfect mix of emotions here. The topics were thought-provoking as well, leaving me to contemplate what we can learn from others who’ve had to rebuild their lives after loss, and also the healing power that comes from the people around us.
Something fans of the first book will appreciate is that parts of the time Holly and Gerry spent together (previously unshared) are brought out in this book, continuing their story, even though Holly’s moved on. Holly reminisces on some of the plans they had before Gerry got sick and also what it was like letting him go in his final days. She’s constantly reflecting throughout the book and I loved that. This book is very much a continuation of her journey, but also shares the journeys of others who are preparing to leave their loved ones behind.
Postscript is perfectly set up to begin as a stand-alone for those who haven’t read the first book, although I would highly recommend starting with the first if you can, because there’s so much you’ll miss out on if you don’t.
From the very beginning, to the beautiful, surprising end, Postscript had me captivated. If you’re a PS, I love you fan, don’t miss this one!
4.5-stars
You never know what to expect with sequels, but this book turned out to be so good. Once again, I fell in love with the writing beginning with the epilogue and pretty much devoured the book. It was wonderful reading about all the characters from the first book again and seeing how their lives have progressed. Not only that, new characters in the story make it incredibly emotional, and once again the author has done a beautiful job adding in the perfect mix of emotions here. The topics were thought-provoking as well, leaving me to contemplate what we can learn from others who’ve had to rebuild their lives after loss, and also the healing power that comes from the people around us.
Something fans of the first book will appreciate is that parts of the time Holly and Gerry spent together (previously unshared) are brought out in this book, continuing their story, even though Holly’s moved on. Holly reminisces on some of the plans they had before Gerry got sick and also what it was like letting him go in his final days. She’s constantly reflecting throughout the book and I loved that. This book is very much a continuation of her journey, but also shares the journeys of others who are preparing to leave their loved ones behind.
Postscript is perfectly set up to begin as a stand-alone for those who haven’t read the first book, although I would highly recommend starting with the first if you can, because there’s so much you’ll miss out on if you don’t.
From the very beginning, to the beautiful, surprising end, Postscript had me captivated. If you’re a PS, I love you fan, don’t miss this one!
4.5-stars
April 14, 2020
Excuse me while I ugly cry 😢I knew this book would be emotional… although the first book was much more so for me! I was so pleasantly shocked to see a sequel to P.S. I Love You that I was over the moon excited when I got approved for this ARC. I admit I was a bit hesitant to start as I didn't know if I could take the emotions that it would bring out. Thankfully the first one was way more emotional for me. I did tear up a couple of times but it was not the anguish that I felt with the first book.
Not to worry, if you have not read the first book, this can totally be read as a stand alone. The author clues you in to the content of the last book. Honestly I couldn't remember all the details of the first book since it was like well umm 15 years ago that I had read it. What I did remember is that it was about Holly dealing with Gerry's death and the letters he left her to open each month. OMGGG heartbreaking. Anyways Holly is finally starting to heal and move on in this book. She is finding her way and faced with a proposition...one that could help others deal with losing a loved one but is she up to it??? Does she want to revisit all these feelings?
I enjoyed taking this journey with Holly again. She has changed, she has grown. I must admit I was not a fan of her new man. Why I am not sure. I can see why he would feel the way he does but...yah not a fan of him though. Anyways I enjoyed this book even though it was sad at points....The first book is a must! I never did get a chance to review it as I don't know if Goodreads was even around that long ago. It seems like a lifetime ago! Thank you to the author for letting us see that Holly is on the mend even though it is still a struggle each day as it is with anyone that has lost a loved one. It doesn't really get easier, you just have to learn how to cope.
Thank you so very much to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC!
Not to worry, if you have not read the first book, this can totally be read as a stand alone. The author clues you in to the content of the last book. Honestly I couldn't remember all the details of the first book since it was like well umm 15 years ago that I had read it. What I did remember is that it was about Holly dealing with Gerry's death and the letters he left her to open each month. OMGGG heartbreaking. Anyways Holly is finally starting to heal and move on in this book. She is finding her way and faced with a proposition...one that could help others deal with losing a loved one but is she up to it??? Does she want to revisit all these feelings?
I enjoyed taking this journey with Holly again. She has changed, she has grown. I must admit I was not a fan of her new man. Why I am not sure. I can see why he would feel the way he does but...yah not a fan of him though. Anyways I enjoyed this book even though it was sad at points....The first book is a must! I never did get a chance to review it as I don't know if Goodreads was even around that long ago. It seems like a lifetime ago! Thank you to the author for letting us see that Holly is on the mend even though it is still a struggle each day as it is with anyone that has lost a loved one. It doesn't really get easier, you just have to learn how to cope.
Thank you so very much to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC!
December 8, 2019
I think I’m in the minority here but this didn’t work out for me at all. I remember reading P.S. I Love You when it originally came out a gazillion years ago and enjoying it (although later on I despised the movie). But this book has to be one of the most unnecessary sequels ever written. The whole premise feels contrived and manipulative as hell, the plot is boring, repetitive and super predictable and I couldn’t connect with most of the characters. Though it has some touching moments, it tries too hard to tug at your heartstrings and make you cry but when you don’t care enough for any of the characters it’s difficult to shed even a single tear, hard as the author tries.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2019
We return to Holly Kennedy in this sequel to “P.S I Love You “ it’s been seven years since she lost her husband Gerry to cancer. She has slowly started to rebuild her life again, dating and considering moving in with Gabriel.
Holly’s sister Ciara persuades her to take part in her podcast about coping with grief, where she talks about how her letters from Gerry helped her in the throes of grief. Afterwards Angela Carberry tries to persuade her to write a book about her experiences, when she declines she sends her a business card with the words “P.S I Love You Club” printed on it. She is furious she used Gerry’s saying, that is very dear to her.
The P. S I Love You Club members are a group of people who are dying , but want to leave their loved ones with their own form of P.S messages. By helping these members, will it bring back all the pain and grief again of losing Gerry?
Sometimes when you read a sequel, you worry that it will never be as good as the original but I’m pleased to say that this wasn’t the case!!
At times I could not see the words as tears streamed down my face then in the next second I would roar with laughter. An emotional rollercoaster of a book, but one that is so beautifully written. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has affected me so much. (Well not since P.S I Love You) it made me think about my own mortality and of the people I have loved and lost.
A must read book that will steal you’re heart and stay with you long after reading it. Have the tissues handy!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Holly’s sister Ciara persuades her to take part in her podcast about coping with grief, where she talks about how her letters from Gerry helped her in the throes of grief. Afterwards Angela Carberry tries to persuade her to write a book about her experiences, when she declines she sends her a business card with the words “P.S I Love You Club” printed on it. She is furious she used Gerry’s saying, that is very dear to her.
The P. S I Love You Club members are a group of people who are dying , but want to leave their loved ones with their own form of P.S messages. By helping these members, will it bring back all the pain and grief again of losing Gerry?
Sometimes when you read a sequel, you worry that it will never be as good as the original but I’m pleased to say that this wasn’t the case!!
At times I could not see the words as tears streamed down my face then in the next second I would roar with laughter. An emotional rollercoaster of a book, but one that is so beautifully written. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has affected me so much. (Well not since P.S I Love You) it made me think about my own mortality and of the people I have loved and lost.
A must read book that will steal you’re heart and stay with you long after reading it. Have the tissues handy!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
November 13, 2021
Postscript by Cecilia Ahern is the sequel to P.S. I Love You. It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband, Gerry, died of cancer. Rebuilding her life without her beloved Gerry was a battle, but the letters he left behind helped her through the hard times.
Holly spends her days working with her sister Ciara in a vintage, second-hand store and at night they spend time with friends. When Ciara asks Holly to join her in her podcast to talk about the letters Gerry left behind each of which were signed with P.S. I love you. Holly agrees to do the podcast, but Holly wasn't prepared for what was about to happen.
Cecilia Ahern has done it again and written another heartwarming and touching story that will no doubt have most readers reaching out for the tissue box. A MUST READ for anyone who has read P.S. I Love You. You won’t be disappointed.
Holly spends her days working with her sister Ciara in a vintage, second-hand store and at night they spend time with friends. When Ciara asks Holly to join her in her podcast to talk about the letters Gerry left behind each of which were signed with P.S. I love you. Holly agrees to do the podcast, but Holly wasn't prepared for what was about to happen.
Cecilia Ahern has done it again and written another heartwarming and touching story that will no doubt have most readers reaching out for the tissue box. A MUST READ for anyone who has read P.S. I Love You. You won’t be disappointed.
October 12, 2021
4.5
Svi se sjećaju priče P.S. Volim te iako je od onda prošlo više od deset godina. Kada je izašla u papirnatom izdanju, uskoro je dobila i svoju jako dobro prihvaćenu ekranizaciju. Filma P.S. I Love You (2007), s Hilary Swank i Gerardom Butlerom u glavnim ulogama, sigurno se svi još dobro sjećaju. Ako to nije bilo opis ljubavi, ne znam što je. Knjiga je imala svoj početak, sredinu i kraj i sumnjam da je netko mislio da bi mogao osvanuti nastavak. Ako tako gledamo, nastavak stvarno nije bio potreban. Cjelina je postignuta i zašto nešto dirati i, kako uvijek bude, bespotrebno narušiti ravnotežu. Ali...
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
Svi se sjećaju priče P.S. Volim te iako je od onda prošlo više od deset godina. Kada je izašla u papirnatom izdanju, uskoro je dobila i svoju jako dobro prihvaćenu ekranizaciju. Filma P.S. I Love You (2007), s Hilary Swank i Gerardom Butlerom u glavnim ulogama, sigurno se svi još dobro sjećaju. Ako to nije bilo opis ljubavi, ne znam što je. Knjiga je imala svoj početak, sredinu i kraj i sumnjam da je netko mislio da bi mogao osvanuti nastavak. Ako tako gledamo, nastavak stvarno nije bio potreban. Cjelina je postignuta i zašto nešto dirati i, kako uvijek bude, bespotrebno narušiti ravnotežu. Ali...
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
February 12, 2020
Sensitive, pensive, and emotionally heart wrenching!
In this absorbing sequel in the P.S. I Love You series, Postscript, we head back into the life of Holly Kennedy seven years after the death of her husband Gerry when a guest spot on a podcast inadvertently upheaves her life and causes tears to be shed, lives to be remembered and celebrated, friendships old and new to be savoured, and love to be forged and shared.
The writing is skillful and seamless. The characters are well-drawn, genuine, and kind. And the plot is the perfect blend of hope, heart, humour, drama, and palpable emotion.
Postscript is, ultimately, a story about life, love, heartbreak, grief, friendship, family, and moving on. It’s an immersive, insightful, touching tale that once again showcases Ahern’s incredible, innate ability to delve into all the psychological and emotional entanglements associated with loss and weave them into a story you can’t put down. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will remind you that life is too short and the words “I Love You” can never be said enough.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this absorbing sequel in the P.S. I Love You series, Postscript, we head back into the life of Holly Kennedy seven years after the death of her husband Gerry when a guest spot on a podcast inadvertently upheaves her life and causes tears to be shed, lives to be remembered and celebrated, friendships old and new to be savoured, and love to be forged and shared.
The writing is skillful and seamless. The characters are well-drawn, genuine, and kind. And the plot is the perfect blend of hope, heart, humour, drama, and palpable emotion.
Postscript is, ultimately, a story about life, love, heartbreak, grief, friendship, family, and moving on. It’s an immersive, insightful, touching tale that once again showcases Ahern’s incredible, innate ability to delve into all the psychological and emotional entanglements associated with loss and weave them into a story you can’t put down. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will remind you that life is too short and the words “I Love You” can never be said enough.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2020
Wow!! This is quite simply one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.
I am a huge fan of P.S. I love you (both the book and film) and was beyond excited when I heard about this sequel. P.S. I love you follows Holly, as she tries to navigate life after the death of her husband Gerry. Gerry lends a hand, with monthly letters (10 in total) guiding her through the rest of the year after his death in February. Each letter ends with ‘P.S. I love you’.
This sequel moves forward 7 years. Holly has found love again and is getting on with her life, when her participation in a podcast changes everything. She later gets caught in a whirlwind with a new group- The P.S. I love you club. Postscript follows her journey with this new group, as Holly helps the clubs members and remembers old times with Gerry (both when he was alive and the year following his death where she received his letters).
This is one of the rare occasions when I think I may have loved the sequel even more than the first novel (it was at least equal to P.S. I love you). I always loved the original book for its unique take on a love story, but this book took it so much further.
The theme of leaving something behind for loved ones when you pass is beautiful. Each of the members of the club has an original take on what they want to do. So much of the book was heart-wrenching and emotional. This story has such a personal side for me, after dealing with serious medical issues 8 years ago that have started to crop up again recently, it’s made me think poignantly about my loved ones. I’m sure there are many others that this book will touch in a similar way.
Cecelia Ahern has such a gift for writing unique and meaningful stories. Her writing is so easy to read, and the book is continuously flowing. I would highly recommend this novel and I really hope that one day another book will join this series!
I am a huge fan of P.S. I love you (both the book and film) and was beyond excited when I heard about this sequel. P.S. I love you follows Holly, as she tries to navigate life after the death of her husband Gerry. Gerry lends a hand, with monthly letters (10 in total) guiding her through the rest of the year after his death in February. Each letter ends with ‘P.S. I love you’.
This sequel moves forward 7 years. Holly has found love again and is getting on with her life, when her participation in a podcast changes everything. She later gets caught in a whirlwind with a new group- The P.S. I love you club. Postscript follows her journey with this new group, as Holly helps the clubs members and remembers old times with Gerry (both when he was alive and the year following his death where she received his letters).
This is one of the rare occasions when I think I may have loved the sequel even more than the first novel (it was at least equal to P.S. I love you). I always loved the original book for its unique take on a love story, but this book took it so much further.
The theme of leaving something behind for loved ones when you pass is beautiful. Each of the members of the club has an original take on what they want to do. So much of the book was heart-wrenching and emotional. This story has such a personal side for me, after dealing with serious medical issues 8 years ago that have started to crop up again recently, it’s made me think poignantly about my loved ones. I’m sure there are many others that this book will touch in a similar way.
Cecelia Ahern has such a gift for writing unique and meaningful stories. Her writing is so easy to read, and the book is continuously flowing. I would highly recommend this novel and I really hope that one day another book will join this series!
September 29, 2020
Cecelia Ahern’s “Postcript” is the follow up sequel to her moving, worldwide best selling novel “P.S. I Love You”. I haven’t read the the first book but I did watch the movie many years ago and remember it quite vividly. Even if you haven’t done either, there’s plenty within the story to get the drift of what the premise is about.
It’s seven years since Holly’s husband Gerry died from cancer and she’s finally moved on with her life; working in her sister Ciara’s second hand shop and planning on moving in with her boyfriend Gabriel. When Ciara arranges to record a podcast with Holly to discuss the letters Gerry left her after his death, signed ‘P.S. I Love You’, terminally ill patients are interested in gaining Holly’s advice to leave similar mementoes for their loved ones. Holly can’t decide if she wants to help, fearing old wounds will be opened and her grief reawakened. When her close friends and family have mixed advice, she tries to avoid becoming involved any further but she soon realises the recently formed ‘P.S. I Love You Club’ isn’t going to go away.
This book is very emotional, moving and poignant. I can imagine if you’ve recently lost someone, this story could well be a trigger for grief, since obviously the main theme of the story is death and those we leave behind. However, due to the compassionate writing and some often funny moments, it isn’t all doom and gloom and truly has some memorable moments. Holly is a very likeable character and her relationship with her sister and two best friends is very endearing and a joy to read. The new Holly isn’t the Holly that Gerry left the letters for and it was interesting to see how she’d dealt with the death of her husband and how she’d moved on in the last seven years. Holly is now in reverse positions with Gerry, sensing the emotions he felt when he wrote and planned his letters. Helping people making sure their messages are passed on after their deaths, was a fabulous idea by the author and nice follow up to a much loved movie and novel. The individual members of the club are each very unique and their distinctive requests were so special to their loved ones. Ginika’s request was particularly poignant and I felt I was there in the middle of the story with her and her baby, as she prepared herself to be able to complete her mission.
I definitely had a tear in my eye on many occasion but in a loving, heartwarming way and without a doubt this book makes you contemplative and reflective on how short life actually is and to ensure you make the most of what time you have.
I was moved and entertained in equal parts and I would certainly like to see how the ‘P.S. I Love You Club’ develops further and meet some more new characters as they make their final wishes.
4 stars
It’s seven years since Holly’s husband Gerry died from cancer and she’s finally moved on with her life; working in her sister Ciara’s second hand shop and planning on moving in with her boyfriend Gabriel. When Ciara arranges to record a podcast with Holly to discuss the letters Gerry left her after his death, signed ‘P.S. I Love You’, terminally ill patients are interested in gaining Holly’s advice to leave similar mementoes for their loved ones. Holly can’t decide if she wants to help, fearing old wounds will be opened and her grief reawakened. When her close friends and family have mixed advice, she tries to avoid becoming involved any further but she soon realises the recently formed ‘P.S. I Love You Club’ isn’t going to go away.
This book is very emotional, moving and poignant. I can imagine if you’ve recently lost someone, this story could well be a trigger for grief, since obviously the main theme of the story is death and those we leave behind. However, due to the compassionate writing and some often funny moments, it isn’t all doom and gloom and truly has some memorable moments. Holly is a very likeable character and her relationship with her sister and two best friends is very endearing and a joy to read. The new Holly isn’t the Holly that Gerry left the letters for and it was interesting to see how she’d dealt with the death of her husband and how she’d moved on in the last seven years. Holly is now in reverse positions with Gerry, sensing the emotions he felt when he wrote and planned his letters. Helping people making sure their messages are passed on after their deaths, was a fabulous idea by the author and nice follow up to a much loved movie and novel. The individual members of the club are each very unique and their distinctive requests were so special to their loved ones. Ginika’s request was particularly poignant and I felt I was there in the middle of the story with her and her baby, as she prepared herself to be able to complete her mission.
I definitely had a tear in my eye on many occasion but in a loving, heartwarming way and without a doubt this book makes you contemplative and reflective on how short life actually is and to ensure you make the most of what time you have.
I was moved and entertained in equal parts and I would certainly like to see how the ‘P.S. I Love You Club’ develops further and meet some more new characters as they make their final wishes.
4 stars
February 5, 2023
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I am so glad I had the chance to read Postscript by Cecelia Ahern as part of the bookstagram readalong. Thank you to Cecelia Ahern, Harper Collins and Tandem Collective UK for the gifted copy and this amazing opportunity.
Synopsis:
When Holly lost her husband Gerry, he left letters for her to read after his death, all of them signed with PS, I Love You. These letters helped her go through the process of grief, get back on her feet and start to love again.
Now, years later, a mysterious club wants to meet her. And if Holly can find the courage to discover more, she’ll learn what living fully truly means.
My Thoughts of Postscript:
First of all, this is an emotional read, so aside from the book and a bookmark, you’ll also need tissues. Postscript will take you on a journey of self-discovery and teach you to love life again.
Without spoiling too much, I want to say that this book is incredible. It touches on the subject of death, and what people who know they’re dying can do to ease the pain for their families, but to also stay remembered a bit longer. Just like Gerry did for Holly. And through other people that Holly meets, she discovers a part of Gerry she never knew existed before.
“We don’t often remember how we met, we often remember how we parted.”
Holly is an incredible character that shows amazing character development. Her life is emotional and her choices make you wonder what you would have done if you were in her place. I also really loved Ginika and Jewel, as well as Denise. Cecelia Ahern has this amazing skill – to make you care about all the characters in her book, no matter how little they may be featured. I even found myself adoring Phillip, who only appeared in a few pages in the book.
Postscript is emotional and raw. But it’s also real and relatable to so many people, unfortunately. And I like to think that Holly gets the closure she needed and now she is able to finally fully move on. A true masterpiece that I wholeheartedly recommend.
I am so glad I had the chance to read Postscript by Cecelia Ahern as part of the bookstagram readalong. Thank you to Cecelia Ahern, Harper Collins and Tandem Collective UK for the gifted copy and this amazing opportunity.
Synopsis:
When Holly lost her husband Gerry, he left letters for her to read after his death, all of them signed with PS, I Love You. These letters helped her go through the process of grief, get back on her feet and start to love again.
Now, years later, a mysterious club wants to meet her. And if Holly can find the courage to discover more, she’ll learn what living fully truly means.
My Thoughts of Postscript:
First of all, this is an emotional read, so aside from the book and a bookmark, you’ll also need tissues. Postscript will take you on a journey of self-discovery and teach you to love life again.
Without spoiling too much, I want to say that this book is incredible. It touches on the subject of death, and what people who know they’re dying can do to ease the pain for their families, but to also stay remembered a bit longer. Just like Gerry did for Holly. And through other people that Holly meets, she discovers a part of Gerry she never knew existed before.
“We don’t often remember how we met, we often remember how we parted.”
Holly is an incredible character that shows amazing character development. Her life is emotional and her choices make you wonder what you would have done if you were in her place. I also really loved Ginika and Jewel, as well as Denise. Cecelia Ahern has this amazing skill – to make you care about all the characters in her book, no matter how little they may be featured. I even found myself adoring Phillip, who only appeared in a few pages in the book.
Postscript is emotional and raw. But it’s also real and relatable to so many people, unfortunately. And I like to think that Holly gets the closure she needed and now she is able to finally fully move on. A true masterpiece that I wholeheartedly recommend.
August 15, 2021
It’s been seven years since Holly Kennedy’s husband Gerry passed away from brain cancer and six years since she received his last letter. Holly thinks she has moved on with her life, she has a new partner Gabriel and she works at her sister Ciara’s vintage shop called Magpie.
A group of terminally ill people start a group called the PS, I Love You Club, they want Holly’s help, advice and she’s not sure if she can do it. It takes her back to the saddest, hardest time in her life and it’s still very difficult for her to deal with. Reluctantly she meets the small group, each person wants to leave a lasting legacy behind for their loved ones and Holly decides to help. Holly makes friends with the members of the group, each person is special, has a story, are loved and not always by their family.
Postscript is a fitting ending to Holly and Gerry's story, by helping the others, she not only brings peace to a group of terminally ill people, she makes a difference to people who are in the same heartbreaking situation she was in and it's the right time for her to move on. You will need a big box of tissues, Cecelia Ahern does it again and five stars from me.
A group of terminally ill people start a group called the PS, I Love You Club, they want Holly’s help, advice and she’s not sure if she can do it. It takes her back to the saddest, hardest time in her life and it’s still very difficult for her to deal with. Reluctantly she meets the small group, each person wants to leave a lasting legacy behind for their loved ones and Holly decides to help. Holly makes friends with the members of the group, each person is special, has a story, are loved and not always by their family.
Postscript is a fitting ending to Holly and Gerry's story, by helping the others, she not only brings peace to a group of terminally ill people, she makes a difference to people who are in the same heartbreaking situation she was in and it's the right time for her to move on. You will need a big box of tissues, Cecelia Ahern does it again and five stars from me.
November 11, 2019
We return to Holly Kennedy in this sequel to “P.S I Love You “ it’s been seven years since she lost her husband Gerry to cancer. She has slowly started to rebuild her life again, dating and considering moving in with Gabriel.
Holly’s sister Ciara persuades her to take part in her podcast about coping with grief, where she talks about how her letters from Gerry helped her in the throes of grief. Afterwards Angela Carberry tries to persuade her to write a book about her experiences, when she declines she sends her a business card with the words “P.S I Love You Club” printed on it. She is furious she used Gerry’s saying, that is very dear to her.
I was so engrossed with this book I did not realise I only received the sample.. What I read has intrigued me to purchase the full title.
Full review to come .
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Holly’s sister Ciara persuades her to take part in her podcast about coping with grief, where she talks about how her letters from Gerry helped her in the throes of grief. Afterwards Angela Carberry tries to persuade her to write a book about her experiences, when she declines she sends her a business card with the words “P.S I Love You Club” printed on it. She is furious she used Gerry’s saying, that is very dear to her.
I was so engrossed with this book I did not realise I only received the sample.. What I read has intrigued me to purchase the full title.
Full review to come .
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
September 30, 2019
4.5 stars!
I was on the promotional blog tour for Postscript. Thanks to the publishers HarperCollins for letting me be a part of the tour.
A massive thank you to HarperCollins for letting me be a part of Holly’s story. To first experience the raw emotions that PS I Love You gave and then Postscript was a beautiful journey. Holly losing her husband wasn’t easy to read, but the fact that a collection of letters can bring so many loved ones together is heartwarming. I really enjoyed the writing style as well as meeting the characters that really benefited from the PS I Love You club. Lots of topics are included in both books: Grief, Friendship, Love, Travel and the importance of living life. A reality check that we only live once and Postscript really makes the message clear: Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. Highly recommended!
I was on the promotional blog tour for Postscript. Thanks to the publishers HarperCollins for letting me be a part of the tour.
A massive thank you to HarperCollins for letting me be a part of Holly’s story. To first experience the raw emotions that PS I Love You gave and then Postscript was a beautiful journey. Holly losing her husband wasn’t easy to read, but the fact that a collection of letters can bring so many loved ones together is heartwarming. I really enjoyed the writing style as well as meeting the characters that really benefited from the PS I Love You club. Lots of topics are included in both books: Grief, Friendship, Love, Travel and the importance of living life. A reality check that we only live once and Postscript really makes the message clear: Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. Highly recommended!
January 24, 2020
POSTSCRIPT was the sequel I never thought I needed. Let’s face it, PS I Love You finished in a good place and so it has existed for over a decade. I was worried that book two would sully the good memories I have of book one, I was worried it would disappoint, it did none of these things.
Holly was seven years down the line from Gerry’s death, living her life, happy, in a relationship and officially in a different phase of her life from when she recceived the original letters. I wondered where Cecelia Ahern would take us, without harping back to the experiences of the first book too much but Gerry’s letters were used for good, to empower others.
What I liked about Holly in this book was that she was still a bit of a hot mess. She didn’t have it all together, even after all this time, showing this was just a personality trait. What I also loved reading about was Holly’s grief for Gerry and the life she lost. The grief that shone through was dulled down but with occasional acuteness and this seemed real.
The quest that Holly went on alongside others in her PS I Love You club was a journey. I had my reservations about it just like her boyfriend, friends and family but I was won around by those characters of Bert, Genika and Jewel especially. I made it to 88% rather smugly thinking that ‘I’ve not cried, I wont now’… and then proceeded to sob twice before the end.
…ultimately, it’s all anyone wants. Not to get lost, or left behind, not to be forgotten, to always be a part of the moments they know they’ll miss. To leave their stamp. To be remembered.
Cecelia Ahern wrote about the journey towards death and the grief that ensues with sensitivity and tangibility. She also wrote it in an uplifting style. She connected me to the characters and narratives with skill and affection. I am so glad that this second instalment came along and made it seem as though no years had passed since the last book.
Thank you Harper Collins for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Book Blog here.
Holly was seven years down the line from Gerry’s death, living her life, happy, in a relationship and officially in a different phase of her life from when she recceived the original letters. I wondered where Cecelia Ahern would take us, without harping back to the experiences of the first book too much but Gerry’s letters were used for good, to empower others.
What I liked about Holly in this book was that she was still a bit of a hot mess. She didn’t have it all together, even after all this time, showing this was just a personality trait. What I also loved reading about was Holly’s grief for Gerry and the life she lost. The grief that shone through was dulled down but with occasional acuteness and this seemed real.
The quest that Holly went on alongside others in her PS I Love You club was a journey. I had my reservations about it just like her boyfriend, friends and family but I was won around by those characters of Bert, Genika and Jewel especially. I made it to 88% rather smugly thinking that ‘I’ve not cried, I wont now’… and then proceeded to sob twice before the end.
…ultimately, it’s all anyone wants. Not to get lost, or left behind, not to be forgotten, to always be a part of the moments they know they’ll miss. To leave their stamp. To be remembered.
Cecelia Ahern wrote about the journey towards death and the grief that ensues with sensitivity and tangibility. She also wrote it in an uplifting style. She connected me to the characters and narratives with skill and affection. I am so glad that this second instalment came along and made it seem as though no years had passed since the last book.
Thank you Harper Collins for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Book Blog here.
February 4, 2020
When I first became a Cecelia Ahern fan, I was hesitant to read P.S. I Love You because of the subject matter. However, something pushed me to check it out and then I loved it! (I didn't feel like the movie did it justice though). When I first heard about Postscript being published, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy! Was it worth the sixteen (seven for Holly) year wait? I can attest that it was!
The story was a good follow-up to P.S. I Love You. It was nice to revisit Holly's story and see what she has been up to, as well as check in with her family again. I'm glad Ciara got even more time in the story, since I really liked her in P.S. and even think she should have her own spin-off novel. I felt like Daniel should have been reintroduced somehow, as well. (Harry Connick Jr. played him in the movie.)
I liked the idea of the P.S. I Love You club and how Holly was resisting getting involved but kept getting pulled into the fray. I found myself caring about the people in the club, especially Ginika. However, I felt like one of them didn't get as much closure. I had a feeling of where one aspect of the story was going (and was right), but the rest of it was surprising.
This was a sweet story overall and it gives new insight about grief.
Movie casting suggestions, since I wasn't fond of the P.S. I Love You movie casting:
Holly: Hayley Atwell
Denise: Rebecca Hall
Ciara: Jessica De Gouw
Sharon: Jodie Whittaker
Gabriel: Michael Fassbender
Ginika: Aparna Brielle
Paul: Ben Whishaw
Bert: Ron Cephas Jones
Review originally posted at Chick Lit Central. (Giveaway too!)
The story was a good follow-up to P.S. I Love You. It was nice to revisit Holly's story and see what she has been up to, as well as check in with her family again. I'm glad Ciara got even more time in the story, since I really liked her in P.S. and even think she should have her own spin-off novel. I felt like Daniel should have been reintroduced somehow, as well. (Harry Connick Jr. played him in the movie.)
I liked the idea of the P.S. I Love You club and how Holly was resisting getting involved but kept getting pulled into the fray. I found myself caring about the people in the club, especially Ginika. However, I felt like one of them didn't get as much closure. I had a feeling of where one aspect of the story was going (and was right), but the rest of it was surprising.
This was a sweet story overall and it gives new insight about grief.
Movie casting suggestions, since I wasn't fond of the P.S. I Love You movie casting:
Holly: Hayley Atwell
Denise: Rebecca Hall
Ciara: Jessica De Gouw
Sharon: Jodie Whittaker
Gabriel: Michael Fassbender
Ginika: Aparna Brielle
Paul: Ben Whishaw
Bert: Ron Cephas Jones
Review originally posted at Chick Lit Central. (Giveaway too!)
November 10, 2020
This sequel of PS I Love You that was sixteen years in the making by Cecelia Ahern certainly grabbed at my heart strings. Some advice when reading this, keep some tissues handy because I am certain that your tear ducts will overflow. This novel was heartwarming and touching.
Reading this book made me reflect about the love we have in ourselves and that love we give to someone else. Are there limits? How far can that love reach others?
Ahern's brilliance is her ability to understand the human existence, deep feelings, the visceral emotional experience and the uplifting power of hope and love. I am so glad to have read this book that made me laugh, cry, and understand deeply. Thank you Cecelia Ahern for a fabulous sequel.
Reading this book made me reflect about the love we have in ourselves and that love we give to someone else. Are there limits? How far can that love reach others?
Ahern's brilliance is her ability to understand the human existence, deep feelings, the visceral emotional experience and the uplifting power of hope and love. I am so glad to have read this book that made me laugh, cry, and understand deeply. Thank you Cecelia Ahern for a fabulous sequel.
July 29, 2019
What an epic sampler!
I love PS: I Love you and now reading even the sampler is making my heart sing with joy and sadness.
The sampler was just 😍 I am dying the read the rest of the book.
I love PS: I Love you and now reading even the sampler is making my heart sing with joy and sadness.
The sampler was just 😍 I am dying the read the rest of the book.
December 13, 2019
Abandoned after only 15%. Meh and more meh 😒 Just not my cup of tea at all.
October 8, 2020
Postscript is one of those hats off to with a boldly different setting. It's quite a heartbreaking time reading this one, so one thing I would suggest is make sure you some tissues near by as its hard not to feel tears in your eyes.
Holly Kennedy is braverly, giving a talk about How To a Talk About Death, which not an easy subject to talk about. it's the one subject that any family member don't like discussing with their family or other people.
Holly Kennedy at a very young age, very sadly lost her husband seven years ago through cancer. Her husband Gerry left her letters to be opened in the months after he passed, with each letter ended with the most sweetest words P.S. I Love You.
This wrecked my heart, but I could see their point of view, when someone people have been diagnosed with terminal cancer they too want to write letters for their loved ones and require Holly's help.
This is one book that I easily got I hooked into every page so much, exploring with in the story what happened next.
The cover is beautiful with the gold envelope and black heart on which is indicating Gerry's letters he wrote for his wife Holly.
I'm now left wondering what does my favourite author Cecelia Ahern have scheduled for her next book? What it maybe it will go in my diary as a must read!
I can quite easily see this book made into film, just like The Fault In Our Stars.
Cecelia Ahern is one of the most strongest authors whose has the ability to showcase on subject.
I have hooked into so many of Cecelia Ahern''s book with Flawed, How To Fall In Love, The Year I Met You and another I book that I recommend by Cecelia Ahern is The Marble a Collector. And now with high flying colours I'm going to very highly recommend Postscript.
Holly Kennedy is braverly, giving a talk about How To a Talk About Death, which not an easy subject to talk about. it's the one subject that any family member don't like discussing with their family or other people.
Holly Kennedy at a very young age, very sadly lost her husband seven years ago through cancer. Her husband Gerry left her letters to be opened in the months after he passed, with each letter ended with the most sweetest words P.S. I Love You.
This wrecked my heart, but I could see their point of view, when someone people have been diagnosed with terminal cancer they too want to write letters for their loved ones and require Holly's help.
This is one book that I easily got I hooked into every page so much, exploring with in the story what happened next.
The cover is beautiful with the gold envelope and black heart on which is indicating Gerry's letters he wrote for his wife Holly.
I'm now left wondering what does my favourite author Cecelia Ahern have scheduled for her next book? What it maybe it will go in my diary as a must read!
I can quite easily see this book made into film, just like The Fault In Our Stars.
Cecelia Ahern is one of the most strongest authors whose has the ability to showcase on subject.
I have hooked into so many of Cecelia Ahern''s book with Flawed, How To Fall In Love, The Year I Met You and another I book that I recommend by Cecelia Ahern is The Marble a Collector. And now with high flying colours I'm going to very highly recommend Postscript.
July 26, 2019
Loved the movie “PS, I Love You” with Gerard Butler as the perfect husband ... swoon! So swept up this enticing preview for the sequel, which focuses on Holly Kennedy’s life seven years after her husband’s death. Highly recommended.
Pub Date 23 Sep 2019.
Thanks to the author, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#PostscriptNetGalley #NetGalley
Pub Date 23 Sep 2019.
Thanks to the author, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#PostscriptNetGalley #NetGalley
February 8, 2020
Big fan of PS I LOVE YOU and dont remember the number of times i have read the book then came this much awaited Sequel and it was just the way i expected it.... The PS Club shows so much one can do in real life for their loved ones and still be around them through fond memories and not the deterioration they are going through towards the end of their life. Living life to fullest and making the most memorable memory for their loved one even though not being around them physically.... Cecelia Ahern’s one of the best works...
November 12, 2019
He’s in the wall. But he’s not there, he’s not here. He’s gone. Energy elsewhere. Dissolved, besprinkled particles of matter around me.
Having a serious chick lit/romance addiction in my teens, naturally ps. I love you was a firm favourite. The film even more so, because let’s face it, you can’t see Gerald butler or hear his accent in the book right? When I saw the advertisement for postscript i knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed.
Seven years after the death of her husband Gerry, Holly Kennedy is no longer surviving, she is living. Working with her sister Ciara at her second hand vintage shop, she manages to pursuade Holly to be interviewed for her podcast. The topic is death and the letters left for her by Gerry, signed p.s I love you. The podcast however attracts an audience and afterwards holly is approached by a select few who have started a club called p.s I love you. They are asking for her help to leave something behind for their loved ones. Holly finally feels like she’s moved forward, her friends and family worry that this will drag her backwards. After meeting the club to initially refuse, Holly finds herself swept away with their stories. Can Holly delve into her past without letting it affect her future?
I found the beginning a little slow but persevere my friend and you shall be rewarded. Cecelia ahern writes with raw emotion and a dose of magic. It made me well up in parts and once finished left me with a renewed appreciation of life and the pure injustice of it all. A kaleidoscope of emotions from beginning to end, this is a certified tear jerker! 4 stars from me. ✨
Having a serious chick lit/romance addiction in my teens, naturally ps. I love you was a firm favourite. The film even more so, because let’s face it, you can’t see Gerald butler or hear his accent in the book right? When I saw the advertisement for postscript i knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed.
Seven years after the death of her husband Gerry, Holly Kennedy is no longer surviving, she is living. Working with her sister Ciara at her second hand vintage shop, she manages to pursuade Holly to be interviewed for her podcast. The topic is death and the letters left for her by Gerry, signed p.s I love you. The podcast however attracts an audience and afterwards holly is approached by a select few who have started a club called p.s I love you. They are asking for her help to leave something behind for their loved ones. Holly finally feels like she’s moved forward, her friends and family worry that this will drag her backwards. After meeting the club to initially refuse, Holly finds herself swept away with their stories. Can Holly delve into her past without letting it affect her future?
I found the beginning a little slow but persevere my friend and you shall be rewarded. Cecelia ahern writes with raw emotion and a dose of magic. It made me well up in parts and once finished left me with a renewed appreciation of life and the pure injustice of it all. A kaleidoscope of emotions from beginning to end, this is a certified tear jerker! 4 stars from me. ✨
December 11, 2019
I read P.S. I Love You about 10 years ago, and I remember being quite emotionally involved and moved by the story. It meant that when I got the chance to read this sampler of the sequel, I was actually quite excited. Unfortunately I think there is a difference in maturity between 20 year old me and 30 year old me. I found this contrived, and the whole thing a bit tedious. The highlight was Sharon and her buggy. That did make me laugh so I will give 2 stars rather than 1! I won't be reading the full version of this, as to be honest, I really couldn't care less about what Holly gets up to. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the sneak preview and from saving me from buying the full book when it is released!
August 21, 2019
I have to start by saying that I did not like PS I Love You. I found a lot of things about it very frustrating, but I absolutely adored this sequel. I loved this more mature version of Holly and the more matured writing of Cecelia Ahern. She has come a long way from her debut novel. This story was layered in emotion, spirituality, and love. And though I was crying for the last 20 or so pages of the book, I was left feeling uplifted and thankful. This was such a brilliant sequel and continuation of the PS I Love You story.
(I was gifted an ARC of this book by HarperCollins, all opinions are my own)
(I was gifted an ARC of this book by HarperCollins, all opinions are my own)
October 8, 2020
I don’t know how I feel about this but you’re damn right I’m going to read it.
June 15, 2019
Feels slightly more laboured than its predecessor, but at its core it's just really generous, which I loved.
July 29, 2020
Postscript is so different from PS I Love You, the latter being a chick-lit with a lot of silliness, while also providing some serious depth, hopeful messages and amazingly supportive friends and family.
Postscript felt like quite the opposite. It tried hard to be a deep, meaningful read – too hard in my opinion, I can appreciate metaphors, but not when literally everything has to be metaphorical – there wasn’t much humour and gosh what happened to all the support? The focus was on Holly and the club members, and I get it that means that there’s less room for other people, but I loved the role of those other people in PS I Love You and I didn’t like the members of the club that much (more on this later).
I was also very astonished about the comments on Gerry’s parents:
Which brings me to another altered subject: how Holly perceived Gerry's letters. In Postscript, Holly comments on how she both loved and resented them, while we didn’t get a single clue of this during PS I Love You. I felt like the author just made that up to support this sequel. I understand that she wanted to explore the downside of it, that it could hold you back in life, but with that, it brought down the loveliness of PS I Love You. A positive remark, however: I finally got the flashbacks of Gerry that I wished PS I Love You had had.
Then there was Gabriel. I wasn’t sure what to think of him. I didn’t like him but felt that he had a point in trying to prevent Holly from joining the club
But my main reason for disliking the sequel was The Club. It seemed clear to me that Holly was right in not wanting to join the club seeing what it did to her,. Holly keeps yoyoing, and I didn't see any character development. Just when you think she finally gets it
The whole journey felt unhealthy to me, toxic even.
It could have been an interesting way to show that 6 years later she’s still struggling with that balance of remembering Gerry vs moving on, but this was a poor way to prove that. Holly was doing shit again mentally, and she just doesn’t seem to acknowledge it.
Perhaps as a stand-alone some people might enjoy it, but to me, it was a huge disappointment.
Postscript felt like quite the opposite. It tried hard to be a deep, meaningful read – too hard in my opinion, I can appreciate metaphors, but not when literally everything has to be metaphorical – there wasn’t much humour and gosh what happened to all the support? The focus was on Holly and the club members, and I get it that means that there’s less room for other people, but I loved the role of those other people in PS I Love You and I didn’t like the members of the club that much (more on this later).
I was also very astonished about the comments on Gerry’s parents:
“After Gerry's death, I used to meet with his parents a few times a year; they were still family to me, I was still their daughter-in-law”.Erm, what? Did the author just hope most of her audience forgot or didn’t read PS I Love You ?
Which brings me to another altered subject: how Holly perceived Gerry's letters. In Postscript, Holly comments on how she both loved and resented them, while we didn’t get a single clue of this during PS I Love You. I felt like the author just made that up to support this sequel. I understand that she wanted to explore the downside of it, that it could hold you back in life, but with that, it brought down the loveliness of PS I Love You. A positive remark, however: I finally got the flashbacks of Gerry that I wished PS I Love You had had.
Then there was Gabriel. I wasn’t sure what to think of him. I didn’t like him but felt that he had a point in trying to prevent Holly from joining the club
But my main reason for disliking the sequel was The Club. It seemed clear to me that Holly was right in not wanting to join the club seeing what it did to her,. Holly keeps yoyoing, and I didn't see any character development. Just when you think she finally gets it
There's always another side to the coin, there is no middle ground. But I must find it. I can't lose myself again. (...) I must stop feeling so deeply but I must not be numb; I must move on but I must not forget; I must be happy but not reject sadness; I must embrace, not cling; I must deal with but not dwell on; I must confront but not attack; I must eliminate but not annihilate; I must be gentle with myself but I must be strong.it turns out to make no difference whatsoever. It’s only around like 95% that a psychologist points out to her that she should set her boundaries (seriously, you're bringing that up just now?):
“You need rules, you need guidelines. For yourself, and for them. (...) Before you help more people make sure you’re in a secure position yourself.”
The whole journey felt unhealthy to me, toxic even.
It could have been an interesting way to show that 6 years later she’s still struggling with that balance of remembering Gerry vs moving on, but this was a poor way to prove that. Holly was doing shit again mentally, and she just doesn’t seem to acknowledge it.
Perhaps as a stand-alone some people might enjoy it, but to me, it was a huge disappointment.
September 21, 2019
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Oh my goodness me. It’s been fifteen years since ‘PS.I Love You’ was originally published. Never in a million years did I think that fifteen years down the line, Cecelia Ahern would write a sequel to the book that became a number one bestseller in multiple countries, AND end up being made into a major film starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Harry Connick JR, and Kathy Bates…to name a few. I cannot even remember when I first sat down to read ‘Ps.I Love You’, however it is one of the few books that I have read more than twice.
When it became public knowledge that a sequel was in the works, I literally could no contain my excitement! I mean, the first book broke my heart – how could Cecelia Ahern up the ante on that? Plus, with sequels, it’s often a worry that they can end up ruining the vibe of the serial – Postscript did not ruin anything. In fact, I would even go as far to say that it was even more incredible than its predecessor.
If you haven’t read ‘Ps.I Love You’, I would highly recommend reading it before you get stuck into ‘Postscript’ as a lot of things will not make sense if you just go into the second book blind.
So, to ‘Postscript’….
I was advised to keep tissues by my side whilst I read the book. I ignored the advice.
I was told that I would probably cry. I shrugged my shoulders and thought ‘no way’.
I was told to be prepared for an emotional read. Again, I ignored that.
Again, I was told to have a pack of tissues handy because I would be needing them. I didn’t think that I would need them…
I bloody needed them. I needed a gigantic pack of tissues and then some. I honestly thought that I would be able to read the entire book unscathed – how wrong was I! By the time I had 56 pages of the book left, I had sobbed my heart out FOUR TIMES, yet I had also burst out laughing several times too. Yes, ‘Postscript’ is an extremely emotional read. Yes, it’s devastating in parts, and yes, it smashed my heart into smithereens. However, it was also beautiful. Poignant. Powerful.
‘Postscript’ tells the story of Holly’s life after Gerry’s death seven years prior. To the outside world, Holly has moved on. To Holly, she feels guilty for living her life without Gerry by her side, even though she has no choice. When her sister, Ciara, asks for her help with her podcast, Holly can’t quite shift the sinking feeling in her gut. Part of her thinks that she shouldn’t delve into the emotions that have taken seven years to come to terms with, yet another part of her thinks that it would do her good to talk about Gerry’s death. Never in a million years did Holly ever think that Gerry’s actions would end up inspiring other people, yet they did. They ended up inspiring a group of strangers who begin to embark on their own journeys with different expiry dates; expiry dates that are currently unknown but they all have one thing in common – they want to leave a part of themselves for their loved ones…with Holly’s help.
Obviously I’m not going to go into detail about those journeys, Holly’s included, however I will say that all of the characters in this book had their own stories to tell which completely blew me away on various different levels. The poignancy behind their lives, who they loved, and what they wanted to achieve, was just so emotional and moving. It was so hard to just sit and watch certain things happening to people who didn’t deserve it. I wanted to reach inside of the book and make everything okay, but I couldn’t. Clearly. The thing is, even if I could have done something to make it all okay, it wouldn’t have been realistic. Thousands upon thousands of people go through things similar to the characters in this book, and thousands upon thousands of people wish they could become a superhero and make everything okay. The reality of that though, is that it isn’t reality and often that can be the hardest thing to accept.
As I said above, I sobbed my heart out a total of FIVE times by the end of the book. I was so overwhelmed by Cecelia Ahern’s beautiful words and the way in which she made every character have a voice. Ahern didn’t gloss over anything, pretending that life was all rosy and that everything would magically be fine. Instead, she told the story of life for what it was; a journey of existence. A journey of power. A journey of emotional. A journey of constant memories.
It doesn’t feel as though fifteen years have passed since Holly and Gerry entered our lives, especially as ‘Postscript’ just continues the story as though there has never been a break between books.
‘Postscript’ is the most humbling, empowering, beautifully written novel I have EVER read. Cecelia Ahern has a timeless beauty about her, with a writing style that goes beyond anything I have ever come across before.
There comes a point in your life where you read a book which fills your body with fizzy emotion, empowering knowledge, poignant hope, and the ability to witness life in all of its glory – ‘PostScript’, for me, is that book.
Oh my goodness me. It’s been fifteen years since ‘PS.I Love You’ was originally published. Never in a million years did I think that fifteen years down the line, Cecelia Ahern would write a sequel to the book that became a number one bestseller in multiple countries, AND end up being made into a major film starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Harry Connick JR, and Kathy Bates…to name a few. I cannot even remember when I first sat down to read ‘Ps.I Love You’, however it is one of the few books that I have read more than twice.
When it became public knowledge that a sequel was in the works, I literally could no contain my excitement! I mean, the first book broke my heart – how could Cecelia Ahern up the ante on that? Plus, with sequels, it’s often a worry that they can end up ruining the vibe of the serial – Postscript did not ruin anything. In fact, I would even go as far to say that it was even more incredible than its predecessor.
If you haven’t read ‘Ps.I Love You’, I would highly recommend reading it before you get stuck into ‘Postscript’ as a lot of things will not make sense if you just go into the second book blind.
So, to ‘Postscript’….
I was advised to keep tissues by my side whilst I read the book. I ignored the advice.
I was told that I would probably cry. I shrugged my shoulders and thought ‘no way’.
I was told to be prepared for an emotional read. Again, I ignored that.
Again, I was told to have a pack of tissues handy because I would be needing them. I didn’t think that I would need them…
I bloody needed them. I needed a gigantic pack of tissues and then some. I honestly thought that I would be able to read the entire book unscathed – how wrong was I! By the time I had 56 pages of the book left, I had sobbed my heart out FOUR TIMES, yet I had also burst out laughing several times too. Yes, ‘Postscript’ is an extremely emotional read. Yes, it’s devastating in parts, and yes, it smashed my heart into smithereens. However, it was also beautiful. Poignant. Powerful.
‘Postscript’ tells the story of Holly’s life after Gerry’s death seven years prior. To the outside world, Holly has moved on. To Holly, she feels guilty for living her life without Gerry by her side, even though she has no choice. When her sister, Ciara, asks for her help with her podcast, Holly can’t quite shift the sinking feeling in her gut. Part of her thinks that she shouldn’t delve into the emotions that have taken seven years to come to terms with, yet another part of her thinks that it would do her good to talk about Gerry’s death. Never in a million years did Holly ever think that Gerry’s actions would end up inspiring other people, yet they did. They ended up inspiring a group of strangers who begin to embark on their own journeys with different expiry dates; expiry dates that are currently unknown but they all have one thing in common – they want to leave a part of themselves for their loved ones…with Holly’s help.
Obviously I’m not going to go into detail about those journeys, Holly’s included, however I will say that all of the characters in this book had their own stories to tell which completely blew me away on various different levels. The poignancy behind their lives, who they loved, and what they wanted to achieve, was just so emotional and moving. It was so hard to just sit and watch certain things happening to people who didn’t deserve it. I wanted to reach inside of the book and make everything okay, but I couldn’t. Clearly. The thing is, even if I could have done something to make it all okay, it wouldn’t have been realistic. Thousands upon thousands of people go through things similar to the characters in this book, and thousands upon thousands of people wish they could become a superhero and make everything okay. The reality of that though, is that it isn’t reality and often that can be the hardest thing to accept.
As I said above, I sobbed my heart out a total of FIVE times by the end of the book. I was so overwhelmed by Cecelia Ahern’s beautiful words and the way in which she made every character have a voice. Ahern didn’t gloss over anything, pretending that life was all rosy and that everything would magically be fine. Instead, she told the story of life for what it was; a journey of existence. A journey of power. A journey of emotional. A journey of constant memories.
It doesn’t feel as though fifteen years have passed since Holly and Gerry entered our lives, especially as ‘Postscript’ just continues the story as though there has never been a break between books.
‘Postscript’ is the most humbling, empowering, beautifully written novel I have EVER read. Cecelia Ahern has a timeless beauty about her, with a writing style that goes beyond anything I have ever come across before.
There comes a point in your life where you read a book which fills your body with fizzy emotion, empowering knowledge, poignant hope, and the ability to witness life in all of its glory – ‘PostScript’, for me, is that book.
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