P.S. I Love You is an unexpected choice for me as it commences with the protagonist grappling with the death of her husband. Those familiar with my book collection would notice that I usually opt for high drama and grand romances, the kind that appeals to romantics deeply in love. I typically pick those where the heroine is swept away by the hero, unaware that they have been falling in love along the way. I'm not sure what exactly drew me to this book, but I picked it up and carried it to the cashier.

The story begins with Holly Kennedy isolating herself a few months after the passing of her husband, Gerry Clarke. Holly and Gerry had been together since high school, and Holly's world had revolved around him ever since. Gerry was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and despite numerous medical procedures, he couldn't overcome the death it brought.

Holly shut herself off from everyone, drowning in the grief caused by Gerry's death. She had no appetite and no inclination to continue her life as it was before.

Ahern's storytelling style involves switching back and forth between the present and the past, depicting the relationship Gerry had with Holly, her family, and their friends. Through these flashbacks, readers discover that they shared a joke called "The List," which Gerry promised to write for Holly to help her cope with his loss. As Holly realizes later in the story, of all of Gerry's promises, this one is the hardest for her to accept because it means he is truly gone.

It turns out that Gerry did prepare a list for Holly during his medical procedures. He sent a package to Holly's parents' house containing individual envelopes labeled from April to December, each with a letter for Holly to open monthly and follow the tasks on the list.

The tasks range from buying a bedside lamp (since it was a nightly routine for them to argue about who would get out of bed to turn off the light) to conquering her fear of karaoke, taking a wonderful Spanish vacation with her closest friends, and finding her dream job. In the process of completing these tasks, Holly learns more about her family and friends and how life goes on despite loss.

Ahern has created captivating characters that explore themes of growing up, the pain of loss, and the process of rediscovery. The characters are so real that they seem to leap off the pages and into my heart. They are flawed and human in their reactions and choices.

This book震撼 me to the core as it made me consider the what-ifs. It made me realize that I have a rich network of family and friends by my side. We may not always get along perfectly, but we bring value and joy to each other's lives.

Oh my Gosh!!

I am so deeply in love with this story!

First, I watched the movie, and it instantly became one of my all-time favorites. The emotions it evoked were truly powerful. The way the characters were portrayed and the story unfolded was simply captivating.

And now, after reading the book, I find myself in a dilemma. I can't decide which one I like better. But in reality, it doesn't really matter. I was completely smitten by Gerry, and I cried along with Holly every single time.

I think this story holds such a special place in my heart because it's not just about the loss of a husband. It's about losing someone you love with all your heart, someone who means the world to you. It shows how incredibly difficult it is to keep going after they're gone. Even though they may no longer be physically present with you, the need for them remains. That void in your heart doesn't disappear easily.

However, as the story progresses, you realize something profound. Life doesn't come to a halt just because your heart is broken. Even when it feels like the world has stopped, you have to find the strength to keep moving forward.

I loved the movie, and I loved the book. They both touched me in different ways. And I'm still out there, hoping and praying to find my very own Gerry.

3 stars? Maybe less...

Now I'm gonna rant. So if you really loved this book and don't want to hear anything about it, just skip this one. Also, there will be some SPOILERS, so...

I guess my OCD made me finish the book, because I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. It started good, even if a bit rambly. The idea was heartbreaking and sweet at the same time, and of course I wanted to know what happened next. Since I watched the movie so many years ago and could only remember liking it, I decided to read the book, thinking they're usually better than the movies. Well...

The heroine, Holly, a 30-year-old woman, acted and talked like a 20-year-old. She never had a decent job, hated school, and "lived her life for her husband Gerry." After Gerry died, she couldn't find any sense in it until she started getting letters from him to restart her life. Besides being extremely shallow with no hobbies or interests, Holly was also depressed. Some stuff happened with family and friends, and some unrelated to the plot was included. Some parts were told from different POVs with no transition.

At one point, after reading a letter from Gerry, Holly decided to find a job. This was one of the moments where I almost dropped my kindle and rolled my eyes. She listed some crazy ideas for jobs, like FBI agent, lawyer, doctor, etc., despite having only a high school diploma and secretary job experience. What happened next? HERE COMES THE ACTUAL RANT. Somehow, she got a job in a magazine as the only person responsible for advertisement. She got so good at it that her boss asked her to cover an event and write an article about it. I was convinced the author had no idea how magazines functioned. For the article, Holly got help from Alice, who rewrote the whole thing, but Holly took credit. Later, it was revealed that the credit was given to Alice as a surprise, but by then, Alice was rightfully pissed. I get that the author didn't know what she was talking about, but how could the editor ignore such rubbish?

After around 60% of the book, it got even more ridiculous, repetitive, and childish. Her friends became crazy, unnecessary stuff happened, and her "friendship" with Daniel blew up. The way it was dealt with at the end was bizarre. All in all, I'm amazed that such a shallow and repetitive book with flat and uninteresting characters could be made into a decent movie. If you want some romance and feeling, go watch the movie. It's the first time ever that I find a movie way better than the book.

This is the first book by the author that I have read, and I started with her debut. I'm glad I did because for me it's an amazing debut.

Although it deals with a difficult topic, grief and its management, it is not at all depressing. There are quite a few humorous elements, presented in a simple way, which lighten the mood.

It's a book that talks about love in a sweet and touching way.

The story is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from the beginning to the end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for the reader to connect with them.

The author has a unique writing style that makes the book a pleasure to read. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read that will make them laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between.

I watched the movie sometime around 2008 or 2009. And then, almost 10 years later, I finally got around to reading the book.

Even though the basic plot stays the same, the situations and events described in both versions are quite different. However, I can say that I enjoyed reading the book just as much as I enjoyed the movie. Maybe I liked the movie a little bit more because of Gérard Butler. He is just so charming!

Overall, I would give this a solid 3.5-star rating. It was a great experience to revisit the story in a different format and see how it had been adapted. I would recommend both the movie and the book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Horrible book! It truly bored me to tears. The protagonist is just unbearable. She is constantly whining and complaining, as if the world owes her something. She exclaims "but my vocabulary is about fifty words" at one point, and it's sadly accurate. She has no interests, no hobbies, and no job. She lived solely for her husband, and when he passed away, she lost everything, even his friends. Now, she mopes around alone, constantly thinking about that husband. She claims to "recollect" him, but can't even properly describe what she's recollecting. It always just gets down to "his smell, his eyes, his smile". She is incredibly narcissistic and juvenile. For instance, when she goes to buy a newspaper and then wants some chocolate, she thinks everyone is "looking at her" (what a drama queen!). She tries to pick a bar from the lower shelf and ends up spilling the whole shelf on the floor. She then picks it up and announces that the chocolate is for "the kids" and some chips are for "the party she is throwing", as if anyone cares what she eats. She calls a club owner to arrange karaoke singing and pretends to be her friend because it's "embarrassing". Is she thirty or thirteen? The book is filled with random things, all interrupted by long whines about her feelings and emotions, described with the same limited vocabulary. I was overjoyed when I finally finished it.

Did I wait an excessive amount of time? Did I watch the movie an excessive number of times? Did I have an intense desire to hear Gerard Butler's voice?

I approached this with the movie version in mind; I anticipated some disparities, but WOW! Besides the main letter concept and certain aspects of Holly's personality being the same, this is an entirely distinct story.

I still derived enjoyment from it, yet it was rather disconcerting in numerous places. I perceive value in both and wish I could have savored this without prior knowledge of the movie, but I don't regret seeing the movie after reading it - what a quandary.

This was, on the whole, a remarkable novel and effortless to emotionally engage with.

Great passage:

“Finding someone you love and who loves you back is a truly wonderful, wonderful feeling. But uncovering a true soul mate is an even more exquisite sensation. A soul mate is an individual who comprehends you like no one else, loves you like no one else, and will remain by your side forever, regardless of the circumstances. They assert that nothing endures forever, but I am a staunch adherent to the fact that for some, love persists even after we have departed.”

Solid 4 Star.

This ebook has 218 pages, and I cried on each page.

Crazy, in the last two days I read "PS: I love you", and my eyes swelled up badly.

Fortunately, I didn't read it during working days. Otherwise, I would have worked with swollen eyes, hahaha.

Somehow, I feel like I can deeply relate to the story.

I can feel Holly's loss here.

Waking up in the morning, after spending the whole night missing the person who has "left", and knowing that I will spend this day alone.

The difference is that Holly knows that the loss is absolute after Gerry's death, and I'm still lucky because the person I once and still love is still alive.

Even though that person is still alive, I've already faced a semi-loss. What more for Holly. *Hehehe.. this is just me being too dramatic*

But I can feel the power of this story. And I feel that not all people are as lucky as Holly, still being "guided" by Gerry 10 months after his death through letters that always end with the sentence, "PS I love you" and in the last letter, "PS I will always love you".

Because there are women who are not as lucky as Holly. Those who are suddenly abandoned by their partners.

I really like the story, and how the author describes all the characters in the story so clearly. I can get to know Sharon and John, Denise, and I'm sad when Denise says that she tells her fiancé Tom as much as possible about Gerry so that Tom knows that Gerry is one of the best friends Denise has ever had for years, and unfortunately, Tom didn't have the chance to meet and know Gerry.

Holly's family, Declan, Ciara, Richard, and Daniel. Even Holly's hairdresser, Leo. And Holly's work friends, Chris, Alice. There is no one who just appears incidentally. Except for the supporting characters who, well, we don't need to know too much about them.

I realize that everyone is precious.

And here, Gerry is not only remembered for his kindness, but for all the things that are in him, by his friends and closest people.

What makes me really sad is the chapter where Holly lacks money to pay for the internet fee in the library, and she doesn't know who to call, and finally, she calls her husband's number and as soon as she hears the recorded voice message of her husband, she says, "Gerry, I need help.." while crying.

Hiks... so sad.

But I almost guessed that it was Richard who took care of Holly's garden. And I'm a bit upset when I know that Daniel gets back together with Laura again. Because I expected Holly could be with Daniel. Only the ending, I realize, is the attraction of this book. One never knows what will happen in the future.

At the end of the book, we are given a clue that Holly might get close to the person she bumps into for the second time in the minimarket.

I'm a bit surprised why people give few stars to this book. But for me, it's really good. Maybe because they have already watched the movie. And the movie is always different from the book because the movie has a time limitation. Right? *While listening to Ferdy who is upset with the movie "Angel and Demon" because he read the book first*

Grief is an emotion that lasts forever. It doesn't simply vanish; instead, it becomes an integral part of you, accompanying you step by step and breath by breath. You can never cease grieving for a lost loved one because the love you have for them never fades. That's just the way it is. Grief and love are intertwined; you can't have one without the other. All you can do is honor the loss by living with courage, spirit, and joy. - Jandy Nelson.

This book is about the process of learning how to live again while still honoring the memory of your lost beloved. It delves into the difficulties one faces when their whole world has been turned upside down and they have reached their lowest point. In such a situation, all you渴望 is to be taken care of and told that you don't have to worry about everything on your own anymore.

Holly, the protagonist of this novel, lost her husband to a brain tumor. After his death, she feels as if one foot is out the door, slowly drifting towards oblivion, having lost all zest for life. However, the deceased Gerry finds a way to help Holly move on. He writes her 9 letters, one for each month, which encourage her to get out of bed and do something to enjoy life. Each letter comes with a dare that is so exciting that it brings life back to Holly.

Gerry gives Holly hope for a new life, giving her a gentle push to move forward on her own. After all, that's what our loved ones do; they push us to our limits so that we can explore ourselves and discover things we never knew we were capable of. With each dare, like an invisible stream in a snow-covered desert, Holly begins to live a little more, gradually tackling the grief that hits her hard in the quiet moments of her own depth. She gains strength and learns to appreciate the love around her, the love of her friends and family, and even paves the way for new people to enter her life.

At times, Holly feels a pang of envy when she sees how easily everyone around her seems to move on, while she is the one suffering the most. But later, she realizes that to truly move on from grief, you need to accept it and give life a second chance, all the while being grateful for the time she had with her soulmate. She immerses herself in new things and finally finds real satisfaction in her new job. She learns to fully accept the fact that what is gone can never come back, but the memories will stay with her, and she can cherish those memories forever.

She makes a new friend, and new feelings are kindled. However, she doesn't let herself be carried away by the thought of loneliness luring her into love. She takes her time and decides that just because something is familiar doesn't mean it's home. Sometimes, we can be friends with certain people, and it's not necessary that we are in love with them just because they provide us with comfort.

With this new life, still holding onto the old memories, Holly learns to live her imperfect life a little less imperfectly. Overall, this novel was a lovely read, but the movie was even better. The movie focuses solely on the story of Holly and Gerry, while the novel introduces us to many other characters and their stories. Each character is vividly described, well-differentiated, and seems so real that you can easily relate to them. I do have a small complaint about the writing style, which I found to be a bit amateurish. Additionally, the letters written by Gerry were rather short, making it difficult to truly understand how he must have been feeling in such a helpless situation.

Okay, so… I’m in complete tears right now as I write this.

The story revolves around Holly, a woman who has recently endured the devastating loss of her husband to a brain tumor. She feels as if her world has come crashing down and that she simply can't live without him. She mourns the loss of a piece of herself that she believes has vanished along with him.

Until one day, her mother hands her a box filled with letters. Each and every one of them is written by her husband, challenging her to open a new letter each month and follow the instructions he has left.

We are given a profound insight into how Holly is grieving and valiantly attempting to overcome the torrent of bad emotions that threatens to drown her. But then, a realization dawns on her. She remembers and takes something into account - she is not alone.

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Might sound basic as heck, but this was so cozy, heart warming, heart wrenching, and humorous at the same time! It's the perfect combination of everything!

The plot was just mwaaaah! It didn't feel like 400 pages at all. My gosh, I was absolutely obsessed with this! It was so satisfying to read, and man, did I laugh a lot too.

This might have hit too hard not only because of its beautiful plot but also because, man, I have so much respect for this main character and for everyone who has been through something like this. It might explain the reason why I love this so much, because it really hit home due to my personal experiences.

The characters, ughhhhh! Man, I wish this fictional family actually existed. It seems so much fun to be around them. And those friends? Gosh!

Also, what the hell? The characters actually know about communication, who would have guessed?

Definitely recommend this. Read it NOW.

Eh. I just didn't find this book very interesting. The topic, in theory, could have been extremely captivating. It had the potential to draw the reader in and hold their attention from start to finish. However, the way it was executed was rather disappointing. The pacing was kind of slow, which made it feel like the story was dragging along. There was a lack of inspiration in the writing, as if the author didn't quite know how to bring the topic to life. The characters seemed flat and one-dimensional, and the plot didn't have enough twists and turns to keep me engaged. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to create a truly great book.

I started this book with very high expectations that were not disappointed at all!

It really moved me, I cried several times, I laughed and I was completely enthralled by this magnificent story.

Holly and Gerry are soulmates, practically inseparable. Holly can't live without him until she is forced to. Gerry, in fact, dies because of a terminal brain cancer and Holly, a widow at only 29 years old, doesn't know what to do to put the pieces back together.

This book is something wonderful.

Here's what I liked, in a few words:

- Cecelia Ahern's writing style is wonderful. Rich, smooth and never heavy. I think she has perfectly framed the characters, the story and the states of mind and has offered us readers a very realistic portrait of pain, loss and the consequent, but extremely difficult, recovery.

- The characters are very relatable, although some are a bit stereotypical. I really liked the attention she gave to each of them and to the role they have in the story and, especially in Holly's life. Holly and Gerry, in particular, are my favorites. I admire her tenacity in dealing with things and her adorable sense of humor. Of him, instead, the immense courage and maturity.

- The love story between our protagonists is something we could all aspire to. They finish each other's sentences, they understand each other, they have more fun together than with anyone else in the world. Ahern has portrayed the sweet and playful love that exists between two true soulmates and, although the reader experiences it through Holly's memories and those of her friends and some small scenes here and there, it is really intense. I appreciated every scene that portrayed them together, every memory and little hint. They really touched me a lot.

- I especially appreciated the importance the author gives to the protagonist's family and friends. Their support is fundamental for Holly to get through this difficult moment she is living, more than anything else. I liked to see the dynamics with her brothers, her parents and her best friends. One of the aspects I loved the most was the evolution of her relationship with her brother Richard, initially hostile, but then blooming into something wonderful that, once again, had the ability to move and touch me.

- I loved the humor of this book. Cecelia Ahern gave me really hilarious moments that were a pleasant break from the pain and sadness I felt for others.

- One of the things I liked the most was the lack of another love for Holly. I expected the book to end with her and Daniel getting together; it would have been the easiest choice, but Ahern decided not to fall into banality and try to write as realistic a novel as possible. Holly, in my opinion, was not yet ready to start a new relationship, especially with a man she has known for a little less than a year. I really liked the value the author gave to her protagonist, who can define herself and, above all, survive alone even without a man. The loss of Gerry was heartbreaking and she has every right to suffer and feel his absence, she doesn't necessarily have to find someone else to love to find happiness. Happiness can be built even alone!

- The originality of this story is really surprising. I adored the idea of the list and everything that this implies and brings into Holly's life. I have never read anything like it!

Finally, the message that this book carries with it is a message that I found extremely important: no matter what happens, life goes on. Nothing will ever be easy, but we must never lose hope and no matter how ugly life may seem to us at times, there will always be a little light to illuminate our path.

What else can I say? I finished this book a while ago and I still have shining eyes. I became very attached to the character of Holly and it was almost an honor for me to see her journey and her growth as I turned the pages. I really liked this book a lot and I feel like recommending it to everyone, especially to those with a soft heart!