PS I Love You -- Cecelia Ahern

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK -

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Cecelia Ahern, author of the international bestsellers PS, I Love You, Love, Rosie, and If You Could See Me Now, is the daughter of Ireland's prime minister. Cecelia's books are published in 46 countries and collectively have sold over 6 million copies worldwide. A movie based on her first novel, PS, I Love You, was released in December 2007. She is also the co-creator, along with screenwriter Don Todd, of the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?, which premiered on ABC stations in October 2007. Cecelia has just completed her fifth novel.  

  

MY REVIEW -

I know some of you are going to hate me for giving this only 4 stars (most people gave it 5). But it was soooo long! And I probably shouldn't have - but I watched the movie first. So I knew everything that was going to happen. This was a very sad, endearing, heartfelt, beautifully written story. 

The character development was great! Holly was clearly devastated after the death of her husband and you could really feel her pain in the book, but it actually got a bit much for me after a while. I also felt you really got to know her husband, Gerry, just as well through all the flashbacks (and her talking to him as though he were alive.) 

I love the whole storyline - the list Gerry left her that she had to follow to help her deal with his death and get her back on her feet again, was brilliant! It kind of reminded me of 13 Little Blue Envelopes - which I LOVED!

My only problem with the book is that is seemed to drag on and on at times.  And I just wanted her to get to "the part". I guess that's what happens when you watch the movie first. And.... I hate to say it but I thought Holly (in the book) was kind of annoying at times.

THE MOVIE

I am probably one of the few people who liked the movie better! I know, just kill me now! Sorry! I am not saying that the book was bad, it was great! And I am not saying that I didn't like it, I did! In my opinion - the book could have been a bit shorter and I would have liked it a lot better. 

Yes, the movie did leave some parts out. All movies do! Get over it! I though the movie was done very well. I have to be honest - The first time I saw it I was flipping channels and came accross it, watched for a few minutes and hated it! I flipped channels again and found nothing on so flipped back, after about 5 min. I was in tears and loving it! I told my daughter that this was the "best movie with the worst beginning" I have ever seen!

A lot of people, in other reviews complained about the karaoke scene in the movie. I loved that part! That was one of my favorite parts! The second one, not the flashback (although that was good too). I actually didn't love it as much in the book. They did change it a little. Also others didn't like Hilary Swank as Holly. While I am not a huge fan of her I thought she was great!



A few things were different - 
The way she gets the notes in the book her mom gives them to her all at once and she has to wait to open them one at a time each month, in the movie a singing telegram delivers a message that she will be getting them by mail one at a time.
The book it is set in Ireland, the movie is set in NYC and she goes to Ireland because the note tells her to.Again, I think I liked the movie idea better.
In the book she has lots of brothers and sisters (kind of hard to keep track of at times), in the movie she has one sister. 
Other than that I think it follows pretty close leaving out some details.  
 

THE ALL-IN-ALL -
I loved both the book and movie, liking the movie a little better. The movie was a good adaptation, in my opinion! There were some scenes that might not be great for younger viewers. And probably some swearing, I honestly can't remember.
But warning - very sad! If you don't like sad books or movies you might like this!