Postscript

Cecelia Ahern’s debut novel, P.S I Love You, has touched millions of lives all over the world. With numerous reprints and a Hollywood film under its belt, you’d be forgiven for thinking it had gone as far as it could go. However, this year, Cecelia Ahern is returning to her beloved characters and breathing life into them once more. Postscript, set seven years after the death of Holly’s husband Gerry, invites us back into the world of unexpected letters, rolling Irish hills and the power of infinite love.

My initial reaction when I heard about this sequel was uncontainable excitement; I adored P.S I Love You and whenever I spy it sitting on my bookcase I always wonder what happened to Holly in those years after the letters stopped arriving. Crazy, I know, she’s a fictional character, but Holly and Gerry’s story has stuck with me for years. After the excitement died down I started to panic – what if Holly was married again with kids and a dog and had forgotten all about Gerry?! Would I ever be able to think of her in the same way again?! Would Gerry’s memory still be alive or would people have forgotten about him and moved on? So many questions! So many fears that Postscript would completely change the way I felt about two of my most favourite fictional characters…

As previously mentioned, Postscript is set seven years after Gerry’s death and six since Holly read the last letter. Working in her sister’s shop and spending evenings with her trusted friends, Denise and Sharon, Holly is still adjusting to life without Gerry around. She agrees to take part in her sister’s podcast discussing Gerry’s letters but isn’t prepared for what comes next. A group of strangers, each with life limiting illnesses, have banded together to form the P.S I Love You Club, determined to leave things behind for their loved ones when the time comes. They approach Holly in the hope she will help them fulfil these last wishes and help them live on once they’ve died. Holly panics as a whole host of uncomfortable and upsetting memories arising from Gerry’s death. Were his letters really a gift or did they prolong Holly’s pain? Holly must make a decision. Should she carry on Gerry’s legacy or protect herself from the inevitable heartbreak that will happen all over again?

I fell back into Holly’s world faster than I thought possible. It felt like no time had passed but so much had changed. Cecelia managed to retain the essence of Holly and the rest of her world in this sequel even though years have passed between writing them. It felt like a seamless transition and a beautiful way of continuing their love story. As with all of Cecelia’s books, this one packed a punch and a half. The emotional turmoil that the characters go through is so intense and affected me more than I’d anticipated. It’s been a good while since I’ve shed tears at a book but I found myself crying three times whilst reading this novel. It was moving and honest about death yet somehow beautifully hopeful and optimistic about life.

Huge thanks to Harper Collins for the early review copy via NetGalley.

Postscript is a beautiful sequel to P.S I Love You and is everything I hoped it would be; powerful, poignant and a beautiful reminder that the ones you love will always be in your heart.

As lovely as it was to catch up with Holly six years on and seeing how she has, to an extent, moved on with her life what I most loved was the members of the ‘P.S. I love you club’ and hearing their tales both sad and uplifting, most especially Ginika’s story. This is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking but it examines life and death in a very approachable and indeed enjoyable way, another lovely read from Cecila Ahern and a worthy sequel.

This book is as beautiful as the first P.s I Love You. The cover is simply beautiful. I reread the first book before reading this because it had been years since I read it and I wanted to go in to reading Postscript and have all the characters fresh in my head. This is set, 7 years on since Gerry's death and I had often wondered how Holly would have been doing. She isn't the same Holly, she has grown and changed her life around, when a club is formed Holly must decide if to follow her heart or her head. Thank you for giving me to opportunity to read this fabulous book.

Fans of P.S I love you are going to fall in love all over again with the romance as it picks up seven years later.

As much as I devoured this book, eager to find out what happens and how Holly's life has changed; I also kept stalling as I didn't want it to end.

I don't want to give away too much about her current life but after commiting to talking about Gerry on a podcast, new opportunities are thrown Holly's way.

Beautifully written, makes you think about who and what we leave behind and how others continue their lives after. I love how we got to hear more about Gerry and their life together.

I will leave you with - roots and wings! Sometimes a person passing and the things and memories they leave behind can have roots and also wings.

A perfect ending to the P.S. I love you series. When a book has you both sobbing and feeling totally uplifted you know the author is doing it right!

Great story. A follow up to the brilliant 1st book that doesn't dissapoint. I thought that this follow up would seem a bit contrived, it absolutelywasn't!!!

Wow. Just wow. Writing this through my tears after ugly crying my way through the last 50 pages or so. Do not start this book unless you are prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.
The story picks up some years after Gerry’s death in PS I Love You when Holly appears to have her life back on track. She is asked by her sister to tell her story on a podcast which then means many people get to hear her story, with far reaching consequences for Holly’s new life.
I was unsure how this would follow on as a sequel but Cecelia Aherne has absolutely embraced the challenge and created a story that not only looks back at “Holly and Gerry” as well as his letters and continuing Holly’s story. I adored this book - even if I did bawl like a baby!

PS:I love you is definitely one of the most favourite books/movies of all time for many people, me including.
I loved this book so much for so many reasons. The author has once again shown what means for us to carry on with our life because the grief and despair feelings will be there always in our hearts, our love for the lost ones will never change no matter what happens.
I loved that she’s trying to get a new life and live the new adventures that life is throwing her way with ups and downs, with new friends and memories.

I read this book when it came out in hardback months ago. I thought it was a really good follow up to ‘P.S I Love you’ and yes it made me cry !! Brilliant !! 9/10

I had the most unexpected and delightful surprise the other day, when the publisher granted me a gift copy of this book, via Netgalley.
I’ve just finished reading it and I am still mesmerised. As I said, it’s never easy to write a sequel to a huge hit, but the author did it brilliantly and she produced a moving, heartbreaking, heart- warming story. An emotional rollercoaster that had me sobbing (and cheering, too) all throughout it. Exactly like P.S. I Love You, I know I will be reading this book again and again. I truly hope a film is made, too.
With many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley for a gift e-copy.

I received a copy of Postscript through Netgalley but I found that I could not wait and went ahead and bought a copy.

I had read PS I Love You when it had first come out and I did approach this title with some trepidation.

I need not have worried. I was quickly pulled back into the world of the characters from the first novel and was moved by the book, perhaps even more powerfully than the first.

Holly has moved on at the start of the novel but a twist early on leads to her re-examining those beloved letters she had received in the year after Gerry’s death.

To say much more would be to spoil the plot of this novel but I would highly recommend this novel - even if you have not read the first one. Although - bet you will search out the first one if you read this!

After reading P.S I Love You last week I knew I wanted to read the sequel asap. I was intrigued to see how Holly’s life had changed in seven years, what was it like now? How much was Gerry still influencing her life?

The plot from start to finish was brilliant. I loved the concept of the P.S. I Love You Club and thought it was a great spin on the original book. With a fresh concept came a fresh group of characters, all with their own quirks and problems. My favourite addition was Ginika. She was candid, fierce and kind despite what she was facing and whilst I predicted the outcome for her daughter Jewel the tears still came when her final chapters were read. My favourite aspect of this club was that they each had their own take on what they wanted to do. It wasn’t about copying Gerry’s letters it was about finding their own version that fitted their life.

As well as some new faces we see some familiar ones return. The Kennedy tribe are back and as entertaining as ever but this time Ciara takes centre stage in the family and is a great help to Holly at certain times. My funny duo are back but Denise is taking more of the spotlight with Sharon contributing every now and again. Last and by no means least we see the return of Gerry (don’t worry he’s not back from the dead). The stories of Holly and Gerry early on were a sweet touch and the last chapters were particularly beautiful.

I found that this book had less laugh out loud moments and was definitely more of an emotional read. There were several points when I could feel myself welling up so I would not recommend reading this in public, unless your happy for people to see you cry! Sometimes a book leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling and this book did just that. I was overwhelmed with emotion by the end but despite the book being about grief and death I was left feeling hopeful and happy.

A much awaited sequel to PS I Love You and it didn’t disappoint.

Such a difficult subject but handled with grace and care.

An emotional rollercoaster of a ride which I didn’t want to end.

Full of joy and tears this book is highly recommended so 5 stars.