Cecelia Ahern, PS I Love You Review

Overall Rating

PS I Love You
Cecilia Ahern
Hyperion, Feb 2004, $21.45, 384 pp.
ISBN: 1401300901

Holly and Gerry met through mutual friends while still in junior high school. They became sweethearts as both recognized that they had met their soul mate. Eventually they married. He promised Holly that if he ever left her, he would leave her with a list. Two months later Gerry is dead. After fifteen plus years from they met, thirty years old Gerry was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

A few months after Gerry's death an almost thirty Holly remains grieving unable to leave her home. Her mom calls to tell her that she has a package addressed to Holly with the word List above her name. A stunned Holly realizes somehow Gerry marshaled his energy to give her ten months of lists to help regain her equilibrium because he loved her so much he wanted her to live. Now Holly begins to follow Gerry's list with one envelop opened per month as he reaches from beyond the grave to help his beloved return to the living.

Title aside even if it is the salutation of each of Gerry's notes, PS, I LOVE YOU is a powerful character study that focuses on grieving and healing. Holly is a fantastic protagonist who begins to mend through the solace provided by Gerry. Her weird family and her best friends provide sympathy, but cannot help her overcome her dread of life without Gerry. The hero is incredible as he knew when he will die and planned accordingly for what he could do to get his cherished Holly out of her depression and mourning and into the light of life. Cecelia Ahern provides a powerful drama that will leave no one dry-eyed.

Harriet Klausner