Postscript by Cecelia Ahern

Postscript

Cecelia Ahern

The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling PS, I Love You 

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…

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My Thoughts

I was so excited to hear that Cecelia Ahern had written a sequel to PS I Love You. The book has stayed with me for fifteen years, I enjoyed the film and wanted to know how Holly was coping seven years after Gerry’s death. However, I found myself finding excuses NOT to read it, in case it was disappointing and tarnished the memories of Holly and Gerry’s story.

However, I wasn’t disappointed by Postscript, in fact, Cecelia Ahern takes up the reins of Holly’s life seamlessly. It still has a highly emotive storyline and fascinating characters without ever feeling rushed, like so many sequels do.

It has been six years since Holly read the last letter that Gerry wrote for her. She has taken on board all the life lessons he equipped her with during those grief-stricken months after his death from cancer. Armed with the knowledge that Gerry wanted her to live her life to the full, she has found happiness again…working in her sister’s vintage shop and in a new relationship with Gabriel.

She discusses Gerry’s letters in her sister’s podcast and is surprised to learn that people are inspired by her recollections. However, when she is approached by a group of people with life-limiting illnesses she is wary of giving them the help they request from her.

Will helping the ‘PS I Love You Club’ take her back to a dark and devastating time just when she feels like she has moved on?

My heart ached for Holly as she is torn by wanting to help the PS I Love You members but not wanting to return to the days when she experienced such unbearable grief. However, helping them write their letters gave Holly insight into how Gerry was feeling at the time he wrote them and bought him closer to her. She began to see the letters in a totally different way, through the eyes of the person writing them, not just as the recipient. I loved that the book demonstrates that everyone deals with facing death and extreme grief differently, there is no magic formula, no rules and certainly no quick fixes.

This is not a book about death but coping with life after death. It is a reminder to appreciate everyone you love and don’t take life for granted. The writing is beautiful, poignant and melancholy but not forced or disingenuous. I cried several times but loved hearing more of Holly’s story and meeting much-loved characters once again. All the members of the PS I Love You group were so diverse and each had totally different reasons for needing Holly’s help.

This is a stunning sequel, totally worth the long wait and one of my favourite reads this year.

Thank you to Harper Collins via NetGalley for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.