Okay, look, I have no problems admitting I love these kinds of books. I heart Marian Keyes and Cecelia Ahern is also an Irish author so of course I picked up the book. I will more often than not pick up a "beach read" (or is it chicklit now? that's sort of an offensive name isn't it?) before I pick up a classic. I love Pride and Prejudice and all, a so-called "classic" but let's admit it: Pride and Prejudice is kind of like the beach read of the 1800's y'all. And now I will take the upcoming beat down.
Now, I am on this quest to read books which have been made into movies. I'm totally in love with movies, so, I admit I heard about P.S. I Love You because it was made into a movie. I read the book before watching the movie this time, okay? Unlike Bridget Jones (in which I always meant to read, but never got around to, finally did read and decided I liked the movie better). Also, I watched all the Harry Potters up to Goblet of Fire and decided to read all the books. And then I watched Twilight before I read those books. It was after Twilight I decided to read books which have been made into movies because in the words of the ever-wise Ousier, "I don't read books because if they're any good they'll make 'em into a movie." I do read books, but I get what she's saying.
I just finished reading this book and I have to say I loved it. One of the reviews promised I would laugh and cry and I did. I cried a lot. I laughed a lot. And I fell in love with the characters. Well, most of them anyway.
We get to know Holly Kennedy as a grieving widow. She's young, barely 30 and her husband, Gerry has died from a brain tumor. Holly is shattered and this is where we begin with her, locked up in her house sleeping a lot, barely eating, crying all the time. And then she finds out Gerry has left her a List. It's 10 letters and she can only open one a month.
Gerry has Holly doing some bizarre things at first. You're sort of thinking in your head "why?" But as the story goes on, there really wasn't a reason at all for it and you know what? I like it. There was the letter that told her to pack up Gerry's things and get them out of the house and you know why he wanted her to do that. But the karaoke thing seemed silly and pointless, and then you realize it was something special. You feel like you've just been let in on a couple's inside joke.
Holly's friends Sharon and her husband John (who was Gerry's best friend) and Denise all help Holly along the way. Holly also turns to her large family. And she realizes she's not the only one grieving. She's not the only one who loved Gerry. Eventually, Holly learns how to talk about Gerry....how to share him with others. And then, she learns how to go about living. Did I mention they're all Irish? And did I mention I love the shenanigans Holly, Denise and Sharon get into? I love how they behave so badly most of the time!
Holly also befriends Daniel, a local bartender, who was also grieving the loss of his bitch ex-fiance who cheated on him with his best friend. Holly has a run-in with her and it's hysterical. Of course, at the time, Holly didn't know it was the bitch ex. She just knew she was a bitch.
I really got into this book, I think, because of the grieving process Holly goes through. Because I went through it last year. And then, I got the feeling Holly was one of my friends and I cried for her and wanted to be there to support her. I loved the book. I wasn't happy with what happened with some of the characters in the end, though. Not that I thought Holly should be with Daniel, but that Daniel ended up with his ex, Laura? Really? No. Come on, Cecelia, he can do better than that! I think that bugged me the most.
You know what? I hate reading a book where everything is happening and then all of a sudden it's like "oh shit...how do I wrap up these characters? ooo here's a cute little box and a nifty bow." STOP DOING THIS, PEOPLE!! I've chosen to forgive Cecelia of this (because really, it is the Daniel thing that is bugging me) and I will give her another chance.
All in all, I loved the book. It did seem to drag a bit at the end and I did think a couple of times "okkkkaaaaaayyyy end it now please!" (but she hadn't pulled out the pretty bow, yet, see). But yeah, I loved it and would pass the book along.
P.S. Stay tuned for my review of the movie which I HATED.
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