December 15, 2019
Seven years after Holly's husband's death, fate brings her a strange opportunity to retrace her early days of grief. But will she discover that she hasn't moved on after all? Ahern (Lyrebird, 2016, etc.) returns to the story of her debut novel, P.S., I Love You (which inspired a movie, as well), in which Gerry Kennedy left 10 letters for Holly to find after his death--10 letters that eased her passage out of emotional paralysis. This sequel finds Holly building a new life, working at her sister's vintage clothing store, biking the streets of Dublin after work each night, selling the house Gerry and she bought, and sharing the story of Gerry's letters on her sister's podcast. She's found love with Gabriel, a burly yet sensitive tree surgeon. They are even ready to move in together. When the podcast goes public, however, a group of terminally ill listeners asks her to teach them how to write letters to their soon-to-be-bereaved loved ones, too. As Holly struggles with whether to lead the P.S. I Love You Club, fearing that she will slip back toward her grief-stricken days, she has to confront whether she has really committed to Gabriel. But Ginika, an illiterate teen mom dying of cervical cancer, tugs hard at Holly's heartstrings with her plea to teach her to write just one letter to her daughter, and Holly capitulates. As Holly encounters each of her newfound companions--ranging from a young man in remission to an elderly man in swift, emphysema-wracked decline--Ahern opens more doors to Holly's lingering grief, pushing her to expand her social connections. But with Holly mentoring the writers rather than reacting to letters meant for her, Ahern's tale pulls its emotional punch. This well-intentioned but disappointingly sentimental sequel will delight only die-hard fans.
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December 1, 2019
Sixteen years after her debut, P.S. I Love You (2004), captured the hearts of readers, and was adapted into a film starring Hilary Swank, Ahern (Roar, 2019) revisits Holly Kennedy, picking up Holly's story seven years after the death of her beloved husband, Gerry. Now 37 and working in her sister's thrift shop, Holly thinks she might finally be ready to move in with her boyfriend, Gabriel, a divorced dad who adores her. And then Holly's sister, Ciara, convinces her to record a podcast to talk about the letters Gerry left for her to open in the year after his death. Not only does the podcast stir up old memories for Holly, but several terminally ill people form a group they christen the P.S. I Love You Club, and they want Holly to help them write letters to leave behind for their loved ones. Holly wrestles with whether to get involved, and her decision has serious repercussions for her relationship with Gabriel. Readers will want to have plenty of tissues on hand for this lovely, touching, heartwarming sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)
June 1, 2020
Ahern's long awaited sequel to P.S. I Love You will not disappoint listeners who were first charmed by Jerry's letters of love from beyond the grave nearly two decades ago. Seven years after the death of her husband, Jerry, Holly has made a pretty good effort at moving on. When her sister bullies her into recounting her "PS, I Love You" letters on a podcast, Holly is floored at the response. Her story has really resonated with people. Terminally ill strangers are reaching out, wanting her help as they navigate how to leave behind meaningful messages for their loved ones. Holly swore she left that life of illness and death behind, but she begins to see the larger picture and the help she could provide. Amy Huberman deftly navigates Holly's humorous, heartfelt, and introspective moods. VERDICT Ahern brings beauty, dignity, and humility to this wonderful followup that will have listeners once again crying, but loving every minute of it.--Erin Cataldi, Johnson Cty. P.L., Franklin, IN
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