Chain Reading

Can someone write a story about how to survive the death of your soul mate in such a way that it makes the reader laugh and actually see that 'with a little help from your friends' there is a way out of this most dreadful personal disaster? Someone can. Because in PS, I love you Cecelia Ahern does just that.

When her husband Gerry dies just shortly before her 30th birthday, it seems like Holly will never get back on the track of what we call 'a normal life'. But then she finds a letter addressed to her - one that Gerry sent her. In it, there are several notes, one for each month of the rest of the year. Each one with a task she has to fulfil. What seems really strange, after all, it is like getting letters from the grave, actually is something that sort of takes her by the hand and leads her through the next horrible months. It helps her in a way that not even her friends and family can help her.

It is a great read, sad and funny at the same time, with a love for life, an ode to soul mates, friends and family. And, on top of that all, a debut novel. Wonderful.

Cecelia Ahern, born in 1981, is the daughter of Ireland's prime minister Bertie Ahern. Before starting her carreer as an author, she completed her degree in journalism and media communications. She is the author of If you could see me now and Rosie Dunne.