Feb. 2024 - Page to Screen Book Club - Past Titles - LibGuides at Westwood Public Library

"P.S. I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern

PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Call Number: FICTION Ahern
Everyone needs a guardian angel! Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He's left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed 'PS, I Love You'. As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing--and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises--but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

"P.S. I Love You" directed by Richard LaGravenese
Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life - a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when his life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry, so it's a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly's 30th birthday in the form of a cake and a tape recording from Gerry. In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way - P.S. I Love You. Holly's mother and best friends begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future.

Adaptation Choices:
- How faithful is the movie to the original book in terms of plot, characters, and themes?
- What changes were made in the adaptation, and do you think they enhanced or detracted from the story?
Character Portrayals:
- How do the actors in the movie compare to your mental images of the characters from the book?
- Were there any notable differences in the portrayal of certain characters that stood out to you?
Emotional Impact:
- Did the movie evoke the same emotions in you as the book, or did you have a different emotional experience with each?
- Were there scenes in the movie that had a particularly strong emotional impact, either positive or negative?
Timeline and Structure:
- How does the movie handle the non-linear narrative and timeline of the book?
- Did the storytelling choices in the movie affect your understanding or emotional connection to the characters?
Cinematic Elements:
- How did the visual and auditory elements of the movie contribute to your understanding and enjoyment of the story?
- Were there any scenes in the movie that stood out to you as particularly well-done or poorly executed?
Development of Relationships:
- How does the movie portray the central relationship compared to the book?
- Were there any nuances or details from the book that you felt were missing or enhanced in the movie?
Themes and Messages:
- What themes from the book were emphasized or downplayed in the movie, and why do you think these choices were made?
- Do you think the movie successfully conveyed the same messages and lessons as the book?
Impact on Pacing:
- How does the pacing of the movie compare to the pacing of the book?
- Were there moments in the movie that felt rushed or extended compared to the book?
Critical Reception:
- How did critics and audiences respond to the movie adaptation, and do you agree with their assessments?
- Do you think the adaptation was successful in capturing the essence of the book?
Overall Enjoyment:
- Did you prefer the book or the movie, and why?
- In what ways did the book and the movie complement each other, or do you see them as standalone experiences?

First, and foremost, the story is based in Ireland and not in NYC as shown in the movie.(I think it is quite obvious why they decided to change the location considering it was Hollywood.)
Next, in the book, Holly has a whole family with many siblings. Her father is very much around and a nice guy. It is a big and chaotic family, but we see how they all are real characters with real personalities. (Maybe the production did not want to go into all the small stories surrounding Holly and wanted to focus just on her. Or maybe they didn’t want to hire more actors)
Third, the book shows how Gerry’s death affected Gerry and Holly’s friends as well. It was real emotions and not just sympathy for Holly.(I liked that. The friends’ aspect of it all.)
Fourth, Holly doesn’t go off to Ireland and meet up with Gerry’s parents. (Considering they lived in Ireland, that would be stupid.) She goes to Spain and stays in a hotel. Gerry’s parents don’t really like her in the book, or so it is told, and are quite rude to her when they see her have dinner with another man.
She definitely did not sleep with Gerry’s friends while on her vacation. (This always bothered me for some reason. It just felt out of place somehow.)
And finally, she does not start shoe designing. She goes into a regular office job, but a job that she loves.

Which was better?

Book: 0 votes (0%)

Movie: 0 votes (0%)

Total Votes: 0

The Year of Second Chances by Lara Avery
Call Number: FICTION Avery
Robin Lindstrom spent her first year as a young widow cocooned in the safe haven of the Minnesota farmhouse she'd once shared with Gabe, the love of her life--the man she thought she'd be with 'til the end. But her world is turned upside down when she receives an email informing her that her late husband has enrolled in something called "Bubbl"--a dating service. The app subscription lasts 12 months; use it!, Gabe's message-from-the-grave reads. I don't like the thought of you being alone. If you won't do it for yourself, do it as a favor to me. Please. After twelve months of pulling herself together, Robin's fragile equilibrium is knocked sideways. How could Gabe, of all people, be asking her to venture out into the murky waters of 21st century online dating As her underemployed brother, Theo, points out, it's "only" for a year, and it's basically Gabe's last request. And so Robin tentatively takes steps to put herself out into the world once more, even if it means awkward outings at bowling alleys, club-hopping with DJs she meets online, and stammering conversations at dinner. Along the way, she's surprised to find herself meeting new people, trying new things...and even getting to know a new version of herself. Because everyone deserves a second chance at love--and loving life.
The Secrets We Keep by Stephanie Butland
Call Number: FICTION Butland
A tragic accident, a broken heart, and a marriage drowning in secrets...When Elizabeth's husband, Mike--a well-respected police officer--dies in a tragic drowning accident, she's consumed by grief. But she finds solace in the fact that he died a hero, saving the life of a young girl named Kate who was also on the scene. But Kate won't reveal the details of what really happened that night, and Elizabeth finds herself facing the possibility that she may not have known her husband at all. Does she really want to know the truth? Or will the weight of Mike's secrets pull her under?
The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Call Number: FICTION Grazer
L.A. is no place for widows. This is what forty-four-year-old Hannah Bernal quickly discovers after the tragic death of her handsome and loving husband, John. Misery and red-rimmed eyes are little tolerated in the land of the beautiful. But life stumbles on: Hannah's sweet three-year-old daughter, Ellie, needs to be dropped off at her overpriced preschool, while Hannah herself must get back to work in order to pay the bills on "Casa Sugar," the charming Spanish-styled bungalow they call home. Fortunately, Hannah has her "Grief Team" for emotional support: earth mother and fanatical animal lover Chloe, who finds a potential blog post in every moment; aspiring actress Aimee, who has her cosmetic surgeon on speed dial; and Jay, Hannah's TV producing partner, who has a penchant for Mr. Wrong. But after a series of mishaps and bizarre occurrences, one of which finds Hannah in a posh Santa Monica jail cell, her friends start to fear for her sanity. To make matters worse, John left their financial affairs in a disastrous state. And when Hannah is dramatically fired from her latest producing gig, she finds herself in danger of losing her house, her daughter, and her mind. One night, standing in her backyard under a majestic avocado tree, in the throes of grief, Hannah breaks down and asks, "Why?" The answer that comes back-- Why not? --begins an astounding journey of discovery and transformation that leads Hannah to her own truly extraordinary life after death.
Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison
Call Number: FICTION Harbison
In New York Times bestselling author Beth Harbison's most emotional novel ever, a fractured family must come together at a beach house haunted by the past. Willa has never fully recovered from the sudden death of her husband, Ben. She became an absent mother to her young son, Jamie, unable to comfort him while reeling from her own grief. Now, years after Ben's death, Willa finally decides to return to the beach house where he passed. It's time to move on and put the Ocean City, Maryland house on the market. When Willa arrives, the house is in worse shape than she could have imagined, and the memories of her time with Ben are overwhelming. They met at this house and she sees him around every corner. Literally. Ben's ghost keeps reappearing, trying to start conversations with Willa. And she can't help talking back. To protect her sanity, Willa enlists Jamie, her best friend Kristin, and Kristin's daughter Kelsey to join her for one last summer at the beach. As they explore their old haunts, buried feelings come to the surface, Jamie and Kelsey rekindle their childhood friendship, and Willa searches for the chance to finally say goodbye to her husband and to reconnect with her son.
Pack up the Moon by Kristan Higgins
Call Number: FICTION Higgins
Funny, heartbreaking and uplifting, New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins delivers an unforgettable romance about how love can transcend even the greatest obstacles. They used to joke about her "honey do" lists. He just never realized how much he would need one when she was gone. Being a widower is not something Joshua Park ever expected. Given his solitary job as a scientist, his small circle of friends and family, and the social awkwardness he's always suffered from, Josh has no idea how to negotiate this new, unwanted phase of life. But his beloved wife Lauren had a plan to keep him moving forward, to lead him on a journey through grief, anger, and denial--twelve letters. Twelve letters to see him through the first year without her, and to lead him on a heartrending, beautiful, often humorous journey to find joy again. From his first outing as a widower to buy groceries to finding a new best friend while sobbing in a clothing store, Joshua's grief makes room for him to learn Lauren's most valuable lesson: The path to happiness doesn't follow a straight line. Emotional, heartwarming, and perfect for book clubs, TikTok sensation Pack Up the Moon illuminates how love always finds a way to carry bring us joy, even when we least expect it.
Watermelon by Marian Keyes
Call Number: FICTION Keyes
February the fifteenth is a very special day for me. It is the day I gave birth to my first child. It is also the day my husband left me...I can only assume the two events weren't entirely unrelated. Claire has everything she ever wanted: a husband she adores, a great apartment, a good job. Then, on the day she gives birth to their first baby, James informs her that he's leaving her. Claire is left with a newborn daughter, a broken heart, and a postpartum body that she can hardly bear to look at. She decides to go home to Dublin. And there, sheltered by the love of a quirky family, she gets better. So much so, in fact, that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
Call Number: FICTION Oakley
Piper Parrish's life on Frick Island - a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay - is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail. When her beloved husband Tom's crab boat capsized and his body wasn't recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was still alive; cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with it? Anders Caldwell's career is not going well. But when he gets an assignment to travel to the remote Frick Island and cover their boring annual Cake Walk fundraiser, he stumbles upon a much more fascinating tale: an entire town pretending to see and interact with a man who does not actually exist. Determined it's the career-making story he's been needing for his podcast, Anders returns to the island to begin covert research and spend more time with the enigma.
Before I Go by Colleen Oakley
Call Number: FICTION Oakley
Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy already beat breast cancer four years ago. How can this be happening to her again? On the eve of what was supposed to be a triumphant "Cancerversary" with her husband Jack to celebrate four years of being cancer-free, Daisy suffers a devastating blow: her doctor tells her that the cancer is back, but this time it's an aggressive stage four diagnosis. She may have as few as four months left to live. Death is a frightening prospect--but not because she's afraid for herself. She's terrified of what will happen to her brilliant but otherwise charmingly helpless husband when she's no longer there to take care of him. It's this fear that keeps her up at night, until she stumbles on the solution: she has to find him another wife. With a singular determination, Daisy scouts local parks and coffee shops and online dating sites looking for Jack's perfect match. But the further she gets on her quest, the more she questions the sanity of her plan. As the thought of her husband with another woman becomes all too real, Daisy's forced to decide what's more important in the short amount of time she has left: her husband's happiness--or her own?
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Call Number: FICTION Serle
When Katy's mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn't just Katy's mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy's father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone. But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother's spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life. And then Carol appears--in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn't understand what is happening, or how--all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

"Love, Rosie" (2014):
- This romantic comedy-drama follows the lifelong friendship and romantic ups and downs between two childhood friends, played by Lily Collins and Sam Claflin.
"A Walk to Remember" (2002):
- Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, this film tells the story of a high school romance between two unlikely teenagers and explores themes of love, faith, and loss.
"Me Before You" (2016):
- Adapted from Jojo Moyes' novel, this movie revolves around the relationship between a caregiver (Emilia Clarke) and a quadriplegic man (Sam Claflin) and addresses themes of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery.
"The Fault in Our Stars" (2014):
- Based on John Green's novel, this romantic drama follows the relationship between two teenagers with cancer and explores themes of love, mortality, and the pursuit of meaning.
"Serendipity" (2001):
- This romantic comedy follows the story of a couple (John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale) who, years after a chance meeting, attempt to reconnect and see if fate truly brought them together.
"Ghost" (1990):
- A romantic fantasy thriller, this film tells the story of a woman (Demi Moore) who communicates with her deceased husband (Patrick Swayze) through a medium (Whoopi Goldberg).
"If Only" (2004):
- In this romantic drama, a woman (Jennifer Love Hewitt) gets the chance to relive the last day of her boyfriend's life, giving her the opportunity to change their fate.
"Message in a Bottle" (1999):
- Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, this film stars Kevin Costner and Robin Wright and tells the story of a woman who discovers a love letter in a bottle and sets out to find its author.
"The Time Traveler's Wife" (2009):
- Adapted from Audrey Niffenegger's novel, this film explores the challenges faced by a man who involuntarily time-travels and the impact it has on his relationship with his wife.
"The Lake House" (2006):
- Starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, this romantic fantasy follows the unusual relationship between two people who communicate across time through a magical mailbox.

Page to Screen Book Club - Past Titles: Feb. 2024

"P.S. I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern

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