After reading Ps I love you years ago I have read everyone of Cecelia Ahern's books. I really enjoy her books but have felt none of the others have quite lived up to Ps I love you, however I feel this book is close to the standard of her debut.

The Plot- The book starts off with the charactor Sergeant O'Reilly who tells the story of Lou Suffern to another charactor named "turkey boy". Lou is a man who always has two places to be at the same time. He is a hardworking man but is only ever at home with his family in body because his mind is always somewhere else. He makes promises but breaks them and his 5 year old daughters heart for the sake of his work. His long suffering wife is always putting up with his affairs and dirty one night stands, and his total lack of intrest in their baby son.
One winter morning with christmas fast approaching Lou meets a charactor named Gabe, a homeless man who sits outside Lous office building. Lou is intrigued by Gabe so helps him out, all be it too for Lou's own uses. Lou soon realises Gabe is no ordinary man and appears to be in two places at one time.
As christmas approaches Gabe lets Lou in on his secret and helps Lou to be in two places at once. This lets Lou see himself and teach him the value of time, and what truly matters in life. This helps Lou make up for the things he's done before his time runs out. Sadly the husband, son father and brother Lou's family always wanted him to be leaves as quickly as he arrives.
The story ends back where it began with O'Reilly and Turkey boy.

Verdict- I really enjoyed this book. It is one for the girls but think all Aherns books are. The book to me was a real rollercoaster of emotions, I think I went through every emotion going it makes you cry, and smile, I even got a little angry at the charactor Lou in parts. My opinion of Lou changed as his family's and his own opinion of himself changed, which I feel was great as you could put yourself in the charactors shoes. There are also some really heart warming moments with Lou and his daughter when he knows his time is running out. The book has some harsh lessons throughout and as a reader it can make you see whst is really important in uour own life. Greatest gift of all is time!! There is also a little bit of a happy twist on a tragic end but i won't give that away.
The book tells a story within a story, although the main part of the book is based around the charactor Lou, there is also the story off "the turkey boy", who appears to want to change his bad boy ways after hearing Lou's story.
The question of Gabe is never really answered which leaves you to draw your own conclusion. I liked this but some readers may be left wanting more on this!
I also really enjoyed how Ahern uses chapter one to set the scene of Ireland at Christmas time, you can tell Ahern loves her Irish home and it makes you want to go to the places she writes about. I also think with the right director and cast it good make a good movie.