The Process Of Love Portrayed In Cecelia Ahern’s Novel Love, Rosie
APPENDICES
Biography of Cecelia Ahern
Cecelia Ahern was born on September 30, 1981 in Dublin, Ireland. She
is the daughter of Bertie Ahern, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) since June 26,1997,
and is the sister-in-law of Nicky Byrne of Irish popgroup Westlife, who is married to
her older sister, Georgina Ahern. In 2000, Cecelia was part of the Irish pop-group
Shimma, who finished third in the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song
Contest. Before embarking on her writing career, Cecelia Ahern completed a Degree
in Journalism and Media Communications.
At twenty-one, she wrote her debut novel PS, I Love You, published in
January 2004, which was sold to over forty countries. The novel was one of the
biggest-selling debut novels of 2004, reaching No.1 in Ireland and in the U.K.
Sunday Times bestseller list and was selected for the Richard and Judy Summer
Read campaign. It was also a bestseller throughout Europe and the U.S.A., staying
on the best-seller list in Germany for over 52 weeks. For her debut novel, she was
nominated for Best Newcomer 2004/05 at the British Book and in 2006, she was
long-listed for the IMPAC award. The film of the same title was optioned by Warner
51
Bros and Wendy Finerman Productions. It has now been made into a motion picture
directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank, Lisa Kudrow, Kathy
Bates, Gerry Butler, Harry Connick Jr., Gina Gershon and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
In November 2004, her second book, Where Rainbows End (U.S.A.:
Love, Rosie / Rosie Dunne), also reached No.1 in Ireland and the UK, remaining at
the top of the Irish bestsellers list for 12 weeks and again a bestseller internationally.
For her second book, she won the 2005 Irish Post Award for Literature and a 2005
Corine Award for Where Rainbows End (Fur Immer Viellecht), which was voted by
German readers. In November 2005, her third book, If You Could See Me Now was
published and also became an international bestseller. In May 2007 Cosmopolitan
U.S. honoured her with a Fun Fearless Fiction Award 2007 for her thrid book. It has
been optioned by SB Films (London) Producer Simon Brooks.
In October 2006, her fourth novel, A Place Called Here, was a
international number one bestseller and has gone straight to No.1 in U.K. and
Ireland. It was published in U.S.A. under the title There's No Place Like Here. It is
optioned by Touchstone with Warren Littlefield for a TV Drama series.
Cecelia has contributed with short stories to the following anthologies
for which all her royalties go to charity: Irish Girls are Back in Town, Short and
Sweet, Moments, Ladies Night 4, Girls Night in 2 and she has written a novella titled
Mrs. Whippy.
Other published stories are The Production Line for Express Magazine,
Every Year for Harrod's Magazine, The Things That I Remember for Woman's Own,
Remembering Mum for Express Magazine, Mallard and May for Woman and Home.
Cecelia also is the co-creater (along with Donald Todd) and producer of the ABC
half-hour comedy television show, Samantha Who? Stars: Christina Applegate, Jean
Smart, Jennifer Esposito, Barry Watson, Kevin Dunn, Melissa McCarthy and Tim
Russ.
Cecelia Ahern continues living in Dublin. On 14 December 2009, it was
announced that Cecelia had given birth to her first child with husband David
Keoghan, a girl named Robin. One of her spokeswomen confirmed in March 2012
that she was pregnant with second child. Cecilia gave birth to her second child a boy
1
named Sonny on 23 July 2012. They currently live in Malahide in North County
Dublin.
Summary of Cecelia Ahern’s Novel Love, Rosie
Alex and Rosie have been best friends for almost as long as they can
remember. After depicting their time together as children, the novel jumps to Rosie
making a speech at what appears to be a wedding, while staring at Alex, implying it
may be his wedding but not hers. Rosie is upset because of getting drunk during her
18th birthday. Alex comes over to discuss the previous night's events but pauses
when Rosie tells him how she wished it never happened. The pair later go to the
beach together to attend a party where 'the fittest guy in [their]grade' asks Rosie to
the school dance, which she rejects saying she is going with Alex. Alex later tells her
that an attractive and 'out of his league' girl named Bethany wants to go with him.
After a fight between the two, Alex and Bethany go to the dance along with Greg and
Rosie. After some dancing, Bethany and Alex share a passionate kiss and Greg and
Rosie get a private room. The two then have sex but due to Greg's inexperience, the
condom comes off and gets stuck inside Rosie. She immediately calls Alex who gets
her to a hospital then takes her home.
Later, Rosie receives a letter telling her that she has been accepted into
Boston University for the hotel management course that she wants to do. After
running over to tell Alex, she overhears him and Bethany having sex and vomits into
a handbag. She leaves without seeing Alex and goes to a pharmacist, saying she has
been feeling nauseous lately. The woman behind the counter, Ruby, gives her a
pregnancy test which turns out to be positive despite her taking the morning after
pill. Rosie decides against telling Alex after he tells her that he has been accepted by
Harvard, not wanting him to stay for her. Rosie says goodbye to Alex at an airport as
he heads to his university, saying she will be just behind him. Rosie gives birth to a
baby girl, whom she names Katie, and decides not to give her up for adoption despite
prior plans. Rosie raises Katie as a single mother.
A few months later, Rosie, with baby Katie, bumps into Bethany in the
street. Bethany tells Alex, who immediately comes back to England from America to
2
visit Rosie. The two become friends again and Alex becomes the godfather of baby
Katie.
Back in America, Alex meets a girl in a bar and they soon move in
together. Five years later, after Alex convinces Rosie to visit, Rosie discovers that
Alex's girlfriend is incredibly posh and snobby, taking them to an art gallery of a
man named Herb. Upon telling Alex that she didn't see them as a good couple, they
fight and Rosie goes back to England. During the trip she also finds out that Alex's
girlfriend is pregnant. Greg (who earlier moved to Ibiza after hearing of Rosie's
pregnancy) visits Rosie at work having received her letter and a drawing by Katie.
After some arguing, Rosie decides that Greg can see Katie. The three become a
family and Alex then receives an invitation to Rosie's wedding to Greg. Rosie
marries Greg but notices Alex's absence from the event. Rosie's parents go on a trip
and Rosie soon receives a call from her mother saying that Rosie's father has died. At
the funeral, Alex visits and the two reconcile. Greg is also present but noticeably
drunk and rude to Alex and Rosie.
Rosie and Alex's lives go on. Rosie discovers that Alex's girlfriend had
been cheating with Herb, the art dealer, and the baby was not in fact his, something
he is devastated by. At the time, she also bumps into Bethany, who is now an
international model and Rosie tells her to go visit Alex in Boston while she is on
tour. After Greg's treatment of Rosie at the funeral, Alex sends her a letter saying that
she deserves better and that he believes he can be that better man. Greg however
intercepts the letter and hides it from Rosie. Rosie goes to work and is excited when
she sees that Greg has booked the bridal suite, assuming it is for their anniversary
however after receiving a call from him saying that he will not be home, Rosie
realizes he is cheating. She goes to intercept him at the hotel's bar and breaks up with
him. After throwing away all of Greg's things, Rosie discovers the letter and
promptly messages Alex to tell him she feels the same, with Alex saying in the letter
that he would never bring it up again if she didn't tell him she felt the same. Rosie
messages Alex, who then video calls her, but instead of Alex, Rosie sees Bethany
who is now living with Alex. Bethany and Alex tell Rosie that they are getting
married and that they want her to be his best man, because Rosie suggested her to
visit Alex.
3
Rosie flies out to their wedding with plans of telling Alex of her feelings
but its too late, arriving just after the ceremony. The novel then switches back to the
first scene where Rosie is making a speech. She tells Alex she loves him in the
speech, but covers it up saying that it is only as a friend or sister. Rosie's daughter
Katie has brought a close friend named Toby with her on the trip and the two very
much resemble a young Alex and Rosie in their deep love and friendship for each
other. Toby kisses Katie and she goes outside, very distressed. Rosie and Alex
comfort Katie and Alex tells her that she should go talk to Toby saying that if she
rejects him now he will spend the rest of his life looking for someone to live up to
her, but no-one ever will, all while Alex keeps eye contact with Rosie. Alex realizes
that Rosie doesn't remember the kiss they shared on her 18th birthday, and
misunderstands her wishing that night never happened as her telling him that she
doesn't want to be more than friends. The scene switches to Rosie saying goodbye to
Alex at an airport as he leaves with Bethany.
Rosie starts up her own hotel and is pleasantly surprised when Alex arrives
there. Alex tells Rosie that he has 'no baggage' and that he is no longer with Bethany.
He then proceeds to tell her about a dream he had (his weird dreams being shared
throughout the film, such as being the tip of an arrow, which no-one understands but
Rosie) which consists of them being together. The two share a kiss and the camera
pans out to show the hotel Rosie now owns.
4
Biography of Cecelia Ahern
Cecelia Ahern was born on September 30, 1981 in Dublin, Ireland. She
is the daughter of Bertie Ahern, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) since June 26,1997,
and is the sister-in-law of Nicky Byrne of Irish popgroup Westlife, who is married to
her older sister, Georgina Ahern. In 2000, Cecelia was part of the Irish pop-group
Shimma, who finished third in the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song
Contest. Before embarking on her writing career, Cecelia Ahern completed a Degree
in Journalism and Media Communications.
At twenty-one, she wrote her debut novel PS, I Love You, published in
January 2004, which was sold to over forty countries. The novel was one of the
biggest-selling debut novels of 2004, reaching No.1 in Ireland and in the U.K.
Sunday Times bestseller list and was selected for the Richard and Judy Summer
Read campaign. It was also a bestseller throughout Europe and the U.S.A., staying
on the best-seller list in Germany for over 52 weeks. For her debut novel, she was
nominated for Best Newcomer 2004/05 at the British Book and in 2006, she was
long-listed for the IMPAC award. The film of the same title was optioned by Warner
51
Bros and Wendy Finerman Productions. It has now been made into a motion picture
directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank, Lisa Kudrow, Kathy
Bates, Gerry Butler, Harry Connick Jr., Gina Gershon and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
In November 2004, her second book, Where Rainbows End (U.S.A.:
Love, Rosie / Rosie Dunne), also reached No.1 in Ireland and the UK, remaining at
the top of the Irish bestsellers list for 12 weeks and again a bestseller internationally.
For her second book, she won the 2005 Irish Post Award for Literature and a 2005
Corine Award for Where Rainbows End (Fur Immer Viellecht), which was voted by
German readers. In November 2005, her third book, If You Could See Me Now was
published and also became an international bestseller. In May 2007 Cosmopolitan
U.S. honoured her with a Fun Fearless Fiction Award 2007 for her thrid book. It has
been optioned by SB Films (London) Producer Simon Brooks.
In October 2006, her fourth novel, A Place Called Here, was a
international number one bestseller and has gone straight to No.1 in U.K. and
Ireland. It was published in U.S.A. under the title There's No Place Like Here. It is
optioned by Touchstone with Warren Littlefield for a TV Drama series.
Cecelia has contributed with short stories to the following anthologies
for which all her royalties go to charity: Irish Girls are Back in Town, Short and
Sweet, Moments, Ladies Night 4, Girls Night in 2 and she has written a novella titled
Mrs. Whippy.
Other published stories are The Production Line for Express Magazine,
Every Year for Harrod's Magazine, The Things That I Remember for Woman's Own,
Remembering Mum for Express Magazine, Mallard and May for Woman and Home.
Cecelia also is the co-creater (along with Donald Todd) and producer of the ABC
half-hour comedy television show, Samantha Who? Stars: Christina Applegate, Jean
Smart, Jennifer Esposito, Barry Watson, Kevin Dunn, Melissa McCarthy and Tim
Russ.
Cecelia Ahern continues living in Dublin. On 14 December 2009, it was
announced that Cecelia had given birth to her first child with husband David
Keoghan, a girl named Robin. One of her spokeswomen confirmed in March 2012
that she was pregnant with second child. Cecilia gave birth to her second child a boy
1
named Sonny on 23 July 2012. They currently live in Malahide in North County
Dublin.
Summary of Cecelia Ahern’s Novel Love, Rosie
Alex and Rosie have been best friends for almost as long as they can
remember. After depicting their time together as children, the novel jumps to Rosie
making a speech at what appears to be a wedding, while staring at Alex, implying it
may be his wedding but not hers. Rosie is upset because of getting drunk during her
18th birthday. Alex comes over to discuss the previous night's events but pauses
when Rosie tells him how she wished it never happened. The pair later go to the
beach together to attend a party where 'the fittest guy in [their]grade' asks Rosie to
the school dance, which she rejects saying she is going with Alex. Alex later tells her
that an attractive and 'out of his league' girl named Bethany wants to go with him.
After a fight between the two, Alex and Bethany go to the dance along with Greg and
Rosie. After some dancing, Bethany and Alex share a passionate kiss and Greg and
Rosie get a private room. The two then have sex but due to Greg's inexperience, the
condom comes off and gets stuck inside Rosie. She immediately calls Alex who gets
her to a hospital then takes her home.
Later, Rosie receives a letter telling her that she has been accepted into
Boston University for the hotel management course that she wants to do. After
running over to tell Alex, she overhears him and Bethany having sex and vomits into
a handbag. She leaves without seeing Alex and goes to a pharmacist, saying she has
been feeling nauseous lately. The woman behind the counter, Ruby, gives her a
pregnancy test which turns out to be positive despite her taking the morning after
pill. Rosie decides against telling Alex after he tells her that he has been accepted by
Harvard, not wanting him to stay for her. Rosie says goodbye to Alex at an airport as
he heads to his university, saying she will be just behind him. Rosie gives birth to a
baby girl, whom she names Katie, and decides not to give her up for adoption despite
prior plans. Rosie raises Katie as a single mother.
A few months later, Rosie, with baby Katie, bumps into Bethany in the
street. Bethany tells Alex, who immediately comes back to England from America to
2
visit Rosie. The two become friends again and Alex becomes the godfather of baby
Katie.
Back in America, Alex meets a girl in a bar and they soon move in
together. Five years later, after Alex convinces Rosie to visit, Rosie discovers that
Alex's girlfriend is incredibly posh and snobby, taking them to an art gallery of a
man named Herb. Upon telling Alex that she didn't see them as a good couple, they
fight and Rosie goes back to England. During the trip she also finds out that Alex's
girlfriend is pregnant. Greg (who earlier moved to Ibiza after hearing of Rosie's
pregnancy) visits Rosie at work having received her letter and a drawing by Katie.
After some arguing, Rosie decides that Greg can see Katie. The three become a
family and Alex then receives an invitation to Rosie's wedding to Greg. Rosie
marries Greg but notices Alex's absence from the event. Rosie's parents go on a trip
and Rosie soon receives a call from her mother saying that Rosie's father has died. At
the funeral, Alex visits and the two reconcile. Greg is also present but noticeably
drunk and rude to Alex and Rosie.
Rosie and Alex's lives go on. Rosie discovers that Alex's girlfriend had
been cheating with Herb, the art dealer, and the baby was not in fact his, something
he is devastated by. At the time, she also bumps into Bethany, who is now an
international model and Rosie tells her to go visit Alex in Boston while she is on
tour. After Greg's treatment of Rosie at the funeral, Alex sends her a letter saying that
she deserves better and that he believes he can be that better man. Greg however
intercepts the letter and hides it from Rosie. Rosie goes to work and is excited when
she sees that Greg has booked the bridal suite, assuming it is for their anniversary
however after receiving a call from him saying that he will not be home, Rosie
realizes he is cheating. She goes to intercept him at the hotel's bar and breaks up with
him. After throwing away all of Greg's things, Rosie discovers the letter and
promptly messages Alex to tell him she feels the same, with Alex saying in the letter
that he would never bring it up again if she didn't tell him she felt the same. Rosie
messages Alex, who then video calls her, but instead of Alex, Rosie sees Bethany
who is now living with Alex. Bethany and Alex tell Rosie that they are getting
married and that they want her to be his best man, because Rosie suggested her to
visit Alex.
3
Rosie flies out to their wedding with plans of telling Alex of her feelings
but its too late, arriving just after the ceremony. The novel then switches back to the
first scene where Rosie is making a speech. She tells Alex she loves him in the
speech, but covers it up saying that it is only as a friend or sister. Rosie's daughter
Katie has brought a close friend named Toby with her on the trip and the two very
much resemble a young Alex and Rosie in their deep love and friendship for each
other. Toby kisses Katie and she goes outside, very distressed. Rosie and Alex
comfort Katie and Alex tells her that she should go talk to Toby saying that if she
rejects him now he will spend the rest of his life looking for someone to live up to
her, but no-one ever will, all while Alex keeps eye contact with Rosie. Alex realizes
that Rosie doesn't remember the kiss they shared on her 18th birthday, and
misunderstands her wishing that night never happened as her telling him that she
doesn't want to be more than friends. The scene switches to Rosie saying goodbye to
Alex at an airport as he leaves with Bethany.
Rosie starts up her own hotel and is pleasantly surprised when Alex arrives
there. Alex tells Rosie that he has 'no baggage' and that he is no longer with Bethany.
He then proceeds to tell her about a dream he had (his weird dreams being shared
throughout the film, such as being the tip of an arrow, which no-one understands but
Rosie) which consists of them being together. The two share a kiss and the camera
pans out to show the hotel Rosie now owns.
4