The fast lane is much too slow for Rachel Walsh. And Manhattan is the perfect place for a young Irish female to overdo everything. But Rachel’s love of a good time is about to land her in the emergency room. It will also cost her a job and the boyfriend she adores.
When her loving family hustles her back home and checks her into Ireland’s answer to the Betty Ford Clinic, Rachel is hopeful. … hopeful. Perhaps it will be lovely—spa treatments, celebrities, that kind of thing. Instead, she finds a lot of group therapy, which leads her, against her will, to some important self-knowledge. She will also find something that all women like herself fear: a man who might actually be good for her.
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I love everything Marian Keyes writes, but this is probably my favorite.
The wonderful Marian Keyes at her best. I adored this title!
Rachel’s Holiday is one of the most original books I’ve read. A clever premise, unforgettable characters and a unique setting. And then the sublime storytelling of Marian Keyes. One of my all-time favorites.
I completely love this book
The first book I read by Marian Keyes, and it’s always been my favorite! The story follows Rachel, from her high-powered job in NYC, to her fall from grace as she accidently overdoses on drugs, and to her time spent in a rehabilitation center – the growth arc that the author describes is amazing. Kudos for taking on such a serious subject and making it into a heart-rending, yet somehow hilarious, story.
As usual, Marian Keyes killed it. Great characters, and well researched for the situation in which Rachel finds herself. I love the relationship between the Walsh sisters, and how as different as they all are, there is no denying their similarities. As one of a large pile of sisters, I find her books to have an hilarious and true to life representation. As someone who has had many clients who struggled with similar issues to Rachel’s, I found the compassionate representation refreshing and fitting in well with M. Keyes usual fun style, without minimizing the seriousness of addiction. I highly recommend the entire Walsh family series.
I really enjoyed this book. It was original and I liked the characters.
I’m not sure there are words to describe how much I enjoyed this book! This was a re-read for me, having read it twenty years ago when it was first released. I could remember bits of it and how moving it had been the first time, and I was delighted to find that my 23 year-old-self was right. This book is pacy, funny, poignant and raw. Rachel is such a relatable character and the way she wraps herself up in denial and distraction is so human it almost hurt to read about it. I was in love with this absolute page-turner of a book and I wanted to read about the rest of the Walsh family immediately. So if you need me, I’ll be in my reading nook . . .
I’d never read any of Marian Keyes books, so was grateful to be able to read this one. There’s been an intervention for Rachel Walsh, who’s partying lifestyle had gone too wild. She ends up in what she hopes is a celebrity filled rehabilitation centre, the Cloisters. She’s angry, because obviously she doesn’t have a problem.
It’s sad really that 25 years later we still have the same problems that Rachel was living with, and that there’s still no quick fix. If I’d read this book when it first came out, I may have empathised with Rachel more, but at first I found myself tutting about her shenanigans. As I read further, I was really surprised how authentic it felt, and how relevant it is today. And to me. As I sat with my wineglass in hand, I realised that it is relevant to me, and most of my friends. We all seem to have addictive personalities, be it for crafting, work or drink. Really well observed and written, with the authors voice ringing clearly through it. A thought provoking read, which I didn’t expect.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
One of my all time favorites, love it!
Marian Keyes does it again! Loved this book!
I love this author!
This book takes you away from whatever is going on in the world around you. It is funny and sad and sweet. A very quick, easy enjoyable read!
It seems to be a romantic funny novel (the author is really witty in some parts) till you get into the drama of Rachel’s reality. A real page turner too.
I fault Marian Keyes for turning me into a chick-lit writing. She’s just a delight to read every single time!
Love the entire series about all the sisters!
One of my favourites from this author and I’ve read the lot. Her characters are unforgettabl. The Walsh family are wonderful.
One of Marian Keyes’ absolute classics! If you’ve read other books of hers, you’re in for a treat. If this is your first, you’ll be hooked. Perfect for chick lit lovers.
Marian Keyes is a very funny writer, and like so many of her books, this one manages to deal with a serious subject and still be tremendously entertaining. The serious subject here is drug and alcohol addiction. In New York Irish ex-pat Rachel Walsh’s life devolves as she develops cocaine and alcohol addictions. After losing her job, her boyfriend, and her best friend, Rachel finds herself back in Ireland in treatment. Refusing to believe that she is an addict, Rachel agrees to treatment only because she thinks she might see celebrities. What follows are Rachel’s comic misadventures as an addict in denial while in treatment, interspersed with the story of how she became an addict.
Keyes has an amazing ability to bring humor to horrible situations, and this is a book to read when you need a pick-me-up. The ending is a bit unbelievable, but the book is by and large light and fun reading.