Was not expecting this thicc book to be so moving and powerful. Stunning job, Marian.

Darkly funny, insightful and poignant.

Living in New York, Rachel has developed an impressive drug habit, leading her family to whisk her back to Ireland for rehab. Rachel agrees expecting to brush shoulders with rock stars in between massage treatments and dips in the jacuzzi.

The reality is very different and eventually Rachel starts to accept that she does have a problem, but is she too late to win back her ex-boyfriend Luke

3.5 stars

RTC.

n  'Call off the search for a "why", Rachel,’ she finished on. ‘You don’t need it.'n

Oh my... What a novel! So deep, sad, full of hurt. Often uncomfortable - but guess what? - life is often uncomfortable.
Some of us are lucky to avoid Rachel's path. But we can read this book, understand it and be ready to be helpful for someone if the need comes.

The inside of addiction that Marian Keyes showed here was so brilliant and rough, that at some point I checked her biography, and yes, she is an alcoholic herself. That explains why Rachel's story seemed so real.

By the way, Keyes's wit will be probably too much for some readers, but I loved it. Perhaps partially because I come from Poland, and Polish Catholic upbringing was (is?) on many levels similar to Irish Catholic. So, I totally understand oppression and absurdities hid behind some of the witticisms.

As an additional bonus, I got Luke (he goes on my precious shelf 'my-hero'). There was not much of romance - because it was not about love, but what was there... [sigh] A few scenes, the emotions I knew that were there although they were not written on pages - it gave my romantical side more than many many so-called romances.

Loved this very much - actually very glad I read Again, Rachel first as I had a lot more empathy for Rachel when she was in denial.

Did not finish.

I have heard wonderful things about Marian Keyes’ books. I’ve loved her interviews. This was my first book of hers, but it didn’t sustain my interest. I got about half way.

This book is about Rachel, who checks into a rehab centre for a drug addiction. She expects it to be a glamorous respite, filled with celebrities, only it wasn’t.

It just seemed a bit othering and privileged white woman to me.

There were a number of ableist slurs - regarding intellectual disability and mental health. There was also some appearance shaming - mentions of red faces and skin conditions. Both of these aspects disappointed me.

I listened to the audiobook and did enjoy the narrator’s voice.

I chose this to listen to in the early hours of the morning when I was suffering from insomnia and looking for a distraction. It was funny and entertaining, and didn't require me to think too hard even when dealing with the topics of drug addiction, detox, and therapy. It sits firmly in the 'chic lit' category with a bit of romance thrown in. The author read the version I listened to and she has a wonderful warm Irish accent which was perfect for the characters and highlighted the humorous moments beautifully. It was a fun listen, and I quite warmed to Rachel despite her many foibles and poor life choices.

This book was recommended as a future book in my book club. We were looking for a light read. All the reviews showed this was about Rachel in rehab and did not sound light hearted at all. There were also no English copies in the Zürich library. You never thought that might be a problem to find a book and not want to buy it or share one copy between 10 women, did ya ?

So, we decided on a different book. The next week I spotted this at my favorite English book store and did not put it down for the next 4 days.

This book is hilarious. It is totally inappropriate for a conservative book club. It is flooded with fbombs and SEX scenes.

The book starts with Rachel not thinking she is a druggie. I LOVED that she did not think she should be put in the groups of addicts at rehab like everyone else. The rest of the book flashes back to her pre-rehab life (hot SEX).

It's too bad we are not having any more kids I could name a little boy Luke after the "real men." He he!

Marian Keys is the novelist that I turn to for my fluff novels. Her books are fun, mindless, silly and sometimes shallow and I guiltily eat them all up!
This one was different.
It had the same qualities the other ones did, but this one, whether intentional or not, set itself apart from her other books.
It has been years since I have actually read this book but it left an impression on me. Maybe it’s because I went into it with such low expectations as far as depth or content, I can’t be certain. What I can be sure of though is that the emotional reaction I had to this character was surprisingly genuine and compassionate.
I’m not saying its Pulitzer material, but it’s worth taking a second look at whether or not you have a disposition for “chicklets”.

Rachel is a party animal. She lives a good party, and a few druggs and drinks to enhance her fun aren't going to harm are they? After all, everyone does it!


Irish girl Rachel is having fun in the USA, living with her best friend and having a great time with her boyfriend Luke. When her recreational drugs accidentally go a bit far she allows her sister and brother in law to come and bring her back to Ireland. Her Dad offers to book her into Cloisters, which she has heard is a bit like the Betty Ford Clinic - full of celebrities, jacuzzis, massages etc so Rachel agreed to go for a little holiday - some rest and relaxation to give her some space from the job she had just lost, the money she owes everyone, and the falling out with her friends.

Unfortunately Cloisters is not what she was imagining, and Rachel has a much harder journey on her 'holiday' in Cloisters than she ever expected.

An absolutely brilliant book, highlighting the dangers of addiction, and the lies people tell themselves.

One of the many things that makes Marian Keyes stand out is that she is basically a 'humor'-writer (and even a 'feel-good'-writer I guess) that is absolutely best when dealing with difficult subject matters. The second "Walsh"-family book deals with the middle sister Rachel's substance abuse problem (not that she knew that she had one) and the enforced "holiday" back home in Ireland to help her get her life in order after a hectic New York stint. Funny, captivating and wonderful.

Was recommended by a friend. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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