Helpful Score: 3
This book was a pleasant surprise for me...after reading several of Keyes' undeniable chick lit, I was expecting more of the same with this book, but I got more than I bargained for.
The novel addressed drug and alcohol addiction in a way that was realistic, but still not so serious that it would turn off the "chick lit reader"....I would definitely recommend it.
The novel addressed drug and alcohol addiction in a way that was realistic, but still not so serious that it would turn off the "chick lit reader"....I would definitely recommend it.
Helpful Score: 2
When a friend gave this book to me I thought "Great another boring book I have to read because she gave it to me." Little did I know that this book would be a real page turner. It's a serious story told through the eyes of Rachel, who takes almost nothing seriously. The way she talks and thinks and tells the story is truly very funny and I couldn't put it down just to find out what crazy thing whould be thrown her way next and what crazy and funny thing she'll have to say about it. I'm now a Marian Keyes fan because of this book.
Helpful Score: 2
I picked up this book because I'd read the other "Walsh" sister books (albeit out of order) and thought this was the last one in the series. In the beginning I found out that this book actually comes after Watermelon and before Angels . This story focuses on Rachel, the dead-middle sister that isn't mentioned much in either of the other books outside of the fact that she's living in New York. Rachel is a drug-addict but is far in denial about her dependency on drugs and the life of a rock-star, even though she isn't one. Somehow, Rachel manages to find and hang onto an all-around good-guy named Luke and also has a bosom buddy named Brigit that also seems to be an angel to Rachel. To be honest, for the first part of the book I wasn't really keen on it. It could be due to the fact that the hardest thing I've ever put in my body besides alcohol is morphine (surgery) so I don't understand the co-dependent mindset unless you are speaking of chapstick or books. Most of my friends when I've mentioned this book have said they enjoyed it but personally although it was readable and towards the end picked up enough that I was reading it non-stop, I just can't rate it that high. IMHO Angels was a lot better.
Helpful Score: 1
Another good story by Marian Keyes. I have enjoyed reading about the Walsh sisters. Ms. Keyes writes with humor, but this book also had a serious side, as it dealt with addiction.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was great with it's gritty real depiction of drug abuse in a "normal" gals life in the city.
Helpful Score: 1
I normally love this author's work and the first book in the Walsh sisters series, WATERMELON, was fantastic. This book didn't hold my interest, unfortunately.
Helpful Score: 1
This is marian keyes at her best. fantastic, sensitive, intelligent writing. The character is sort of vapid and disturbing, but that is the point, I suppose. I didn't know keyes could be so substantial and I really appreciated this!!!
I realized that I read this years ago but I enjoyed it the 2nd time around as well. Anything by Keyes is a great read! A bit less "innocent" than some of her earlier books. Still enjoyable and an easy read.
"Hilarious...A coming-of-age journey of love and self-discovery...propelled by its unforgettable heroine." - Boston Globe
Great book, funny but has more depth than her previous book Watermelon.
Keyes always makes you feel like you are there in the book its so realistic
A fun, light read for fans of Marian Keyes! A great beach book.
Really enjoyed this book. Sometimes, it felt like the stages of addiction were a little too obvious, but overall it is a good read. Another great story from Marian Keyes about these quirky and fun girls in this family.
I loved this book! From reading the back cover I would have never thought I'd like it but it was a book club book so I read it anyways. It was definately worth the read!!
This was a pretty good read. It was funny and entertaining, just a bit too drawn out. It's a good beach read.
A very good read, serious but funny. A thought provoking story line that really help you understand/relate to what the main character is going through and the transformation and development of her character. Enough juice to keep you turning the pages.
Really great story, it's hilarious how in denial Rachel is about her drug addiction.
You cannot go wrong w/ Marian Keyes!
Hilarious novel about coming to age and self-discovery
This is a very light-hearted read. One you will enjoy.
This is the best book by this author (and that's saying a lot). I loved it.
Starts off a little slow, but as with all of Keyes' heroines, you'll hate to let her go when the final page is turned.
Dubliner Rachel Welsh loves living in New York City with her best friend. Unfortunately, Rachel also loves drugs, booze and sex.
I love the sisters in Marian Keyes' books. This one has more serious notes than the other books, but just enough silly to make it enjoyable too.
This was truly my favorite book by Marian Keyes, so far. It almost made me cry, which is saying a lot for a chick lit-type book. Really, it's beyond chick lit. It's a story about addiction and rehab and coming-of-age and love. Read it, seriously.
A party girl forced into rehab by her family and friends meets people who make her take account of her own life.
A good read, although it drags a bit.
great coming of age story of a drug addict. you laugh and cry with her thru the whole book.
Hilarious book. First I have read of ths author
Wasn't too crazy about this one. I bought it because my name is Rachel (hee hee), but it's not on my favorites list. The story kind of drags and is slightly depressing. Not her best.
" The fast lane is much too slow for 27 year old Rachel Walsh, who is always the last one still standing whenever there's a party. And New York City is the perfect place for a young female to over-do... everything! But her love of a good time is about to land her in the emergency rooma nd alienate her best friend and her boyfriend."
Great beach read , funny and witty!
Great beach read , funny and witty!
I think this is my favorite Marian Keyes. Rachel goes on "holiday" to a drug rehab center, and finds redemption, of a sort.
I liked the hero, Luke, also. Great read.
I liked the hero, Luke, also. Great read.
I read Keyes more recent book "Angels" and, even though I'm not a chick-lit fan, I liked it so much that I went back to the first book in series of these sisters, "Watermelon," which was delightful. Unfortunately, "Rachel's Holiday" was very boring and I would recommend skipping this one!
From USA Today:
"Compelling.... Genuinely satisfying... [A]delightful novel.... Rachel is an endearing character.... Hilarious and surprisingly charming."
From the back cover:
You devoured the hilarious antics of Claire in 'Watermelon'.
You laughed 'til you cried in 'Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married'.
You raised your glass to Tara, Katherine, and Fintan in 'Last Chance Saloon'.
You flew away with Margaret --good girl gone bad-- in 'Angels'.
You got a peek inside the cutthroat world of women's fashion magazines in 'Sushi for Beginners'.
Now, take a vacation gone mad in 'Rachel's Holiday'.
"Compelling.... Genuinely satisfying... [A]delightful novel.... Rachel is an endearing character.... Hilarious and surprisingly charming."
From the back cover:
You devoured the hilarious antics of Claire in 'Watermelon'.
You laughed 'til you cried in 'Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married'.
You raised your glass to Tara, Katherine, and Fintan in 'Last Chance Saloon'.
You flew away with Margaret --good girl gone bad-- in 'Angels'.
You got a peek inside the cutthroat world of women's fashion magazines in 'Sushi for Beginners'.
Now, take a vacation gone mad in 'Rachel's Holiday'.
A book about a young hip women who thinks she is entering the Betty Ford Clinic of Ireland. Little does she know what she is in for....
A funny, but serious look at an addiction and addiction recovery.
I enjoyed reading this book. However, I thought it was a little drawn out. The subject matter was very revealing.
This was my 2nd Marian Keys book. I really liked Watermelon a lot, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I found Rachel's Holiday to be a somewhat serious story about Rachel who is addicted to drugs and is in total denial. Marian Keyes handles this subject very well and also writes it with lots of wit and humor. The story held my interest from start to finish and I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this series to those who love chick-lit with lots of humor.
My favorite by Marian Keyes so far (I haven't read Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married or Last Chance Saloon yet). Great story and great characters.
I didn't find this book at all entertaining. Her characters are flat and lifeless. A lot of critics/reviewers say her writing is hilarious but I don't think so.
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. 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.
When her loving family hustles her back home and checks her into Ireland's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic, Rachel is 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.
