A lovely novel with a coming-of-age quality that still manages to feel fresh. It's a character-driven story that somehow managed to make me feel nostalgic for the setting despite never having stepped one foot in Ireland.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue!

The Rachel Incident, is a wonderful story about friendship, love, and everything that falls in between of growing up. It’s books like this that remind me what it was like to be in my twenties again, and learning the way of the world. While attending her classes at university, Rachel develops a crush on her English professor, Dr. Byrne. During this time, Rachel finds out that Dr. Byrne has written a book. Rachel then sets up a book signing and lecture by Dr. Byrne at the bookstore that she works at. James helps Rachel set up the book signing, and we even meet Dr. Byrne’s very nice wife, Deenie Harrington. It is after this book signing that things start to become very complicated for Rachel. Unplanned pregnancy's, In sum, there were just too many insignificant details that just didn’t come to fruition. An example is Rachel’s height. We are reminded again and again of just how tall she is, but this detail doesn’t really tell us anything about Rachel as a character and doesn’t really advance the plot in any meaningful way. The ending felt rushed and too perfect. I wish the author had let some of the more interesting plot points simmer a little more, and really let the readers sit with them. For example, when Rachel is aware that everyone in Cork knows, to some degree, that Rachel allegedly had an affair with her former professor. This point needed to be stretched out. Readers needed to feel the isolation Rachel felt, how deeply uncomfortable she was. We zoomed right past this and next thing we knew she was moving to London. There were moments where I thought this book had a lot of potential to be something more interesting and impactful (Dr. Byrne would rather his wife think he’d gotten Rachel pregnant than just admit that he was bi, or Rachel’s miscarriage experience), but they didn’t land as the author didn’t take the time to let readers sit in them.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Random House/Knopf

All of these Irish authors convince me more and more each year I need to move to Ireland! A lot of people compared this novel to Sally Rooney's work, which I find as an odd comparison. Though both deal with complex characters and their interpersonal relationships, but I consider the writing style very different.

I am a fan of unlikable characters, but the characters in this story were not so unlikeable but more so just lacked the complexity that I enjoy in a literary character. Possibly this is due to the only character truly being fleshed out was Rachel due to her being a self-insert for the author.

I was hoping that since I heard this novel had a lot to do with the character growing in her 20s that it would hit home for me, but it sadly didn't. Thought I did enjoy how it encapsulates the awkwardness of your late teens and early twenties, I just wish it had given us more.

Your twenties are much harder than anyone talks about. That first decade of adulthood is tough on different people in different ways. At twenty, Rachel struggles with love, loyalty, money, and navigating her way to adulthood.

The Rachel Incident is set in Cork, Ireland, where Rachel studies English Literature and works in a bookshop. She meets fellow bookseller James there, and they become fast friends and move in together. When Rachel develops a mad crush on her professor, James helps her devise a plot to capture the professor's attention, but nothing goes as planned.

Rachel had an upper-middle-class upbringing, but her family has since fallen on hard times. In 2010 Ireland, she's not alone in feeling the pinch. With finances that no longer match her social position, she doesn't know her place. She can't afford to go out like her friends do, but she can't say no.

She makes one bad decision after another, but that's what you do when you're twenty. It would be nice if she had someone stable to advise her, but her friends and family are as chaotic as she is in their own way. She and James, in particular, are fiercely loyal to one another but seem to encourage the worst in each other.

It's a fun, fast-paced read, different from what I've read recently. The characters are compelling, although not all are likable. I recommend this book for people in their twenties or who remember their twenties. Chances are you'll relate to Rachel or root for her. You may also cringe thinking of some of the decisions you made when you were young.

I received this advance copy of The Rachel Incident from Knopf and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this as an ARC through NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this story. It was so well-written, engaging, and relevant, and I felt deeply connected to the characters and their lives. I am was shocked by the turn of events towards the end, and felt like the ending wrapped things up nicely without putting too much of a bow on it. This was a believable and intelligent novel. I highly recommend reading this and will gladly read more works by the author.

I love a good coming-of-age story. Instead of plot-heavy, this story seemed like a character study of messy people. I liked that the story was of Rachel reflecting on her lived experiences which also makes it so it could be an unreliable narrator. It felt like the perfect mix of Sally Rooney with Dolly Alterton. I really enjoyed this one!

Coming-of-age stories about messy people figuring their shit out does it for me every single time. The Rachel Incident is slow moving and there isn't really a plot, but the characters feel so real. I loved that the book is from the perspective of an older Rachel reflecting on her past, and not taking place as it's happening.

I've seen lots of comparisons to Sally Rooney and while I agree, I found O'Donoghue's writing to be more accessible. I loved everything about this book!

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll come out and say it right away: I loved this book. It's a perfect mix of Sally Rooney-drama and Irish sensibility and Dolly Aldteron's humor and charm. I was rooting for Rachel the whole time and I adored every single character in the narrative.

Rachel is a student in Cork doing her best. She's got a best friend called James and a boyfriend called James (not the same person) and an alright family and no money and plenty of dreams. Oh, and the entire town thinks she slept with her professor.

I loved the way this was written -- present Rachel being very kind to past Rachel for her missteps felt really important. Her assurance that it would all work out and some of the big reveals made me much happier than I anticipated -- turns out I really did care about these characters!

For a tongue-in-cheek book about a few very serious things, I would consider this a beach read in that I blew through it in an afternoon and wanted to tell everyone around me about it as soon as I was finished. It's exactly what I want in a book.

5 stars.

Thanks for the review copy. The book reminded me of Will and Grace but I didn’t like the characters as much. I’m sure other people will like it more than I did.

One of the most gripping books I have read, the plot flows so seamlessly and the intimacy of details by O’Donoghue makes this book a must read. Rachel is a loveable character with her own quirks- as she tries to navigate her way through life, the reader feels close to her. A must read.

An amusing story about a woman going through the confusing hardships of life. I appreciated some of the relatability to Rachel’s struggles. It made me feel a little less alone, going through this journey with her.

This was so fun and nostalgic and cringe in the best way. Felt like chatting with your longtime friend. It made me laugh and cry and gasp. well done!

This book is so alive, you will feel as if you have been sleepwalking--funny, bittersweet, satisfying read.

Loved this story of early love and confusion and figuring out who you want to be. I thought it had some Sally Rooney and Naoise Dolan vibes, and I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel’s journey, which, although messy and at times maddening, felt real and was full of heart.

This is a story about Rachel. And her best friend James. And her boyfriend James. It's a slow starter - you have to give yourself time to really get into this one and connect with the characters. I thought it picked up significantly in the second half. It's not a book with much action - this novel is extremely relationship based. There will be times you are pulling out your hair because you are so frustrated with these characters and their actions... Then you will remember that you were once young and stupid as well and we all make mistakes. Overall I really enjoyed the novel and certainly wanted to keep reading. I'd love to know what you thought about the ending because I'm still not quite sure...

This was the messy version of my romanticized take on what it is like to get an English degree. So, I enjoyed every second of it. I loved O'Donoghue"s writing, it was intentional and precise without being overtly preachy or tone deaf. Something I found so crucial to this story was the loneliness that comes from growing in and out of relationships, especially the platonic ones, which was so accurately depicted in this novel. This is just proof that I am not immune to Irish literature and that yes, it always does hit that hard for me.

4.5/5 stars

Rating: 3.5/5

I don’t hate it but I couldn’t really get into it either. Some parts were funny but it was definitely a slow burn for most of it. It made me reflect on my young adulthood and I could relate to Rachel during her reflection of her early 20s. It was a very nostalgic book for me.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! I loved Rachel and James as individual characters and together. It spoke to true life and realistic intertwinings of 20-something’s

“I was twenty and I needed two things: to be in love and to be taken seriously.”

I'm so glad this book is being made into a TV series! Rachel is a perfectly imperfect character, who makes ridiculous mistakes as she tries to figure out who she is in 2010s Ireland in the middle of a recession. When she meets the platonic love of her life working at a bookstore, everything changes - she and her closeted bestie move in together and wreak havoc until they're forced to grow up, not realizing (or caring) who they hurt in the process. O'Donoghue captures the selfishness of 20-somethings superbly - the world revolves around them and everyone else be damned... Until they need help. Or money. Or someone to blame.

If you love quirky character-driven books (I'm sure I'm not the only one who was reminded of Sally Rooney's novels while reading), THE RACHEL INCIDENT is for you. It will make you laugh, it will make you cringe and it will touch your heart.

Thanks to Knopf for the copy to review.