Wow, this was a fantastic read! O’Donoghue perfectly captured the mess, uncertainty, and intensity of being in your early twenties. Rachel and her best friend James were both infuriating characters that felt so authentic and relatable, even when they were being unlikable you couldn’t help but root for them. I found this book relatable since I was in my late teens in 2010 (where the events of this book take place) and it really threw me for a loop with all the nostalgia I felt, despite being in a different country. As Rachel would say, O’Donughue captured the ‘vibe.’ This book tackles some heavy themes like abortion and miscarriage, so tread lightly if it’s a sensitive topic. On that note, I think this book did an excellent job balancing heaviness with humor. Overall, highly recommend to all my literary fiction fans who enjoy Sally Rooney and Marian Keyes.

Once I got into this story, I really could not stop turning the pages. Quite simply it’s a love story between two twenty something friends that are trying to get life figured out. It was easy at times to be frustrated with Rachel and James’ decisions, but as they were so likeable, easy to forgive all their missteps. I found this funny, thought provoking and compelling. It felt so personal. I kept wondering if this was perhaps non-fiction? I thought these were well written characters and overall a really interesting and thoughtful story, with a very satisfying ending. Also very entertaining!

this was good! not my favorite thing I've ever read but for fans of Sally Rooney this is absolutely perfect. not my thing, but I could easily see it being someone else's favorite.

This is my first Caroline O’Donoghue, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I finished it this afternoon and really, really loved it. I wasn’t entirely sure where it was going for roughly the first half - It was fairly slow to start but not boring, and I was interested enough to keep going. I’m happy to say that when I got around 65-70%, it felt like it really ramped up to where I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

The characters felt authentic and hit the right balance of being annoying and exhausting at times, but still likable and making you root for them. Rachel is telling the story from present-day London, and provides commentary and insights into the story and about her younger self, which tempers the more grating characteristics of young adults. I saw another reviewer say she does this without being hard on her younger self and having compassion for her, which I would agree with and really loved.

Even though I didn’t relate to Rachel and James’s specific situations, I was brought back to the messiness, feelings of instability and untetheredness of being in your early 20’s, especially since I graduated college in 2010 and faced a terrible job market that set graduates from that time back so much, and are still feeling the effects of in our lives. It looks at relationships and how important and complicated they can be, how we get in our own way and perceive things because of it, and how even though we feel stuck and will never figure things out, somehow pieces fall into place, even if it's not when or exactly how we wanted them to. Sexuality and reproductive rights are also key to the story, some similarities which we see and hear about in the US, but we also see them in a different context within Ireland, especially with the repeal referendum having been so recent, in 2018.

I really loved the writing style, and O'Donoghue is so good at capturing how humor works its way into serious situations. The book is heavy and emotional at times, but it's also funny, comforting and hopeful. It's literary fiction, but not intimidating or pretentious, and I think it will appeal to a lot of different readers.

Overall I was so surprised by this story, mostly because I was going in pretty blind, and I've been thinking about it ever since finishing. The Rachel Incident is a story that reminds me why I love reading so much, and I will definitely be buying a hard copy for my collection. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an eArc of the book.

I absolutely loved the way Rachel’s experience was presented to the reader. Looking back, Rachel calls attention to the mistakes of her younger years without being cruel to herself. She acknowledges the ways we can be flawed and self centered when we’re young, but also the ways people take advantage of young people that are so difficult to see in the moment. I found myself at times being frustrated with Rachel for her immaturity but ultimately so empathetic for the struggles she works through. Early-twenties are HARD!

This book is perfect for anyone who understands the special kind of support that comes from a found family. The relationships (romantic but also friendships and family relationships) in this book were each so different and so thoroughly investigated that I will be thinking about them for a long, long time.

So, off the bat I should say that I’m a huge fan of Caroline O’Donoghue and was really excited to read THE RACHEL INCIDENT.
And I’m happy to say I loved it…. for the most part. It’s messy, hilarious at times and warm-hearted, BUT I can’t help but feel disappointed by the neat and tidy ending which I personally feel let the whole thing down. A few loose ends would have been fine…. All in all though, there’s a lot to love and I continue to be a fan. Thank you so much for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I'll be honest - I got a widget for this book because of my glowing review of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.... which is really confusing given how dramatically different the books are. The Rachel Incident is a literary fiction account of the life of Rachel Murray as she struggles to break into the publishing industry. It focuses a lot on life in Ireland and the abortion ban there. I definitely went in expecting a salacious relationship with a teacher, and it's not that. Instead we watch Rachel self-sabotage until she's near rock bottom. The narrator did a phenomenal job with the book, I just wanted more tension and plot rather than all the character-motivated business.

*Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC and PRH Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review*

A sensible and thoughtful novel about friendship, loyalty, and surviving young adulthood.

This is a novel filled with very flawed characters and their flaws made me love them so much more. None of us know what the f we are doing, and it is always reassuring to read books that accurately recall the struggles of growing up.

I thought O'Donoghue managed to make these characters feel like real people and I thought the writing flowed perfectly. The story was original and enjoyable, and the ending was wrapped up nicely.

*Many thank yous to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book to read.

I've read a couple books sort of like The Rachel Incident lately - coming-of-age stories, slices of life, young adults drinking and having a lot of sex.

While I'm finding that these really aren't for me - whether it's because I'm 41, or because I got married at 22 and didn't have that kind of young adulthood, or it's just not my jam in lit - The Rachel Incident definitely has some memorable characters and a unique tale.

Rachel immediately clicks with James, a new coworker, and they find themselves as new roommates and best friends. Rachel's trying to finish college, and finds her professor pretty fascinating.

Apparently so does James, after Rachel finds them en flagrante in the bookshop storage closet.

What follows is the story of their affair, Rachel's falling apart over the rest of the school year, and the story of a friendship.

No one in this book is particularly likable, so if that's a sticking point for you, beware. I also don't know how much personal growth we really see from Rachel, which to me is a little disappointing ... but she is pretty young for the whole story. (I now look back at myself at 23 and I pretty horrified.)

If you love stories like Dolly Alderon's Ghosts or Jana Casale's How to Fall Out of Love Madly, I think you'll really enjoy this. It is well-written and totally readable - just not my cup of tea.

The Rachel Incident accurately depicts the messiness of early adulthood. And for our FMC Rachel, and those around her, it is especially messy. As Rachel recounts the story that led her to her current situation, you are introduced to her various loves in her life and how they evolve. From bookstore clerk to trying to find her way through the publishing field... From a loveless relationship to every other possible type of relationship.. Rachel finds all the drama.

This book was damn good. I loved how well it showed how self doubt and the precarious nature of early adulthood can lead way to toxic attachment. Each relationship, both platonic and not, alters throughout the story in ways you won't see coming. I found myself sucked right into this one!

4.5/5

3.5 Stars

I came across this one via a marketing email from the publisher. The book's about a young woman living in her native Cork, Ireland and struggling financially during a recession. She finds a job in a bookshop where she makes the acquaintance of one James Devlin. This is a flashpoint in Rachel's life, as she and James spark a unique friendship and incredible bond. James is quite the character and is obviously gay, although he hasn't come out to his family and friends. They suddenly decide to get a place together, revelling in their unconventional but thriving relationship. Life becomes quite complex when Rachel's professor at college integrates into she and James' personal lives, causing a bit of controlled chaos. There were some shocking and hilarious moments that made me laugh out loud and took me by surprise. This was a fairly quick and pleasant read that was a mixed bag of humor, the complicated road of love and sex, navigating employment in publishing and entertainment, and the serious discussion of unwanted pregnancy.

Thank you to the publisher Knopf who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

DNF @22%
I can't tell if I'm not liking the book, or if I'm just not in the mood for it. It's slow and boring and I don't care about the characters.

This book follows a 20something millenial struggling in friendship, love and career. It took me a bit to get into but once it gets into the “love” story o was more connected to the characters. I liked the look back at early 2000s to take note of how things have changed, or haven’t. Someone mentioned this was reminiscent of Rooney and I will say there were parts that also reminded me of Adelaide as well. It’s a bit meandering but I think it will resonate with those that are in this phase of life or more recently left it behind..

Multiple times while reading this book I wondered if I wasn’t the right audience. I’m a textbook first born child Virgo and reading about Rachel and James’s winging it/no plans nature was making me itch. Then I got to the meat of this novel and it was gold. Character development and overall story was well developed and executed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for granting me early access to this book!

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I was not disappointed! I found it to be really powerful and interesting, thoughtful and funny. A coming of age story full of love, lust, and mistakes. Trigger warnings for abortion and miscarriage.

This is a coming of age story that follows Rachel Murray, in her last year of university, and meets James, a new employee at the bookstore she works at, who is a closeted gay man. They quickly become friends and move in together, beginning a transformative year for both of their lives.

Rachel has a deep crush on one of her married professors, Dr. Byrne and comes up with a plan to interact with him more. While that relationship does not unfold as she hopes, her life becomes more intertwined with James, Dr. Byrne, and Dr. Byrne's wife. 

The book is narrated by Rachel, about 10 years after the events from this year have passed, offering some introspective commentary. Rachel comes off as insecure, desperate, uncertain, and just trying to figure out what she wants to do and be. I found the three (and a half) main characters to all be greatly flawed and now always likeable. I didn't always support Rachel's decisions or the way she communicates but did try to remember how young and lost she was.  This book is quite reminiscent to Sally Rooney books - which is to say, I am not a big fan of Sally Rooney.

Recommend if you enjoy
Contemporary Irish fiction stories
Queer coming of age stories
Sally Rooney stories
Abortion politics

When 20-year-old Rachel Murray meets James, the new employee at the bookstore she works at, she is immediately drawn to him, desperate to be his friend. The two coworkers quickly hit it off and move in together, thus beginning a transformative year for both of their lives.

Rachel is in her last year of university and has a deep crush on one of her married professors, Dr. Byrne. In true young adult best friend fashion, James is completely supportive of Rachel's fantasies about an affair with Dr. Bryne and schemes with her on how to make it happen. Though Rachel's relationship with her professor does not unfold as she hoped, both James's and her lives become intertwined with those of Dr. Bryne's and his wife's in ways they could not have foreseen.

I absolutely loved The Rachel Incident. The plot is jaw-dropping yet believable, and O'Donoghue does an excellent job of portraying the characters as deeply relatable, if not always likable. Narrated by a remarkably introspective Rachel ten years later, The Rachel Incident perfectly captured the insecurity, uncertainty, and, at times, desperation, of your early 20's as you try to figure out who you are and what you want your life to become.

AHHHHH! I am so thankful to Knopf Books, NetGalley, and PRH Audio for sending me digital and physical copies of The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. This contemporary Irish fiction details 2010-come up in university while struggling to find your place and be involved. Our dear MC, Rachel, longs to work in publishing and meets many of her friends through the bookstore she works at along the way.

As she comes to know her future roommate, James, she takes one too many bullets for him and the trouble he gets into. James is sleeping with one of their professors, and later down the line, Rachel takes the blame for it to protect the professor's queer journey and the privacy of her close friend.

I found myself wanting to shake Rachel to better stand up for herself against those who so frequently take advantage of her, but perhaps that's a part of growing up -- you have to figure things out the hard way.

The Rachel Incident is set to hit shelves on June 27, 2023, and I can't wait!

I'm presently living with a twenty-one year old so this book hit home and made me consider my own youth despite not having grown up in Ireland where this book is set. Loved the characters in the book - I think I would've been friends with Rachel and James in my twenties - or at least wanted to. The flow of the book really worked for me and I liked the glimpses into the future where you knew Rachel had landed but still wondered about what got her there. Caroline O'Donoghue masterfully incorporated some big issues such as infidelity, miscarriage, abortion and the Repeal movement in Ireland (of which I wasn't very familiar and looked up). This book didn't disappoint and I'm looking forward to Caroline O'Donoghue's next offering already. Read this! It's a banger! (4.5)

First book i've had from this author and it was a refreshing change from the books that I normally read. This is a coming of age story that transports one to 2010. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.