This book was everything I have wanted Sally Rooney books to be. They are very similar in so many ways, but Caroline O'Donoghue writes characters you actually care about, and plots you want to see resolved. The story was messy in a way that felt real, not manufactured. Very enjoyable.

I felt like I never quite knew what was going to happen next! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read this book, I found it entertaining and moved at a good pace to keep me interested throughout.

I've had a copy of this forever, thanks to NetGalley, and I finally read it after I saw it pop up on a few year-end round-ups of the best books.

I'm so glad I did! The characters draw you in instantly, and you become so invested in Rachel and James's world.

The sense of being young and unmoored, trying to find your place in the world, and unrequited longing are all universal themes and are laid out perfectly in this novel.

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did, I was utterly captivated by it!

Thank you #netgalley for this wonderful ARC of #therachelincident

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for my honest review.*

Rachel is facing social turmoil and financial collapse in Ireland in the mid-2000's (I think). She is at university and leaves her parents house to lessen their financial burden, but struggles to make ends meet with her roommate and co-worker James. And she falls in love with her professor and sets up a reading of his books at the bookstore where she and James work with the intention of seducing him. But Professor is more interested in James and so begins Rachel's job of playing the beard.

I ended up listening to the audio book and got the full Irish accented story. It was fantastic! Some of the story was a bit expected, but a lot was not and it was told from the perspective of an older, and possibly wiser, pregnant Rachel. A lot was included in the book in indirect ways - class differences, clashes between UK and Ireland, economic situations - and a lot was a more direct - the abortion legality and work arounds, the LGBTQ issues before a lot of acceptance, the job market, etc. And it's told from the Rachel's perspective so it was very relatable to me.

Quite an enjoyable read!

I am always pretty quick to add modern college novels to my "to read" pile, and I was especially happy with this one--it adds a fresh twist to the professor/student relationship plot (which is not always easy to do--it is, admittedly, a little stale). I appreciate how The Rachel Incident develops the complexity of coming of age, infidelity, friendship, love, and a spiraling economy without being trite or superficial. It feels especially sharp now, in 2023, right at the edge of another economic recession not unlike the early 2000s.

Rachel's lack of female friendships is frustrating, and it's clear she's frustrated with it as well. This adds to the complexity of her decisions, I think, when her closest companions are men who care about her very much, but lack a nuanced understanding of her motives.

All of the characters are deeply flawed, but not so much that we despise them. Instead, we are left thinking critically about how they respond to what's put in front of them.

Rachel's resolution is really sweet and satisfying, after everything she had been through. I wish that the same could be said for James. His heartbreak was really touching. I loved this character and would absolutely read a similar novel centered on him instead of Rachel.

My favorite aspect overall was getting to experience how Carey and Rachel misunderstood each other so fundamentally--both assumed the other's distance was because of lack of interest (or an interest in others), when in reality they were doing what they thought was best for their partner. The author's slow, subtle way of developing their relationship, which, thankfully, never turns toxic, is refreshing.

Told from mid-30s Rachel's POV as she looks back on her early 20s, this coming of age novel perfectly depicts the messiness of early adulthood. Life feels like a blank page, and the endless possibilities can be energizing or crippling, depending on the personality (or even the day!). I loved Rachel's friendship with James, her gay best friend, as they navigated careers and love lives. The two don't always make good decisions, of course, and they're extremely self-centered (what 21-year-old isn't?) but I was right there with them in all of the confusion and mess. At times, the jumps between present day and past were abrupt and confusing, but overall I really enjoyed this page-turning story.

When Rachel meets James while working in a bookstore, neither would have ever guessed that it was the start of a friendship that would change both of their lives. Rachel and James soon become deeply intertwined in each other's lives as co-workers, roommates, and keepers of each other's secrets. When James begins a secret relationship with one of Rachel's professors, Fred Byrne, under surprising circumstances, Rachel and James's bond is both strengthened and tested as they each become deeply intertwined in the lives of Fred and his wife, with funny, tragic, and life-altering consequences.

This book is terrific. Through well crafted and often surprising characters, it is a sharply observed account of young adulthood, friendship, and the small and big choices that define a life.

Highly recommended!

US pub date: 6/27/23
Genre: contemporary fiction, coming of age
Quick summary: Rachel and James become best friends while working at a bookstore - but can their friendship survive James' affair with married professor Fred Byrne, who Rachel is also in love with?

I love books with strong friendships, and the friendship between Rachel and BFF James was so well-written. I loved how the story of their time towards the end of Rachel's university studies unfolded, and how their interactions with Rachel's professor impacted both their lives. It's an exploration of twenty-something life in Ireland, which may make you think of Sally Rooney, but Rooney is a bit hit or miss for me. I actually found these characters and their romantic entanglements more compelling. The ending gave me all the feels, and I think fans of character-driven novels will enjoy it.

Thank you to Knopf for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The author told an excellent tale a s delivered a meaningful message which is important to me. The setting is Ireland with London toward the end of the book. We see how the young 20s live in a small university town live, work, study. We follow a young man/boy and girl/woman who are.best friends (he’s gay) through multiple experiences. In the end they grow to be truly adults living their ‘dream’. It’s the inbetween that makes this book not only a good read but also significant.

This book turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I started it a couple times and just couldn't vibe with it, but after I got past the first couple chapters, I started to settle into the story and ended up really enjoying it. I loved the way the characters were portrayed, warts and all, and these characters are extremely flawed. Their lives were so messy and it was fun to escape into the drama. However, this book was also kind of sad in places. Even though there was a lot of humor, the best bits for me were the serious parts. My only complaint about the book was the ending. To be clear, it wasn't what happened (I actually liked that part), it was more about who initiated it. I won't give any spoilers, but I will just say that I personally didn't think it was Rachel's place to do what she did. Other than that, this was a solid book for me.

Special thanks to NetGally and Knopf for providing me with an advanced copy

I love that Irish authors are having their spotlight! This was a great, funny and powerful debut that I really enjoyed. The characters are so well-rounded and the relationship between Rachel and all her friends is palpable and believable.

Wow wow wow! I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I had heard lots about it and it definitely is an amazing read!

Thank you NetGalley and Caroline O'Donoghue!

On one hand, this is an excellent book about growing up, focusing on the university years, that is heartfelt and relatable. However, I also found the main character immature and irresponsible, which made it hard for me to truly connect with her.

This is definitely more a personal issue for me because this book is well-written and a story I feel others will love.

This was pitched to me on the basis of its similarity in vibes to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which I love deeply. But many of the reviews ALSO compared it to Sally Rooney which... I hate her books. Luckily this fell into the former and not the latter category.

O'Donoghue is a gifted writer -- the prose is vivid and engaging and the story draws you in and doesn't let go. The characters are messy and flawed and wildly compelling. I couldn't put this down once I picked it up.

“We’ve all had our hearts broken, and we’ve all had someone cut us some slack because of it”

I enjoyed this so much. I don’t have any complaints so ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

I went into this with no context and think this book is best to know as little as possible. It grabbed my attention from the first chapter and had me invested until the end. I love coming-of-age stories mixed with romance so if you do too, I highly recommend picking this up.

‘The Rachel Incident’ takes place in Ireland and we meet present-day Rachel as she finds out horrible news about her college professor. She then takes us back in time as she retells us the story about her 20s and her connection to this professor (prepare for a great plot twist because it's not what you think 🤭)

An easy read that is funny, thoughtful, and well-written. There are relationships that define you, friendship and romantic and this story covers both. We see the financial troubles Ireland is facing and Caroline smartly ties in reproductive healthcare and class politics.

One of my favorite aspects which made it unique was her retelling. Witnessing young people finding their way can be frustrating (while also relatable lol). But since Rachel is speaking from the present day, she acknowledges moments of ignorance or bad decision-making. As a reader, this was satisfying because as long we both know this is a bad decision, carry on!

This is worth all the praise! I loved the ending. Thank you @aaknopf @czaronline for the copy! One of my favorite reads of the year 🥹💕

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

A very good book. Our heroine remembers her time as a young woman finding herself. As we all know, there are a lot of terrible ideas when we are young. Many mistakes of the heart. But one constant in the heroine's life is her best friend.
Excellent writer who managed to wrangle some difficult characters into an engaging story.

This is a journey of self discovery, mistakes and missteps and exactly what finding yourself should be about! I would love to see this as a tv series.

Thank you #knopf and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Very entertaining read about a woman trying to adult amid friendships, partying, and paying the rent. Great laugh out loud moments and very satisfying ending.

The Rachel Incident focuses on Rachel, both as a uni student in the past and her older self in the present, as well as her best friend James and the two's relationship with Rachel's professor, Dr. Byrne.

I don't think I really knew what to expect when I read The Rachel Incident. While the synopsis is accurate and the events listed do happen, I guess I expected it to be more plot driven. But The Rachel Incident is much more character driven, almost memoir-like in its writing style. All in all, I think it was really well written and I enjoy the story very much, but it took me a little white to fully connect with the book.