More than two decades since my first reading, I loved this every bit as much second time round. Shocking and funny and sad and such brilliant insight. Roll on Rachel, Again

Read about 10% and realised it was very familiar. Sorry I read (and loved) this book and most of her other books when they first came out. An ‘consumer of books’ it is a testimony to how much I loved them that I still remember this book (and the others on the Walsh family) well. Some I have read several times and love her work.

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.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4410718352

A fascinating story with so much on offer, it was hard to put down and already has me pre ordering the next chapter

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Marian has done such a brilliant job of writing about a subject that is hard to discuss.

The story made me laugh and cry, but I was hooked and was under the impression that it would be just another romance story, but in fact, it turned out to be much more. How the author wrote about addiction was so right.

Marian’s books take you a while to get into them but then they’re hard to put down.

This was the best book I've ever read.

Highly Recommend It.

I’d never read any of Marian Keyes books, so was grateful to be able to read this one. There’s been an intervention for Rachel Walsh, who’s partying lifestyle had gone too wild. She ends up in what she hopes is a celebrity filled rehabilitation centre, the Cloisters. She’s angry, because obviously she doesn't have a problem.

It’s sad really that 25 years later we still have the same problems that Rachel was living with, and that there’s still no quick fix. If I’d read this book when it first came out, I may have empathised with Rachel more, but at first I found myself tutting about her shenanigans. As I read further, I was really surprised how authentic it felt, and how relevant it is today. And to me. As I sat with my wineglass in hand, I realised that it is relevant to me, and most of my friends. We all seem to have addictive personalities, be it for crafting, work or drink. Really well observed and written, with the authors voice ringing clearly through it. A thought provoking read, which I didn’t expect.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I first read this novel many years ago, and jumped at the chance to read it again. Just as good now as then, if not even more so!

Rachel Walsh has been living and working in New York, far from her family and her Dublin roots. Rachel has been having a high old time, blagging her way into all the glamorous parties, landing herself a good-looking boyfriend in Luke and indulging in a few party drugs – but no more than everyone else. So she doesn’t fully understand why she is on a flight to Ireland, with her straight-laced sister and brother-in-law, heading for rehab. She has only agreed to the family’s plan as everyone knows that The Cloisters is where the rich and famous go to and it is oozing luxury at every turn – isn’t it?

The thing about re-reading a novel at any time is that, at a different age and time in life, you take different thing from it, and this is certainly my experience with this one. I had a deeper understanding of Rachel’s life this time round, but let’s not forget who wrote this one; Marian Keyes knows how to grab her readers and keep them hooked to the very last! If you haven’t come across this before, I would really urge you to read the entire series, not necessarily all at once. Definitely a series worth reading (or re-reading) and the Walsh family are like no other and dazzingly entertaining to boot. And talking of boots, I did giggle at Rachel’s ‘huge’ feet at size 8 – mine are a 10! I cannot express how much I’m looking to ‘Again, Rachel’ due to be published in February 2022. This one was a true delight to read and easily worth all five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

What can you say about this ICONIC book that is loved by so many. I have read it so many times and was so excited to read it again before the new book is out in Feb. Rachel is a brilliant character and so are the rest of the Walsh family. I loved her story and the way her stay in rehab was told. It is superbly well written . You feel as if you are reading a story abut a friend. Even though it deals with serious issues it is done in a way that makes it so relatable and credible. I cannot recommend this book enough it is amazing.

Loved loved loved reading this again! I love Rachel’s character and the fact there is going to be another book in February makes me really excited! So glad I reread as did so when it originally came out many years ago. So witty and funny- the whole family dynamics make we laugh so much and Rachel’s depiction of the other people in the cloisters. If you’ve not read you must, if you’ve already read it when it was first released read it again you won’t be disappointed

If I could give this ten stars I would. I first read Rachel’s Holiday when I was a teenager and it had first been released. Since then I have devoured every book about the Walsh Sisters. Rachel is living a great life in New York, but her friend Bridgit seems to think she has a drug problem, Rachel just doesn’t understand why she’d say that. However one day, she takes her ‘recreational’ use too far and ends up having her stomach pumped. Her family send reinforcements over to bring her home and arrange for her to attend the Cloisters…which Rachel believes might just be where the rich and famous go to rehabilitate and so agrees to go. Rachel is in denial…she doesn’t have a drug problem, not like the rest of them. Slowly she comes to terms with her problems, Despite the seriousness of the subject, this book is hilarious, it will have your laughing and crying. The Walsh family are hysterically funny and Marian Keyes writing is just superb. I can’t recommend this, and all other books by Marian enough. .

I first read this years ago and was offered the chance to read it again by the publisher via Netgalley with no promise of a favourable review. This is an anniversary addition ahead of a new book about Rachel - I literally cannot wait. This book however looks at Rachel Walsh and her family talk her in to going into rehabilitation after a near fatal but unintentional overdose. Seeing this as an opportunity for a holiday- Rachel agrees to go, despite not having any drug or other problems at all. Rehab isn't as expected - no celebrities, no soa or gym... and its hard. Under the regime Rachel realises that actually her life wasn't as she saw it and maybe there are things she can learn about herself.

I really loved this - the humour is dark but the topic is deadly serious. Rachel is hard to like in many ways but as we understand her more, I was really hoping she woukd do well. Despite this book being old now, its still great fun. I'm really looking forward to the next installment!

I love Rachel's Holiday and it was so much fun to revisit it. The Walsh family were such a big part of my life whilst I was growing up. I love that Rachel doesn't have everything together, who of us does after all. I like the fact that the story covers such a serious topic, but does so with laughter and lightheartedness without dampening down the important message.

I am so looking forward to seeing Rachel again in 2022 and see what she is up to now.

Its been ages since I read an instalment from the Walsh family. Reading a Marian Keyes novel is like putting your favourite jumper on and snuggling up on the sofa. I read this for the 25 year anniversary of Rachel's holiday, ahead of the sequel coming out early in 2022. After reading this, I'm even more looking forward to what is in store next for Rachel. This came very close to being a 5 star read but I did feel some of middle bit dragged a little for me. It has aged fairly well, although there are a couple of stereotypical scenes that I wondered if Marian would write the same nowadays - areas around weight and sexuality. All very light hearted in meaning.
Being one a a number of girls, I loved the relationships between the sisters and the different personalities.

Oh how much I missed Rachel Walsh!!! I first read this book 25 years ago, after falling in love with Marian Keyes book'Watermelon' I had never come across ANYONE who wrote like this before. Marian's writing is fiercely funny, real, unashamed, sexy, heartbreaking and brutally honest. Rachel's Holiday made me laugh (uproariously) and cry deeply. I had never come across a family like the Walsh's written with such raw realness before. I have known families like them in real life (I am from a family of 5 kids from Co Dublin!) so I knew the writing to be completely accurate. Only siblings can be so cruel and yet so loving simultaneously. Reading Rachel's Holiday again has made me fall back in love with the whole Walsh family and I absolutely must now read all the other books in the series before I get to devour the new Rachel book that's coming. Thank you Marian for keeping The Walshes going, its like going around to an old friends house for a cuppa. Mayhem ensues and it's loud and shouting - but we wouldn't want it any other way!!!!!

I first read this book 25 years ago when I was in my early twenties. Wow really can’t believe it’s been 25 years. It was a book that stayed with me and I then went on to read the others in the series. So when I saw this was re released as a 25th anniversary addition I just had to request it. Well again it was just an absolutely wonderful read. Ok it has been edited slightly to keep up to date but this was great. I started it and felt all those years rolling back. Just loved being back with Rachel. Now I cannot wait to read the next book in the series due out in 2022, Again Rachel.

Usually I find Marion’s novels light and funny, not so much this one. I actually felt the story was long winded in places. Rachel ends up in Cloisters a rehabilitation centre where she thinks she will meet up with celebrities, but unfortunately it is not at all what she expects.

Rachel's life is out of control and she is running out of ways to paper over all the things that are difficult to deal with. The drug addiction also doesn't help, of course. While Rachel doesn't see the need to change, others don't share her view. So, it's time for Rachel to go on "holiday" to sort her life out.

This is a really well-written book, which is at times moving and at others humourous. It tackles difficult issues, but with a light touch. I also think that many of us could do with someone like Josephine in our lives to challenge our misguided thinking and getting us to face up to hard issues.

I read the very recently released edition, republished in advance of its sequel 'Again, Rachel coming out in early 2022'. I noticed that the new edition of Rachel's Holiday has actually been edited, which seems mainly to take out some of the more out of date references (the book is about 25 years old after all and Chris de Burgh is probably not the most up to date reference point) and to tidy up some of the writing more widely. So even if you've read this book before its worth reading this new "refreshed" edition in advance of the new book being published.

On a side note, it took me a long time to discover Marian Keyes, not least because her books are sometimes termed as "chick lit" - a phrase that Keyes herself has said is designed to sideline a whole range of books written my women. But, in reality her books cover difficult issues in an intelligent and accessible way and Rachel's Holiday is a great example of this. So, if you haven't given her books a go yet, they are well worth a read.

I cannot believe this book is 25 years old. I read it in late teens/early twenties, knowing nothing about addiction but devouring it and the rest of the Walsh books - all unputdownable.
Rachel is 27, living in New York with her best friend and having a wild time partying and partying and coming down from partying before more partying….until she wakes up in hospital after having her stomach pumped and is shipped straight back home to Ireland to a treatment facility. One for addicts. Which is weird, as Rachel isn’t an addict. Definitely not. And certainly not like any of the people in the Cloisters.

This novel deals with Rachel realising the depth of her problems whilst facing up to the life she has lost and left behind in NYC, including Luke Costello….

Would highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to revisit an old favourite.

A great read.
Rachel's not on holiday, she is going to rehab.

Although this was first published years ago, it remains relevant.

Love revisiting this book. Rachel’s holiday is one of the first books I read by Keyes and the story of her trip to rehab has stayed with me. Keyes is a very talented writer and I would highly recommend all chick lit/woman’s lit reader to give her books a go. Looking forward to reading the next Walsh family adventure.