I loved reading this book it was really well written and grabbed my attention right from the start

Thoroughly entertaining read full of emotion and humour it really captivated me

Loved the characters especially Rachel he some ways I can see me self in her

Will definitely be reading this author again

I am a fan of slice of life/coming of age Irish fiction. I recognise parts of myself and my life in the characters and places, and The Rachel Incident was no different. I enjoyed her and James's friendship and the depiction of the chaos of life in your 20s as you try (and fail) to figure it out. It is witty, sarcastic and honest.

The story focuses around James's relationship with Rachel's lecturer and the repercussions on everyone's lives, but for me, this wasn't really the interesting part, I actually found this part repetitive at times. Instead, I enjoyed that it shone a light on how emotionally incapable Rachel was. Her character is so well crafted – a self-absorbed 20 something year old who has no emotional regulation at all. I didn't like her for most of the novel but I recognised her.

Other themes are touched upon – class, sexuality, women's rights. These didn't vet as much page time as I would have liked, but they were all dealt with sympathetically, particularly the issue around abortion in Ireland pre-Repeal.

Overall, I did enjoy it and would recommend if you enjoy coming of age Irish fiction!

The Rachel Incident
Caroline O’ Donoghue

I loved this book. Beautifully written and full of emotion. Even though I’m old enough to be Rachel’s mother I found I could really relate to her and I cared so much about where her story would end up. Caroline O’Donoghue has a great writing career ahead of her and I can’t wait to read what she offers us next.

Great book - lots of humour and enjoyed the writing style. Couldn’t put it down! 4 stars. Also enjoyed the characters

A funny and interesting read. Loved the ins and outs of Rachel's life, her 'relationship' with Dr Burns, her friendship with her roommate.

A great book from Caroline, I really enjoyed the plot and the characters and I found myself hooked. Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

A brilliantly readable book that explores complex relationships with huge amounts of reality and humour - what a talent

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

This is a very very enjoyable read. I do not know much about the author and her podcast and haven't read anything from her previously so this was a great introduction to her. The relationship between Rachel and James was fabulous. This novel would make a great TV series!

I'm very much a plot over character driven kind of reader, and unfortunately The Rachel Incident is predominantly all about Rachel and less about any kind of decernable plot. And to say its about Rachel, I actually found her to have little definable characteristics, allowing everyone else in the story to overpower her personality wise. She's basically a bystander in her own life. Because of this I found the novel to be a little bland and predictable, and overall I just wasn't invested in the story at all. There are glimmers of magic, with some really good prose and I loved the inclusion of some iconic Irish cultural references (The Late Late Toy Show!), however there's just no emotion behind the writing.

Promising but ultimately not for me.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and following their friendship, and was really rooting for them.

A really good telling of a specific time period in Cork City in Ireland. Caroline O'Donoghue is a writer of immense talent that I've read a lot of recently. This follows her incredibly close bond with her best friend and housemate in college and the incident of the title refers to something which happens to them. It's a heartbreaking but equally, funny book and a lot of fun to read.

I've read books by Caroline O'Donoghue before and I have really enjoyed them but none as much as I liked The Rachel Incident.

The Rachel Incident is a delicious coming of age drama set in Ireland. It deals with topics such as friendship, first love, inappropriate crushes and mostly how devastatingly hard it can be to grow up. How there isn't a guide book on how to do it correctly and how so many mistakes can be made and just how easily that can happen.

Rachel - for all her undesirable qualities - is such a likable protagonist. You want her to be successful and happy but you know that journey isn't going to be smooth and you ride right beside her all the way through. You see the good, the bad and the downright ugly but you still root for her.

O'Donoghue's characterisation is majestic and I became so involved with these characters lives. I wanted more. I wanted to be friends with them all. As a reader, I was on the periphery. I wanted to be in the inner circle.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Rachel Incident and would completely recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue is available now.

For more information regarding Little, Brown Book Group (@LittleBrownUK) please visit www.littlebrown.co.uk.

Brilliant! I enjoyed it so much that I downloaded it on audiobook and listened to it immediately. I'm adding it to my reread pile for later this year.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I absolutely loved reading this book! It's an incredibly captivating tale that delves into the complexities of friendship, love, and the intricate dynamics that exist between people. The plot is expertly crafted, with an array of fascinating and distinctive characters that bring the story to life in unexpected ways. This book is a truly unique and quirky read that will keep you hooked until the very end!

One of the best books I’ve read all year. I devoured this book in two sittings. I was enthralled with the lives of Rachel and James.

Fabulous writing - clever, funny and oh so relatable (a visit back to college days in many ways!).. I read it in about 24 hours, it flowed so well and I was invested in the characters and their outcomes. Can’t wait to read more from Caroline O’Donoghue.

An unlikeable narrator that doesn't crave sympathy yet draws empathy from the reader while unfolding a messy transition to adulthood. The raw and unapologetic storytelling unveils the complexities of relationships, underemployment, and the pursuit of bigger things. The heart of the narrative beats with the dynamic friendship between Rachel and her gay best friend James, offering a compelling character study. It beautifully captures the nostalgia of early adulthood, portraying flawed yet fully realised characters and delving into the intricacies of closure, growth, and the passage of time.

I’d seen a lot of hype about this book and as usual, O’Donoghue doesn’t disappoint!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.