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.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

The Rachel Incident is about the titular character named Rachel, who, for the majority of the story (told in flashbacks) is living with her gay but not out best friend James. She's also dating another guy named James, but calls him Carey to avoid confusion. James is having a secret tryst with Rachel's professor, who she intended to seduce, by the way.

This book mentions Will & Grace a lot (down to the &) and I couldn't tell if it was trying to to be like the show or not. I think not but by the amount it's compared, who knows.

There are many funny parts, and it's an entertaining read, but not my favorite.

This was a book that got better as it went on with plot twists that I was not expecting. And I’m usually pretty good at that kind of thing. While it started it out to me as young 20-something chick lit-ish it evolved into a fascinating story about power dynamics. And abortion freedom and access. To say more, would give the story away. And I absolutely loved where the present day story went and would have loved more time with all these characters as they are now. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. The book is now available.

TL;DR: I devoured Caroline O’Donaghue’s THE RACHEL INCIDENT on my plane ride home this weekend, and can’t recommend it enough. It’s part NORMAL PEOPLE, part VLADIMIR, centered around the relationship dynamics between 20-something Rachel and her gay best friend James, love interest Carey, and Rachel’s college professor, the catalyst for much of the drama that takes place in the book. It’s darkly funny and sexy and uncomfortably relatable (that dinner party scene!), and it’s a book that left me miserably reminiscing about my own cringe-worthy journey of self-discovery after I graduated from college.