Marian Keyes

"How did it end up like this? Twenty-seven, unemployed, mistaken for a drug addict, in a treatment centre in the back arse of nowhere with an empty Valium bottle in my knickers . . . ' Meet Rachel Walsh. She has a pair of size 8 feet and such a fondness for recreational drugs that her family has forked out the cash for a spell in Cloisters - Dublin's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She's only agreed to her incarceration because she's heard that rehab is wall-to-wall jacuzzis, gymnasiums and rock stars going tepid turkey - and it's about time she had a holiday. But what Rachel doesn't count on are the toe-curling embarrassments heaped on her by family and group therapy, the dearth of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll - and missing Luke, her ex. What kind of a new start in life is this?"

Rachel's Holiday

Meet Rachel Walsh. She has a pair of size 8 feet and such a fondness for recreational drugs that her family has forked out the cash for a spell in Cloisters – Dublin’s answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She’s only agreed to her incarceration because she’s heard that rehab is wall-to-wall jacuzzis, gymnasiums and rock stars going tepid turkey – and it’s about time she had a holiday.

But what Rachel doesn’t count on are the toe-curling embarrassments heaped on her by family and group therapy, the lack of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll – and missing Luke, her ex. What kind of a new start in life is this?

Rachel's holiday

Erin G.

Re-read ahead of new sequel. Loved it as much as I did in 1998.

A good easy read, it was pretty emotional though. 

Jodie Reads

grace richards

3.5, i wouldn’t normally go for this kind of book but it was donated to me by my mother so i felt obliged to read it. overall, it’s a good book. a bit too long, i think. at some points i felt like i was going round in circles with rachel (but i guess that is the point) but the end definitely could’ve been condensed.

My First Marian Keyes book and honestly really enjoyed the writing and style of the book but I do need to say that this is a book of its time, The Language and Descriptions of People is very of its time and can make for a little uncomfortable reading at times, but you need to remember the time it was written.

Rachel has just accidentally overdosed and ended up in hospital, in come her family, Roommate and boyfriend to send her off into treatment! However, for Rachel she thinks that this is a waste of Time and unnecessary. Over the cause of the book, we see Rachel grow as a person and character. We see flashbacks go her life in New York as well as her coming to terms with treatment, this book is both very funny and very sad. We see Rachel come to the realisation of what and who she is.

This dealt with the addition in a way that was heart-warming as well as giving it a sense of realism. Rachel wanting someone or anything to blame wasn't the point. The point was what was she going to do now.

Keyes does such an amazing job of bringing the characters and all the secondary characters to life and brining the entire story to life in a way that makes it easy to read despite the subject matter being a hard hitting one. It’s clear to see that extensive research on rehabs and addiction because everything seemed sensitive and real all at the same time. This book had me wincing a bit along with laughing and even feeling tears. Not a typical chick-lit book considering the subject matter.

The ending was great. I loved that we see Rachel in a new stage of her life, and she's focused on being a better person.

Ian Brakspear

My First Marian Keyes book and honestly really enjoyed the writing and style of the book but I do need to say that this is a book of its time, The Language and Descriptions of People is very of its time and can make for a little uncomfortable reading at times, but you need to remember the time it was written.

 

Rachel has just accidentally overdosed and ended up in hospital, in come her family, Roommate and boyfriend to send her off into treatment! However, for Rachel she thinks that this is a waste of Time and unnecessary. Over the cause of the book, we see Rachel grow as a person and character. We see flashbacks go her life in New York as well as her coming to terms with treatment, this book is both very funny and very sad. We see Rachel come to the realisation of what and who she is.

 

This dealt with the addition in a way that was heart-warming as well as giving it a sense of realism. Rachel wanting someone or anything to blame wasn't the point. The point was what was she going to do now.

 

Keyes does such an amazing job of bringing the characters and all the secondary characters to life and brining the entire story to life in a way that makes it easy to read despite the subject matter being a hard hitting one. It’s clear to see that extensive research on rehabs and addiction because everything seemed sensitive and real all at the same time. This book had me wincing a bit along with laughing and even feeling tears. Not a typical chick-lit book considering the subject matter.

 

The ending was great. I loved that we see Rachel in a new stage of her life, and she's focused on being a better person.

Charlotte

A fantastic heartbreaking book, full of the full of the wit only Marian Keyes can provide, I can't recommend this enough. I loved Rachel's story and know this will be a book I'll read again and again.

RACHEL'S HOLIDAY, Marian's classic novel about addiction, is being given a new lease of life with a fantastic new jacket treatment. Here's Rachel Walsh, twenty-seven and the miserable owner of size 8 feet. She has regular congress with Luke Costello, a man who wears his leather trousers tight. And she's fond - some might say too fond - of recreational drugs. Until she finds herself being frogmarched to the Cloisters - Dublin's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She's outraged. Surely she's not thin enough to be an addict? Heartsick and Luke-sick, she seeks redemption in the shape of Chris, a Man with a Past. A man who might be more trouble than he's worth.

Maria Davis 

Predictable yet poignant. Cliche but still creative. Exactly what you would expect from this kind of book but I’m not going to pretend to hate it. Was a fun easy read, and felt real and relatable. 

Rachel's Holiday

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