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Rachel's Holiday

32 replies

JaneJeffer · 17/08/2021 13:10

Marian Keyes has written a sequel coming out next February called Rachel Again. Looking forward to reading it.

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ChessieFL · 15/12/2021 15:39

Rachel’s Holiday has been rereleased as an anniversary edition - not sure if there’s any additional content in there or if it’s just a fancy new cover!

mum2jakie · 13/12/2021 22:00

@Iggi999

You can pre-order it on Amazon now, by the way Smile
Got it on my Amazon watchlist and the pre-order has dropped in price to £10. My only issue is that I hate buying hardbacks so normally wait until the paperback comes out.
Lemon27 · 26/08/2021 23:22

Oh I love 'old' Marian Keyes!!! Rachel's Holiday, Watermelon, Sushi for Beginners, and Lucy Sullivan is getting married. There's a bit in LSIGM that is possibly the only time I properly laughed .y head off when reading...the bit where she leaves the dud date in the restaurant and he sees her leaving in a taxi.....she rolls down the window and gives him the two fingers GrinGrin

Any of her books since then I've been disappointed with to be honest. Always feels like there was a central, topical 'issue' to deal with (rape, depression, online bullying, other?) I could see them a mile off and never was able to get as absorbed into them as her first ones.

I agree that her books have gotten worse not better but I also used to love Patricia Scanlan and I feel the same about her stuff too.

ZenNudist · 26/08/2021 22:51

Her writing hasn't been as good for a long time. I found the last book I read by her to be obsessed with clothes shoes make up beauty etc. In lieu of the character having an actual personality.

tribpot · 26/08/2021 22:47

I'm also really dreading this, as I love Rachel's Holiday. I guess if Marian Keyes is going to revist any of the Walshes, it makes sense that it's Rachel given she is the most similar to Keyes herself (although she might identify more with Helen's depression than Rachel's addiction in recent years?). I hope it will be great .. fingers crossed.

I think Last Chance Saloon is my favourite as well.

Phyllis321 · 26/08/2021 22:47

Love RH, it’s one of those books I’ve re-read regularly over the years. A very perceptive and touching story.

Iggi999 · 26/08/2021 22:43

You can pre-order it on Amazon now, by the way Smile

mum2jakie · 26/08/2021 22:37

OMG - I loved this book but must be well over 20 years when I first read it. Will have to re-read and look forward to the sequel. Fantastic news!

ChessieFL · 22/08/2021 11:51

I love everything Marian’s done, but I agree nothing has quite hit the heights of Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday or Last Chance Saloon.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/08/2021 09:17

I haven't liked her recent ones either.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 22/08/2021 06:41

I think, bizarrely, she's got worse as a writer, rather than improving. Possibly due to her mental health?

I loved Rachel's Holiday, and Last Chance Saloon, but in recent years have really struggled to get into her books.

Sausageroll67 · 22/08/2021 05:51

Hmm while I am excited to read it, I’m also a bit meh as her last few books have been bloody awful. I gave up on “Grown Ups” about a third through.

Mufflette · 17/08/2021 16:07

Also didn't get on with Grown Ups, I so wanted to love it! I might work my way through the old ones before this one comes out, I can barely remember Rachel's Holiday as I read it so long ago! I'd forgotten how many non-Walsh ones were brilliant too.

EishetChayil · 17/08/2021 15:59

Oh yay! Can't wait for this. I haven't loved her more recent stuff so hopefully this will spell a return to her old form.

longtompot · 17/08/2021 14:35

@user1481837070

Loved Rachel’s Holiday. I must dig out all my old MK books and re-read them! I’ve not got all of them anymore, unfortunately.

@longtompot - I struggled with Grown Ups too. I found it got better the more I read and was enjoying it by the end.

I'm glad it's not just me. It shall have one last chance then it's off to the naughty step (back of the bookshelf) for it ;)
user1481837070 · 17/08/2021 14:33

Loved Rachel’s Holiday. I must dig out all my old MK books and re-read them! I’ve not got all of them anymore, unfortunately.

@longtompot - I struggled with Grown Ups too. I found it got better the more I read and was enjoying it by the end.

Original poster
JaneJeffer · 17/08/2021 14:20

Sushi for Beginners is my favourite.

OP posts:
longtompot · 17/08/2021 14:15

Loved the Walsh family series. Rachel's Holiday was such a good book, if a dark topic. Loved Watermelon, Sushi for Beginners, all those ones.

But.

I have her latest one, Grown Ups, and just can't get into it. I don't like any of the characters and keep reading them as if they are American. I'll try again when I'm in hospital in a few weeks, but it might be one of her books I have to give up on :(

ChessieFL · 17/08/2021 14:13

Rachel’s Holiday is one of my favourite books and I am very excited about the sequel but also very nervous in case it doesn’t live up to the original.

A pp asked if a sequel was always intended - no it wasn’t, Marian said herself that she always used to say she would never do a sequel but has now changed her mind!

Interestingly, The Break was originally due to be a sequel to Claire’s story (Watermelon) but Marian said the storyline of The Break just wasn’t where she wanted the characters to go in the end so she changed it to be about completely new people (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read Watermelon!). You can see some of the similarities though, one of the characters in The Break has a large family that is quite similar to the Walsh family.

SunbathingDragon · 17/08/2021 14:10

Based on the rest of the books about the Walsh girls, I’m guessing Rachel’s relationship has unraveled again. I liked the character in Rachel’s Holiday so hopefully I will continue to in the next instalment.

Agree with PP about Helen also felt the same about Anna. Would like to read about how Claire is now.

OverTheWater · 17/08/2021 14:06

Oh I loved Rachel's Holiday. Sadly super relatable and very insightful.

Posting now in the hope that someone posts on this thread in February to remind us to buy it!

roundtable · 17/08/2021 13:59

I'm pretty similar in age Kai.

Hopefully it'll be a good read.

userxx · 17/08/2021 13:57

God, was it that long ago!!!

ISpyCobraKai · 17/08/2021 13:55

Sorry, meant to add I'm 43 now!

ISpyCobraKai · 17/08/2021 13:55

I was 21 when I read it so I wouldn't have thought so.