Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Again, Rachel.

31 replies

Starsandrain · 31/07/2023 22:04

I loved all the other books Marian Keyes has written, especially those about the Walsh family sisters, but I’m so disappointed with this book. It’s just boring. Anyone else?

OP posts:
CatandSpoon · 31/07/2023 22:06

Oh I didn't like it at all. I was really disappointed. Read ¼, skipped to the end, flicked through the middle. Not her best at all.
I also think it should come with a serious trigger warning as there's a seriously traumatic episode that took me completely unaware

Dogmatix34 · 31/07/2023 22:06

I haven’t been able to finish it. I will go back to it but I also found it boring. Normally Marian Keyes books are a real treat that I can’t put down so I’m relieved I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like it.

BehemothWatermelon · 31/07/2023 22:10

Same here. I listened to it and thought maybe that was the problem but it seems others also disliked it. I found it boring, and too long. Disappointed because I love MK, and Rachel's Holiday was the first I ever read, and I loved it.

iamme21 · 31/07/2023 22:11

Having struggled with her last couple of books, I flew through this and loved it!

Original poster
Starsandrain · 31/07/2023 22:14

Just so disappointed with it. The others are all fab! Was so pleased she’d written a sequel. Halfway through it and want to give up. Nothing makes me want to pick it up and keep reading.

OP posts:
FirstDayOfHoliyays · 31/07/2023 22:15

I was so excited, bought the hardback. Can't finish it

drunkpeacock · 31/07/2023 22:17

I enjoyed it but thought it should have come with some sort of trigger warning too. People pick MK books up for a light read, which this wasn't in a lot of ways.

ReviewingTheSituation · 31/07/2023 22:23

I had it on Audible, and it got me through a lot of long runs when I was marathon training last summer. I had to stop in the middle of a corn field as I was crying so much. I had kind of guessed what was coming, but it still got me.

Notonthestairs · 31/07/2023 22:37

I'm pretty sure MK has written about women facing abortion (& forced to travel to London to do it), recurrent miscarriages, death of partner, addiction, depression, rape & abusive relationships.

I'd agree she has a light touch but covers difficult topics.

I enjoyed Again, Rachel but probably not as much as a couple of others.

FionnulaTheCooler · 31/07/2023 22:39

I felt the same, it just didn't have that Marian Keyes spark that kept me engaged. I did finish it but it wasn't a patch on her previous books.

Original poster
Starsandrain · 31/07/2023 22:40

I think I saw she is writing a sequel about Anna too. Not sure if I’ll bother with that one. Will see what the reviews are before I get it. What a shame.

OP posts:
UnaVaca · 31/07/2023 22:42

I loved it

determinedtomakethiswork · 31/07/2023 22:43

I put off reading this because I was scared of being disappointed but I absolutely loved it. I listened to it though with Marian Keyes narrating it and she was amazing.

Hbh17 · 31/07/2023 22:44

I love Marian Keyes' books usually, but I am so over the Walsh family - the sisters get more and more ghastly and unbelievable. I wonder whether Marian keeps using them because she has run out of ideas?

TheChosenTwo · 31/07/2023 22:47

iamme21 · 31/07/2023 22:11

Having struggled with her last couple of books, I flew through this and loved it!

Same, loved it! Having read her last few books and been a bit disappointed I absolutely loved this one.

BrandyandGinger · 31/07/2023 22:48

I didn't really enjoy it either. Luke had no personality and the whole surprise party subplot was forced and not particularly funny.
I think a book of short stories about the patients in the clinic would have been better. Those parts were more interesting than the parts about the Walshes.

Lesina · 31/07/2023 22:50

it wasn’t laugh out loud funny but it was insightful, measured and reflected how we all grow up. It was great. I loved it. Marian Keyes is very very talented.

Grapewrath · 20/09/2023 20:25

I absolutely loved it. Rachel felt like an old friend. Marian Keyes is extremely talented imo.
There was one or two of hers I could take or leave but I thought Again, Rachel was beautiful

elliemac209 · 20/09/2023 20:48

I didn't finish it either. It was so so boring. The characters were whiny and seemed to be from some cast I had no knowledge or memory of despite reading all the other books at some point. Navel gazing and just so desperately dull. I only got a third of the way through. And it was an audiobook so not even much effort or time to read it.

Miniminiminimalist · 20/09/2023 20:53

I'm Irish and find the way she writes Irish people a bit lazy sometimes. Playing to the English/American reader (especially with the Walsh family books). Maybe there's heavy influence from editors at play there!

I found the first Rachel book didn't date well. Her bf was clearly a bit coercive / abusive. Yes, I'm taking this way too seriously Grin

Thank you for the heads up about this one which I will definitely swerve!

Flakey99 · 20/09/2023 20:59

@Miniminiminimalist Completely agree. 👍

I thought the same about the last Aisling book I read, although I haven’t read the final one yet as I’m worried I might be disappointed. 😂

CurbsideProphet · 20/09/2023 21:05

I read it last year when pregnant with my IVF miracle and very anxious... Definitely wasn't the right time. It's a shame as usually I love Marian Keyes.

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 20/09/2023 21:25

Just don't like the inconsistencies. Rachel and Luke has a baby boy called Moses who was referenced to in another Walsh family book yet in this book it's made out Yara is their first and only child......

kalisimera · 20/09/2023 21:38

I much preferred Rachel's holiday to Again Rachel. Also, being an audible listener, I found Gerri Halligan a way better narrator than Marian Keyes.

WGACA · 20/09/2023 21:47

I enjoyed it but agree if needs to be clearer that it’s about baby loss so people are aware before they read it. I didn’t like the bits about the characters in the rehab clinic and the mother’s party was ridiculous. The bits with the new girlfriend and Rachel were too contrived too.