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New Marian Keyes....anyone excited?

92 replies

Spidey66 · 15/02/2022 12:32

So, this Thursday is the release of Again, Rachel, the 25 year sequel to Rachel's Holiday, which is possibly one of my all time favourite books. I do love her books but Rachel's Holiday is my stand out. I must have read it and re read it god knows how many times.

I've preordered it on my Kindle and am biting my nails with excitement!

Anyone else looking forward to it?

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 15/02/2022 12:34

Oooh!

I may have to buy it. I loved Rachel’s holiday, well all the books about the Walsh girls really.

HollowTalk · 15/02/2022 12:39

Thanks for this, I was wondering when it was out. I loved Rachel's Holiday - just terrified of not liking the sequel!

Redcrayons · 15/02/2022 12:40

Me. Have had it on preorder since before Christmas. Just realized it’s coming on Thursday.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 15/02/2022 12:43

I really want to read it but can't bring myself to pay a tenner! Will wait until it's dropped in price I think.

ChessieFL · 15/02/2022 12:46

Yes me! Rachel’s Holiday is also one of my favourite books. I’m half excited and half nervous about the sequel - really want to read it but what if I’m disappointed?

strawberryapricotpie · 15/02/2022 13:01

Ooh, you've just reminded me I pre-ordered this! Looking forward to it coming now!

Kenneldogsrock · 15/02/2022 13:03

Yes I love Rachel’s Holiday and you have reminded me to order it!

Jellycatrabbit · 15/02/2022 13:12

I pre ordered after a similar thread on here in about November! Think I will re read Rachel's Holiday over the next few days.

Another book that resonated with me in the same way was All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner - anyone have other recommendations?

TheMooch · 15/02/2022 13:16

I will read the reviews.

I liked Rachel's Holiday and Lucy O'Sullivan is getting married. TBH thought others I have read were mediocre except the last one which I thought was an excellent idea for a book but was boring dirge to read.

drwitch · 15/02/2022 13:17

I read them all (the walsh sisters) again so i'd be fully caught up. The only one I don't like is Anna. - I mean I love her dippy hippy incantation in the earlier books and the more rounded one you see in the book about her and the later ones BUT i really wish we could have seen what made her grow up. Ideally from Rachel's holiday, to Angels (where she gets a job I think) and then to the start of her book
Or is this really sad?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/02/2022 13:19

I'm both excited and nervous - Rachel's Holiday is the best thing MK has ever written, and I think the later books about the Walsh family were a mistake, because the characters weren't as well differentiated when the story was written from their point of view.

I will always buy everything she writes though, because even if the plot is weak I just enjoy her writing voice.

LittleDiaries · 15/02/2022 13:57

Yes. I pre-ordered it ages ago, and re-read Rachel's Holiday ahead of it, but haven't read all of the Walsh sisters novels. I have read a lot of Marian Keyes' standalone novels though.

hopeishere · 16/02/2022 21:52

I have it on preorder! Checked today and it will be on my kindle tomorrow!! That's my reading material for covid isolation / storm sorted!!

mrsnec · 16/02/2022 22:16

I used to be a big fan but I'm reading Grown ups at the moment and it's absolutely terrible I just can't get into it and I'm really close to abandoning it without finishing so I'm not sure if I'm on board just yet. Shame.

HollowTalk · 16/02/2022 22:31

@mrsnec I have tried to read that book a few times and just can't do it. I only like the Walsh girls but hated Mercy Close. Helen is by far the most interesting character and I thought she just got her completely wrong there. I am half dreading reading this new book!

ParkheadParadise · 16/02/2022 22:34

Yes me
I have it on pre-order
Watermelon was my favourite Marian Keyes book

AllTheYoungGoodyTwoShoes · 16/02/2022 22:38

Loved all her early books and most of the later ones. Currently reading The Break, enjoying it but its very long!

22Newnames · 16/02/2022 22:51

Another one who loved her earlier books but Grown Ups was really hard work. Very rare that I give up on a book without finishing but I did with that one.

I’ll wait and see what people say about the new one and maybe buy it when it’s cheaper.

JacquelineCarlyle · 16/02/2022 22:52

Oh wow, didn't realise there was a sequel! Will have to get it! Thanks Op, just hope it's good!

ENoeuf · 16/02/2022 22:55

Not after buying Grown Ups and realising her early appeal is lost.

Cherryblossoms85 · 16/02/2022 22:55

Her writing really changed after her depression got worse. I want to like it!

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 16/02/2022 23:08

I'm excited but nervous about it. Loved Rachel's Holiday so much at the time. Might be due a re-read before the new one.
I did read the preview chapter of Rachel Again on Christmas day. Let's see....

Iamthewombat · 16/02/2022 23:47

She hasn’t written a good book since This Charming Man. I really hope she hasn’t ruined Rachel, who was the subject of the best thing she ever wrote (Rachel’s Holiday).

JacquelineCarlyle · 17/02/2022 00:08

I might wait to see what you guys think before giving it a go!

WhyPaulMemory · 17/02/2022 08:16

[quote HollowTalk]@mrsnec I have tried to read that book a few times and just can't do it. I only like the Walsh girls but hated Mercy Close. Helen is by far the most interesting character and I thought she just got her completely wrong there. I am half dreading reading this new book![/quote]
I thought exactly the same! I can see that Helen would be difficult to write as a real person as she almost verges on caricature in some of them (but I do love her!), but Mercy Close just wasn’t right at all. I think she was in quite bad place when she wrote it. Love the other Walsh girls novels and have read a few of the others and enjoyed.

I’m a bit nervous about sequels, especially as this one is so long after Rachel’s Holiday. Might see what the reception is like first!