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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.

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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.

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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.