Again, Rachel

Of late, it feels like Marian Keyes is phoning it in. I have been a trifle bit disappointed by her books in recent years. But she’s such a good writer that even her phone-in efforts read much better than other writers in her genre (chick-lit).

About Again, Rachel

In her twenties, Rachel Walsh was a mess.

Since her spell in rehab, though, she’s come a long way on the road to recovery – and now, she’s ready to go back to where it all began. But this time, the student has become the teacher. She used to hate the staff in charge of treating her addiction. Now, she’s one of them.

Rachel’s finally got herself on track – but life never stops being messy.

And when an old flame resurfaces, will she go back to who she once was? Or, nearing fifty, can she find herself all over again?

~ Synopsis from goodreads

My Review

Keyes’ Walsh sisters’ books are some of my all-time favorite chick-lit books. They are funny, compassionate, romantic, while also dealing with some dark issues – mental health, anxiety, addiction, and more.

Again, Rachel revisits a couple from one of her earlier books in the series, Rachel’s Holiday. I personally consider this one of the best books in the series, and you definitely need to read it before reading Again, Rachel.

Because Rachel’s Holiday was one of my all-time favorite books, I had high expectations from Again, Rachel and it delivered, mostly.

Luke and Rachel from Rachel’s Holiday are broken up in this book. It’s obvious they still love each other, but life tragedies have split them apart. But when Luke’s mother passes away, their paths cross again, and the rest of the story follows a predictable arc.

I loved this book, but I have to admit that it’s because I am already invested in the stories of the Walsh sisters, I already love Luke and Rachel. It was very easy for me to get sucked back into their little world – all the familiar fights, and arguments, the family dynamics, it’s all very comforting.

That said, this is probably one of the weaker books. The plot is fairly predictable, and in some ways, it’s a repeat of Rachel’s Holiday – don’t want to say more because spoilers. It’s a little loud, and emotional (something that’s there in all her books), but this one is probably a little bit more.

Plus, I didn’t really like how quickly Luke and Rachel (especially Rachel because her boyfriend seems a nice guy) throw away their current relationships and ride off into the sunset together. And, if you’re a huge fan of the series, there is one frustrating contradiction from her earlier books, which is a little harder to forgive. Keyes knows she has a huge fanbase who reread her books, so it was a little jarring to see her completely break the continuity.

Still, if you’re a superfan of the original Walsh sisters books (like I am), this is a great addition to the series (if you overlook that one niggling plot loophole). If you aren’t invested, this is not the book to suck you in.