I was excited to hear that Marian Keyes was writing a sequel to her immensely popular book, RACHEL’S HOLIDAY for the 25th anniversary of its publication. I picked up RACHEL’S HOLIDAY in a hotel gift shop over twenty years ago and was immediately hooked. After that, I read and loved the whole Walsh family series and hoped there would be more to come. AGAIN, RACHEL is a poignant and emotional story that takes place twenty years after Rachel’s turbulent twenties. Now nearing fifty, Rachel is still sober after her stint in The Cloisters addiction rehab facility. In fact, she is now a successful counselor in the very same facility, using her own personal experience to help other addicts. But an unexpected phone call from someone in her past throws Rachel life off balance and forces her to take stock of her current life as well as to look more closely at things that happened in the past. The story is at times heart-wrenching, but it’s told with Marian Keyes’ signature humor. I loved that all of the Walsh family were part of this story. Rachel’s clients at The Cloisters were an added bonus. AGAIN, RACHEL has it all - family drama, romance and self-discovery. It tackles some difficult topics such as addiction and grief, but always with empathy and compassion. I loved this book and highly recommend it whether or not you’ve read RACHEL’S HOLIDAY first. Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

There is something that is so nostalgic for me with Marian Keyes writing. I think it is because I read them at such a pivotal time in my early adulthood but reading her books always feels like a visit with an old friend.

After loving Rachel's Holiday so much, I couldn't wait to start this new release. Just like always, Keyes writing is witty and heartwarming and the main characters are endearing and real. I loved how Again Rachel caught us up with the wild Wash family and all their shenanigans, but also with enough substance to keep this somewhat rooted in reality.

This was such a fun read and I love the trip down memory lane. Thank you to Doubleday CA for my gifted review copy.

Lovely, heart-warming story!! I have read one of Marian Keyes previous books in the Walsh family series and enjoyed it, so of course I decided to give this one a shot. I really enjoyed this novel. The writing is wonderful and kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters are lovable and well developed! I especially loved Rachels character so much. This book makes me want to go now and read all the other books in the series from beginning to end. Even though this is a series, I thought it read fine as a stand-alone though I’m sure reading the previous books would be helpful.

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada for an ARC in return for my honest review.

26% of the way in and I have feelings. I cannot get over how real and wonderful this story is.

I unequivocally loved this novel.

Rachel Walsh’s life is drastically different from when she was first introduced to readers of the Walsh Family series. Now, she’s clean and sober, approaching 50, loves her job as head counselor at The Cloisters, she’s close to her family, she’s in a healthy relationship, but when one of her former in-law’s dies and she sees her former love, her life is thrown into disarray.

I’m a little ashamed to admit that this was my first Marian Keyes novel , but that will be

changing (and quickly), as I cannot wait to lose myself in this series. 😍

* Well, since originally writing this review, I started the Walsh series, and I’m really, really enjoying what I’ve read so far. This novel was gorgeous, and I’m so happy that I started reading this series; it’s a wonderful family to visit with.

Thank you so much to @doubledayca and @penguinrandomca for the complementary digital review copy of Again, Rachel so I could read and review it before publications. This book publishes on April 5, 2022 - coming soon!

My sister has been a long time fan of Marian Keyes, and I've been borrowing copies of her books since high school. I was very excited to see this one coming out this year.

Again, Rachel picks up about 20+ years after Rachel's Holiday. It's listed as book seven in the series (Rachel's Holiday is listed as book 2), but you really only need to have read Rachel's Holiday to be able to pick this one up.

This books is like a long visit with an old friend, it was great to see what Rachel has been up to, and how successful she's been as an addiction counselor.

Since its a book (and by Marian Keyes) it becomes clear that not everything is at it seems, and it becomes clear that Rachel has been through a tragedy, with serious, but not unexpected repercussions. I'm not saying more than that so there are no spoiled surprises.

I really enjoyed spending time with Rachel at work, and seeing how she helped her patients through their recoveries. I did find this book slowed down a bit in the middle, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

There are some hilarious cameos by the Walsh sisters - Claire in particular and I can completely relate to Mammy Walsh insisting on being involved in the planning of her own surprise birthday party.

Never was acquainted with the family before this book..still was such a great read..would definitely be interested in back tracking to read more.

Thanks to tge author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

Loved this book! A new book by Marian Keyes is like meeting up with an old beloved friend. The story gives up a much needed update on how the entire Walsh clan are doing as they plan to celebrate their moms 80th birthday. This book gives us a look at what Rachel has been up to for the past six years since her marriage with Luke went south. As an addiction counselor Rachel has always been able to help others, but has trouble seeing her own issues. Beautiful written, laugh out loud funny at times, this book is fantastic.

Loved it!! It was nice to reconnect with the crazy Walsh family. It's been over ten years since I read many of the books, so some of the stuff that happened in the previous books was a bit foggy. Honestly, it was like coming home and I started remembering Claire, Margaret, Rachel, Anna and Helen and all the crazy stuff they got into. This book definitely doesn't disappoint. The Walsh girls are still up to their usual shenanigans. Rachel was the main focus in this book, but all the sisters make an appearance. When the book started, I couldn't believe what happened between her and Luke. By far, Claire is the most annoying and outrageous of the sisters. I can't believe what she wanted to do with her husband. Where does she get all the money that she spends? Mammy Walsh is there in all her glory, bossing the girls around and telling them how she wants her surprise birthday party to go, down to every single detail. I absolutely LOVE this family.

Definitely recommend the book, especially if you read the previous books. Loved the story, writing style and characters. This book is full of everything- love, friendship, family, divorce, pregnancies, forgiveness, threesome (it's the Walsh Family- expect anything) and so much more. I would love to read more books about the sisters. You never know what's going to happen with them. I definitely foresee one about Helen and how she handles everything. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As a longtime fan of Marian Keyes, I was very excited about this galley!

Rachel, the protagonist of this novel, is an addiction counselor at the very place she once attended years ago. She has her life together, even though she can easily (and often) find herself addicted to things (ie shoes, purses, etc.).

Her life takes a turn when she learns that Luke's (her first husband) mother has passed, things start to get tricky. Keyes covers grief, addiction, recovery, and relationships in general as Rachel continues to navigate her own life and those around her. While the book can be heavy at times, the story is solid and the characters are real. This is one not to miss!

I will start off this review with a disclaimer. I feel in love with Marian Keyes books 20 years ago as a teenager and Rachel's Holiday was always my favorite, So when I saw there was a new installment to her story 20+years later I was so excited to read it.
I adored this book!!!! I do think you should at least read Rachel’s Holiday before, if not all 5 of the Walsh sister books. You just won't be as invested in Luke and Rachel's story of you don't.

The book follows Rachel who is now an addiction counselor at Cloisters, the same facility she stayed at in Rachel's Holiday. You see that she is no longer with Luke and hasn't spoken to him in years. Things change when out of the blue she gets a call that Luke's mother has passed and she is invited to the funeral. She struggles with whether to go, especially with all the unfinished business she has with Luke.
She's also dealing with her sisters and parents, her serious boyfriend and the quirky cast of characters she's counselling at Cloisters.
The way Marian Keyes writes about people struggling with addiction, with compassion and humor is incredible and how she uses the patients stories to mirror Rachel's own issues is so well done.
Slowly more and more of Luke and Rachel's story is disclosed, sharing their past as they reconnect in the present. Keyes knows how to build emotion and get your complete wrapped up in her characters. Hilarious and heartbreaking and so so so many feels.
I hadn't picked up a Marian Keyes book in years, but Again, Rachel reminded me why I loved her stories so much.
Highly recommended, especially if you loved the original.

This is probably my first five star review in quite some time. Public disclaimer, I am already a huge fan of Marian Keyes but I approached reading this book as neutrally as I could. I've read all of the other books she's written including every book in the Walsh family series so reading these characters again felt very much like coming home,

I admit it took me longer than I expected to get into the story, it may have been because it's just been too many years, at least 6 that I can recall since the last Walsh book came out, and I needed time to remember what happened. Also an interesting point to bring up to fellow readers who had read the other books (this does not read well as a stand alone book, I warn you, you will be lost if you haven't read all the others), you will a little lost (I did), because in the beginning, the book reads as if we should have already known or been aware of all the changes that had happened to Rachel since we last heard from/of her. That part of the narrative really threw me off but I stuck to it snd realized ultimately it was a plot device, because guess what, as you read on, you will see, oh wait, no, I couldn't have known that, I am finding out now through flashbacks.

So beyond that bit of early narration, I very much enjoyed the story, the characters I loved and slightly disliked. You will see all of the familiar faces and even some child faces that now belong to grown ups. It's a wonderful addition to the Walsh family and while much of the topics the book discusses ( addiction, child loss, divorce, etc), can be triggers for some readers so please do your research before delving in, the authenticity of Keyes' storytelling is still very present and despite my tears and occasional sadness, I was happy to visit with my old friends,

I am a longtime fan of Marian Keyes, and have read all 14 of her previous books. She started out as a chick lit author (though with a lot of heart), kind of like the Irish version of Sophie Kinsella, and over time moved more towards family dramas. My favorites of hers are her Walsh Family series, each of the previous 5 of which focused on one of the 5 sisters. The last one came out almost a decade ago, so when I heard she was returning to the series I was very excited!

This book is about Rachel, formerly the center of the second book in the series, Rachel’s Holiday (which I read all the way back in 2006). It’s set many years after that book took place, and Rachel is now an addiction counselor at the very rehab center she was an inpatient at in the first book. Her life is in a pretty good place, but when she learns that her ex-husband, whom she split with 6 years prior, is coming back to Ireland for his mother’s funeral, it brings up a lot of unresolved feelings and sends her life into a bit of upheaval. In addition to relationship stuff, the book is also a lot about her relationship with her family, friends, patients, and some heavy stuff about addiction and grief.

I think you probably could read this as a stand-alone - it has been many years since I read this series and a lot of the details are pretty hazy - but for me it was a real treat to see beloved characters from the old books in a later stage of their life.

It’s funny, although I can’t remember why, as I recall and according to Goodreads, Rachel’s Holiday was my least favorite of the series. But this installment is not only the best book Keyes has written in a while, it just might be my favorite book she’s ever written. It gave me ALL THE FEELS!

Marian Keyes is one of my favorite authors with good reason. She can make you laugh out loud on one page and cry your face off in a different chapter. Her books are filled with heart and humor. Again, Rachel is no exception.
It is such a pleasure to visit with the Walsh family once more! Out of the 5 Walsh daughters, I'd say Rachel was always my favorite. So we get another book about Rachel and in the years following her addiction and recovery, a lot has changed. Rachel is back in Ireland and working as the head counselor at The Cloisters, the addiction and treatment center where she herself was once a patient. She is no longer with Luke, but has a nice boyfriend and a cute dog. The Walshes are still as fun and crazy as ever. But.....
I'm not going to give away the plot. Just know that A LOT has gone on in the last few years for Rachel. And Luke. Can they see their way back from old hurts and regrets? Or ever become friends?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an e-arc of this fantastic novel!*

Is it even a Marian Keyes book if you aren’t laughing and crying, sometimes on the same page? It was a delight to be back with the Walsh family and see all of the characters who I have loved in all the previous books. As always, Rachel and Claire are stand outs for me, they never fail to make me admire their humor, strength and resilience. Getting to see Rachel at work was so insightful and brought out how much she had suffered. Again, Rachel has so many layers and by the time you are done peeling them all back, you are left with a masterpiece. As Marian Keyes herself would say, “Fabaliss!”

I loved Rachel's Holiday so I knew I had to read this book. Initially I felt there really wasn't a plot but as it got going it definitely developed one. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a fan of Marian Keyes for years, and I've loved all of the Walsh sisters books.

While I enjoyed revisiting the Walsh family again, and I think this book covered important topics, the writing is missing the heart and wit that her older books have. I think it's a decent read for anyone familiar with the previous books in the series, but perhaps not a great pick for those new to her writing.

The topics discussed in this book were certainly important but the book itself was long winded and become a struggle to read at times with so many different people in and out of the addiction center. The Walsh women were annoying at times with their problems . If they were teenagers some of their behaviours could have been tolerated but as mature women they were ridiculous at times. Rachael herself still had many addictions the main one being Luke. Even though she could see the problems in her clients she was unable to see her own. The ending was predictable but it certainly took a long time to get there.

Starting out, know that this is one of the very best of Marian Keyes’s novels. It is engaging and absorbing. The characters are so alive and the pages turn quickly. Note, too, that in this novel, Ms. Keyes takes on some big themes including addiction, relationships and SPOILERS BELOW

stillbirth, along with much else.

Ms. Keyes writes like a true insider here. Her descriptions of what it means to lose a much longed for baby ring so true. Anyone who has had to deal with infertility, miscarriage or pregnancy loss will know just how authentically the experience is described. Those who have not had these woes will certainly develop empathy for those who have.

SPOILERS ENDED

Rachel works at a treatment center. Anyone who wonders what goes on when addicts are facing their actions and lives will learn a great deal. This could be very helpful to anyone who has a loved one who has needed such care. These sections give a real “fly on the wall” feeling.

Now, be clear that this is a wonderfully involving novel with good story lines. It is by no means a didactic title.

Rachel and those around her first became known to readers through Rachel’s Holiday, a novel that was published twenty years or so ago. Fans of that title will be delighted to see Rachel again. Those who have not read that book, no worries. It is very easy to step into the lives of this clan.

As the story opens, Rachel’s life seems to be going well. But, of course, there will be challenges. Readers will be hoping for all the best for Rachel. She is a character that it is easy to love.

Order this. It is such a good book. I highly recommend it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC, of Again Rachel, by Marian Keyes. I love Rachel's first book, but I found this book to be quite depressing. It was nice meeting and her family again though.

I enjoy Mariah Keye’s books, but I did not realize when I requested an ARC of this book that it was #7 in a series as it was not indicated on the book’s cover. I would have liked this book more if I had more of the back story. In fact, I had read the first in this series many years ago, but not the five in between. I bet other readers that have kept up with the Walsh family over time, would be big fans of this book!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.