I loved this book SO much! It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s relatable. If you’re a fan of Sally Rooney, you’ll love it.. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and following along in their day to day lives, and then, there’s a certain point in the book, when it almost turns into a thriller, it’s so heart-stopping. Loved it!

This book was amazing in the most soul-breaking way - I often struggled with books that are character studies because I feel like the way the main character is written is hyperbolic and unbelievable. Their main good and bad traits are done in ways that make them a caricature of what they would actually be in real life in order to make sense of some of their choices. Rachel is not like this at all. I felt like I was reading an autobiography or memoir. The plot was entirely gripping and so was Rachel's character development. I was also pleasantly unsatisfied with the ending. Part of me wishes we could dive deeper into where James ends up, but I'm also content leaving that up to my imagination. That is due to the quality of O'Donoghue's writing. Can't wait to read more of their work!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this text! My thoughts are completely my own and independent of my receipt of an ARC.

A coming of age story following Rachel as she reflects back on her early 20s and the insecurity, chaos, and bad decisions that comes with being that age. Rachel and her best friend and emotional partner, a gay man named James, are navigating money struggles, toxic relationships, and finding themselves.

This is the perfect book for those feeling lost while coming into adulthood. I felt so connected to Rachel by the end because I related so much to her trying to figure out what she wants in life and how to get there. I absolutely loved the complexities of her relationship with James - they are the definition of platonic soulmates. I was in tears by the end and spent a long time reflecting.

I loved the Rachel Incident. This was one of the best contemporary novels I’ve read all year. I do have to say it was not quite what I expected, but I loved how it all came together at the end. I would definitely recommend to anyone that’s a fan of adult contemporary and especially if you are a fan of books set in the UK.

The Rachel Incident should be the talker of the summer! It will likely land in my top 10 of the year, for its whip-smart writing, sort of likable characters, and compelling plot that jumps between 20-somethings and 40-somethings. Great great read.

I was ambivalent while reading The Rachel Incident and continue to be a week after finishing it.. it was interesting to read a book set in urban Ireland although the slang was sometimes difficult to decipher. Rachel, the narrator, was a mass of contradictions and not the most sympathetic of characters. She began her story unfocused and undisciplined. She seemed to make every situation she found herself in worse by her own choices. The other man characters — her BFF roommate, her boyfriend, her professor and his wife — were well drawn and interesting but frankly Rachel’s interactions with them were often unpleasant and left the reader unsatisfied..
The heart of the story, the secret relationship between James the roommate and Rachel’s professor and Rachel’s relationship to each, comes to a flashpoint mid book and was the best part of the story. Unfortunately, the author uses two contrived happenings to alter the trajectory of the story and left me feeling disappointed. The final third of the book seemed much too tidy to fit with the messiness of the earlier part of the story.
I guess considering all aspects of this book, I wouldn’t recommend it.

A really fun and interesting queer story. I got through it pretty quickly and just loved it from start to finish

Wow, this book. I absolutely loved the character development and descriptions. The story does a deep dive into a certain early 20s time for 2 friends. Their codependent relationship is exceptionally well written, as well as the eventual growing apart of the two as life continues on. I really enjoyed everything about this book and am adding O'Donoghue's other titles to my reading list!

What a great novel. It's deeply concerned with coming-of-age, but it also asks the bigger life questions about love, friendship, and what's important. It's a great combination of plot-driven and character-driven. It's funny while still having tons of heart and tenderness, and some heartache. It's quiet but also energetic at times. Rachel was such a well-rounded character even though she was understandably self-involved. She loved hard and just wanted to be loved and understood. I loved the ending so much, too. Excellent read.

Rachel is a student finishing up her English degree and trying to find her way in the real world. She moves in with a new friend, James, and the story follows their first year as friends while they work at a local bookstore and flounder through life. I found the bouncing back and forth between present day and that first year very strange and jarring. It feels very random and makes the story hard to follow. I also just found that while many things happened, I wasn't fully invested in any part of the story. I think it's just not the book for me, but I could see how others would like it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC of this book.

The Rachel Incident is a very relatable tale for anyone who was in their early twenties in the 2010s, between the plight of education, recessions, romances, and more. The book follows the main characters of Rachel and James, two best friends who ultimately move in together and take on Cork, Ireland in 2010. Rachel. They both work at a bookstore and when Rachel finds out that her professor has a book coming out, she orchestrates an event for him to celebrate. At the event, Rachel (who also has a massive crush on said professor), finds him and James in the stockroom.

From there, a series of events occurs ultimately leading to what is known as The Rachel Incident.

One thing to note, infertility, abortions, and miscarriage are a large part of this story too, so something to keep in mind.

There were times that I was a bit bored and the story either stalled or moved a bit too slow for my liking. As a whole though, I enjoyed the characters, the drama, and ultimately, how the story wrapped up.

Thank you A.A. Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC!

The story focuses on Rachel Murray and the dynamic she has with her roommate and best friend James. The two meet while she's working at a bookstore and she becomes enamored with him, but he is gay and the friendship is platonic. I believe in friendship soulmates 100%. Rachel is in college and soon falls for English professor, Dr. Byrne. Dr. Byrne is married, but that doesn't stop him from being front and center of the drama between Rachel and James. However, the story goes a lot deeper than that once you start turning the pages (and you'll see what I mean especially at the end of the author's acknowledgments).

This book is so Irish and so good. It reminded me of Normal People which I loved. I could feel the world the characters were living in. All of the characters were well developed. At times I wanted to scream at Rachel to grow up and stop withholding but then I realized she was only 21 and I could relate. This is a book to keep coming back to. I feel like I would take in more with a second read.

Sally Rooney is my all time favorite author, and The Rachel Incident is so reminiscent of those novels in the best way. The characters felt so accurately messy and full of passion and love and misunderstanding. That feels true to me and the characters truly bared themselves to us. Additionally, I adored the flash forwards to current Rachel, giving us the opportunity to sneak peeks at her growth. This is a new favorite.

The Rachel Incident is a novel about a young woman and her best friend trying to find their places in the world and navigating young love. Rachel has a crush on her married professor, but is shocked to find him kissing her best friend James. From there, the lives of the professor and his wife become intertwined with Rachel’s, until she has to make a harsh life decision. The novel is filled with angst, early 20s self doubt and exploration, and the real true love of best friends.

I recommend this novel for fans of Sally Rooney, though I argue that O’Donoghue has actually done the genre better.

4.5 ⭐️ On the surface this book appears to be a Will and Grace Irish edition, however underneath the humor and deeply good writing is so much more. There are twists, turns, social and economic commentary that is built into the story in such a way it doesn’t come across as preachy, instead informative. The characters are developed brilliantly. We meet them during their coming-of-age/hot mess phase but we also see them grow up strong and not entitled. They work so hard for everything they have and it is clear that their struggles are part of what puts them down the right path eventually. I didn’t expect this book to be as literary as it was…but I loved it. I love Irish fiction and this one is great.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Had difficulty getting into the story, just wasn't for me. I think the style just didn't jibe with me, but nothing wrong with the book at all!

What a delightful mess this story is. I somehow did not put together until the acknowledgements that this is the Caroline O’Donoghue who created the Sentimental Garbage podcast?! I love her, I love that she sounds like an Irish Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and I love the way she talks about "women's" things.

It’s not going to be for everyone, especially people who feel as though they need to find a character likeable or understand all their choices. Sometimes humans make silly, weird, odd, stupid choices. Judging by some of the reviews already, there are going to be some people who have a hard time forgiving Rachel for some actions she takes. I think that pairs exquisitely with the intersection of the weird parasocial relationship the community has with Rachel, looking at her and seeing a person they think is the mistress of a much beloved community member's husband. But for anyone who wants to lean into that messiness, and who is up for the content, I really really loved this coming of age tale with a happy ending. I haven't actually read any Sally Rooney, but from my understanding, this would be for the same kind of reader.

Rachel and James meet at work. They become friends, in the ways of early 20-somethings, quickly, deeply, and immersively. They move in together, two wildly different people who find safety with each other. This is the story of their friendship, the lengths they are willing to go for each other, how their other relationships are changed by their partnership, and ultimately how to become oneself within this intense tangle.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue was a slow burn, character driven story. I didn’t really like this one. I didn’t find Rachel’s character very likable and I struggled with the packing, and it was hard to tell if the chapters were the past or Rachel’s present.

I seem to be in the minority for this one though.

Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.