The Rachel Incident started a little slow for me, and then slowed down about 3/4 through, but overall I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed the friendship between the Rachel and James, and the side relationships development throughout the story.

The beginning started off a little slow for me. It seemed a bit silly but through the rest of the book, I really enjoyed the character arc. They both became more aware of themselves. I also loved the humor throughout.

Rachel is a college student in Ireland trying to figure out her life. Although there were some interesting moments in this book, I realize that I am just not that invested in women in their 20's making poor choices.

I LOVED this book! It was so charming and realistic and I dove right in and was hooked until the end.

The story was about a very relatable young woman named Rachel. It is a past and present story. We get glimpses of her present life throughout the retelling of her last year in college and the years leading up to her current life.

I loved her best friend James Devlin. I loved their relationship. I loved their relationship that survived even though their co-dependence didn’t.

This was a wonderful story. I hope someone out there reads this book because I have posted this review and loves it as much as I did!

Did I intend to stay up late reading this book? No. Do I regret staying up late reading this book? Not really. Did I like this book? Umm. I liked the fact that it was kind of like watching a disaster unfold. I wanted to look away but I was riveted and couldn't put the book down. I found all of the characters to be insufferable BUT the writing was so good that I could not stop until I knew what happened to everyone and how the story ended.

There were some parts I wish were a bit more developed (like the women Rachel met as a journalist that she kept in her phone) and I couldn't quite figure out what genre this was supposed to be ("women's" fiction, literary fiction, something else, both?). Overall, it was a compelling read and I am glad I read it even if I hated everyone in it.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, and Caroline O'Donoghue for an ARC of this book!**

Like many twentysomethings, Rachel doesn't quite know what life has in store for her. She knows she loves to read, and her new job at the bookstore has her excited. Even better, she meets James, a quirky and energetic guy who becomes her best friend. James is gay but hasn't quite come to terms with his identity yet...and subsequently hasn't told many of the people in his life this fact. Rachel lives in a bit of a dream world, and through their collective antics, James is all too willing to scheme alongside her.

When the married professor Dr. Fred Byrne happens upon their bookstore, it is in this moment that Rachel devises a plan to essentially begin an affair with him and make him fall in love with her. James thinks a reading of his new book at the bookstore is the perfect place to seduce him, and Fred DOES get seduced that evening...but it isn't by Rachel. Once this event takes place, Rachel's world becomes complicated--quickly--and the friendship she fosters with Byrne's wife Deenie only muddies the waters further. Once Rachel is forced to keep secret after secret, can she find a way to be true to herself, true to her friend....and to find love AND a path in life to call her own?

This book was apparently pitched as comparable to Rooney's Normal People...and in some ways, this is absolutely true. From the writer's style to the maddening decisions of these characters, the similarities were all there. Unfortunately...I was not a fan of Normal People....and I can't call myself a fan of this one, either. While at first Rachel's 'plan' to steal her professor seemed like it was destined to teach her some lessons, at the end of the day, the plot actually revolved around Rachel's ability to keep her mouth shut...and her inability to make a SINGLE good decision.

While I'd hoped to be enamored with the relationship between these two best friends, James is painted with a stereotypical brush: he's the gay best friend who sleeps around, says ridiculous things, and just tends to be over the top rather than a grounding force for Rachel, which is what she REALLY needed. (The one redeeming characteristic James had is that he was a huge fan of MY favorite show Frasier...but even that wasn't enough get me sold on him.) I also just got some creepy vibes from the professor and his wife, who at one point have Rachel over to drink and just sort of treat her like she's 10 to 15 years older than she actually is...and it just didn't feel realistic.

This is also yet another book described as having 'delicious, sparkling humor' that didn't make me smile...once. I have come to realize over time that this sort of humor is less about being actually funny and more about a particular style of banter between people that's supposed to come off as clever, but usually just reads 'boring' to me. Rachel was far from a detestable character, but she certainly had a bit of entitled naivete going on, and after a while, I was really hoping she'd LEARN a couple of life lessons and just grow up. To make matters more confusing, Rachel is looking back at these events, but we aren't clearly told when she's reminiscing or when we are watching her past play out in real time...and this is a book where a bit of a clearly defined break between the two would have been VERY welcome.

The one bright spot in this novel is that at least older Rachel had the wherewithal to acknowledge that her younger self had been kind of a goof, a bit reckless, and more than a bit unappreciative of the opportunities she DID have, despite what she lacked. O'Donoghue's writing is steady and serviceable, but at the end of the day, this novel had a world of opportunity to make an impact on me as a reader and instead left me feeling as apathetic as a teenager...and if there's anything this book DID remind me, it is that I'm happy to have left my teenage years AND all of the subsequent apathy far, FAR behind me.

3.5 stars

At first I was unsure whether I liked this book, but about halfway through I became more invested in the story and ended up enjoying it. I think what made me uncertain was how I felt put off by some of the things the protagonist, Rachel, thought and said. But I also think this was an artistic choice by the author to demonstrate how much Rachel grew from the beginning of the story when she was in her early twenties to the end when she was in her thirties. Ultimately I think this was an honest coming-of-age story that didn’t hold back from the mistakes we often make as young adults especially relating to the ideas we have and the values we hold. There is an interesting plot followed in this story but I think more of the intrigue came from reading about Rachel’s character growth, as well as the growth of those she loved. I enjoyed reading about her friendship with James, but found it a bit unhealthy as many close friendships can be. I do wish there was more about James towards the end of the book, but I think that also demonstrated how adult friendships can evolve and change as our lives do. This book is recommended for fans of Sally Rooney and I can see the similarities. The story jumps between timelines a bit and often unexpectedly so that took me a bit to get used to. Overall, I enjoyed the experience of reading this one.

CW: infidelity, miscarriage, abortion, homophobia, brief mention of infertility, toxic relationships, body shaming/dysphoria, classism, brief mention of past child abuse

3… maybe close to 4 ⭐️? I put this book down so many times wondering if I should just move on to something else, then stayed up late last night to finish it because I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes good books just have a slow start I guess.


Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ah this was such a good read!! This is my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I do have her YA 'Gifts' books on my TBR and I'm looking forward to them even more now.
I was completely hooked to this story of James and Rachel and their friendship. A better title would probably have been just that like they discuss in the book while James is screenwriting.
It did feel a bit weird at times to me to see and hear so much of James' personal life from Rachel but then Rachel *was* always there so...it's fair ig.
Highly recommended to Sally Rooney fans and people who like books about the messy (kinda toxic tbh) relationships and friendships!

This was the perfect blend of character driven and gossipy fun. The Rachel Incident is the story of two roommates in their early twenties from County Cork, Ireland, and the trials and tribulations that go along with that period of life. James and Rachel were certainly a messy pair, but their friendship was beautiful and so full of love for each other. I loved how the book was written from the perspective of “future Rachel,” looking back on her life in the early 2010s. I was definitely taken back to that time in my own life, especially being roughly the same age as Rachel. If you love slice of life type books with strong character development, this is one you won’t want to miss!

A realistic portrait of Rachel’s life as a student in Ireland, absolutely fantastic read. Funny at times, even through some awful turns for Rachel, I can’t recommend this enough.

I had to keep reminding myself whether this was a novel or a true story throughout my reading of it. The writing was so personal I felt like it could have been a true story…I would not be shocked if I later found out it was based on one. This book also did a great job of reminding me what it was like to be 21-ish and how hopeful and rosy and yet stressful and open everything can be all at once.

I was interested in this because it was based in Ireland. But I have to say it really wasn’t for me. Too much about sex, both gay and straight, and 20s angst. And it’s billed as funny, but I didn’t really find much humor in it. Just not for me I guess. Thanks for the chance to read it anyway.

This is a story about friendship, love, first jobs, school, mistakes, and the messiness of young adulthood. Reading it really took me back to what it was like to be in my twenties again - the uncertainty, all the "firsts" - jobs, boyfriends, roommates - and just trying to figure out how to navigate life and all that comes with growing up. The characters, the dialogue, the humor - this book really resonated with me, especially the ending. Highly recommend for fans who loved Sally Rooney's Conversation with Friends and The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. I heard it's already being adapted for television, and I cannot wait to watch this come to life on screen.

Thank you for walking me down memory lane!
This book had all the 2009 references I needed, from reruns of Fraiser to Buffy to subway sandwiches and even Leona Lewis! The vibes were immaculate and I'm so glad to have read it. I adored the male characters in this book so much, James and James are so utterly wholesome and hilarious. I had only wished the author had given an extra depth to her female lead. I'm going to be honest here, our main gal, Rachel, was a bit of a dud.
For that I give this 4/5 stars 🌟 but I'm now a fan of anything this author writes! I loved her writing so much. It was so fast paced and fun to follow along. Trust me I skipped dinners and sleep for this.
Thank you Netgalley for approving this beautiful book!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. The story revolves around Rachel Murray, a twenty year old young woman, a less than steller college student finishing a degree in English, lving in Cork County, Ireland and exploring and struggling with all of the challenges a woman at that time of her life faces: independence, relationships, responsibilities, sexuality. Rachel has two young men named James in her life. James Devlin is a carefree young man, Rachel's coworker and very best friend and James Carey, a 27 year old man who Rachel longs and lusts for,yet has a tendency to disappear from her life. The book explores their relationships over a period of years. It is a delightful book that tells a story of friendship, love, loss, reconciliation and yes, redemption. It is realistic, funny at times and touching at others- just a wonderful read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, it did not impact my review in any way. 5 Stars.

I LOVED this book. I laughed out loud and was moved by these characters. I loved the voice of the book and felt nostalgia for the time this was set in. I will think about this book and these characters for a long time. Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very character driven story about Rachel and James, two Irish best friends in the 2010's. Rachel is graduating from the university in Cork, and James works with her at a bookstore, so they decide to live together. Rachel has a professor she adores, and there begins the story about relationships and friendships. I liked the writing, was interested in the story, but the characters were a bit whiny to me. Could be my age--I think this will appeal to readers in their 20's and 30's. I can also see why people are comparing this book to Sally Rooney's books. If you like hers, I think you will like this one, too.

From the publisher:

Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and it’s love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate and the two begin a friendship that changes the course of both their lives forever. Together, they run riot through the streets of Cork city, trying to maintain a bohemian existence while the threat of the financial crash looms before them.

When Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a reading at their local bookstore, with the goal that she might seduce him afterwards. But Fred has other desires. So begins a series of secrets and compromises that intertwine the fates of James, Rachel, Fred, and Fred’s glamorous, well-connected, bourgeois wife.

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This was a slow start for me. I really wasn’t sure about it at all. But just past the halfway point, it really took hold and I flew through the rest. Rachel is young and thinks in a way that seems older while at the same time acting her age. I recommend this book for sure, but just be patient. You won’t be sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an advance copy of this book on exchange for an honest review.

Available June 27, 2023.

If Sally Rooney had a sense of humor, this is the book she’d write. It’s a perfect depiction of that time in early adulthood where you’re not a teen but non a grown-up either, on your own for the first time but unable to actually care for yourself, and when your best friends are your family.