This book really got me. Rachel and James are two characters who will stay with me for a long time. They're both messy, complicated young people who try to do their best but often fuck up in the process. I love their friendship and how much they support each other but they're also the person able to do the most damage to the other. It's easy to compare the book to the works of Sally Rooney, since it's about Irish millennials and the malaise of life but that's a bit reductive. O"Donoghue's work stands on it's own, there's room for everyone! I found O'Donoghue's writing engaging, funny, and more than a little heartbreaking. I encourage you to pick this one up if you like stories about friendship, dating, and figuring out what the hell to do with your life. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the arc I'm very late to review!

Such a fun read! It was light, cute, and somewhat predictable - but I still enjoyed it and it came at the perfect time in my life when I needed something a little "rom com" ish.

Thankful for the ARC!

Initially I was not enjoying reading this book. The beginning felt drawn out and rather anticlimactic. As the story continued to unfold, it reminded me of reading someone’s diary - where their innermost thoughts and struggles were voiced without concern to withhold the thoughts that are dark or could be negatively perceived. I enjoyed how the story came full circle and let me with a senes of satisfaction. The ending was mature, well done, and felt like the perfect conclusion. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about a college age Irish student as she transitions from student to adult. Struggling financially, she lands a job in a bookstore. This store forms the backdrop for the story. The main character and her roommate, James, are sometimes a bit stereotypical for me. This is a story about friendship, crushes, love and everything between. It reminds one of our own sometimes cringeworthy journey to adulthood. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rate3.5

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. The Rachel Incident explores the complexities of relationships and friendships in that very confusing time after college, floating looking for a sustainable job while piecing together money for bills with a bunch of part time gigs. Set against the backdrop Ireland during financial collapse, this is a highly relatable novel about anyone who's loved indiscriminately, fell in love with the wrong person at the wrong time, or the right person at the wrong time.

This was a totally gripping, immersive, emotionally nuanced, FUNNY novel. I'm obsessed with O'Donoghue's work, and this is her best yet, in my opinion. A total joy and page-turner from start to finish.

I'm actually deeply surprised by how much I liked this book (and by liked I mean LOVED). Rachel was equal parts annoying and unbearably relatable. All of her relationships were so messy and real, and I kept wanting to find out what was going to happen to her next. The last half of the novel flew by and I screamed (literally) when a certain character appears at the end of the novel. Though it was surprising, a definite five-star read and one of the best books I've read this year.

OH OH OH OH OH! I loved this book, it was incredible, it was heartfelt and sad and brittle and warm and LOVELY. I read it in its entirety in one night and I cannot believe it took me so long. I will sing this one's praises.

Well this book had me obsessed like a friendship with James Devlin!

Compulsively readable and relatable, especially for those who also struggled to find their place in their early twenties, and who clung to their friendships like a life jacket.

This was my first book by Caroline O'Donoghue and I'm now seriously interested in reading everything else she's done, and will do.

i am a big fan of Caroline O'Donoghue so i was really hyped for The Rachel Incident. but this...was not it. it felt surprisingly formulaic and generic.

Some authors have voice and Caroline O’Donoghue is the epitome of twenty something Rachel Murray in her last year of University figuring out what it means to navigate life and adulthood. Rachel is “every girl” with her insecurities, friendships, heartache, and sexual partners; her story was so relatable and I felt somewhat transported back to that time of my life.
Rachel forms a fast friendship with fellow bookstore coworker, James Devlin. It’s love at first site and they become joined at the hip in that way that someone still in University can. So of course as roomies, Rachel tells James about her crush on her college professor, Dr. Fred Byrne who she in a spur of the moment decision decides to host his book launch at their store. O’Donoghue captures the feelings of what it’s like to have a crush and feel so compelled and entitled to own that imaginary relationship brought on by lust. When Rachel’s crush is unrequited, the one person she wants to discuss it with, James, becomes entangled in the relationship between Rachel and Dr. Byrne. Putting is plainly, Rachel’s life is a mess, but isn’t that what the twenties are for? Multiple relationships come and go throughout the book and I loved how unexpected the final arc was. Rachel becomes entwined with Dr. Byrne and his wife, Deenie as she seeks career connections. Her unreliable second James, James Carey, is boyfriend extraordinaire, and also some of the most difficult aspects of Rachel’s life. Through it all, the city of Cork, and Ireland itself felt like a character in Rachel’s narrative and the dream of going to America with James is the bright spot they can cling onto when life doesn’t quite go as planned.
I loved the storytelling and the pacing which very much felt like a story within a story. I wish I got just a little bit more from James Devlin’s final moments in the book, but I would recommend this to anyone looking for a story of friendship, love gained and lost that feels like an epic journey. Put The Rachel Incident on your list of books to read now. I received this advanced copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

CWs: Abortion, miscarriage, drug use, alcohol use, marital infidelity

I loved this book. Loved the minimal amount of characters and loved Rachel as a whole. Such a warm story - as messy as it was at times it all just felt comforting

I don't have a lot to say other than I really enjoyed this one! It had all the themes that I love... coming of age, hot mess twenty-somethings, dating, best friends, and a little scandal. I cannot wait to continue reading Caroline O'Donoghue for years to come.

Rachel is a vividly drawn, likeable funny protaganist. I feel like a lot of us will be able to see ourselves in her, and love her journey. The story took a different and more interesting path than I expected! Kept me turning pages.

I loved this one! There was so much buzz about this book and The Rachel Incident did not disappoint. I'm a sucker for any coming of age tale, and this one delivered beautifully with humor and relatability. Excellent writing that evokes those emotions of the complications of growing up and some added chaos of questions of morality and unrequited love. I'd definitely read anything by Caroline O'Donoghue again!

Engaging and immersive. This is a recommended purchase for collections where women's fiction is populalar.

I love the writer's style and the way the narrative flowed. But I couldn't relate to the characters; I didn't like them' I didn't want to know them better; I didn't think reading about them would add anything to my life. I dnf'ed the book about half way thorugh.

If you liked Normal People -> You'll love The Rachel Incident

The story follows two friends, Rachel and James, navigating their young love lives in Cork. When Rachel crushes on Professor Fred, James tries to help her impress him, and the three become tangled into a whirlwind of good, bad, and ugly. This book focuses on love, friendship, lies, secrets, consequences, and growth. Overall, I liked it but didn't love it. If you were a fan of Normal People, you'd be a fan of Caroline O'Donoghue's work.

So...I have very mixed feelings on the book.

Is it a lovely coming of age story? Yes.
Is it complex and layered? Absolutely. I adore Caroline O'Donoghue, which is why this was a must read.

But...did I love the characters? Not so much. I struggled with the book the entire way through - I wanted to care more about these complicated people, but found I just...didn't.

I loved the Rachel Incident, the main friendship was so nuanced and complicated. I appreciated the author's portrayal of being in your 20's and the chaos that often occurs.