Rachel's Holiday: British Book Awards Author of the Year 2022 (Walsh Family)

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Marian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women’s literature. She is an Irish Book Awards winner. Rachel is the second Walsh sister to feature in a novel of her own, the first being the story of her sister, Claire, in 1997’s ‘Watermelon’. Keyes writes perfectly of the addict who is 'not like the others', Rachel is just visiting, those poor people have it bad, they are fat, skinny, they are addicts with terrible problems - unlike her. Who just likes a party, and wondering when the bloody hell the renovations are going to be completed at the treatment centre, surely the lino is temporary? There was no point ever in me asking for something specific—Chanel bags, global cooling, green traffic lights all the way home—the only thing I had consistently been given was an eventual acceptance of my situation, whatever that was.” McGreevy, Ronan (16 October 2019). "Marian Keyes becomes first Irish writer to donate digital archive". The Irish Times . Retrieved 16 September 2021.

Her two collections of journalism, ‘Making It Up As I Go Along ‘and ‘Under the Duvet-the Deluxe Edition’ are also available from Penguin.

I read these books in my late teens, early twenties, and I can honestly say I learned a great deal about life and relationships (especially what not to do ;). In Rachel's Holiday, we meet Rachel Walsh as she finds herself unexpectedly a resident in The Cloisters, a rehab centre, where she is being treated for drug addiction. A drug addiction she is in massive denial about. Not your fault, some people are born with, for example bad eyesight, others are born with sensitive emotions, And you were traumatised by the arrival of a new sister at an age when you were easily damaged.' That was the great thing about being not-young: knowing through practical experience that feelings, even the worst of them, calm down and eventually ease. They’re probably not gone forever—that was another thing I’d learnt: the notion of ‘closure’ is unrealistic.”

I highly recommend “Again, Rachel”. You do not need to have read any of her other work. You will fall immediately in love with the Walsh family and Keyes’ superior writing ability. Keyes has written frankly about her clinical depression, which left her unable to sleep, read, write, or talk. After a long hiatus due to severe depression, a food title, Saved by Cake, was published in February 2012. [8] My husband hasn’t left me,’ I protested in my defence. ‘That’s because you haven’t got one,’ said Paul.Listening to the audio was such a wonderful experience. Initially I was worried because Aoife McMahon wasn't narrating, but once again it was proven that an author narrating their own work always adds something extra. This is my 17th book by Marian, and she is normally a solid 3.75 star author for me, but I think Again, Rachel offers so much more than her previous books. Never mind what Brigit says,’ I interrupted. ‘I’m actually worried about Brigit because she’s gone so weird. She used to be fun once.’ But the best bit of all,’ laughs Jeremy, ‘ is that the man she was meeting never turns up ! He only asked her out for a bet. Watch as Rachel squirms with embarrassment in the stylish bar. See the looks of pity the other women give her ? See how the waiter gives her the extortionate bill for a glass of wine, and best of all, see how Rachel discovers she’s left her purse at home? ’