Book Review: Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes

Title: Again, Rachel

Author: Marian Keyes

Published: February 15th 2022

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pages: 400

Genres:  Fiction, Contemporary

RRP: $22.99

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rachel Walsh gets a second chance at first love in Marian Keyes’s phenomenal no. 1 bestseller

Back in the long ago nineties, Rachel Walsh was a mess.

But a spell in rehab transformed everything. Life became very good, very quickly. These days, Rachel has love, family, a great job as an addiction counsellor, she even gardens. Her only bad habit is a fondness for expensive trainers.

But with the sudden reappearance of a man she’d once loved, her life wobbles.

She’d thought she was settled. Fixed forever. Is she about to discover that no matter what our age, everything can change?

Is it time to think again, Rachel?

Review:

Thirty million copy bestselling author Marion Keyes returns with a huge sequel to delight fans. Again, Rachel is the much-awaited flow on chapter to Rachel’s Holiday, a smash hit novel that was published in 1998. A soulful tale, reminding us of just how charismatic Marion Keyes is as a storyteller, Again, Rachel is a story of love, humour, tragedy, love, loss, survival, fragility and family.

Meet Rachel Walsh, or for some this may be a case of reacquainting yourself with Rachel Walsh. Rachel has weathered many storms in her life, from a stint in rehab, to coming to terms with losing the love of her life and other obstacles. But Rachel is now content. She has a stable place of employment, a reliable boyfriend and an ordered life. However, this all comes crashing down when Rachel’s ex resurfaces after six years apart. The appearance of Luke sends Rachel into a downwards spiral. Rachel and Luke know that they didn’t resolve things all those years ago and the locked truths they kept from one another have continued to linger on. Will the future bring fear and anxiety, or the chance to finally be content?

With praise coming from the Daily Telegraph, Stylist, the Sunday Times and the Daily Express, I am also someone who will line up and pledge my admiration for Marion Keyes. It’s been some time since I picked up a Marion Keyes book. I can’t recall the last book I read by one of my favourite storytellers. The chance to read and review Again, Rachel in a recent Tandem Global Collective read along was a big win for me.

Set after the events of Rachel’s Holiday, one of Keyes’ most well-known novels, Again, Rachel allows us to access both the enigmatic Rachel Walsh and her charismatic family. I totally forgot how mad and unique this clan was but I didn’t take long for me to get myself reacquainted with this fun-loving family. Keyes includes some great characterisation and this is carried through for the length of the novel. Rachel was how I remembered her and I liked how her character was extended further in this latest Keyes release. The Walsh family were endearing and it was good to reconnect with this family circle. While some relationship elements weren’t exactly to my tastes or expectations, it was good to be involved. With a number of heavy topics (and possible triggers) surrounding addiction, alcohol abuse and loss, readers need to be open to this if they select Again, Rachel. It is told with Keyes’ original blend of tragedy and comedy.

It was a trip down memory lane for me as I read Again, Rachel. Again, Rachel is a great recovery tale filled with sage and witty moments.

Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes was published on February 15th 2022 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

To learn more about the author of Again, Rachel, Marian Keyes visit here.

*Thanks is extended to Penguin Books Australia/Tandem Global Collective for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.

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