Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

Meet Rachel Walsh. She's been living it up in New York City, spending her nights talking her way into glamorous parties before heading home in the early hours to her adoring boyfriend, Luke. But her sensible older sister showing up and sending her off to actual rehab wasn't quite part of her plan.

She's only agreed to her incarceration because she's heard that rehab is wall-to-wall jacuzzis, spa treatments and celebrities going cold turkey - plus it's about time she had a holiday.

Saying goodbye to fun and freedom will be hard - and losing the man who might just be the love of her life will be even harder. But will hitting rock bottom help Rachel learn to love herself, at last?

We read this as Tsundoku Squads March group read. This was also my first Marian Keyes book (I know right!). I actually really enjoyed it. To be honest the last couple of weeks I lagged behind reading it, and could only manage little bursts whenever I did pick it up, which I think spoiled it a bit for me, I’d have enjoyed it more if I read each part in one sitting. But, I still liked it and would gladly read another of Marian’s books.

So this book is based on Rachel (obviously), who ‘isn’t an addict’, but very much is. We see her enter the Cloisters, while still not believing she has a problem. She passes her days waiting to meet the celebrities, visit the sauna and be pampered. 

Rachel is a bit of a dick, but she has problems. She is an addict. She is awful to people around her, people who care about her. But I really liked how the book ended, if you have read it you’ll know. And the last line was perfect in my opinion.

I gave it 4 stars, and would happily read more of Marian’s books. Actually, I have the follow up, ‘Again, Rachel’, sitting on my bedside table! 

Check out Em’s group collective thoughts over on her blog emandherbooks.com