Rachel's Holiday

Rating:
Summary: My FAVORITE Marian Keyes book!!!
Review: I stumbled upon Marian Keyes' books while searching for a vacation read in the paperback section, and my first Keyes' book was Last Chance Saloon, which I loved. I was instantly hooked on her witty, charming style as well as her hilarious characters, which she develops so well you feel like you really know them. I knew I had to read more of her books!

Rachel's Holiday was absolutely my favorite Keyes book. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them (especially the books about the Walsh sisters--Watermelon, Angels) but Rachel's Holiday touched me emotionally more than the rest. This book manages to combine a serious subject (drug addiction) with the humorous, hilarious style of Keyes without being either too sappy or too serious.

I was amazed at the way this book took me through different emotions--at first I was completely on Rachel's side, believing that she had been wrongly "incarcerated" in a rehab program for a purely recreational party habit. But as I read further, I loved the way Keyes unfolded more and more details about the seriousness of Rachel's problem and how it affected those around her.

The best part of this book was, as I said earlier, the way Keyes balanced the seriousness of the subject with her hilarious wit and characters so real you feel like you know them personally. This book made me laugh out loud on several occasions, while also completely changing my view of things from the way I first perceived them in the book. (I HATED Brigit at first, but by the end I understood where she was coming from.) It was those types of surprises with the characters and really getting to know them that made me really connect with this story.

I read this book in 3 days and I was sorry when it ended, I wanted to read more! I have loved all of Keyes' books and look forward to more.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK
Review: growing up around someone with major alcohol and drug issues, this book was realistic in the portrayal of rachel and her addictions. i loved it so much. and i felt the outcome and ending was realistic and touching. her pain is so real, yet marian keyes is able to show humor through it all. a wonderful read!!