Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - The Rachel Incident

This book was NOTHING like I expected. For some reason when i saw the cover and the title, I thought this book was going to be scifi, but it was definitely not. I fell in love with the drab setting of the small town and beaten up apartment. The writing put me right into the middle of this duo’s problems and really tapped into the struggles of twenty somethings trying to make their way in this world. I read that this book gave Sally Rooney vibes and I must agree on that point.

What I Liked

I loved the complicated nature of Rachel and James’ relationship. It’s that deep kind of love between best friends.
- that love can get in the way of romantic love sometimes and it was interesting to see it here.
The plot was just twisty enough to make it so you couldn’t peel your eyes away from the book.
the characters were all so good!
- each of them had their own insecurities, and their own inflated views of themselves that made them feel like you were watching two of your best friends — but also those friends that are way closer to each other than you.

What I didn’t like

It seemed repetitive with Rachel and Carey’s storyline. they just kept arguing about the same things and having the same things happen over and over again. If there were another love interest thrown in there, maybe it’d be better?

Content Warnings

koplomps's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

One of the better contemporary women-struggling-with-life novels I’ve read (or bailed on) in the last couple of years.

Smooth writing and quite believable dialogues. I also liked that the main focus lies on friendships and not on romantic relationships.

Some of the incidents that drive the story are happening a bit too conveniently, but overall a good debut novel that touches on important topics.

Content Warnings

infusedchai's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

definitely not what i was expecting but still an interesting read! just two 21 year old codependent besties trying to figure out life and affairs

Content Warnings

oz2021's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm not typically a fan of messy millennial fiction. I'm not the right demographic, too old and curmudgeonly. But this one worked for me for a few reasons.
* The uniqueness of a key premise. Rachel has a crush on her professor. James encourages her to pursue him but ends up having an affair with him himself.
*The focus on a female--male friendship
*The fact that its told retrospectively with Rachel looking back at this eventful period in her 20s, meant we got to see and learn about the charcaters, after they have left the messy millennial years behind them and are living mostly happy, fulfilling lives.
*It's nuanced abortion storyline.
* Carey. No idea why I had a soft spot for him, but I did.
* Rachel's jobs in a bookstore, publishing, and journalism were a bonus for me as a booklover and one-time wannabe journalist.

Content Warnings

More...