beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is based on Rachel Walsh. She has a pair of size 8 feet and likes to do drugs socially whilst she was in New York. After an “accidental” overdose according to Rachel – her family gets her back home to Ireland and gets her into an expensive rehab centre called Cloisters. Rachel only agrees to this incarceration because she heard that the rehab is wall-to wall jacuzzies, gyms and celebrity going cold turkey and it’s about time she had a holiday. But what Rachel doesn’t count on are the toe-curling embarrassments heaped on her by her family and group therapy. So how she must endure this rehab programme whilst wanting sex, drugs and the busy social life of New York. This book is an adult fiction.
This book was tough. Please make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading this book. The storyline can be so impactful. It sort of shows what happens when you think your actions aren’t hurting anyone and you are just having fun and being social and then reading the impact of her actions from her ex-boyfriend and roommate and family. This book shows the real struggle of being an addict and seeing it from Rachel’s point of view from her judging the addicts to realising she is one was heart breaking. What I liked about this book is as you read more and more you see the twists and how Rachel managed to find herself down this dark past and how she managed to recover. I wouldn’t say there was any weaknesses, I just prefer longer chapters compared to the short chapters as there were in this book.
After reading his book, I saw that Marian Keyes has written more books regarding the Walsh family and I am intrigued to read more about them that I might have to read the other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
witchintherain's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wasn't expecting to love this book so much, it really brought me out of my reading slump! It's the kind of book that makes you both laugh out loud and cry and Marian Keyes personable and witty writing makes this a surprisingly fun read. Even with all of the potential triggers in the book, it was in a way light-hearted due to her comedic writing and the ironic denial with the first-person narrative in regards to Rachel's problem with addiction. It was unrealistic at times and could be quite repetitive, it's also very obvious that some of the jokes are pretty outdated. But overall it's a surprisingly endearing and enjoyable book, I'll likely be getting the sequel in February :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
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