Rachels Holiday

First M. Keyes book I bought, and I really expected something lighter. While it is part of the newish "chick lit" phenom, it is deeper than such titles as "The Devil Weras Prada", or "Shopaholic". Read it, love it, and then read about Rachel's sisters in "Watermelon", "Angels", and "Is Anybody Out There" (the last is easily one of the best novels I read last year). So hoping that Keyes gives us one more--there is one sister that doesn't have her own book yet:)

This book has been purchased and given away to 12 different friends. I recommend it to anyone that has seen the addictive personality up close and have had addiction professionals use it as a fun guide to recovery. I love all of Marion Keyes books, but this one and Last Chance Saloon are my favorite rereads. I haunt the bookstores waiting for every new book to hit the shelves and share my joy with my reading girlfriends. Thanks for the joy!

What would you say to an all-expenses paid trip, complete with three well-balanced meals a day, daily schedule of events, nightly activities, and limitless opportunities to meet people that share common interests? Well, have I got the vacation for you! Join 27-year-old Rachel Walsh on her journey from selfish, immature, irresponsible drug-addict to rehabilitated, humble and fully-functional adult. Watch the transformation and prepare to be totally swept away.Marian Keyes has written a humdinger here. A lively and perceptive view of real-life addiction and recovery, spiced with humor and wit, and written in a breezy, chatty, conversational tone that will take reader from page 1 to 565 in two shakes. All Keyes fans will revel in Rachel's Holiday. A very fast-paced, mature novel, a hilarious take on a most serious subject, and one that will have you reading into the wee hours of the morning. Her best yet!

Once again, Marian Keyes has given me every penny's worth in her latest novel *Rachel's Holiday*. I liked Lucy Sullivan, LOVED Watermelon...and now I can barely descibe the rush of feelings I am experiencing after devouring this book in just 2 days!!! Although there is a serious storyline in each book, Keyes tackled a far more intense subject in her latest. She did it with tact, talent and humor. I have never been an addict, but I have loved several. Keyes portrayed the situation and the feelings involved perfectly. Like other reviewers I, too, found myself sad that this wonderful book had to come to an end. And so I say, "Marian...please, type quickly!!!"

I read this book a few months ago after much internet hunting trying to find it so I didn't have to wait for its US release. While Keyes' previous works have also dealt with serious subjects, they were underlying, not at all the main topic in the book. This book, however, takes a hard look at addiction. While she does it with humor, she doesn't necessarily sugarcoat it. I especially appreciated that it was the main character's point of view the story was coming from. This book is written in first person, which I like, but at first you may find it rather disconcerting. The story coming directly from Rachel helped me to relate to what addiction is like, how hard it is to overcome. In the beginning, I actually found myself truly wondering if she was an addict. That kind of scares me. It told me why addicts have such a hard time overcoming.I don't want to scare anyone off in making them think that this is an depressing, deep book filled with sorrow and woe. It's not. It's very funny at times. I love the way the family interacts. I think they're a lot like most families, just most families would never admit it. If you've read Watermelon then you've already been introduced to the family, if you haven't, read it. It doens't really matter which one you read first. Just enjoy them.