Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - The Rachel Incident

Wow. This story was written so well I am shocked it is not an autobiography. Every sensation, every scene, felt so real. James and Rachel were such troubled and wonderful protagonists, relatable to any reader in their 20s. This book made me gasp without being a ridiculous or plot-driven story. It was emotive and deeply embedded in Irish political history.

Content Warnings

astoriareader's review

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reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

SYNOPSIS:

Rachel becomes best friends with James, a gay man. An older Rachel reflects & tells us their story living in Cork, Ireland, in their early twenties.
We learn how their lives intertwine with Rachel’s professor, Dr. Byrnes, and Rachel’s first love, Carey.

MY THOUGHTS

Coming-of-age story
A little slow in some parts
I didn’t connect to the main character
I didn’t love this book. It was an okay read to me.
James felt like stereotypical gay bestie, and there wasn’t much else added to his personality.
Parts of the story are messy, which is fine. I get it. We all make mistakes. The story felt unnecessarily long & slow in telling them.
I did enjoy the political & social commentary about women’s issues in Ireland.
I liked the ending. I wish we spent more time learning about Rachel in present day. The bulk of the book focuses on the time period of finishing college & the few months after graduating.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️i’m in the minority. this coming-of-age story was just an ok read for me.

Content Warnings

annaonthepage's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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

Content Warnings

nreyno's review

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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taylorsevalia's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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beatriks's review against another edition

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dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved the book from beginning to end. It’s such a smart book with to-the-point observations.

Personal growth is possible, self-reflection is invaluable.

I especially liked the cork-side of the book, a city I visited 7 years ago, and the reverberations of the financial crisis on the life of people in Ireland.

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