annatwhite4 's review for:

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

3.75

dark emotional funny slow-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

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I enjoyed reading this book. She is a really good author and I liked her writing style. It made me laugh a couple of times and I thought she handled really serious and big topics in a digestible way. I think I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It didnt make me feel as much as I thought it would.

It was really interesting to read about her relationship with James. I like that it was a love story of friends and how their dynamic with other people is impacted by their relationship with each other. James was enigmatic and you felt like you didnt know him. Like you know so much about Rachel, and you kind of learn about James but only in that they feel really close. I know he was the side character but I wanted to know more about him and see him interact with people more. The idea of James having a sway over people really resonated. I feel like we all have people in our lives that we are drawn to inexplicably and cant really explain why. 

I liked hearing her relationship with Carey. Hearing it from both their perspectives was very cool, and I loved that part where Carey said he felt like she was taking notes on him to later discuss with James. It was definitely James and Rachel together and she really didnt have room for anyone else but she viewed it as Carey was unreliable. Very interesting how we view things when other people can view the same situation so differently. 

I thought the part about her pregnancy and abortion/miscarriage was really impactful. How alone she felt, even with James to comfort her, and the lengths Irish women had to go through. I was unaware of the Irish abortion issue (which makes sense given how catholic). A good representation of someone who has a degree, has a job, has friends and resources still struggling so hard. I also did not realize how bad the economy was in 2010 especially in Ireland. I dont judge Rachel at all for what she did with Fred and Deenie. The scarlet woman piece after that felt almost self inflicted and as self punishment for the money she extorted from them. 

Im glad James went out on his own and explained to Rachel how different they are. She was so privileged and didnt recognize it bc she and James were in the same boat. Even her saying you're a minority? And its like he is a gay man with no degree.. yes rachel obvi. It almost felt like she was cosplaying at being in his situation, but in actuality she could have escaped it at any time. As self aware as Rachel seemed, even in her present day description, she doesn't seem to realize this. 

I dont even really know what to say about Fred and James. It was so pivotal to the plot but felt so tangential to Rachel's life, I dont know how to think about it. I think that is the point and I think she would agree. 

I wish I felt more connection to the characters but overall I think this book kind of missed for me, but I did love reading it weirdly.