Rachel's Holiday (Walsh Family, #2) in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 01, 2024 Lisa of Hopewell rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, read-in-2024

My Interest
I fell in the love with the Walsh family, an Irish crew with all daughters, in the first book of the series–Watermelon. I resisted the urge to binge all of the series like we all love to do with t.v. today. To start summer I chose this one–albeit defining summer as “after Memorial Day” as we do in the U.S.

The Story
“There are some women, who, when heartbroken, have no interest whatsoever in other men. I wasn’t one of them. On the contrary, I yearned for male approval as a form of resto My Interest
I fell in the love with the Walsh family, an Irish crew with all daughters, in the first book of the series–Watermelon. I resisted the urge to binge all of the series like we all love to do with t.v. today. To start summer I chose this one–albeit defining summer as “after Memorial Day” as we do in the U.S.

The Story
“There are some women, who, when heartbroken, have no interest whatsoever in other men. I wasn’t one of them. On the contrary, I yearned for male approval as a form of restoration. Call me shallow, call me needy, call me whatever you like so long as you call me.”

Watermelon was Claire’s story [spoiler ahead]–dumped by her husband the day she gave birth to their daughter. Now we are on to a different Wash sister–Rachel and her battle with drugs. Now, don’t worry!!! This isn’t an Oprah book. Rachel goes to addiction treatment/rehab at The Cloisters believing there will be celebrities, massages and a pool (think Judy Benjamin enlisting in the Army with the condos and sailboats in Hawaii–Private Benjamin). Sadly she never gets to be on the Hoovering team, always has to get up at dawn to do bacon and eggs for breakfast, but the Cloisters is a life-changing experience in more ways than one.

Told in back-and-forth chapters of her life in New York and her life at the Cloisters in rehab, the story shows how differently addicts perceive themselves and how they come to face reality. But, this is not an Oprah book as I’ve said. There is humor, warmth, and love. Her family doesn’t disown her. She isn’t thrown out on the streets. Her family shows up for her on visitation days and more.

My Thoughts
Rachel’s story had some moments of epiphany for me. No, not with drugs or drink–but needed all the same. I love the way this family just goes on being themselves–they care, they fight, they never mean to hurt each other. I loved her Dad’s escape into the musical Oklahoma! So fun. I especially loved the little sister’s advice to Rachel on their Mother’s comments. Moms don’t mean to hurt–they want to build you up and send you on your way. They love you. That’s why I can’t wait for more of this family.

The downside of listening while driving is a whole lot of good quotes don’t get captured. Sorry!

Note to American readers: “Mammy” is what the Irish say for “Mommy“. It is not a racial slur.

My Verdict
4.0
Rachel’s Holiday (Walsh Family book #2) by Marian Keyes

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