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The Rachel Incident
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
62 posts | 67 read | 42 to read
A brilliantly funny novel about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and its love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate and the two begin a friendship that changes the course of both their lives forever. Together, they run riot through the streets of Cork city, trying to maintain a bohemian existence while the threat of the financial crash looms before them. When Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a reading at their local bookstore, with the goal that she might seduce him afterwards. But Fred has other desires. So begins a series of secrets and compromises that intertwine the fates of James, Rachel, Fred, and Freds glamorous, well-connected, bourgeois wife. Aching with unrequited love, shot through with delicious, sparkling humor, The Rachel Incident is a triumph.
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review
IndianBookworm
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

The story is about two best friends, Rachel and James and the time when Rachel falls in love with her English professor Dr Fred Byrne.

It's a coming of age story, about the reality of your life in twenties and a whole bunch of complications every day. I loved the book. It's wholesome, funny, relatable, and still thoughtful. A must read. I think I'll definitely be coming back to it after some years.
5/5🌟

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Leniverse
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I thought the premise of this book (girl has crush on her professor who is interested in someone else) sounded really cringe and utterly uninteresting. But people kept saying it was really great, so I gave it a try. Turns out people were right. And that premise is just a kickoff point, not what the story is about. This was a funny, VERY Irish (deliberately so) story about love, friendship and becoming an adult in a provincial city during recession

squirrelbrain Loved this! 3mo
youneverarrived I was on the fence about this but you‘ve persuaded me. Stacking! 3mo
sarahbarnes I loved this one too! 3mo
Leniverse @youneverarrived Hope you like it! I was definitely pleasantly surprised. 3mo
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Karizma
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

The parallels to my own life in the noughties from dating disasters, fashions, and working in a soul crushing call center snapped me back to that time in my life. The character sees her growth and owns up to her own failings. The relationships are genuine and feel like real characters in my own orbit. The audio version was transportive into Rachel's world.

Not sure exactly how this one got on my radar, but I'm so glad it did!

review
CBee
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

Loved, loved, loved this. I miss having a James ♥️

TheBookHippie My daughter loved this. 6mo
CBee @TheBookHippie it was so good 😊 6mo
AmyG I loved the second half…which saved the book for me. 6mo
See All 10 Comments
Deblovestoread I loved this, too. We do have similar taste in books 😊 6mo
CBee @AmyG ♥️♥️ 6mo
CBee @Deblovestoread yes we do ♥️♥️ 6mo
BarbaraBB I‘d love a James too! 6mo
CBee @BarbaraBB I‘ve had two in my life and I miss that 😕♥️ 6mo
BarbaraBB I can see why. This read must have brought back memories, the characters really come to life 💕 6mo
CBee @BarbaraBB it did! A lot of great memories 😊 6mo
73 likes1 stack add10 comments
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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When your dress matches your book! ❤️💙

Edited to add that o didn‘t finish this one… idk why! Just not feeling it! #HailtheBail 🤷🏻‍♀️

Happy Thursday everyone!

#LitsyLove
#LitsyLoveReads

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 6mo
Suet624 Same to you! 6mo
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Starting this one tonight! Any thoughts?! One of the elephant ears I planted! 🐘🌱🐘

ErikasMindfulShelf I really liked it. 7mo
TheBookHippie My daughter really liked it. 7mo
BkClubCare I really enjoyed the audiobook 💗 7mo
See All 9 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @BkClubCare ❤️❤️❤️ 7mo
julesG Haven't read the book, but I wish I lived somewhere where I could plant elephant ears outside. 7mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @julesG have will see how it goes!! 🌱💚 7mo
peaKnit I really enjoyed this read, friendship and the mess of young adulthood. 7mo
59 likes9 comments
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JenReadsAlot
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this! #readyourkindle @CBee

CBee I have to read this soon! 7mo
38 likes1 comment
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Cuilin
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

At times it gave me Bridget Jones vibes. It‘s not my usual genre and honestly, I only read it because it was set in my home city, Cork Ireland. Tara Flynn‘s narration was perfect. It truly felt like I was home again. Had the right balance of humor and drama. Five🌟

batsy It felt like Cork came alive as its own character in this one 💚 7mo
BarbaraBB I loved it too and Cork was a perfect setting! 7mo
Cuilin @batsy Cork was definitely a main character!! 7mo
See All 7 Comments
Cuilin @BarbaraBB agreed 👍 7mo
Suet624 It was a fun read and especially great because of Cork! 7mo
Cuilin @Suet624 yes. Cork humor certainly came through. 7mo
TheBookHippie My daughter loved this book! 7mo
57 likes7 comments
blurb
Megabooks
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Final quarterfinal and it‘s a doozy! Shocking your hosts a bit, The Rachel Incident takes the final battle. They were tied going into the final two votes we received, which both went for Rachel. Are you surprised by this result like we were? #LitsyToB24

Now it‘s time to vote in the semifinals, and soon we will announce and bring back the zombies, too! 🧟‍♀️ Who are you hoping to see return? Link to vote: https://forms.gle/Hh3Tr8UNQbrsMmH1A

CatLass007 Yes I‘m surprised. I bailed on Rachel. 8mo
See All 32 Comments
Bookwormjillk I didn‘t get to Rachel but I will have to soon! Excited to read the book that took down my favorite! 🤞🧟‍♀️ 8mo
BarbaraBB I am surprised too! But I did love Rachel too so am happy with either outcome! 8mo
AmyG I am not. While I had some trouble wih the first half, I really think it was due to my age….I lost a bit of patience with the foolishness of youth. But I really liked the bookonce the incident happened. I loved All The Sinners Bleed. All of it. 8mo
Ruthiella That‘s the joy of this kind of “competition”! Anything can happen. 😆 8mo
Suet624 That‘s quite the contrast!! 8mo
Megabooks @Ruthiella exactly! It‘s so interesting! 8mo
Megabooks @AmyG I preferred Sinners as well for the same reason. It definitely took me longer to get into Rachel‘s world and appreciate where the author was going. 8mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB 👍🏻👍🏻 I was surprised you liked Rachel as much as you did. 8mo
Megabooks @Bookwormjillk I know! We were biting our nails as the votes came in! 8mo
Megabooks @CatLass007 it was definitely the most surprising result. 8mo
Deblovestoread Loved both books but Sinners got the edge because I couldn‘t put it down. Hope to see it the zombie round. 8mo
CatLass007 S. A. Cosby is a new must read for me. 8mo
Megabooks @CatLass007 yes! I have a couple saved for #AuthorAMonth later this year! 8mo
Megabooks @Deblovestoread it was definitely the more propulsive of the two! 8mo
CatLass007 I haven‘t got any for #AAM yet. I‘m trying to use the library instead of buying. 8mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I think Rachel was the right book at the right time. Sinners I read last summer, I know I loved it but the feeling‘s gone a bit after all this time 🤷🏻‍♀️ 8mo
MicheleinPhilly BOO! HISS! I‘m salty about this verdict. 8mo
kwmg40 I voted for Sinners so I am a little disappointed and surprised, but I also did like Rachel a lot. 8mo
Hooked_on_books The only reason I‘m not surprised by this result is because you hinted at it in a comment on Monday‘s matchup, so I was expecting it. And am still not at all happy about it. 8mo
Jas16 Wow. I did not see this one coming. 8mo
sarahbarnes I loved The Rachel Incident and am happy with this outcome! 8mo
Megabooks @kwmg40 this was definitely the shocker of the bunch, but it wouldn‘t be a ToB without one! 8mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I enjoyed both books, but Sinners more for sure. Definitely a surprising outcome given that it was the most picked book on who people thought should win. 8mo
Megabooks @Jas16 us either! 8mo
Megabooks @sarahbarnes great!! 👍🏻👍🏻 8mo
Kristy_K I am surprised by this! I enjoyed Sinners more. The books are so different though, they‘re hard to compare. 8mo
KarenUK The final four are all books I really liked! So difficult to vote! 🤦‍♀️💕 8mo
65 likes1 stack add32 comments
review
kwmg40
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. I loved all the characters, the Cork setting, the humour and the unexpected twists. However, I do have to say that there were other #LitsyToB24 picks I found more interesting and thought-provoking, if less enjjoyable. @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

#gottacatchemall @PuddleJumper (prompt 20, Karrablast: Instant connection)
#52bookclub24 (prompt 38, Published by Hachette)

65 likes5 comments
blurb
perfectlywinged
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Been saving this book set in Cork in the 2010s for St Patrick‘s day weekend. So far it‘s an apt look at being in your early 20‘s.

20 likes1 stack add
review
Elizabeth2
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Panpan

This one wasn‘t for me. Told in a meandering way between the present and the past, when a person from her past is brought up in conversation, Rachel remembers her formative years in her early 20s. I found Rachel to be insufferable. The decisions she made, the lack of any personal responsibility for her own situation, her deception…it was all too over the top. I kept listening to see how it would all end, and that was unsatisfying, too. ⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

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squirrelbrain
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Our final first round bracket for #LitsyToB24, and The Rachel Incident wins, with a 60/40 split. Both of these books were looking back at your younger self - did you identify with either / both of them?

Thank you for all your comments on the first round - now is the time to vote for the quarterfinals! Here‘s the link - please vote this weekend and Meg will take over on Monday with the next round‘s results.

https://forms.gle/BnGAYebiyBjwiGuGA

Chelsea.Poole I liked them both! The Rachel Incident was more of a page-turner for me so it edged out Idlewild. Great job matching these two, as always! Off to vote! (and likely have no clue what I actually voted for in a few days 😆) 8mo
See All 21 Comments
kwmg40 I liked both these books, and they both resonated with me, though it wasn't always comfortable thinking back to my earlier self! 8mo
BarbaraBB I loved them both, this was the hardest bracket for me. I hope Idlewild will make a 🧟 return! Thanks so much for hosting the Opening Round Helen ❤️❤️, I am off to vote now 💃 8mo
BarbaraBB @Leniverse @MicheleinPhilly @Readerann @CatLass007 Now that we‘re entering the quarter finals you might want to jump in and vote! 8mo
AmyG I bailed on Idlewild…I think I‘m too old (and wasn‘t in the mood). The RI….I also felt old but I wanted to just find out what the incident was. Once I did, I enjoyed the book. 8mo
sarahbarnes I really liked both of these books, but I‘m happy with this outcome! A great pairing! 8mo
Ruthiella This was also a hard choice for me to make. I really liked and identified with both. I am old but remember a lot of the indecision and confusion of my younger years, for sure. I picked Idewild but am pleased with Rachel moving forward instead. Both books are good depictions of intense friendship which can remain a bond in later life or can go completely sour. 8mo
Deblovestoread Great pairing! I liked both books but saw a bit of my younger self in Rachel so a bit more memorable 8mo
Megabooks Idlewild stuck with me more and I related to its queer themes a lot, so it got my vote and my 🧟‍♀️ vote so 🤞🏻🤞🏻! 8mo
squirrelbrain I think this might have been the most difficult bracket for everyone! @Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB @kwmg40 @sarahbarnes @Ruthiella @Deblovestoread 8mo
squirrelbrain I loved both, but also preferred Idlewild @Megabooks 8mo
squirrelbrain @AmyG - I liked the twisty-turniness (is that a word?!) of the incident in RI. 8mo
AmyG @squirrelbrain Yes…it wasn‘t a blatant incident. I liked that, too. (edited) 8mo
Kitta I only read Idlewild, so can‘t have much of a say in the vote! It reminded me too much of being an awkward teenager and honestly I don‘t want to remember those days haha 😆 Being a queer teenager was really hard, even in an accepting place like Canada. The novel brought up a lot for me, and not all of it good so I had a hard time with it. 8mo
Hooked_on_books I loved Idlewild. I found it really moving and lovely and I so wish it had won. Especially since for the first half of the book I hated Rachel and found her wholly unredeeming. I frankly would have bailed if not for this tourney. The second half was better, but in no way was this book better to me than Idlewild. 8mo
BarbaraBB @Kitta I can understand how it made you feel uncomfortable. I hadn‘t thought of that, I read it with a nostalgic view of my teens and couldn‘t really relate so I read it with some distance and loved it. 8mo
BkClubCare I can‘t say that I would have voted for Rachel but I loved the audiobook. I didn‘t get to Idlewild. It seemed like I was only able to get to one side of the brackets! PS I voted 🗳️ 👏 🎉 8mo
Kitta @BarbaraBB I was invested in the characters but briefly considered DNFing it, I‘m glad I persevered! I can see why people loved it, it was just my own emotions and memories that made it a more difficult read. 8mo
KarenUK I really loved the Rachel incident. Such a surprise his warm and funny it was… 💕 8mo
56 likes21 comments
blurb
Elizabeth2
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Started this on audio today. Not sure how I feel about it yet. I‘m about 30% in, and I don‘t really like any of the characters. 🤷‍♀️ I am going to keep going because I don‘t hate it, but I already know this one won‘t be a 4⭐️ or 5⭐️ read. ❤️📚

BkClubCare I loved it! But it does have split opinions. I was all aboard, as they say. (I also did via audiobook) (edited) 9mo
39 likes1 comment
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Kristy_K
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Mehso-so

This fell somewhere in the middle for me. A bit of an adult coming-of-age story, I didn‘t particularly like or dislike any character. I felt largely that nothing happened and it dragged in some areas, but I also wanted to know what would happened between the affair and the friendships. #litsyTOB24

review
batsy
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this warm, witty, big-hearted novel about Rachel & her best friend James, & how rooted it is in time & place (Cork truly comes alive). The characters are so well-drawn, & the relationships & fuck-ups that happen during the early-20s are realistic while being entertaining enough to power a whole novel that I didn't want to stop turning the pages. Many of the lines made me laugh out loud, especially in the first half. The writing is fab.

batsy I thought the cover of the Australian edition is cute. And references one of my favourite scenes 🙂 9mo
BarbaraBB Great cover indeed! And I really enjoyed this one too. 9mo
batsy @BarbaraBB Yes, I remember you and many others enjoying it. A lovely book 💚 9mo
See All 15 Comments
Cuilin Cork you say?? My home town. Now I really have to read it. 9mo
AmyG I like this cover. I will say….I enjoyed the second half of this book way more than the first. 9mo
sarahbarnes Agreed! Great review. 9mo
Lesliereadsalot This book got better and better with a really cool ending! 9mo
batsy @Cuilin I hope you do! I look forward to seeing your thoughts 🙂 9mo
batsy @AmyG I thought the second half dragged just a bit especially toward the end, but it did have a cool ending I agree @Lesliereadsalot 9mo
batsy @sarahbarnes Thank you! 9mo
HOTPock3tt I enjoyed this book too! 9mo
Cathythoughts Great review ❤️ I‘m looking forward to it. 9mo
Reggie If I could stack this again I would have after your review. 9mo
batsy @HOTPock3tt It's a good read! 9mo
batsy @Cathythoughts @Reggie Thank you, I hope you both like it if you give it a go ❤️ 9mo
84 likes8 stack adds15 comments
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NovelNancyM
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I loved everything about this book. It is so much more than the book jacket blurb. It's about friendship, coming of age, stories we tell ourselves in our head, being gay and not being able to come out, reproductive rights, humor, complicated families, socioeconomic issues.

51 likes2 stack adds
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Readerann
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

This started off slowly, but it became a real page-turner! Rachel herself is a bit of a train wreck, but you can‘t look away. 🤣 #LitsyToB24
Spoiler: the only thing that bugged me was Rachel “running into” Carey as her London physiotherapist. Come on!

BkClubCare I loved this reading experience (audio) and I will support it !!! 😁 9mo
Readerann @BkClubCare I wish I‘d had the audio available! 9mo
8 likes2 comments
blurb
Deblovestoread
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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#LitsyTOB #TBRTarot #Bookspin

My early twenties were a long time ago but I really connected with Rachel‘s story in many ways. 4.5 🌟

@rmaclean4 @kwmg40 @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @RebelReader @jlhammar @Addison_Reads @Ruthiella @sarahbarnes @ImperfectCJ @Well-ReadNeck

BarbaraBB I felt the same! 9mo
Suet624 This was an unexpected surprise. 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 9mo
CBee Looking forward to getting to this one soon! 9mo
Ruthiella Same! 9mo
65 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Larkken
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

Today brings you a tale of 2 #toblonglist titles because for both I found the MC to be extremely relatable… but for the tagged, this meant the 20-something self-involvedness & resulting life implosion was cringe but i rooted for her; & yet the American Mermaid mc is making me want to hide in shared shame and bail... Weird how that shared characteristic is affecting me so differently. Does AM get more fun, all yall who've read it for #tob2024?

Larkken Otherwise, this looks like a clear case of #litsytob2024 supremacy over the official Tob list😅 9mo
BarbaraBB @Larkken 🙌🏽 9mo
squirrelbrain Hooray - #litsytob2024 for the win! I haven‘t read AM, but loved The Rachel Incident. 9mo
Larkken @squirrelbrain i thought RI did as well as anything I‘ve read depicting the complicated feelings over an unwanted pregnancy and its loss and then I loved that it ended on a sweet note, so def a win for me ☺️ 9mo
BkClubCare Same!! I gave RI a 5⭐️ but just couldn‘t seem to get into AM and yet… yet! It seemed like one I would like! My reading mojo is super confused anymore. 9mo
33 likes5 comments
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fredthemoose
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Coming of age/young adulthood story of an Irish woman and, her gay roommate/BFF and and a unique set of circumstances they (mis)manage leading to the “incident”. I‘ve seen this compared to Sally Rooney‘s books, but I found these characters more sympathetic and the situations more interesting and morally ambiguous. I enjoyed it! #LitsyToB24

59 likes1 stack add
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quietjenn
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I ultimately quite liked this one, although there were definitely times when it was iffy. A little bit to read and relatable perhaps?

53 likes1 stack add
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Helsky
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

This book was quite lovely. Coming of age story set in Ireland in 2010 dealing with friendship, love and finding your place in the world. It brought back memories of my own youth. All the characters felt so real. They were all flawed in their own ways, but totally relatable. The writing style is compelling and kept me reading late into the night. I did not want to put it down after I started reading. Will definitely read more from this author.

BarbaraBB Loved this one too and am also very interested in this author! 9mo
thewallflower0707 Really happy I gave this a chance, I enjoyed this a lot as well. I appreciated how the novel covers the economical crisis and still managed to keep it heartfelt & real. 9mo
11 likes2 comments
blurb
MallenNC
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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#Two4Tuesday

1. Chocolate or jewelry

2. They‘re a little dysfunctional but I would say Rachel and James in the tagged book are a good example.

Thanks @TheSpineView for the tag. I hadn‘t done one of these in a while!

TheSpineView You're welcome and thanks for playing! 10mo
22 likes1 comment
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Lesliereadsalot
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

This book is about the intersecting lives of several young Irish adults and a professor and his wife. The young Irish adults are so tiresome, but believable in a way because we‘ve all been there. We‘ve all been 20 something and trying to figure out who we are. This is the second book in a row I‘ve read that got better, the further into the story. Plus a good ending!

AmyG Sounds about right! Good review. 10mo
14 likes1 comment
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CatLass007
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Bailedbailed

#LitsyToB24 I listened to the audio version and the narrator had a lovely Irish lilt. I think that‘s why I listened for as long as I did. But I felt like I‘d already spent more time than I ought on a book that just didn‘t interest me. I hope other people are getting more from reading this than I could.

AmyG I am reading now and waiting for the damn incident. I almost bailed a few times. 10mo
CatLass007 @AmyG I actually listened to about 75% of the book and I just couldn‘t listen anymore. I can‘t figure out if it‘s because I didn‘t like the story or maybe I‘m just too damn old. 10mo
AmyG I have been feeling a bit too old for this story, too. But I am sticking with it. 10mo
See All 18 Comments
CatLass007 @AmyG I enjoy reminiscing with friends about college or moving to New York. But I‘m not getting the feeling that she‘s reminiscing so much as dwelling on and regretting. 10mo
dabbe #hailthebail! 🖤🩶🖤 10mo
CatLass007 @dabbe I think the first book on which I ever bailed was 11-22-63 when it was first released in 2011. It felt like such a sacrilege. But when I joined Litsy (I think it was in 2017) it was the first time I felt that I‘d been given permission to bail. I realized I was giving myself the gift of time. 10mo
squirrelbrain It‘s great how we all like / dislike different books - I loved this one! 😃 10mo
BarbaraBB I loved this one, but I always encourage bailing when you don‘t 😉 10mo
dabbe @CatLass007 #amensista! 🤩🤗😍 10mo
Megabooks Sorry this didn‘t work for you! 10mo
CatLass007 @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Y‘all do such a great job!! I‘ve tried a lot of new authors because of #LitsyToB24. Some books I‘ve loved, some books I didn‘t. There are authors I know I will add to my favorites list and others I might give a second chance. The great thing about using my Audible credits is that I can return a book within 365 days of purchase and get my credit back. It‘s a win/win. 10mo
BkClubCare @CatLass007 - huh, I have not had any luck getting Audible to accept a return lately. Wonder what I am doing wrong. Sad this one didn‘t work but it‘s great if you could return for another that does work for you. 😊 10mo
CatLass007 @BkClubCare How are you trying to return it? I always have to call customer service. 10mo
BkClubCare @CatLass007 - oh. Haven‘t tried that option. 😂 It used to be a button right next to the title! The last one I tried to send back, I was told the option was no longer available 🤷🏻‍♀️ 10mo
CatLass007 @BkClubCare They must accept returns within 365 days of purchase. That‘s per the lawsuit they lost. I don‘t think that button has been available for quite a while. You definitely should call customer service directly. I don‘t have the number on speed dial but I call it frequently enough to have it saved in my contacts. 888-283-5051. At first they had to accept all returns, both those purchased with “cash” and credits. (cont)⬇️ 10mo
CatLass007 @BkClubCare Now they only have to accept the returns purchased with credits. 10mo
BkClubCare @CatLass007 - great, thank you! 10mo
CatLass007 @BkClubCare You‘re welcome. I hope you get the return made easily. 10mo
51 likes18 comments
blurb
Readerann
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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When most of your library holds come in at the same time…😩
#Litsytob24

squirrelbrain Ooh, lovely! But also 🤯 10mo
BarbaraBB That is a little frightening lol 😃 10mo
Megabooks Great stack though! 10mo
See All 6 Comments
Ruthiella I feel you! 10mo
Readerann @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Ruthie Thanks for the sympathy! I have about an hour a day to read right now. 😩 again. 10mo
BarbaraBB I‘d be in no hurry to read Rouge 😉 10mo
20 likes6 comments
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BittersweetBooks
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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The problem with genuine memories is that you know too much. It ruins everything 📚🍷🇮🇪

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yum 😋 can‘t wait to read this one! 10mo
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LaraReads
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

Finally getting started on my #LitsyToB24 reading list, and what an excellent start it was! I really loved this book! And I don‘t know that I would have picked it up without the ToB. So thank you ladies! I loved these characters and the whole story. It just had so much heart, and was still a whole lot of fun!

50 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Jas16
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

Two college aged friends, broke and unsure about their futures, stumble through bad decisions, relationships, and bad decisions about relationships. This was charming and relatable and even as I cringed a bit I also saw parts of myself in my twenties in Rachel. A winner from the #litsytob24 list.

BarbaraBB So good! 11mo
Megabooks Yay! 11mo
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BarbaraBB
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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#12DaysOfChristmas #12BooksOf2023

In November I started reading the #ToB longlist which is every year a huge source of inspiration. I have discovered so many fantastic books and authors this way. This year The Rachel Incident is such a discovery and, cliffhanger 😉😂, my final book tomorrow, will be a ToB- longlisted book as well!

Andrew65 Looks a good choice. 11mo
Megabooks 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 11mo
Suet624 This book was such a surprise. So unassuming. (edited) 11mo
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merelybookish
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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My pick for July is this excellent story about the messiness of young adulthood. It was a perfect summer read!
#12daysof2023
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Sounds a good read. 11mo
Suet624 This one was an unexpected delight. 10mo
merelybookish @Suet624 Agreed! 10mo
40 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

This was a very anticipated book for me because I‘d heard great things. I stayed up really late to finish it in one day, so it definitely lived up to the hype. Rachel deals with complicated relationships during a time of chaos in Ireland, when the economy had crashed and there was a lot of struggle. It‘s funny and dramatic, and I loved it. I think it really captures that sense of desperation and confusion.

This was my #BookSpin for December

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 11mo
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Chelsea.Poole
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

And now for some positivity! This was brilliant. I loved every bit of this Rooney-adjacent tale of Irish best friends James and Rachel who put each other first above all else. Readers get to know them during their collage years and briefly get to know them as adults. One of my favorites from our #litsyToB24 list so far.

TheKidUpstairs Yes! Loved this one. 11mo
Suet624 This book was a delightful surprise. 11mo
sarahbarnes Loved this one too! 11mo
BarbaraBB Agreeing with all! Lovely read! 11mo
Megabooks Yes yes!! 11mo
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sarahbarnes
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I had high expectations going into this one given reviews here and I was not disappointed. What a great book. A perfectly crafted story and phenomenal characters. I loved the juxtaposition of Rachel‘s adult perspective as she tells the story from her youth; it felt authentic and without too much judgment of her younger self. A favorite of 2023!

squirrelbrain Glad you loved it too! ❤️ 11mo
BarbaraBB Relieved and happy you loved it too - with those high expectations ❤️ 11mo
sarahbarnes @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB it made my top reads in 2023! 11mo
42 likes3 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

#ToB
I went into this expecting it to be Sally Rooney-esque but it‘s so much more than that. (I don‘t dislike Rooney but I find her characters a bit whiny and unlikeable). This was nothing of the sort - it was sharp and funny and, even though the MCs did some slightly iffy things, I couldn‘t help loving them.

I‘m now debating whether this makes my #top23of23 (along with another #ToB book I just finished!) which is why I haven‘t posted it yet!

AmyG This is my next ebook after Happiness Falls. Everyone seems to say they like it. 🤞🏻 11mo
See All 17 Comments
CatLass007 Wow! Great review. I look forward to reading it for #LitsyToB24. 11mo
MicheleinPhilly I feel like I may need to re-read this as we get closer to LitsyTOB. I need to not read any novels featuring 20-somethings for a bit beforehand. 11mo
sarahbarnes I‘m starting this one today! So many great reviews. I‘m glad you liked it so much! 11mo
Ruthiella OMG thank goodness this wasn‘t like Sally Rooney. 😂 I also don‘t hate her books but yeah, they somehow annoy me. I liked this one a lot. 11mo
Deblovestoread I am hoping this is under the Christmas tree. 🎄🎁 11mo
BarbaraBB Great review. I loved some of Sally Rooney‘s books as well but Rachel? Wow 🤩 11mo
Hooked_on_books @AmyG Quite frankly, I hated the first half of this book, but the second half is much better. 11mo
Kristy_K I‘ll be reading this next month and have high hopes for this one! 11mo
BkClubCare 👏 yay! (But yikes, not fond of this cover. ) (edited) 11mo
batsy This seems to be very popular! 🙂 11mo
Well-ReadNeck I really don‘t like Sally Rooney but loved The Rachel Incident. I think u nailed the difference- these characters were deeper and more sympathetic. 11mo
Megabooks This was much better than expected. Agree! 11mo
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bio_chem06
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Bailedbailed

I know this book is on all the lists, but I just couldn‘t get into it. I loved the cover though.

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LitsyEvents
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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repost for @BarbaraBB, @Megabooks, @squirrelbrain:

We do have our #LitsyToB24 shortlist! We hope you like the results (based on 30 voters), we know we are!!

Meg, Helen and I will come up with the brackets soon! For now you can make your reading plans for our own tournament in March 2024!

Please feel free to join us, let us know if you want to, so we‘ll add you to our taglist!

original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2675018

Megabooks Thanks for posting!! 🫶🏻 11mo
CatLass007 @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks Please make sure I‘m on your tag list for #LitsyToB24. Thank you! 11mo
squirrelbrain Yes, of course we will! @CatLass007 11mo
See All 6 Comments
CatLass007 @squirrelbrain Thank you. 11mo
Megabooks @CatLass007 welcome! Hope you enjoy the tournament! 11mo
CatLass007 The shortlist looks great so I think it will be fun. 11mo
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BkClubCare
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I loved this book! I love pie! 💕

Rachel is retelling a story that needs the decade or more reflection of her younger self and an experience that she wants closure on, especially when news forces it to her top of mind. This book is about growing up, finding the love of friendship and the love of passion. Definitely a “found family” book which is often my favorite. STACK IT! 🌟

Cherry Cranberry Pie per my brother‘s request for Christmas 🎄🍒

Tamra That looks fabulous! 12mo
BarbaraBB I loved the book too ❤️ 12mo
bthegood Pie looks fantastic 🥧 12mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 11mo
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Hooked_on_books
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

This one is a tough call for me, as I found Rachel immature, irresponsible, and irritating. I pretty much hated the first half. But the second half allowed me to have much empathy for her, as she went through some seriously painful things in a sort of loss of innocence. If it weren‘t a #tob24 book, I would have bailed early. But the second half is strong enough that I give this a soft pick.

Addison_Reads Great review. I read this ARC early in the year and felt very similar to you about it. 12mo
BarbaraBB Great review. I really liked Rachel which made it a different experience for me. 12mo
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I feel like the reader is meant to like her and I just couldn‘t. If she was unlikeable by design, I probably would have had a better time with it. 12mo
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BarbaraBB
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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#BookReport 48/23

The tagged book was my favorite this week, although both others were good reads as well. A satisfying week!

squirrelbrain A great week! I‘m looking forward to The Rachel Incident, when it comes in at the library. 12mo
TrishB Good week 👍🏻 12mo
64 likes2 comments
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Oryx
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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I really liked this and flew through it. She really captured something about the university experience and being that age. But it also has a propulsive plot, and relationships you get invested in. It's mostly set in Cork at the time of the recession, but from the perspective of Rachel years later. Great read.

Caroline2 Oh I have this on my kindle and I keep seeing great reviews lately, sounds like I need to move it up the pile! 👍 12mo
squirrelbrain I‘m waiting for this from the library. I think I must have missed a 99p deal on it as I *don‘t* have it on Kindle. 🤷‍♀️ 12mo
Oryx @squirrelbrain you must have missed it ☹️ I definitely got it on a deal. It will probably come back again 12mo
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Suet624
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

What‘s not to like about this book? We experience the lives of best friends James and Rachel as they move through their 20‘s. Broke, questioning their futures, falling in love with others and taking one for the team when necessary. As time moves on we see the consequences of their prior decisions. The book is meaty while also being a really pleasant way to spend time with characters you root for. #TOB24

BarbaraBB Great review! I was super charmed by this book and characters too. 12mo
merelybookish Totally agree! 12mo
batsy Great review! I've only seen such positive reviews for this so I'm looking forward to picking it up. 12mo
See All 14 Comments
squirrelbrain Great review - I‘m really looking forward to this, when it comes in for me at the library. 12mo
Ruthiella Agree. This book hit all the right notes regarding navigating early adulthood. It wasn‘t my trajectory, and yet it still felt familiar. 12mo
sarahbarnes Another great review! I‘m looking forward to reading this one. 12mo
Deblovestoread Another great review for this book. Cant wait to read it. 12mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB 😍 😍 😍 But of course! 12mo
Suet624 @merelybookish 👍 👍 12mo
Suet624 @batsy @squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @deblovestoread I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 12mo
Suet624 @Ruthiella It did hit the right notes and it felt very familiar. You're spot on. 12mo
marleed Loved this one! 12mo
Well-ReadNeck I had warm nostalgic vibes from this one. Just loved it. 12mo
Suet624 @Well-ReadNeck same! 12mo
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Oryx
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Hairdresser reading, with the dog. Yes, Daisy has come to my hairdressers and had lots of fuss.

Sleepswithbooks What a precious girl 🐶💛 12mo
squirrelbrain Is Daisy getting a new hairdo too?! ❤️ 12mo
Oryx @squirrelbrain she needs one 😁 12mo
AmyG Lucky Daisy! 12mo
dabbe Hello there, Darling Daisy! 🖤🐾🖤 12mo
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TheKidUpstairs
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I wasn't going to read this one - comparisons to Rooney put me off - but then it kept coming up for me on NPR's fabulous Best of 2023 site and I decided to try it. I'm so glad I did. The way this is structured, Rachel as a slightly older narrator looking back at her twenties, sets it apart and above. It allows such beautiful tenderness for 20s Rachel and James, while also being aware of the naive, slightly narcissistic, bordering on (Cont'd)

TheKidUpstairs ... pretentious way of 20-somethings just about everywhere. I felt so deeply for Rachel, she is a wonderfully drawn character, and this framing allows her to examine her own flaws and strengths with such love and compassion. And I love that it ended with just enough closure, but not finality. It was wonderful. 12mo
tpixie Lovely review. The book sounds great! 12mo
squirrelbrain Great review! I‘m waiting on this from the library…. 12mo
Deblovestoread Lovely review! Hope to find it under the Christmas tree. 12mo
Suet624 I‘m in the middle of this one and agree. It‘s a book that calls to me to stop what I‘m doing and to lie on the couch and read it. 12mo
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BarbaraBB
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

I loved this book, that took me back to the days I was young and broke and wild too. Rachel is such a loving character, as are both James's! The book was funny and tragic, and felt very true. The plot is great too. I am left with a happy yet melancholic feeling. Another favorite of the #ToB24 longlist!

squirrelbrain Hooray - another good one! I‘m waiting for this from the library…. 12mo
Megabooks So glad you loved it!! 💜 12mo
Chelsea.Poole Oh good! I‘m looking forward to this! 12mo
See All 18 Comments
BkClubCare I had to return it to hold, too many too fast. Hoping I get my hands on it again in a few weeks. 12mo
sarahbarnes Love your review! I‘m even more excited for this one now. 12mo
Jas16 Really looking forward to reading this one. 12mo
Ruthiella This is one of the few I‘ve already read from the longlist. I liked it too. Such a lovely depiction of friendship. 12mo
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Unconditionally 🧡 12mo
MicheleinPhilly I read this a month or so ago. While I liked it, I didn‘t love it. I think I just wasn‘t in the right head space and read it immediately after a similar 20-somethings novel. 12mo
Deblovestoread Great review! Glad I put it on my Christmas list. ❤️💚 12mo
BarbaraBB @MicheleinPhilly I totally get that. It can become annoying easily. But I hadn‘t read a similar kind of book in a while and really fell for their friendship 12mo
Suet624 I‘m so glad you liked it! 12mo
TheKidUpstairs @Chelsea.Poole I think you'll like this one! 12mo
TheKidUpstairs I just finished this morning, loved it as well! 12mo
Chelsea.Poole @TheKidUpstairs thank you!! I‘m excited to get to this one now 😊 I have it checked out from the library…I should prioritize it. 12mo
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs The right book at the right time 12mo
KarenUK Had a feeling you‘d like this as much as I did! 11mo
BarbaraBB @KarenUK Of course I did! Our kind of book 🩷 11mo
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Suet624
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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First world problem: I‘m listening to one book and reading the other (often between 2-4 am) and, at least at this point in the two books, I‘m confusing the two plots. They feel very similar but different. #TOB24

squirrelbrain Oh no! 😬 12mo
IndoorDame Never good when your books could live in the same world! 12mo
BarbaraBB I am reading Rachel and enjoying it. It‘s a fun read about being young. I guess the same goes for Vintage Contemporaries which I haven‘t read yet but heard a lot about! 12mo
See All 8 Comments
Suet624 @squirrelbrain @indoorDame I'm hoping as time goes on they will distinguish themselves from one another. :) 12mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB I think I am enjoying Rachel too. As long as i can separate it from the other one. I love a book in which the characters live in Ireland. 12mo
Megabooks I‘ve had that happen before. Weird synergies that mix things up. I guess I can see it with these two. 12mo
AmyG I have done this a few times! 12mo
BarbaraBB I thought you‘d like that, the Ireland setting! 12mo
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marleed
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

Sometimes I‘m fully aware that the moon and stars aligned and provided me the right book at the right time and immersed me in the experience and joy of reading. This was that book. The whole situation read so believable to me. A reminder we just don‘t know when we are in it, the year that will become so pivotal to the rest of our life.

BarbaraBB Great review! Just bought this one. 12mo
marleed @BarbaraBB isn‘t it interesting how sometimes you just know that reading a particular at a particular time was just exactly the right thing. 12mo
BarbaraBB Yes it is! I love it when that happens! 12mo
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VRM1975
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
Pickpick

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