logo

54 pages 1 hour read

Caroline O'Donoghue

The Rachel Incident

Caroline O'DonoghueFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Caroline O'Donoghue

The Rachel Incident

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Cork, Ireland • 2010s

Topic
Publication Year

2023

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In The Rachel Incident, Rachel Murray navigates adulthood in post-recession Ireland, becoming close friends with James Devlin during her final year of college. Together, they become entangled with the lives of Dr. Frederick Byrnes and his wife, Deenie, leading to a series of personal and professional challenges that shape Rachel's journey. The story explores themes of enduring friendships, self-exploration, and the intensity of first love. The book briefly mentions topics including abortion, drug use, child abuse, and anti-gay bias.

Humorous

Emotional

Bittersweet

Romantic

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue is praised for its engaging narrative and well-drawn characters, offering a fresh take on contemporary relationships and self-discovery. Readers appreciate its humor and emotional depth. However, some critique its pacing and find certain subplots underdeveloped. Overall, it provides a compelling read with a mix of wit and introspection.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Rachel Incident?

For readers who cherish coming-of-age stories brimming with wit and heart, The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue is a perfect match. Similar in appeal to Sally Rooney’s Normal People and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings, it captivates with its sharp observations on friendship, love, and self-discovery.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Cork, Ireland • 2010s

Topic
Publication Year

2023

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.