Evening Herald
This is a welcome break from the formula to which so many mainstream women novelists are writing these days.
Yes, Rachel is in her late 20's. And yes, she does desire the perfect man.
But, hooray! She does not have the usually obligatory gay male friend, who would, of course, be perfect for her, were he not gay. Nor does she have the usually straight male friend, who is perfect for her but she just doesn't realise it; nor a bunch of close girlie mates who she chats to about her latest shag.
In fact, Rachel's life is quite different to that of Irish novelist Marian Keyes' characters from the equally highly readable Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married and Watermelon. (It turns out that Rachel is actually a sister of the main character in Watermelon, so readers will be familiar with the family history).
Rachel is a drug addict living the high life in New York, dashing from work to all-night parties until she wakes one day to find herself in hospital, having had her stomach pumped. She's soon on her way back home to Dublin for detoxification.
At first the idea appeals. The Cloisters, Rachel thinks, is just the place to relax, enjoy massages and makeovers, lose weight and glide around looking pensive and waif-life for a few weeks. She might even get to meet a few celebrities.
Of course, it doesn't quite turn out that way.
Rachel's Holiday is a good read. It alternates between her memories of New York and her current miserable - but increasingly illuminating - stay at The Cloisters.
It's poignant and at times, very funny.
And there may also be some lessons here for those feeling a little anxious that perhaps their seemingly innocuous big nights out could lead to something more sinister.