The Daily Telegraph
When 27-year-old Rachel Walsh "accidentally" overdoses on recreational drugs in New York, she is persuaded to return home to Ireland for a "holiday."
Appalled at the drama created by her overdose and what her family believes to be a suicide not (really a moment of maudlin musing written down), Rachel reluctantly agrees to undergo therapy at The Cloisters, Dublin's own Betty Ford Clinic. After all, thinks Rachel, at least she'll get to meet some pop stars, lose a few pounds and take advantage of facilities like the gym, jacuzzis and massage. Yet when she arrives at The Cloisters, Rachel's "holiday" takes a nasty turn. The Cloisters is remarkably lacking in luxuries, celebrities and all beauty-enhancing facilities. Far from being a health farm, The Cloisters is a place where addiction is confronted, denial shattered and the painful journey of recovery begins.
Rachel's Holiday flits between the past - signposts in Rachel's increasing struggle with addiction - and the present, the surreal environment within The Cloisters.
With the help of therapists, other addicts and those closest to her, Rachel's denial is finally shattered and her recovery begins.
Painfully, uncertainly at first, but with a new dignity, Rachel begins to face the challenges of adulthood and a new life.
Marian Keyes takes a poignant, honest look at the suffering and loss wreaked by addiction in this endearing love story.