Rachel is in her last year of college in County Cork, Ireland, when she meets James Devlin and from there a wonderful, life-long friendship is born as the two become a team. Moving in together, partying together and getting involved in each other's romantic entanglements, you can't see Rachel without James. But things change when Dr Byrne, Rachel's professor, becomes involved in their lives.

We see this story from an older, pregnant Rachel who appears to be living a settled, happy life in London with a career in journalism - and she reflects back on a poignant moment in her life, that really changed the whole trajectory.

I just loved this story - and I didn't mind the few times we were brought to future Rachel as I actually loved seeing how well she was doing and I remained curious about what happened before London. Rachel's early twenties are messy and fun, and full of too much drink but a lot of laughter as well as big loves and even bigger heartbreak. I thought the story was told perfectly, and I also liked the way Caroline O'Donoghue handled some bigger topics in this book including abortion, miscarriage and the Repeal movement in Ireland.

I've been waiting to read 'the book' in 2023 that I know will stand head and shoulders above the others, and I think I've finally found it.