User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Hi all!
Weather Girl is a book that’s very close to my heart, and I wanted to let you know what you can expect to see in it. It’s an adult romantic comedy that I’ve pitched as Set it Up (or The Parent Trap) at a TV station with more spice, and features:
• a Jewish heroine and a Jewish hero
• a heroine with depression who is on medication and in therapy
• a fat hero
• open-door sex scenes slightly steamier than
The Ex Talk (I measured this by copy-pasting those scenes into a new doc and comparing word count, as one does)
• “my arm is in a sling and I need help putting on pajamas”
• so many weather puns
Ari and Russell have brought me so much joy over the past year and a half, and I hope they can do the same for you. Happy reading!
Rating: really liked it
a really fun and cute premise, but its just missing a
spark that was very much needed for me.
true to RLSs storytelling, this is very easy and enjoyable to read. she has a way of writing that just welcomes a reader in. so it was nice to have that, as well as an entertaining plot and the inclusion of important themes/topics.
i just wasnt feeling it when it came to the connection between ari and russell. separately, i think they are pretty great characters that have depth and personality. but put them together and they just have nothing to work with. again, they are really good characters on their own, so its such a bummer that the chemistry between them fell flat for me.
so heres me looking forward to RLSs next book!
↠ 3 stars
Rating: really liked it
It is time to burn everything to the ground.
I have had enough of the world around us. I like to consider myself a patient person, not because I am one but because my mind is a world of pure imagination à la Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, but this is a bridge too far. I am at the end of my already extremely short rope, and I am going to lash out because of it.
At the beginning of this year, I realized it had been three months since I last read a romance, an oversight for which I will spend the rest of my days repenting. EVEN WORSE FOR ME, if such a thing is EVEN POSSIBLE, was the ensuing reveal that it had been NEARLY FIVE MONTHS since I had liked one.
Immediately I of course changed my self-diagnosed seasonal depression (I am diagnosed with All-Annual / Classic Depression so leave me alone) to self-diagnosed "I just need a good romance novel and then I will be fine!" and decided to cure myself, because why not.
So I took up a lil ol heroic and sweeping and grand olympic-esque series of task called the Romance Quest.
Just reading romances and trying to find one I liked.
This was attempt three and we remain unsuccessful.
(We are now 7 attempts in.)
I am BURNT OUT.
This isn't all bad, I guess. It's the first time I've read a romance novel with a fat love interest, and that was fantastic. It was, in fact, the only part of this I really liked, besides the cover, which I now can't even think of without weeping with disappointment and heartbreak and my romance novel-based illness.
And that ends the section dedicated to nice things I have to say.
This didn't have ANYTHING I wanted.
It had depression rep, which is good, but it didn't work for me, which is okay, because everyone's depression is different, but that's still not a point in the plus column.
It didn't have the stuff I wanted to see, like the chemistry, or the cute early hang-outs, or the falling in love part. Which is, you know, why I read romance.
Essentially, it felt like suddenly the characters slept together, then a lot of time passed, then the third act drama happened for no real reason.
And that means a lot, coming from me, because I am a monster. I am a drama vampire and a gossip hound and I can sense human suffering from a mile away.
In other words, normally I want a lot of drama and miscommunication in my romance novels because I'm here for the yearning and pain, but if it's going to feel unnecessary I would rather not have it at all!!
I need to collapse on a chaise longue like a Victorian damsel.
Bottom line: I don't feel like I'm asking for much. Just a book that will make me smile and swoon and cure my depression.
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pre-reviewmy romance quest persists.
...and it will continue to persist.
review to come / 2 stars
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tbr reviewthere's just something about this cover that says "if i don't like this book i'm going to be extremely upset"
(thanks to the publisher for the copy)
Rating: really liked it
Some people predict the weather. I predict which books I’m going to love. Just like the meteorologists, I don’t always have it right.Ari Abrams is a meteorologist for a hit news program in Seattle. She’s always dreamed of working with famed weatherwoman Torrance Hale. However, Torrance is not the easiest to work for. She’s moody, selfish, and can be downright bitchy. It doesn’t help that her ex-husband, Seth, works at the station as well.
Russell Barringer is a news reporter for the station, and his boss, Seth, can be dickish and extremely disruptive when he’s in the vicinity of his ex-wife, Torrance.
One drunken night, Ari and Russell hatch a plan to get their bosses back together. Not only would it raise morale in the office if Torrance and Seth weren’t constantly bickering, but maybe it would help Ari and Russell in the career department if their bosses took the time to mentor them to be the best they can be.
The forecast shows their plan to be working, but Ari and Russell don’t predict their attraction to each other. Can they make things work between them even when storm clouds hover?
I absolutely loved author Rachel Lynn Solomon’s
The Ex Talk, and jumped at the chance to read this one.
This is marketed as a rom-com, but the book does tackle some serious/infrequent themes. The major one is depression. Ari has suffered with it on and off throughout her life, and she has lost people she loved because of it. Most days, she’s okay, but she’s vulnerable about letting anyone in. She tries as hard as she can to be positive, and keeps up with her antidepressants and therapy, but sometimes the dark cloud still rears its ugly head. I also really appreciate that Russell is big. He’s not the Fabio on the cover of those ridiculous romance novels. He’s a guy with a belly and stretch marks...a normal guy...and Ari is attracted to him regardless. We don’t see a lot of that in these kinds of books.
Here’s the crux: I had to ask myself “weather”...ahem...WHETHER it mattered that I didn’t feel the chemistry in a rom-com. Turns out, it mattered to me.
I felt ZERO chemistry between Ari and Russell. Their characters were fine...nothing wrong with them. They just seemed a bit bland. I don’t mind heat in my books. In this one, the door is wide open in a handful of scenes, but reading about what goes on underneath the “umbrella”...ahem...SHEETS wasn’t that enticing when I couldn’t really get into the idea of them being together in the first place. It’s just unfortunate, because Ari and Russell’s storyline is primary.
However, all of the side storylines were fantabulous, and I really loved the other characters. I cared about Torrance and Seth’s rekindled romance, and loved the growing friendship between Ari and Torrance...but I want to see sparks fly between the main characters when reading a romantic comedy. The ending is also a major faux pas, and I can’t imagine anyone being chill about it. I don’t do spoilers, but you’ll know what I mean if you read it.
Overall, I am glad to have read this one...but I just couldn’t buy into the romance. I also didn’t laugh out loud once, but there were definitely a few moments that made me smile.
Huge shout out to the author. From what I can gather, this story was a bit personal for her. She mentions in her author’s note that she really wanted to show a lead character who can be happy in life while also having extremely dark days. She includes the phone numbers to numerous resources after this note:
“If any of this subject matter is triggering to you, please be gentle with yourself while reading.” MAJOR KUDOS!
Thank you to Berkley for providing me with a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 1/11/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Rating: really liked it
This is the first romance I've read with a plus-sized hero! And I loved him! Bravo, Rachel.
WEATHER GIRL is a warm, lighthearted, and charming office romance. It also offers a very reader-friendly/gentle depiction of depression--meaning it shouldn't, in my opinion, be triggering.
Rating: really liked it
Each RLS book leaves a permanent smile residue on my face and fill my heart with pocketful of sunshine! They are true definition of feel-good novels!
Weather Girl is no exception: it makes you smile, warming your heart, helping you to see the brightest stars at the darkest hour of the night!
It’s a great mash up of Netflix’s brilliant romcom “ Set it up” ( this time instead of 2 executive assistants, a quirky weathercaster and sports reporter team up to matchmake their horrible bosses ) and Newsroom ( focused on romance parts )
Ari Abrams works as a weather broadcaster: truly loves her job! She can talk about weather for hours, getting emotional when she sees the rain drops, smiling ears to ears when she sees sun appears behind the clouds because she likes to see the silver linings of everything. This is like a defense mechanism for her to cover up the truth she’s hiding from her coworkers. She has been suffering from depression for years, prescribed antidepressants. She’s mostly handling it perfectly but her breakup with her fiancée and her boss Torrance Hale’s (she’s idolized ) tantrums because of her unresolved issues with her ex husband Seth who is also the owner of network make her life miserable.
Thankfully at a Christmas party, when she drinks her feelings, shy, reserved but also cute sports reporter Russell Barringer not only shares drinks with her but also offers a solution which helps both of them getting rid of this misery: both of them hate their bosses’ attitudes and they want their efforts at work be appreciated. The solution is simple: Torrence and Seth are still having feelings for each other so they will remind them of those feelings as their volunteer cupids!
Detailed schemes to bring them together means Russell and Ari may also spend more time together, involving into couple massages, yacht trips etc. Their chemistry is palpable. They realize they already fall for each other before they accomplish their matchmaking mission!
Will Russell differentiate his roles between being boyfriend and being father of his 12 years old daughter? Will Ari open him up honestly about her mental problems? What if Russell can tolerate her dark moods just like her ex boyfriends?
I loved this book. It’s even better than Ex- Talk which I also enjoyed, too.
Mother- daughter relationship, depression, Ari and Russell sweet bounding and Seth and Torrence’s second chance romance are written so well that earned five blazing, sweet, heartfelt, teen father loves quirky sweet girl stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Rating: really liked it
I listened to this entire audiobook today while I was cleaning my apartment and it was such a delight.
There’s so much I love about this book: I love that it takes place in Seattle and that they work at a news station. (I’m also super fascinated by weather so I loved following a character who’s a meteorologist) I love that the love interest is a fat single Dad and that they’re both Jewish. And I love that the basic premise is that they are trying to set up their bosses, reminds me a lot of the Netflix movie Set It Up. I also really appreciate the way Ari is written in this book with a very realistic look at depression and how that can be. I appreciated the complicated relationship she has with her mom and how their relationship was explored throughout the book.
The only reason I knocked off a star is because I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending, the conflict was cliche and wasn’t my favorite and I didn’t passionately love this one as much as I loved The Ex Talk, but it was so cute and I’m glad I read it 🥰 I’ll be reading every romance this author publishes, I love her writing style. It’s somehow light hearted but also deep and thoughtful at the same time and I love that.
Rating: really liked it
Ari Abrams has been fascinated by the weather for as long as she can remember. She grew up in Seattle watching Torrance Hale, the local meteorologist, and idolizing her the way other kids idolize sports stars or other celebrities.
As an adult, Ari is so close to achieving all her dreams. Torrance Hale is now her boss and while Ari loves her job, she wishes she were allocated more responsibility and more challenging stories.
Half the problem is that Torrance is too distracted by her turbulent relationship with her ex-husband, Seth, the station's news director. It seems most days she barely notices Ari at all.
Ari is growing increasingly frustrated and finds someone to confide in at the office. Russell Barringer, a sports reporter, is also frustrated with the toxic atmosphere at the station created by Torrance and Seth's constant fighting.
In the aftermath of a calamitous office Christmas party, Ari and Russ come up with a plan to get Torrance and Seth back together.
The Parent Trap is referenced, so you get the deal.
From that point on, Ari and Russ spend progressively more time together as they plot and scheme to get the ex-couple reunited.
Weather Girl is really touching. Much like the weather, this story has both dark and light aspects. I enjoyed all the characters so much and it felt particularly good watching Ari and Russ open up to one another.
Rachel Lynn Solomon is such a gifted writer. I will continue to pick up every single thing she ever offers; YA or Adult, it doesn't matter, it's all incredible.
I know a lot of people have mentioned in their reviews that this one wasn't as light-hearted as they were expecting and that may have decreased their enjoyment level a bit.
Ari does suffer from depression and works through a lot of issues relating to that. I thought it was handled really well though. One thing I always enjoy about RLS's work is her inclusion of mental health issues.
I feel like having her characters mentally working through those types of things makes them more believable and relatable. I can understand how some Readers may not want so much of it included in a book they are expecting to be a light Rom-Com though.
For me, I found Ari to be extremely realistic. She recently went through a break-up from a long-term relationship and is still processing that dissolution.
Ari's mother also has battled depression for decades and wasn't always there for her children. As you can imagine, that has had a lot of impact on Ari's life.
Russell has his own insecurities that he is working through. I enjoyed learning about his life. Russ isn't your stereotypical leading man and I loved him all the more for it.
The banter between the two, in RLS's signature style, is witty and engaging. I was rooting for the two of them from the start. They had such a sweet dynamic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The mix of serious and fun was compelling, thought-provoking and heart-warming. While this isn't my favorite of Solomon's work, it's still wonderfully done.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to Solomon's next release!!
Rating: really liked it
3.75 stars. I will never
not read a new romance release from Rachel Lynn Solomon, and this solidified that decision. Firstly, I looooved the fact that this had a fat hero (a fat single dad, no less!!!). Also, this was SURPRISINGLY naughty. I knew it was going to have some steamy scenes, but some of the things that happen between the two main characters had me clutching my metaphorical pearls and honestly? I loved it lmao. While this had it's light and steamy moments, this book also really sensitively portrayed a main character with depression and how that can affect your relationship with the world around you and honestly this book was just SO well done. Cannot wait to continue to read more from Rachel in the future!!!
CW: depression, mentions of fatphobia, strained mother/daughter relationships
Rating: really liked it
Ari doesn’t consider weather small talk! She finds the weather really captivating, and what better job for her that a tv meteorologist. She is friends with Russell, her coworker who is a sports reporter. The workplace is a nightmare since their bosses, Torrance and Seth, are exes and are constantly at odds at each with each other. She and Russell devise a plan in getting their bosses together, which means a lot of communication for Ari and Russell. How do she and Russell’s relationship grow as they try to get Torrance and Seth together?
Ari struggles with depression and it has been something that has been an issue in her past relationships. She resents her mom because she too has depression and Ari believes that her mom should have at least tried to get help since she had kids….and I took that personally.
It really hurt because there are a lot of people who think like this. Does Ari ever learn to understand her mom?
Ari and Russell were okay. They didn’t really give me butterflies or anything. I did like that this relationship help Ari learn more about her mental health. Russel does have a daughter and that was really cool. I rarely get to read about single plus-sized fathers "getting the girl". It was quite steamier than I expected. Nothing crazy, but still kind of a surprise.
P.s. I still consider weather a small talk subject.
Rating: really liked it
this was cute! i think i have similar feelings to this one as i did with The Ex Talk. lots of emphasis on emotions and development of the heroine but not a whole lot of development in the way of romance.
this one did the romance a liiiiittle better and i did really appreciate our hero, he was a delight. but there wasn't any tension or real passion in my opinion. it made for a perfectly fine audiobook listening experience but it's not a book i see myself rereading or really recommending.
i will also point out that mental health is a
huge component to this book and i think that can either be a) triggering b) cathartic c) not relatable. so be aware of that. i think the depression rep isn't likely to resonate with a lot of depressed people but it's nice to see different experiences in books.
Rating: really liked it
There's something especially lovely about an overcast day. Clouds dipped in ink, the sky ready to crack open. The air turning crisp and sweet. It's magic, the way the world seems to pause for a few moments right before a downpour, and I can never get enough of that heady anticipation — this sense that something extraordinary is about to happen. Sometimes I think I could live in those moments forever.
4.5 stars, rounded up Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of those authors I've heard so much hype for, I was simultaneously excited and downright nervous to finally try out a book of hers!
What if I'm the odd one out? What if this book lets me down? My fellow Anxious Readers™️ probably know what I mean. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed at all, and in fact, I wholeheartedly plan on reading more of Rachel Lynn Solomon's books in the future, because this was absolutely delightful.
Ari and Russell are such lovable characters, though I'll admit Russell was my favorite of the two. We so rarely get to see fat heroes in romance, and I love that it felt authentic in that Russell does have some insecurities, but it also isn't like his entire world revolves around it. He's such a damn cinnamon roll (though he definitely does mess up a time or two).
Ari was more complicated for me. I adored her depression rep because it felt so genuine and relatable, but she also made choices that frustrated me. I don't mind the miscommunication trope
sometimes, but in this case, it felt unnecessary and I was so annoyed with her refusal to face the truth about the situation and Russell's feelings. That said, the reality of living with depression like Ari's is that we
do sometimes make these really poor choices and hurt our loved ones by keeping them at a distance, so despite it not being enjoyable to read about, I was certainly able to see why RLS chose to take us down that path.
(As a side note, while we're discussing representation, Ari and Russell are both Jewish and so is Rachel Lynn Solomon. I'm not Jewish, but I wanted to say that I thought it was so delightful and sweet to watch these two bond over their backgrounds and celebrations, and I really appreciated RLS sharing those experiences with us!)
Thankfully, the annoyance with a brief section of the story was not a deterrent from adoring this book and these characters. RLS' writing is so enjoyable and engaging, the tension that builds up between Ari and Russell is believable and absolutely charged with natural chemistry, and Russell's daughter is hilarious and steals the spotlight every chance she gets. I loved how easy it was to root for every single character in
Weather Girl and to genuinely celebrate every milestone and success. I can't wait to read more from this author!
✨
Representation: Ari is Jewish and has depression; Russell is Jewish and fat; Ari's brother is Jewish and gay; Ari's mother is Jewish and has depression
✨
Content warnings for: depictions of depression, mentions of voluntary mental health-related hospitalization (a side character, not depicted first-hand), mentions of fatphobia, recent bad break-up
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!———
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Rating: really liked it
"Every time it rains
You're here in my head
Like the sun coming out
I just know that something good is gonna happen"-"Cloudbursting"," Kate BushThis book was a slice of delight! That's not to say it doesn't deal with it's fair share of heavy topics (ex. depression) but it does so in a meaningful way drenched in the beauty of living life. Through ups and downs, Ari and Russell share genuine experiences, and we get to see Jewish rep (something I cannot attest to the authenticity of as I am not Jewish myself, but have heard from multiple friends who identify as such that the rep is good), depression that is treated with years of therapy and openly discussed, and a fat single dad love interest. 😍 The ending features an action I wasn't keen on, but it isn't problematic, just personal preference. If you're looking for an uplifting romance full of heart and hope, grab your copy in January!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Rating: really liked it
2 stars Ari Abrams landed her dream job working with her childhood idol as the weather girl at her local new station. And that would be perfect, except her boss is a nightmare to work with because her boss is constantly fighting with her ex at the news station. After a particularly bad fight at the Christmas party, Ari and one of the men on the sports team, Russell, decide to work together to parent trap their bosses back together.
I was trying to figure out what it was that I didn’t like about this book, and then I read some other reviews and it clicked into place: there was absolutely zero spark between Ari and Russell. On paper a cute romance between the weather girl and the sports guy sounds like the perfect romance. But it just didn’t work. There was even one point during the book were Russell said something during a sex scene that I think was supposed to be sexy or cute and I actually said “ew” out loud while reading.
I liked reading about Ari’s journey with depression I thought it was presented in an understandable and empathetic way; I’m so glad that this book portrays characters going to therapy when they need it. I liked Russell as a hero I thought he was great, but I never really got him and Ari together. That combined with a very slow plot was the kiss of death for me. I read The Ex Talk by this author and felt similarly if not better about that book, I’m not sure if I will read more by Solomon.
Rating: really liked it
This is a Romance book. I really enjoyed this book, and this book has a twist that I did not see. In this book two people that work together decided to put their bosses back together. While the two main characters work on putting their bosses back together their become friends and more. I really love the characters. One of the main characters as mental health issues, and she did not like showing anyone her mental health issues. I have to say I liked how this book shows the character's mental health issues. This was a fun read cute read that also covers some important issues. Great read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Berkley) or author (Rachel Lynn Solomon) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
