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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Scattered Showers is a charming, if somewhat uneven, collection of short stories by Rainbow Rowell. Each piece is infused with her signature warmth and wit, and fans of her previous novels will likely find something to enjoy here. That said, I found myself mostly skimming through the stories I wasn’t already attached to, waiting for the ones I really came for.
“Snow for Christmas,” the Simon Snow holiday short, was easily the highlight for me. It’s cozy, funny, and heartfelt—everything I loved about the Simon Snow trilogy in a compact, festive package. Getting to revisit Simon and Baz during Christmastime was a treat and made the entire collection feel worth picking up.
I also really enjoyed “If the Fates Allow,” which follows Reagan from Fangirl. It’s one of the more grounded stories in the collection and felt like a deeper dive into a character who’s usually on the periphery. It had just enough emotional weight without losing Rowell’s signature levity.
The rest of the stories, while pleasant, didn’t leave much of a lasting impression for me. They’re readable, sweet, and occasionally funny, but they didn’t quite rise to the level of Rowell’s longer works. Overall, Scattered Showers feels like bonus content for longtime fans—and if you’re one of those fans, especially of Simon Snow or Fangirl, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect every story to stick with you.
“Snow for Christmas,” the Simon Snow holiday short, was easily the highlight for me. It’s cozy, funny, and heartfelt—everything I loved about the Simon Snow trilogy in a compact, festive package. Getting to revisit Simon and Baz during Christmastime was a treat and made the entire collection feel worth picking up.
I also really enjoyed “If the Fates Allow,” which follows Reagan from Fangirl. It’s one of the more grounded stories in the collection and felt like a deeper dive into a character who’s usually on the periphery. It had just enough emotional weight without losing Rowell’s signature levity.
The rest of the stories, while pleasant, didn’t leave much of a lasting impression for me. They’re readable, sweet, and occasionally funny, but they didn’t quite rise to the level of Rowell’s longer works. Overall, Scattered Showers feels like bonus content for longtime fans—and if you’re one of those fans, especially of Simon Snow or Fangirl, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect every story to stick with you.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
In interesting collection of stories
Proper review to come
Proper review to come
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
enjoyable read, i really do love love and yeah rainbow rowell has my number
1. Midnights
Basic and predictable, but so short it still felt cute
"Mags felt it when Noel walked in. (He came in through the back door, and a bunch of cold air came in with him.)"
2. Kindred Spirits
I actually read this a few years ago. I was more than happy to re-read it though because it is simply amazing.
3. Winter Songs for Summer
This story was so wholesome! I think it healed some wounds in my soul I didn't know were there. Mandatory reading for people going through a break-up.
"A thousand mix CDs won't be enough if you ever stop loving me."
4. The Snow Ball
I spent the first 50-70% thinking about the format rather than the plot (it's a single scene!). And even though I knew it would end in romance, I couldn't see the characters headed that way at all - until they were suddenly there and it felt completely natural. Cute.
"Every single kiss was softer and longer than the one before. Fibonacci sequence."
5. If The Fates Allow
Reagan is an interesting Fangirl character to select for a story in my opinion - I was expecting maybe Wren? But I liked hearing about how much she's changed since college. And what she was like in high school (a nightmare).
And I'm sorry but Levi has a wife and three kids and fifty bison!?!?!?!?!? The wife better be Cath!
"Your grandmother would want us to say grace," he said, after they'd piled up their plates. [...] "But if she wanted me to keep saying grace," he went on, "she should have outlived me.
"She wasn't trying to be mean. (She didn't have to try. It came naturally.)"
6. The Prince And The Troll
Didn't enjoy this, didn't get it, too abstract for me. Next!
7. Mixed Messages
I bought Scattered Showers about 20 seconds after finishing Attachments, so this story should have filled the gaping Attachments-shaped hole in my heart. But it didn't. I didn't enjoy any of the text messages between Beth and Jennifer, instead finding them boring and unrelatable. Lincoln's POV was a lot better (he is so romantic!!). The one thing I truly enjoyed was the whole Beth vs. Cute Young Guy bit.
8. Snow for Christmas
Okay but we all know this story is the true reason I bought Scattered Showers! Carry On is my favourite book, and I absolutely love the rest of the trilogy too. I've read so much SnowBaz fanfiction over the years, I should maybe be embarassed. And then suddenly Rainbow Rowell herself drops an extra SnowBaz story?!?!?!?!??!!? You know I screamed when I found out. I had to have it.
I'm so glad we got to see more of Baz's backstory, even though it breaks my heart. His whole family really needs some fucking therapy. We kind of got a redemption arc for his dad, which was nice I guess, but it felt a bit funky - either go all in and redeem him, or don't. A short story wasn't enough for full redemption, so we only got crumbs, and it left me needing more. But it was very cute how Baz's family reacted to the meal!
I missed my boys Simon and Baz
Basic and predictable, but so short it still felt cute
"Mags felt it when Noel walked in. (He came in through the back door, and a bunch of cold air came in with him.)"
2. Kindred Spirits
I actually read this a few years ago. I was more than happy to re-read it though because it is simply amazing.
3. Winter Songs for Summer
This story was so wholesome! I think it healed some wounds in my soul I didn't know were there. Mandatory reading for people going through a break-up.
"A thousand mix CDs won't be enough if you ever stop loving me."
4. The Snow Ball
I spent the first 50-70% thinking about the format rather than the plot (it's a single scene!). And even though I knew it would end in romance, I couldn't see the characters headed that way at all - until they were suddenly there and it felt completely natural. Cute.
"Every single kiss was softer and longer than the one before. Fibonacci sequence."
5. If The Fates Allow
Reagan is an interesting Fangirl character to select for a story in my opinion - I was expecting maybe Wren? But I liked hearing about how much she's changed since college. And what she was like in high school (a nightmare).
And I'm sorry but Levi has a wife and three kids and fifty bison!?!?!?!?!? The wife better be Cath!
"Your grandmother would want us to say grace," he said, after they'd piled up their plates. [...] "But if she wanted me to keep saying grace," he went on, "she should have outlived me.
"She wasn't trying to be mean. (She didn't have to try. It came naturally.)"
6. The Prince And The Troll
Didn't enjoy this, didn't get it, too abstract for me. Next!
7. Mixed Messages
I bought Scattered Showers about 20 seconds after finishing Attachments, so this story should have filled the gaping Attachments-shaped hole in my heart. But it didn't. I didn't enjoy any of the text messages between Beth and Jennifer, instead finding them boring and unrelatable. Lincoln's POV was a lot better (he is so romantic!!). The one thing I truly enjoyed was the whole Beth vs. Cute Young Guy bit.
8. Snow for Christmas
Okay but we all know this story is the true reason I bought Scattered Showers! Carry On is my favourite book, and I absolutely love the rest of the trilogy too. I've read so much SnowBaz fanfiction over the years, I should maybe be embarassed. And then suddenly Rainbow Rowell herself drops an extra SnowBaz story?!?!?!?!??!!? You know I screamed when I found out. I had to have it.
I'm so glad we got to see more of Baz's backstory, even though it breaks my heart. His whole family really needs some fucking therapy. We kind of got a redemption arc for his dad, which was nice I guess, but it felt a bit funky - either go all in and redeem him, or don't. A short story wasn't enough for full redemption, so we only got crumbs, and it left me needing more. But it was very cute how Baz's family reacted to the meal!
I missed my boys Simon and Baz
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes