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sglance9's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Antisemitism, and Sexism
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
This book had some of the most realistic characters I’ve ever read in a romance. Ari, Russell, and even the side characters felt like real people with real problems and I loved that. Ari and her mother are portrayed as having chronic depression and while I can’t speak to the accuracy, it felt like it was depicted with care and sensitivity. Russell was a teen dad and speaks about the hardships and judgment he faced because of it. It was lovely to read a close sibling relationship too!
I loved that Russell was a fat hero and that Ari still found him sexy and attractive from their first interactions. It’s such a nice change of pace from the usual muscular six-pack body type we usually see, and one that I personally find much more attractive. (Not that I think every hero should be personally attractive to me, just that it would be nice to have a little more diversity for those of us who don’t like abs!) There’s some discussion of fatphobia and Russell’s insecurities, but I thought his body was handled with love and care. Ari and Russell had great chemistry and tension together, and this book had some unexpectedly hot and creative sex scenes. Their romance was soft and tender and full of heart.
While I did think the third-act conflict was believable and in keeping with Ari’s characterisation, I hated that they didn’t reconcile until the very last page before the epilogue. I would’ve liked an additional chapter or two because I like to see the couple happy together after the reconciliation (otherwise the ending feels too abrupt). I also felt like the characters’ relationships with their bosses were a little weirdly close. And I'm sorry, but even if you ask permission proposing at someone else's wedding is just odd.
I'm baffled as to why this was called a romcom though because it wasn't funny (a problem I have with most modern 'romcoms' to be honest!).
I'm baffled as to why this was called a romcom though because it wasn't funny (a problem I have with most modern 'romcoms' to be honest!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Antisemitism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Title: Weather Girl
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: January 11, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cozy • Feel-Good • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ari has always been fascinated by the weather, so working as a TV meteorologist is like living the dream. Unfortunately for Ari, her boss, the legendary Torrance Hale, is too preoccupied to mentor her properly. Russel, the sports report seems to be the only one who understands how she feels.
Following a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Weather Girl was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, given the sweet premise and knowing there would be a mental health aspect. To say my hopes were high would definitely be an understatement. And unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
What I like:
• the representation. This book has excellent representation of mental illness, plus size portrayal, single parent, and a Jewish main character.
• the unique jobs. I loved that Rachel used such unique jobs as the basis for the story. An added bonus that the idea of a romance between a weather girl and a sportscaster seems fitting.
• the cover. Probably one of my favourite covers of the year.
What I didn't like:
• the romance. I get the romance isn't meant to be the main focus, yet the chemistry between the two main characters didn't feel all that believable.
• underdeveloped plot points. Some aspects of the plot were just left unexplored, which didn't feel quite right, even though this book already tackles a lot.
At the end of the day this was quick read with a cute plot, yet could have been better. For me, there was just something missing or maybe it's the fact it tried to do too much opposed to focusing on developing several aspects more broadly. I'm still glad I read it for the living with function depression aspect alone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Ex Talk
• readers looking for mental illness representation
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The people who love us the most have the power to hurt us the most, too."
"If anything could confirm that weather isn’t small talk, it’s this. Weather connects us. A shared experience, even when we aren’t in the same place."
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: January 11, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cozy • Feel-Good • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ari has always been fascinated by the weather, so working as a TV meteorologist is like living the dream. Unfortunately for Ari, her boss, the legendary Torrance Hale, is too preoccupied to mentor her properly. Russel, the sports report seems to be the only one who understands how she feels.
Following a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Weather Girl was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, given the sweet premise and knowing there would be a mental health aspect. To say my hopes were high would definitely be an understatement. And unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
What I like:
• the representation. This book has excellent representation of mental illness, plus size portrayal, single parent, and a Jewish main character.
• the unique jobs. I loved that Rachel used such unique jobs as the basis for the story. An added bonus that the idea of a romance between a weather girl and a sportscaster seems fitting.
• the cover. Probably one of my favourite covers of the year.
What I didn't like:
• the romance. I get the romance isn't meant to be the main focus, yet the chemistry between the two main characters didn't feel all that believable.
• underdeveloped plot points. Some aspects of the plot were just left unexplored, which didn't feel quite right, even though this book already tackles a lot.
At the end of the day this was quick read with a cute plot, yet could have been better. For me, there was just something missing or maybe it's the fact it tried to do too much opposed to focusing on developing several aspects more broadly. I'm still glad I read it for the living with function depression aspect alone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Ex Talk
• readers looking for mental illness representation
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The people who love us the most have the power to hurt us the most, too."
"If anything could confirm that weather isn’t small talk, it’s this. Weather connects us. A shared experience, even when we aren’t in the same place."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexism, Medical content, Abandonment, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Ableism, Pregnancy, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Fatphobia
depressionimstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
bi_n_large's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Minor: Antisemitism
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ari's a meteorologist who revels in delivering a rainy day forecast, and that's only the first of many things I love about her. She's passionate about her work (women in STEM deserve everything), sees the best in people, and has a definite future in matchmaking. Her identity also boasts #ownvoices Jewish and depression representation.
Ari's experience struck a decidedly personal chord for me. I'm new to a depression diagnosis but long familiar with the reality. This was my first time picking up a book where I saw it on the page and knew I could put that name to my own life, too. I appreciate the trigger warning and the author's note about her personal connection at the beginning because I was deeply affected by the story. I thought it was raw, heartfelt, and relatable, and I found myself unexpectedly crying at one point as I saw myself in one of Ari's Dark Days.
This is a romantic comedy, so I don't mean to misrepresent it with my tears. I also laughed so many times while reading. Ari and Russell are cordial co-workers at the local news station until they decide to Parent Trap their two bosses, whose post-divorce antagonism spoils the office culture. As they scheme, something new and wonderful grows between them, an additional love story to the one they are plotting. It's an open door romance, but to me, it was the tender emotions as much as the spicy elements of their relationship that really made it special. Another note on stellar representation is that I think this is the first romance I've read with a fat hero, an area severely lacking in visibility and acceptance in terms of who is seen as desirable and attractive. Russell also co-parents his twelve-year-old daughter (LOVED her middle school energy, very true to real life) with his ex, and the story shows a loving mixed family environment.
The final standout element for me is the way all relationships have the time and space to grow throughout the story. Work camaraderie, friendships, romance (obviously), and deeply rooted family bonds all get attention on these pages. Especially moving was the new hope for Ari's relationship with her mom as she seeks help with her own depression for the first time.
This was a lovely, emotional read and an example of all that a romance novel can do to represent the human condition in all its mess, gifting us with a peek at the beautiful silver lining that Ari's always looking for. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review.
Ari's experience struck a decidedly personal chord for me. I'm new to a depression diagnosis but long familiar with the reality. This was my first time picking up a book where I saw it on the page and knew I could put that name to my own life, too. I appreciate the trigger warning and the author's note about her personal connection at the beginning because I was deeply affected by the story. I thought it was raw, heartfelt, and relatable, and I found myself unexpectedly crying at one point as I saw myself in one of Ari's Dark Days.
This is a romantic comedy, so I don't mean to misrepresent it with my tears. I also laughed so many times while reading. Ari and Russell are cordial co-workers at the local news station until they decide to Parent Trap their two bosses, whose post-divorce antagonism spoils the office culture. As they scheme, something new and wonderful grows between them, an additional love story to the one they are plotting. It's an open door romance, but to me, it was the tender emotions as much as the spicy elements of their relationship that really made it special. Another note on stellar representation is that I think this is the first romance I've read with a fat hero, an area severely lacking in visibility and acceptance in terms of who is seen as desirable and attractive. Russell also co-parents his twelve-year-old daughter (LOVED her middle school energy, very true to real life) with his ex, and the story shows a loving mixed family environment.
The final standout element for me is the way all relationships have the time and space to grow throughout the story. Work camaraderie, friendships, romance (obviously), and deeply rooted family bonds all get attention on these pages. Especially moving was the new hope for Ari's relationship with her mom as she seeks help with her own depression for the first time.
This was a lovely, emotional read and an example of all that a romance novel can do to represent the human condition in all its mess, gifting us with a peek at the beautiful silver lining that Ari's always looking for. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Antisemitism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
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