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mroth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
wilybooklover's review against another edition
4.5
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!).
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
- 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
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."
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
depressionmariep97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
leannanecdote's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Suicidal thoughts
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I went into this with really low expectations. I didn't love The Ex Talk as much as I wanted to, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that it had a lot of excitement at the beginning and then slowed down dramatically in the middle, before picking up again in the last few chapters. I worried that this would be a bit disappointing, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised. This just went on my favorites list for 2022, that's for sure.
First, let's talk about the romance aspect of the book. It wasn't angsty, it wasn't nasty, and it certainly wasn't enemies-to-lovers (praise be). It focused on a sweet work friendship that was formed over a mutual interest in reuniting divorced bosses (à la The Parent Trap) and turned into something more during the process. I loved how Ari felt the ability to open up with Russell much sooner in the book because it paved the way for really great character development as they each navigated their own fears.
Russell is a young father with concerns about dating due to challenges he faced in the past. He's worried that anyone he sees is going to either be turned off by the fact that he has a 12-year-old or they'll be uninterested in learning more about her. Not only that, but he's a plus-sized person and while he has fully accepted himself, he does worry that a romantic relationship would be uncomfortable - especially sexually. Ari reassures him pretty early on that she's more than interested in becoming friends with his daughter - and that friendship is so, so sweet. I absolutely loved the scene where they spend time together. It was super endearing and relatable. It's also precious to read her perspective about Russell and his weight because she finds that to be one of the attractive parts about him. Rather than this feeling toxic, it's really precious. As someone who personally married someone bigger than myself, it felt really relatable because I absolutely loved my husband's softness (it makes him more snuggly)!
(OwnVoices) Ari is someone who has not only been hurt by her mother (due to her mental illness) but also happens to carry that gene - and it almost plagues her with anxiety. The way this book tackled depression was so phenomenally done. I also appreciated the trigger warning and note by the author prior to the start of the book. It made diving into the story much easier for someone like myself who also battles depression. Ari learns so much about herself, relationships, her mother, and her job throughout the book. She grows so much and I can't begin to express how thankful I am for the way this book was written.
Honestly, I can't recommend Weather Girl enough. It's absolutely incredible and I can't wait to read it again and again.
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming and Suicidal thoughts
imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Minor: Gaslighting and Suicidal thoughts
kayladaila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
bookswithca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts