Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Weather Girl

Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

66 reviews

riona_y's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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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!).

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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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."

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you to Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing for sending this book in exchange for an honest review. This book made me laugh, cry and just fall in love with both MCs.

Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants, Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer. In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to 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. Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

I would say I tried to not love this book as much as I did but I was lying. I went into this book thinking it would be along the same lines as the Ex-Talk and that it was going to be cute and light rom-com. Boy I was wrong, and I am so glad I was. The representation of depression and therapy in this book is done PERFECTLY and to Rachel Lynn Solomon, I thank you for that deeply. I loved and related to Ari so much it hurt my heart. The way she felt about herself during the 80% in this book and the way she manages to handle her depression and still seem so full of life and in love gives me a bit of hope for my personal journey.

Now Russell, if anyone hurts him, I will commit a bloody murder, and no one will know it was me. Russell was someone I wanted to hurt for 100% of this book and he was just so adorable and sweet and such a gentleman. I love the fact that he was a bigger guy. I haven’t read a lot of books where the love interest is a bigger person and slightly insecure and I just loved him more for it. This was also the first book I read that was the single parent trope and I surprisingly enjoyed it and it fit so well in this book and I will also die for Elodie (just saying).

The tension between Ari and Russell nearly made my heart burst. I absolutely loved all the idea they had set up for their bosses and ended up having to do. (The couple massage and Ari’s inner thoughts had me cackling). The whole company retreat trip had me giggling like a schoolgirl. It was so funny, so cute, just UGHHH. The spice in this book as well. I just want someone like Russell in my life – golden retriever energy outside and then in the bedroom, it was like he flips a switch, and I bloody loved it.

I love the general storyline of trying to make work better by doing The Parent Trap to your bosses and the twist that comes with it and how they were both ranting at the Christmas party as they are both Jewish (which I also loved the rep of). I loved the family dynamics of both MCs but Alex, Javier and the twins deserve their own book. I want another book like this but for Alex and Javier. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book except I wanted it to be like 30000 pages and would have loved to see the epilogue like 10 years down the line.

Content Warnings

carolynkwolff's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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serenitygrant's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This might be my new favorite.

Content Warnings

boba_n_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This romance that begins as a scheming partnership was so sweet. The book covered it all—mental illness, childhood trauma, breakups, and second chances. I loved the softer approach on women in STEAM with the main character being a meteorologist. The romantic interest being fat and not being ashamed was so refreshing, and I loved how the characters were Jewish and could bond over their shared heritage and beliefs. None of these were a huge focus of the book, but they made the characters unique and lovable.

My only complaint is the miscommunication trope that we so often see. It was a nice twist on it, but it felt almost forced and uncomfortable. However, the resolution is worth it.

Content Warnings

tostita's review against another edition

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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

3.75

Despite dealing with some pretty heavy topics—depression, dysfunctional parental relationships—this book felt light and amusing most of the time. I particularly appreciated the reflection on the way depression can distort memories, so that only the bad parts are highlighted and the good is nearly forgotten. There were times when my attention started to drift while listening, though I can’t pin down quite why, but overall it was a rewarding read.

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jusaoirse's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

Content Warnings

lacey_wi's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

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