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micaelamariem's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book had a somewhat interesting premise: a family drama inspired by telenovelas. But it failed to deliver. The majority of it was, well, boring. The characters were unlikable. I personally didn’t like the way “chapters” were divided, making it impossible to find good places to pause. Weather is supposed to be an extended metaphor about the health of the family but, by the middle of the book, I was ready to throw it down every time they were talking of the weather and the drought because it was SO boring. I also hated the way the point of view skipped around, making it hard to find who was talking, which was quite annoying. I don’t know if I’m too young to appreciate this, or family dramas aren’t my thing, or this truly was not a great book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Infertility, Rape, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
candaceallison's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Medical content
Minor: Rape
erinp423's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25 Stars for LA Weather.
This book started off really strong for me, I was immediately drawn into the Alvarado family and the near-drowning incident in the first chapter (not a spoiler) - which acts as the ignition point for a lot of strife for each individual of the family and the family as a whole. Throughout the book each chapter is narrated by a different character, giving insight into their individual stories, ambitions, and motivations. Most notably, the patriarch of the family has a deep secret that he needs to expose to his family to help explain his recent obsession with the draught in LA, but he has been holding onto it and its causing marital issues and pushing his wife away.
It is definitely a character-driven story and even has a bit of an elevated telenovela feel, without feeling cheesy - aside from perhaps the multiple divorces in the last quarter of the book. The characters were all generally likable and the story generally enjoyable, but it wasn't a book I couldn't put down or felt super compelled to pick back up. By the last 25% of the book, I kept feeling like it should end, but it just kept on going.
I did like how it gave some cultural insight into life as a Mexican-American family through the eyes of three different generations. The Alvarado family feels representative of the ways families are changing with differing backgrounds, religions, members, and ways of handling the chaos life can bring.
L.A. Weather would be a good beach read and will make your family feel extremely average by comparison to the Alvarado family. It likely won't change your life and you won't be compelled to think about the book after you've finished it.
This book started off really strong for me, I was immediately drawn into the Alvarado family and the near-drowning incident in the first chapter (not a spoiler) - which acts as the ignition point for a lot of strife for each individual of the family and the family as a whole. Throughout the book each chapter is narrated by a different character, giving insight into their individual stories, ambitions, and motivations. Most notably, the patriarch of the family has a deep secret that he needs to expose to his family to help explain his recent obsession with the draught in LA, but he has been holding onto it and its causing marital issues and pushing his wife away.
It is definitely a character-driven story and even has a bit of an elevated telenovela feel, without feeling cheesy - aside from perhaps the multiple divorces in the last quarter of the book. The characters were all generally likable and the story generally enjoyable, but it wasn't a book I couldn't put down or felt super compelled to pick back up. By the last 25% of the book, I kept feeling like it should end, but it just kept on going.
I did like how it gave some cultural insight into life as a Mexican-American family through the eyes of three different generations. The Alvarado family feels representative of the ways families are changing with differing backgrounds, religions, members, and ways of handling the chaos life can bring.
L.A. Weather would be a good beach read and will make your family feel extremely average by comparison to the Alvarado family. It likely won't change your life and you won't be compelled to think about the book after you've finished it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
LA Weather recounts a year in the life of the Alvarados, a wealthy Jewish/Catholic Mexican American family living in - you guessed it - Los Angeles. It’s a year full of family drama beginning with the near drowning of three year old twins. There’s also marital challenges, divorces, infertility, health battles, secrets, pregnancy, a figuring out of gender identity, money woes, and so much more. All this takes place against a backdrop of climate change which was challenging the family in ways most of them did not even realise.
The characters were all deeply flawed and I struggled to find anything redeemable about many of them. They way they ignored worrying behaviour changes in a couple of family members had me me screaming at them through the pages. However, at their core they were a family that loved each other and when they chips were down they had each other’s backs.
We could see climate change impacting the family in several ways and I loved when they all became aware of its impact and started brainstorming and working on things that they could do to make a positive difference and less their impact on the earth. This was done in a fairly understated way that felt true to the story and the characters rather than in an over-the-top preachy fashion.
The melodrama of this book kept me entertained and it did touch on several other issues besides climate change. However, I doubt it will leave a lasting impression on me. It hit me more as short term entertainment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
wonderwomanbookish6's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Infertility, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Medical trauma
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