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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
redhothabanero's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I listened to the audiobook so a couple of my gripes about this book stem from there. The narrator had a jarring way of pronouncing some words like Os-kar and yacaranda that I didn't like. Also, how many times can we insert keloid scar and Happy Crunch Almond Orchard into one book? Also, the character planning the menu to their niece's funeral on the way to the hospital where they were very much alive was weird. There were some redeeming threads in there but they got trampled by the over the top drama that happened to everyone at the same time. This was a telenovela but it felt like they crammed an entire season into a mini series. These people never got a moment to breathe in between all the drama.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical trauma
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
I really wanted to love this book. I love a family drama, and I was excited to dive into the Alvarados’ journey juxtaposed against droughts and fires in LA. But unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.
I read that Escandon wanted this story to feel like a telenovela. While she definitely brought the drama and some ridiculous plot points, I’m not sure that she succeeded in tone. Telenovelas are inherently outrageous and are in on the joke. They know how outlandish the storylines are. There wasn’t anything in the writing here that made me think we weren’t supposed to take this seriously. Perhaps I missed the humor, but the book didn’t seem to be aware of how silly it was.
I also think that the structure of the book, written almost as a log of the year, hurt it. The book is divided by month, and within each month, by various dates. Each date entry is anywhere from one paragraph to three pages, but never follows more than one character or incident, resulting in a very choppy read. We read about things happening, but we never get to really know the characters (the three daughters are basically all the same person) and there never seem to be any consequences.
In the end, that was my biggest issue with LA Weather: none of the plot developments ultimately matter, because half of them are dropped with no follow-up, and the others never really have any major consequences for our characters. This lack of consequence or deep examination of plot points makes the inclusion of some sensitive topics clunky, poorly handled, and downright offensive.
I read it quickly and wanted to know what happened, but in the end, nothing really mattered. The best thing abou this book was that I buddy read it with @whatkissreads and we exchanged some very yelly voice notes about certain plot points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
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
melf's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Infidelity, Infertility, and Cancer
nikkihayes's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Cancer, and Miscarriage
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