Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Weather Girl is heartfelt, heartwarming, emotive, and well-written romance with mental health representation, Jewish main characters, and Parent Trap and Set It Up vibe.
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publication Date : 11th 2022
Publisher : Berkley
Genre : Romance
Pages : 352
Disclaimer – Many thanks to PRH International for providing free e-copy via NetGalley.
This post contains affiliate links.
Synopsis
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?
A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.
Review of Weather Girl
Weather Girl is heartwarming and heartfelt romance that revolves around Ari, long suffering from depression, hatch plan to set up her bosses with her coworker. The story is about mental health, Jewish culture, family, friendship, work environment, parenting, being true self, second chance, and love.
Writing is emotive, engaging, and steady to fast pace with first-person narrative from Ari’s perspective. The setting of news station KSEA 6 in Seattle is interesting and I loved titles with ‘Forecast’ for each chapters.
Plot is interesting and original. Weather Girl started with Ari feeling low after break up with her fiance. She loves her job and working for legendary weatherwoman Torrance Hale, who motivated her to be meteorologist, but Torrence always bickering with Seth- her ex-husband and station’s news director- in the office makes workplace unpleasant, and Torrence not giving enough attention to her work and growth Ari is expecting from job, isn’t helping her mood. On drunken office party night, Ari talks about office problems with her coworker Russel- a reserved sports reporter- and plans to set up their bosses. In planning their schemes, trying to get Seth and Torrence together, Ari and Russel get to know each other more and start to feel more than just friends but that means Ari has to reveal her dark clouds that she keeps hidden from everyone behind the pleasant sunshine front.
It was interesting to see what Ari and Russel are scheming and if it will work in the end or not, can Ari mend her relationship with her mother, when Ari will talk about her depression with Russel and how he will react to it, will he accept her dark clouds, stormy weather along with her clear skies?
I enjoyed reading all characters. It was great to read both characters’ background stories and about their family. I loved how author kept all characters and situations realistic. Both Ari and Russel had their baggage and it takes time for both of them to deal with their fears, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Ari is great throughout the book. I rooted for her from the beginning. I get why she keeps her depression hidden. She sure hasn’t normal childhood with mother suffering from depression and her father leaving them as he couldn’t deal with her mother’s mood and mental health and later discovering she too has depression in college. Seeing men not reacting in a good way with mental health issue of her mother and then her boyfriends not ready to deal with it, Ari isn’t entirely wrong for hiding it from her finance and like she feared it affected the relationship she dreamed of.
It was great how she understood she needs to be her whole self with both good and bad sides on meeting Russel, how being with him she could share things she never did before with anyone and how free she felt in doing so.
Russel is amazing. I have read books with fat heroines but I haven’t come across a book that has fat male protagonist, who isn’t all handsome and has belly and scars and it was great to see how comfortable he was with his body and, even Ari who finds him attractive and never comments on his body and love him the way he is.
He is lovely, kind, gentle, smart, and funny person and above all he is fantastic father of 12 yr old girl. I like his backstory even more. I have read stories with characters having child when they are teen and how that affects their life and somehow situations make relationships with ex toxic eventually but here Russel and his ex are brilliant, they still are friends and loves their daughter. I liked him for understanding Ari and accepting her even with her dark clouds, not claiming he can make life sunshine but trying to be part of her both sides.
Best part of the Weather Girl is setting of KSEA 6, Seth and Torrence’s bickering, Russel and Ari’s scheming and how that changes their relationships with their bosses, Ari and her mother’s relationship, Ari’s bond with her brother, and mental helath representation… yeah almost every aspect are simply amazing. I liked how author showed there is no instant cure of depression, it stays there whole life but it can be manageable with right therapist, medication, patience, and love. There is also layer of parenting and sexism and misogyny and I enjoyed how characters talked about it. Weather Girl is really great story containing many lighthearted moments along with serious topics and heavy theme.
Romance is good. It was lovely to see Ari and Russel becoming from co-workers to friends and how their feelings developed to love. Chemistry is okay I guess, not bad but also not best, but there were many lovely moments that enjoyed. I loved that scene where Ari broke her elbow and Russel helped her in hotel room.
Twist and turns are great. I enjoyed how Seth and Torrence found out about set up in climax. I guessed what they were planning but I couldn’t predict how that will affect Ari. It was heartbreaking to see her break after that. I loved this part, reading how Ari understood having a partner and kid is not only kind of family, she has people who love her and she could be part of family that is already there; she needs to let go of her fear, not define things with what her father did; and give life and love chance with her whole self. The end is lovely and just perfect.
Why 4.5 stars-
As much as I love everything in this book, I still felt there is something missing. Maybe it is chemistry or it’s just me not feeling wowed by it but otherwise, this is close to perfection.
Overall, Weather Girl is heartfelt, heartwarming, emotive, and well-written romance with Jewish main characters and amazing mental health representation.
I highly recommend this if you like,
Fat single dad
Jewish protagonists
Mental health rep
Office romance
Uplifting romance dealing with serious topics
Layer of sexism and misogyny
Gay sibling
realistic and relatable characters
Heartfelt backstories
Parent Trap and Set It Up vibe
Characters passionate for their job
Weather puns
Open door romance
Book Links
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Buy at Amazon.in | Amazon.com
Buy Romance at Amazon.in | Amazon.com
Thank you for reading! Let’s chat…
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Have you read any book by the same author?
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21 Comments
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Carla
Excellent review Yesha. I love when mental health is dealt with in a realistic and respectful way. Having family members who deal with depression and severe anxiety, I definitely want to read this one, especially as there is so much more to the story.
Books Teacup and Reviews
I’m sure you’ll like this. It’s really good. Thank you, Carla!
Sarah
I really enjoyed your review of this one. This book sounds like it has a lot going for it, especially the realistic mental health representation. This certainly sounds like a book I could enjoy. Going to add it to my TBR.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Sarah! I hope you can read it soon and enjoy it as much as I did. I certaily is great romance.
Pooja Mahimkar
That seems like a good read, thanks for sharing
Books Teacup and Reviews
It is. Thank you for stopping by.
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Teri Polen
So wonderful to see all the representation in this book, Yesha. I’ve also rarely seen a male protagonist who’s not “perfect”. Here’s to more body positive characters!
WendyW
I’m so glad you enjoyed this as well. I also just loved Russel and didn’t expect to see an overweight hero in a romance, but I loved it.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yes, he really made this book stand out.
One Book More
This sounds like such a good read!
confessionsofayareader
This sounds really good. Great review!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Kristi! You might enjoy this. It’s perfect for fans of this genre.
confessionsofayareader
You’re welcome and thanks for the rec!
Lady Tessa
I love the mental health angle of this story. I always applaud when authors take it on and do so respectfully. Excellent review!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Tessa! It was well done and it wasn’t just main character but also her mother long suffering from depression and their loved ones get affected by it. It’s all very realistic and well written.
Susy's Cozy World
This is a great review! I am particularly intrigued by what you wrote about Russel, but the book as a whole sounds charming!! Thanks for sharing!!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yes it has everything one want in romance. Thank you!