Rachel Lynn Solomon

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. 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?

Weather Girl

Rachel Lynn Solomon is certifiably hilarious in every way. 

AT FIRST, I assume it's a jazz club. But the music is decidedly not jazz. It's...I'm not even sure what to call it, but there are three banjos and a glockenspiel.

What I don't say: we weren't enough for her.

With glee, the twins grab the dreidel again. I have a little dreidel, I made it out of Aunt Ari's existential angst. 

I could not agree any more that after hearing the song 592872920 times, you end up wanting to gauge your ears out. 

THERE'S A LIMIT to the number of times one can hear the dreidel song without losing one's mind. I hit that limit about a dozen I have a little dreidels ago, and yet I paste on my sunshine smile for my niece and nephew, who could probably keep playing until midnight without getting bored. 

Keira 💫

A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this electrifying romance from the author of The Ex Talk. 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?

Alayna Carson

Rebecca Briesemeister

Mel 

What is a rom com without chemistry between its leads? Nothing. Just flat.

The writing is good but romcoms are very much character and relationship driven. Ari and Russell are really interesting characters individually so it’s a shame they didn’t really work for me as a couple.

Tatiana

When two coworkers scheme to get their divorced bosses back together, love comes out of left field. 

This book was surprisingly steamy. Filled with love and cuteness, Weather Girl provides an intense new look at mental health in the face of a blossoming romance. 

Despite its successes, I feel as though it misses some nuance and the romance moves too fast to lack the proper development. 

I enjoyed the book overall and would recommend to all, but make sure to read the trigger warnings prior.

Ireland Compton

Samantha Huster

This was such a well-written and fun rom-com. Ari and Russell has characters also bring some very interesting themes to light, especially in a rom-com setting. Ari is a flawed FMC with depression. Russell is a leading man who does not look like a Hemsworth or any of the famous Chrises. But Rachel Lynn Solomon makes these two facts feel normal and like they are merely facts like a character being a redhead as opposed to something to applaud and highlight in blogs (the irony of it being the focus of my review is not lost on me). I really enjoyed this one.

Elizabeth Wood

3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️

I loved the realness of the characters in this book. The aspects of depression and love for people of all sizes made the characters so normal and I loved that!

But the whole romance and parent trapping their bosses was a little unrealistic to me. And the ending was tied up a little too neatly.

I genuinely really liked this book. It was such a calm and sweet read. Such a sweet couple, and great rom com vibes.

Sarah Campbell

Joana da Silva

I have always been fascinated with weather prediction and that has only been heightened by watching the k-drama Forecasting Love and Weather. This book filled a bit of that fascination for me, and you can't argue that Weather Girl isn't the cutest title (and nickname). 
I picked this one up because I really liked The Ex Talk but it didn't do all of that for me. The representation is very important, having characters who are flawed and just very human was a plus for me - although my brain is so formatted to the perfect rom-coms out there that it's hard to picture a fat MC (i know, it's bad, but a girl is used to escaping, or trying to, from real life when reading). It's an entertaining and cute read but it was all very easy and lukewarm. It read like a 'acquaintances to friends to good friends to good friends who are in a relationship'. It's a good palate cleanser between other books.

Alexa M

4.5 

This is so me-coded. 

I LOVEDDD THIS. Russell is actually my dream and I related to Ari, heavily. I knew I would enjoy this because of the comparison to Set It Up and this was seriously everything. I NEED more books like this. Not necessarily friends to lovers but like coworkers to lovers? Acquaintances to lovers? EITHER WAY, I had such a fun time. Not a full 5 because some #sexual scenes were a little odd (for me) lol.

Jess Griffin

a new fave book !!

this discusses depression so well and it was so great seeing emotions i heavily relate to so well. i saw so much of myself in the main character so this is definitely a new comfort read !!

i also loved the communication, and although there were slight slip ups, the characters discussed their issues and feelings with one another. i really liked that when there were slip ups, the characters themselves acknowledged it and corrected themselves.

the entire concept was just so good pls read this !!!!!

Jennifer mitchell

Going to go out on a limb and claim this as the most disappointing read of 2022. 

I was SO EXCITED about this book because I loved The Ex Talk and love how RLS incorporates Jewish representation into her stories.

Unfortunately I just didn’t care about these characters or this story at all. I didn’t feel like the main characters had any chemistry. And overall was just really bored. I had to force myself to finish the book.

while yes, this is a rom-com, it also touched heavily on mental health. this book described the feelings of a depressive episode so well, it made me cry numerous times. 

kels

Lyric Hooey

Cute as heck. Loved having the male protagonist be plus-size, the mental health discussion, and the healthy single parent discussion as well.

This was cute, a happy ending romance that made me happy lol

Alissa 

Nicole Renaud 

i’m obsessed with this book and don’t think i’ll ever get over it. i was crying through most of this simply because i related to it so much and thought ari and russell were so perfect. this book reminded me that it is okay to feel the way that i do and i’m deserving of love and care. i hope it can make someone else feel that way too ❤️ i’m going to go cry some more now… 

Lindsey Davis Blanchard 

“Do you want to be my partner?” he asks with this shy half smile.

“Yes. Save me from the traumatic middle school flashbacks.”

“I refuse to believe that Ari Abrams was ever picked last for anything.”

This book was so cute and so insightful. The representation here felt so authentic to me and I really loved that. But the workplace lines felt a little blurry to me and I do wish we got more time with Russel and Ari together but overall I had a fun time reading this. 

Kathryn

“Do you want to be my partner?” he asks with this shy half smile.

“Yes. Save me from the traumatic middle school flashbacks.”

“I refuse to believe that Ari Abrams was ever picked last for anything.”

This book was so cute and so insightful. The representation here felt so authentic to me and I really loved that. But the workplace lines felt a little blurry to me and I do wish we got more time with Russel and Ari together but overall I had a fun time reading this. 

4/5⭐️

 is a cute romance with two endearing characters.

 Ari is a meteorologist with a passion for the weather who works at a tv station.  She is a cheerful woman, or at least she tries to be, as she lives with her depression issues.

Russell is a sport's journalist at the same tv station as Ari and a single parent to a 12yo girl. He's not the typical single father that you usually find on romance books, the hot single dad with confidence to rest a lifetime. No, Russell is a plus size, sweet and sometimes awkward dad with his insecurities. 

I really liked the characters individually but I wasn't sold with their relationship, I couldn't see them together. Maybe because I was too focused on Torrance and Seth's drama which was way more interesting. 

It was also supposed to be a romcom but I couldn't find the comedy side of it which it would've been totally fine if not because I was expecting it. 

One thing that I really appreciate  is that they treat depression as something serious, they give it the importance it really has and they emphasize that love doesn't solve things and that people with depression have both good and bad days. 

Souhaila

Weather Girl is a cute romance with two endearing characters.

 Ari is a meteorologist with a passion for the weather who works at a tv station.  She is a cheerful woman, or at least she tries to be, as she lives with her depression issues.

Russell is a sport's journalist at the same tv station as Ari and a single parent to a 12yo girl. He's not the typical single father that you usually find on romance books, the hot single dad with confidence to rest a lifetime. No, Russell is a plus size, sweet and sometimes awkward dad with his insecurities. 

I really liked the characters individually but I wasn't sold with their relationship, I couldn't see them together. Maybe because I was too focused on Torrance and Seth's drama which was way more interesting. 

It was also supposed to be a romcom but I couldn't find the comedy side of it which it would've been totally fine if not because I was expecting it. 

One thing that I really appreciate  is that they treat depression as something serious, they give it the importance it really has and they emphasize that love doesn't solve things and that people with depression have both good and bad days. 

sydney

TW: frank (though loving & gentle) discussion of clinical depression

There are some romance novels that are full of hilarious hijinks (see: Boyfriend Material), & some that are all about quiet moments that build into more. There’s plenty to love about both kinds, of course. Weather Girl is definitely the latter — lots of little, quiet moments that snowball (…lol). Drinks & a conversation at a bar. Sitting with someone in their office while they work late. Watching snow fall in the wee hours. Ultimately, I really did love how all these sweet, lovely moments built the story! Russell was a totally adorbs, & I loved him. Don’t get me wrong, there’s also plenty of humor, but it’s softer, a little more muted than what I was expecting. But then, I guess it had to be, given some of the subject material. There were other faults too, like how these apparently intractable bosses are just absolute putty in the MCs’ hands once they start matchmaking. Also, it took me a while to feel like I got Ari — which was sort of the point, I suppose, but I think that’s one of the pitfalls of doing a single-POV romance. And, this is random but: I absolutely hated how Russell proposed, sorry.

Still, if you’re a fan of the quiet romance story, I would absolutely recommend this!

Sharanya Sharma

TW: frank (though loving & gentle) discussion of clinical depression

There are some romance novels that are full of hilarious hijinks (see: Boyfriend Material), & some that are all about quiet moments that build into more. There’s plenty to love about both kinds, of course. Weather Girl is definitely the latter — lots of little, quiet moments that snowball (…lol). Drinks & a conversation at a bar. Sitting with someone in their office while they work late. Watching snow fall in the wee hours. Ultimately, I really did love how all these sweet, lovely moments built the story! Russell was a totally adorbs, & I loved him. Don’t get me wrong, there’s also plenty of humor, but it’s softer, a little more muted than what I was expecting. But then, I guess it had to be, given some of the subject material. There were other faults too, like how these apparently intractable bosses are just absolute putty in the MCs’ hands once they start matchmaking. Also, it took me a while to feel like I got Ari — which was sort of the point, I suppose, but I think that’s one of the pitfalls of doing a single-POV romance. And, this is random but: I absolutely hated how Russell proposed, sorry.

Still, if you’re a fan of the quiet romance story, I would absolutely recommend this!

I loved reading about Ari's job as a TV meteorologist because it was depicted pretty accurately to what it actually is, and many people have misconceptions about weather reporters. Her sessions with her therapist about her mom and other things going on in her life were written so tenderly that it encourages me to think about finding the therapist who is right for me. I could learn from her mental health journey and parental relationships as they relate to romantic relationships. 

Julia Li

Hannah

marie

I blazed through this one and it felt like a warm hug. Another one for the stack of “men in fiction are far better people than any men in real life.” Also a lovely portrayal of elements of Judaism, yet totally accessible for non-Jewish readers.

Content notes: parental abandonment, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, some scenes of explicit sexual content

Liz Griffin

I blazed through this one and it felt like a warm hug. Another one for the stack of “men in fiction are far better people than any men in real life.” Also a lovely portrayal of elements of Judaism, yet totally accessible for non-Jewish readers.

Content notes: parental abandonment, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, some scenes of explicit sexual content

Alyssa O

I was really excited to read this book as it features a main character living with depression,  plus-sized love interest, and single parent as a love interest. This author usually features diverse characters which I really like and  I enjoyed Ex-Talk so thought this would be really good!!  

I found the storyline and plot to be very cluttered with so many subplots and additional characters and so it was hard to focus on the main storyline. I feel not enough attention was paid to the main character’s mental health and honestly seemed to be brushed aside, aside from calling it a “gloomy day” I would have liked to see more advocacy woven into the book. The author did not give a fair and honest view of what living with depression is actually like. 

Just okay, I will read another book by this author but hopeful the plot is much stronger. 

Weather Girl

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