This had me completely hooked from start to finish, and was a fantastic thriller. It was pretty dark so might be best to check the content warnings.

In Rain City Lights, Marissa Harrison transports us to America in the ’80s. Not the fluorescent bubble-gum pink visions codified in John Hughs movies, but the oft-forgotten grime of serial killers, yuppie racism, and the AIDS epidemic. Harrison effortlessly incorporates all of these topics and more, treating each human experience with the gravitas and compassion it deserves. Her characters, each wonderfully complex in their own way, mediate these experiences. This unforgettable, deeply flawed ensemble actualizes Harrison’s kaleidoscopic view of ‘80s Seattle, and the story of how their lives intertwine will keep you invested until the book’s last letter. Not to mention, Harrison’s prose is spell-binding without being overwrought or unrealistic. Harrison is an author to watch, and I urge all lovers of mysteries, romances, and well-written fiction to read her impressive debut.

CW: addiction, sexual violence, homophobia, PTSD

Due to illness I unfortunately have to make my reviews short and to the point. If you love thrillers with a side of romantic view then this book is for you. While I don't normally read thrillers, this one made me want to add more to my reading shelf. It's enough to keep wanting to know more with each page you turn.

This was such a good book. It hooked me early and kept my attention throughout. This isn't my typical genre, a little darker than what i'm used to but so good. I definitely recommend this one.

Don't go into this expecting a crime novel, like I did. It is not. There is a crime - a serial killer even - and everything important is connected to that in same way, but aside from that, it is also a novel about poverty and the struggles that brings, as well as about coming of age, finding your voice and learning to deal with your past.

From poverty to prostitution, drugs to child abuse, deaths in the family to juvie - the lives of the characters in this novel are truly miserable. This is a representation of class struggle, of the things people do to themselves and each other to survive, and how they justify some bad actions with questionable moral codes that stand unwavering for them. "Sometimes your only choices in life are to love and survive". This novel is as gritty as its characters, it is brutally honest and has a hard shell with the soft heart of a childhood romance inside. I found the second half, when everyone was a little more grown up, to be an easier read - so stick through the first half to get there, it is worth it.

Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for this eARC:

4 stars.

English: This is not a happy book. This book explains well the saying "life is hard."
Went into it thinking that it was going to be more romance but it is not, it has a romance story but it details the lives of several protagonists and the terrible things they experienced in their life. It talks about abuse, violence, drugs, murders, homophobia, racism, prostitution, among others... It is a hard novel, that you have to take your time to read especially until you reach 50% but I think that taking into account all the above , it is worth reading.

Spanish: Este no es un libro feliz. Este libro explaya bien el dicho "la vida es dura".
Entre en el pensando a que iba a ser más romance pero no es así, si tiene una historia de romance pero detalla la vida de varios protagonistas y las terribles cosas que vivieron en su vida. Habla de abusos, violencia, drogas, asesinatos, homofobia, racismo, prostitución, entre otros.... Es una novela dura, que hay que tomarse su tiempo para leerla sobre todo hasta llegar al 50% pero que creo que teniendo en cuenta todo lo anterior, vale la pena leerla.

Star-crossed lovers early life that has racial, poverty, violence, drugs, prostitution, serial killer, and expectations as the backdrop to a well-crafted complex story in part one. Part 2 revolves around past murders that involve the main characters years later with an unexpected twist
This story even though fiction resonates with BLM.
An independent review thanks to Books go Social / NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will start this review by saying there are some trigger warnings for this book- violent sexual content, abuse, homophobia, and racism are all exhibited by characters in the story.

This is not usually my genre, hence why I'm reluctant to rate it. The plot seemed interesting enough. I thought it would be more thriller/mystery than it was. It definitely had those elements, but the other subplots were so heavy that I found myself not really immersing myself into the story. However if you're looking for a heavy story that's very honest about its characters and their flaws, then this book is for you. You watch characters go through life, mess up again and again, and then eventually grow. You also get the viewpoints of some awful people and see them get what they deserve. Its a nuanced book that's definitely worth checking out.

Thank you for letting me read this book! I love the romance but also the mystery/suspense of the book! There were some slow parts for me but overall I really enjoyed the storyline & characters!

A family drama, a coming-of-age story, a murder mystery, a detective story, a romance, social issues and commentary, Rain City Lights had a lot going on!
This book follows Monti and Sasha as they grow up together, and later apart, in the world of addiction and prostitution and poverty in Seattle. One becomes an undercover detective, the other a rock star about to achieve stardom.
And also, there's a serial killer targeting black sex workers. It seemed at first to be an unrelated background story, but it all tragically ties together as the mystery unfolds.
It was suspenseful and emotional, and you can't help but root for these very flawed characters and their unbreakable friendship.

The two main characters of Monti and Sasha are the driving force that keep this novel's storyline both heartbreaking and worth fighting for. I was initially drawn to this debut because of the true crime aspect and while that is present, I felt there could have been a little bit more added as the story progressed. It focuses on romance a little more than I would have liked and although it is written well, that aspect was more often frustrating and distracting than anything.

The second half is much more enjoyable than the first, which is heavy on the character background that include characters that are pretty horrible people (but I will say it makes sense to the story). The topics covered here are pretty rough (heroin addiction, sex work, rape, murder, domestic abuse, and religion). That's A LOT of heavy stuff and it was never used egregiously, I just wish that there could have been a "light at the end of the tunnel" or more definition to the characters we meet.

Monti as the main protagonist was refreshing and badass. There were pieces of her story that I noticed felt way too easy (I don't want to mention those because of spoilers). I'll just say when they happened, I kinda just said to myself "Oh, that's convenient" It would never be that easy or simple in reality.

Not a bad book at all. I really appreciate how it teetered the edge of true crime AND romance in a new way. Just not was I was expecting. It took a little while to really get invested and the subject was hard to push through at times. Monti and Sasha as the main characters and the Seattle setting were the shining stars.

This is an absolute must read novel. I loved almost everything about it and I already miss the characters.

It’s 1981 in Seattle and there’s been a string of murders targeting black prostitutes. But honestly while crucial to the storyline, it’s not the focal point. Monti, the protagonist, and her neighbor/best friend Sasha are coming of age in some of the most difficult circumstances. Both children of single parents for reasons explained in the book, Monti and Sasha’s story address racial discrimination, classism, gender inequality, prostitution, homelessness, and drug abuse, among many other issues. And of course the favorite ‘will they/won’t they’ storyline.

I think what I loved most about this book is that Harrison wove intensely rich characters and plot lines from beginning to end. There’s certainly a thriller aspect in that there’s a huge murder component but the way she developed the characters, both with flashbacks and by moving the storyline forward a decade, is what struck me as truly beautiful writing.

The only thing that made this slightly difficult to read was that the time jumped around and if a chapter started it in the past, it was always easy to note when it shifted back to the future. There was also a moment when it said it was 1981 and the trial was taking place, but I think that date was inaccurate? Regardless, the story was not affected and everything still flowed very well.
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Please go read and fall in love with this book and these characters like I did so it gets all the attention it deserves. And pre-order it for when it’s officially published in October!