4.5 ⭐️ I absolutely adore this story

"I like myself the most when I'm around you. And I think it's because I'm the most honest version of myself. I dont have to try as hard, and I don't have to hide. I can just . . . be."


Summary:

TV meteorologist Ari Abrams, and a sports reporter, Russell Barringer, decide to team up and pull a 'parent trap' on their divorced bosses, who are making life hell at the new station. As they spend time together scheming, real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell. But is Ari ready to let someone see the darkest parts of herself? And is Russell ready to let someone into his already complicated life?


My Thoughts:

Weather Girl is an incredibly charming romantic comedy. It's the perfect balance between fun-loving and serious, which is not an easy feat.

Here's what I loved:

- Having a Jewish heroine and a Jewish hero. I love Jewish history and the religious culture, so it was nice to finally read a story with this representation.

- Ari is an amazing person. She's worked hard for everything she's accomplished, put her mental health first and sought help at a young age, tries to stay positive, is an absolute sweetheart, and funny as hell. I really connected to Ari and was rooting for her the entire time.

- Russell is the definition of a sweetheart. He isn't like the typical rom-com love-interest, but I love that about him. He's a bigger guy, a dad, and has his own insecurities. And all these things just made him so loveable and special. I fell in love with Russell and you will too!

- Having a plus-sized male love interest. I've actually never read a story where the male lead wasn't classically handsome with washboard abs, and honestly, I loved it!!! Russell may have a big gut, but he also has a big heart -and that's what's most important.

- The 'parent trap' scheme. Will all 90s babies, please, stand up??? Seriously, Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan is a classic! And incorporating it into the story made me nostalgic.

- The romance had spice and everything nice. The way Ari and Russell interact gives me butterflies. And honestly, their mutual pining for one another was so sweet that I DID NOT expect that level of spice! Goodness, for someone who hasn't had sex in 5-years, Russell really brought his A-game! 🥵 FYI, Russell is very generous, a little bossy, and a f*cking gentleman in bed. LOVE HIM!

- And let's not forget the scene where Ari is in sling and Russell helps undress her . . . Seriously, that might have been the sexiest part about this book, and they barely touched!! The sexual tension was off the charts, and had me sweating!

- Depression representation and positive depictions of therapy. As someone with mental health issues and who regularly sees a therapist, I can confirm that this book really did an amazing job explaining how depression feels and showing the reality of life when you have mental health issues. It was also interesting to see how different Ari and her mother handled their depression and the kind of damage not seeking help can do to relationships.


The only thing I didn't love about the story was the noticeable info-dumping at the beginning. I understand the author did this to set up the characters and storyline, and it really only happened in the first 3 chapters, so once I got past that I was super invested.


Overall, Weather Girl was a lovely story that has instantly become one of my favorite comfort reads. I know that whenever I'm feeling down or in a reading slump, I'll pick up this book, and it'll make me smile.



Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the arc of this book! I'm a huge Rachel Lynn Solomon fan and this book did not disappoint. I didn't LOVE this one like I loved Today Tonight Tomorrow, but I did really enjoy it. I loved the accurate representation of depression and the relationship between Ari and Russell. Normally when a book has a ton of side characters, I hate it and it drives me crazy trying to keep track of them all, but this book does it really really well. From the variety of coworkers at the news station, and both of their families, I felt a connection to every character they interacted with, which I think is so rare in a book this short with that many characters.
I really really likes this book and I'm excited to recommend it to people now that it's out!

I was between 3 and 4 stars until the end which was too schmaltzy for me. Also I didn’t really understand the final conflict in her and Russ’s relationship. She was too much for him?? There didn’t seem to be much plot after they got together. Overall I liked The Ex Talk better. Both are workplace romances with a scheming plot.

There were some funny parts. I thought the couples’ massage bit was hilarious. Also the forced proximity later on. Also great to have a plus size Hero. I still like the author’s writing style and sense of humor.

The sexy parts were ok. Very realistic in a sense. I wanted more. I’ve been reading a ton of alien sci fi smut lately and that’s probably why.

The audiobook narrator was terrible. She did a weird sing song voice that I think was supposed to mimic newscasters and I quickly ditched the audio as it was affecting my enjoyment of the book.

I received a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This super cute book brought together weather and sports in the best way possible! It was so adorable getting to know Ari and Russell and watch their steamy office romance play out! This book has a great cast of characters and I loved getting to follow them all! There was great rep in this book for depression which was done very well. The cover pulled me in, the synopsis was spot on and this book delivered so much more than I was expecting!

Solomon’s books hold my heart in a gentle, yet secure hold where I know I will both have to confront inner issues while also feeling secure enough to do so. From YA to NA, romcom to romance, her books are an easy auto-buy for me. And “Weather Girl” was no different.

While a small part of me wished for a bit more romance, the way everything unfolded truly made sense for these characters. Ari and Russell have their own lives, their own aspirations, their own friends, and their own challenges. It’s because of these challenges that they’re often guarded and hesitant to seem “all in” or willing to be vulnerable at every chance they get. While still an open-door romance – with a sex scene that’s more than just sex itself! – Ari and Russell get to explore breaking out of their comfort zones, and many readers struggling with similar issues are able to witness a realistic portrayal of the benefits and the obstacles they could face doing so.

This book is a romcom, and it has great humorous moments, but it also takes on heavy topics such as depression, teenage parenthood, single parenthood, neglectful parenting, medication, self-care, and so much more. I love Solomon’s books because they are always REAL. They often also include representation that’s hard to come by in other stories (Jewish characters and fat characters in this one, for example).

With tons of weather-filled puns, and a true passion for their work, Ari and Russell have a lot to navigate. But they don’t stop trying. What they do learn is that they have to learn more about themselves before they can come to terms with what they’re willing to offer the other.

TW: depression, mental health

2.5 Stars

Ari wants to help her boss reunite her ex so she teams her with a fellow colleague at the tv station. Since she needs to get close to the ex to push him in the right direction, she reaches out to Russell who is a sports reporter at the station. The two conspire to hook up their bosses but never imagine that they would fall for each other.

I have mixed feeling with the story line. Here’s what I liked: the characters felt real to me. They tackle real issues such as the main character’s mental health issues. Ari struggles with her depression is real. Her relationships with every one around her has been difficult because of her depression. Mainly her family since there is a history of mental health issues in her family. The author’s ability to show how someone who struggles with a lot of dark days was on point.

Russell is a single dad who is different than most of the heroes that romance readers hear about. The author describes him in a realistic physical and emotional way but something about him did not do it for me. This is where the mix feelings start to come into play. The romance. It just wasn’t there. I couldn’t connect with the couple as a couple. The main focus of the book is the character. The relationship seems to be on the back burner. Ari’s boss and her love interest held my attention more.

This is my first read by the author. I’m willing to venture into her other works. This one may not have worked completely for me but I still enjoyed reading it.

~ Samantha

This story was so cute, while also touching upon heavier topics of mental illness, familial issues, teen pregnancy, workplace misogyny, and fatphobia.

The highlight of this book, for me, was Ari’s journey with herself and her mental illness. Solomon wrote Ari’s struggles in such a profound and relatable way, I couldn’t help but see so much of myself in Ari’s mental illness and self-discovery journey.

Russell was also a bright spot in this book. He was so kind, gentle, and sweet during every single moment of this story, even when he was dealing with his own issues. Not to mention, his character during the spicy scenes was *chefs kiss* 🤩

I really appreciated the Jewish representation in this book. Ari deals with needing to conform to others and minimize her faith, and I love the way her and Russell bond because of this shared part of themselves. There is also a beautiful part of Russell’s daughter’s bat mitzvah towards the end.

My one complaint is that I wanted more out of the third-act conflict. It seemed a really rushed, and even when they worked to resolve it in the end, the major issue seemed to be brushed over.

Overall, this was an incredibly wonderful story of overcoming self-doubt, finding love in the least expected places, rekindling relationships, and becoming the most authentic version of oneself.

Between all the buzz, the amazing cover, and the fact that it's set in my hometown of Seattle, I couldn't wait to read Weather Girl! And it was an absolute pleasure, especially on a rainy weekend in the Northwest! Ari and Russell are sweet, kind, and so much fun to read about as they fall in love. The book so thoughtfully addresses a variety of topics, including clinical depression, body image, and faith, which make it all the better to become immersed in. I wasn't ready for it to end!

This book is everything! I loved having a depressed main character and her battle throughout the read with it. There aren’t enough books out there normalizing depression and how so many people suffer from it, but are able to push through and sometimes not. Ari and Russel’s story left me with so many feels! Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review!

I actually felt that this book was better paced than The Ex Talk. I started reading my advanced copy while I was waiting in line to get tested (blech) and not only did it completely distract me from the boredom of my situation, but I also breezed through at least 15% of the book while I waited for an hour. Overall I finished the book by the next evening, making it a nice, quick read that had no moments in which it dragged.
The story is an office romance that follows two reporters who are friendly with each other (making it a friends to lovers story), who are tired of the toxic workplace that is created by their bosses, a divorced couple. From this comes the main story of the book, Ari and Russell team up to pull a Parent Trap on their bosses. The book was cute and fun, and definitely a little spicier than The Ex Talk, and the twist revealed by Torrance and Seth personally took me by surprise, which I appreciated. It is not often that a contemporary romance will take me by surprise in such a way, so that made me appreciate the book even more.
I absolutely adored Russell, who is a single dad, and I only wish that we got more scenes with his daughter. The book also explores depression and anxiety through Ari and her mother, while also somewhat unpacking the stigma that sometimes surrounds going to therapy. I saw a lot of myself in Ari, especially while I was reading her interactions with her therapist. Ari, an adorable weather nerd who makes her own jewelry, felt wholly unique as a heroine which made me love her even more.
This last note is quite specific, but I absolutely adored the way that each chapter started with a weather, or rather, chapter forecast, which helped both maintain the idea of Ari’s whole-hearted love for the weather, while also setting the tone for the following pages.
Overall, this was a cute story that went deeper than your typical romantic comedy, which is something that makes it stand out against others that I have read. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a brief ray of sunshine amid the gloominess of real life and who loves office romances with a hint of scheming like the movie Set it Up (side note: if you haven’t watched Set it Up, go watch it).

I enjoy the cold weather… but only to a certain degree.

As someone who spent more than a decade working in one newsroom or another, I was ready to defend my experience against the stereotypical caricature of a news station typically portrayed, but this felt pretty spot on!

-Working all hours of the day, any day of the year.
-Snarky viewer comments about appearance.
-Found family/ super close knit colleagues
-Talk of shitty pay
-No one actually doing your hair/makeup BTS

Ari Abrams is a TV meteorologist, working under her dream mentor and Seattle legend Torrance Hale. Her boss is too distracted by her ex-husband’s passive aggressive notes around the office to give Ari the leadership she craves. Her colleague, sports reporter Russell Barringer, gets it. His boss, Seth, is Torrance’s ex. After a drama-filled holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to get their bosses back together.

The only teensy tiny scene that gave me pause was when Ari wasn’t working a 24-hour day during a snowstorm (especially the first and only of the year!) Severe weather coverage doesn’t play y’all. It’s all hands on deck all day. That took absolutely nothing away from the big picture story.

There is truly something for everyone to love in this story. I think one of the best parts of the book is that it showed the many facets of families, and how that can shape us into the best (or worst) versions of ourselves. We have perspectives from an unhappy divorced couple, a happily married couple, a single mom, a former couple with shared custody of a child, a broken engagement, and ultimately, the importance of reconciliation and also found family. I love the way Rachel wove these points of view into the overall story.

At times, the story is almost melancholic. It’s just so very relatable to anyone dealing with or loving someone with mental health struggles. (I found a quote recently that said “I don’t struggle with anxiety, I’m actually pretty good at it” and that really spoke to me!) Ari says, “Being a person is hard.” Sometimes, it really freaking is. She also says there’s “no hope for humanity if we can’t grow and evolve, become better versions of ourselves.”

I feel like I could gush about so many other parts of the story: the Jewish representation, the body positive representation, Elodie’s character, the entire Parent Trap vibes. Thanks to Berkley publishing, NetGalley, and LoveARCtually for a digital review copy.

☔️ BOOK REVIEW: Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon ☔️
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SUMMARY: Ari is a recently single meteorologist, but her biggest problem is that her boss and her boss’s ex-husband, who both still work at the local station, have been making life miserable for all their colleagues. So at the company holiday party, Ari and Russ, the network’s sports reporter, make a pact to “Parent Trap” them and hopefully improve office morale.
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This was a solid romance, but I think it’s an even better general fiction novel about a woman managing job and mental health challenges! The struggles Ari dealt with felt real and relatable—handling her (mild to moderate) depression, navigating a strained relationship with her mom, and trying to get more guidance from her inattentive boss. Her blossoming relationship with Russ was just a part of the story. I liked it because her problems represented real-world obstacles that an actual adult woman might face; it was refreshing!
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I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for an engaging contemporary story with a side of romance. Bonus points for Jewish character and depression representation!
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Q: What new releases are on your TBR?
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
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Thank you to @netgalley @berklyromance and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A huge thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️ 3🌶

CW: depression

What I LOVED: I think my favorite part about this book is how openly they talked about the topic of depression specifically depressive episodes and therapy and the realistic experiences Ali has gone through. Every journey is different depending on the person but anyone who has struggled with the same issues will definitely find something to relate to as I have. There were so many moments that really resonated with me and even went as far as to making me cry 🥺 I also really loved how this dealt with mental health rep in romance specifically and how it affects relationships.

I loved Ari so much from her quirkiness, sunshine personality, love for rainy days and passion for weather and her job as a TV metereologist! Her mental health journey involving her relationships both familial and romantic was heartbreakingly relatable.

I also love Russell, the single dad and sports reporter who was such a cinnamon roll but had issues of his own to deal with as well which made him the perfect love interest for Ari. The plus size rep he had was something so uncommon in romance especially in heroes so I loved how that was emphasized.

Their awkward and swoony friends to lovers romance was adorable! I enjoyed their every moment together from their dates to their intimate scenes. I just love how real their chemistry was and how entertaining their banter was!

The side plot was so fun! Their ploy to get their divorced bosses back together in order to restore the peace in their workplace was so reminiscent of The Parent Trap film and The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren (and both I enjoyed!)

What I LIKED: The side characters in this were equally interesting. I was invested in Torrance and Seth’s story as the main leads were. I also really liked both of Ari and Russell’s families (especially his musicals loving daughter!) They had such a supportive, fun and healthy relationship with them (excluding Ari’s mom in the beginning but the journey they had towards healing each other and their relationship was bittersweet in the best way!)

Another representation that intrigued me was the Jewish heritage both leads had! It was interesting to see their traditions and holidays authentically.

Lastly, the chapter headings with the forecasts were constantly so fun to read!

What I DIDN’T ENJOY: I think I just wanted more romance overall especially towards the end. I felt that the happenings in the epilogue were rushed. There was also a part in the epilogue that I wasn’t a fan of which was doing a major life event during someone else’s major life event. It just didn’t sit well with me when the main leads took away the spotlight from a pivotal moment in the side character’s lives.

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR: fans of genuine and heartfelt love stories with characters you can’t help but love!

Weather Girl is the story of TV meteorologist, Ari Abrams and her coworker, sports reporter, Russell Barringer, who scheme to matchmake their bosses back together. The work atmosphere has been rough since Ari and Russell's bosses separated, but with a little help from Ari and Russell, can they get these 2 back together? And will Ari and Russell discover a chemistry between them along the way?

What.I Appreciated About This Book: I loved this steamy romance! This is my 3rd Solomon book, and I love her signature writing- it is clever, sensitive, with a huge heart and always looking to shed new perspectives. I love the Jewish representation in Weather Girl, which is done so well! This is a great romance with the hottest steam, but what made this a 5-star read for me is the way the mental health challenges are handled with care and sensitivity. Weather Girl's female protagonist is not the girl you see in every romcom; Ari is working through a rough childhood, and depression. In addition to this, Ari is a sex-positive, strong woman who geeks out over weather. Russell is also different from the typical male lead, as he has a complicated back story and more of a "dad bod" than a chiseled 6-pack. I loved both of these characters and their storylines!

What Did Not Work For Me: not much! I loved this one!

Ari's a meteorologist who revels in delivering a rainy day forecast, and that's only the first of many things I love about her. She's passionate about her work (women in STEM deserve everything), sees the best in people, and has a definite future in matchmaking. Her identity also boasts #ownvoices Jewish and depression representation.

Ari's experience struck a decidedly personal chord for me. I'm new to a depression diagnosis but long familiar with the reality. This was my first time picking up a book where I saw it on the page and knew I could put that name to my own life, too. I appreciate the trigger warning and the author's note about her personal connection at the beginning because I was deeply affected by the story. I thought it was raw, heartfelt, and relatable, and I found myself unexpectedly crying at one point as I saw myself in one of Ari's Dark Days.

This is a romantic comedy, so I don't mean to misrepresent it with my tears. I also laughed so many times while reading. Ari and Russell are cordial co-workers at the local news station until they decide to Parent Trap their two bosses, whose post-divorce antagonism spoils the office culture. As they scheme, something new and wonderful grows between them, an additional love story to the one they are plotting. It's an open door romance, but to me, it was the tender emotions as much as the spicy elements of their relationship that really made it special. Another note on stellar representation is that I think this is the first romance I've read with a fat hero, an area severely lacking in visibility and acceptance in terms of who is seen as desirable and attractive. Russell also co-parents his twelve-year-old daughter (LOVED her middle school energy, very true to real life) with his ex, and the story shows a loving mixed family environment.

The final standout element for me is the way all relationships have the time and space to grow throughout the story. Work camaraderie, friendships, romance (obviously), and deeply rooted family bonds all get attention on these pages. Especially moving was the new hope for Ari's relationship with her mom as she seeks help with her own depression for the first time.

This was a lovely, emotional read and an example of all that a romance novel can do to represent the human condition in all its mess, gifting us with a peek at the beautiful silver lining that Ari's always looking for. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

One of the break out RomComs of 2021 was The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon. I was so excited for her next book, Weather Girl, and it did not disappoint. It’s truly a delight. Russ, the hero, was completely adorable and I could really relate to Ari’s insecurities. I also really appreciated the Jewish representation in this book!

Plus, Weather Girl combines two things I can’t get enough of in books: love and weather. I love stories that feature storms as it really gets me into the atmosphere of the book.

Synopsis:

What I Liked:

The Setting—I LOVED the timeframe of this book as well as the setting of the Pacific Northwest. It was so cozy and magical.

The Representation—Mental Health is so personal since we all have different experiences. But I found how Ari described living with her depression very eye opening.

The Trope—I don’t think I’ve read a schemey romance where the two main characters are trying to work together to get another couple together. it was fun and I liked the twist at the end!

What Didn’t Work:

The Pacing/Length—This is always something that could be a me thing and maybe It’s just been my mindset, but I didn’t gel with how the story moved.

Content Warnings:

Mental Illness (Depression), fatphobia, injury

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Authenticity: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

I know it's early in the year, but this is my favorite book I've read this year.
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon is about Ari Abrams who is a Seattle meteorologist. While she has her dream job, her boss's messy relationship with her ex-husband/news director can be distracting to say the least. After the office Christmas party, and another huge fight between the couple, Ari and her co-worker, Russell decide to Parent Trap them. Ari and Russell conspire to have their bosses spend more time with each other which of course forces Russell and Ari to spend more time with each other.
This was such a great romance novel that had a little bit of everything. Russell and Ari had amazing chemistry. There's some really humorous moments while they are trying to get their bosses back together. There's a lot about mental health that is handled really well. Plus Russell is a plus sized hero which we so rarely see in romance novels.
I loved this book and I can't wait to now read everything Rachel Lynn Solomon has ever written.

Okay, loved this one!!!

Weather Girl was an auto buy for me after reading and ADORING The Ex-Talk last year!

I Instantly fell in love with Ari, the sweet MC obsessed with the rain and struggling with depression, family issues, and the end of her engagement! Ari works for her local news station as a meteorologist and decides to team up with a sports reporter, Russel, to get their bosses back together in an effort to make the news station a more enjoyable work environment!

Full of hilarious parent trap moments, lovable characters, real life and very relatable issues, a quirky millennial MC, great Jewish rep, body positive messages, and fantastic weather related title chapters I fell hard for this book!

This was a strong 4 star read for me and ooooohh y’all, the steam! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

What I think I loved the most about Weather Girl was the imperfect main characters. The male main character was fat, and a female main character suffered from depression. This made their romance hard at times, but it felt so much more real than a lot of other romances I've read before.
Ari was a fantastic female main character primarily because of her flaws, but not entirely. She was kind, sweet, and just extremely likable. Ari had everybody's best intentions at heart, although sometimes she doesn't have her own best intentions at heart. I have to admit there were times, especially near the end where I felt like Ari's character was being unreasonable, and there was a lot of baggage she had because of her mother, but overall she was a great character. I especially connected with the idea that she couldn't be her true self around anybody. I enjoyed seeing her open up around Russ and made their love story even more meaningful. Russ was great and seeing him struggle with being a dad and a boyfriend also seemed something I could easily see many single parents dealing with.
I loved that a lot of the book took place in the newsroom, something admittedly I'm not very familiar with. It brought me some appreciation not just for meteorologists but for other reporters, especially sports reporters. I enjoyed seeing the dynamics between positions within the organization, and it was just interesting.
I enjoyed Weather Girl, and while I did enjoy Ex-Talk a little more, this was a great read!

This is my first book from this author and it definitely won’t be my last!!! This was such an adorable book that was pulling at my heart strings the entire time.

I would go so far as to say this is not a romcom but so much more than that. It covered so many deeply personal and hard topics. It spoke of depression, mental health issues, and weight issues in such an amazing way. I felt so connected to each character that most of the time I wasn’t worried about Ari & Russell falling in love, I was worried about them learning to love themselves.

If you hate romcoms, because they are “cheesy” or “unbelievable” (can’t relate) this one is for you!! You literally can’t help but love these people and want what’s best for them!! I think they had to most believable romance I have read in forever. They take their time, and discuss very real issues.

Overall, this is such a feel good book that I am so happy I read! Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!