My prediction for 2022 is Weather Girl is going to be a hit. Rachel Lynn Solomon knocks it out of the park again with Weather girl! There’s just something about her books that are so easy to enjoy. She manages to write feel good stories while also having in-depth characters with complex personalities and dealing with real problems. I feel like for people who don’t read romance, it’s a genre that’s over looked as being frivolous but writers like Solomon show that there’s so much more to romance than sex.

And with that segue, this book is SEXY as hell. So many authors tone down their sex scenes as they become more popular in the traditional publishing world, but not this book. I am pleased to announce she brings the steam, respectfully but also HOT. A+ for sexual tension and dirty talk. There’s solid consent, and talk of protection that has helped modernize the genre in recent years.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the characters! It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve read a romance that wasn’t enemies to lovers. Don’t get me wrong I love a good story with sparring characters, but there was something extra sweet about Ari and Russell’s friendship turned relationship. The slow build of their attraction felt so realistic to me! And them as characters just felt very real and relatable.

There were part of Ari and how much she felt her emotions that I could understand personally. Her battle with depression was incredibly emotional and refreshing to see, something I myself deal with mirrored in her character. And the few mentions of Russell and being fat. The fact that he doesn’t shy away from the word and even says that “fat isn’t a bad word, it’s just what I am” at one point. For so long I’ve wanted to read a romance with a hero that doesn’t have perfect abs. It was nice that this wasn’t an integral aspect of the story either, it’s mentioned a couple times as it’s something that is part of who Russ is, but it’s not dwelled on. Their bodies in general aren’t talked about much. Again I think this is part of what makes these characters feel like they could be real people.

On top of all of that, the Seattle setting is as cozy as ever and I love the scenes that take place in the newsroom.

I can see this being a 2022 favorite for a lot of people, me included!

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a stand-alone lighthearted romance. We meet our heroine, Ari Abrams, who is a meteorologist for a Seattle TV news station. Ari has always wanted to be a weather girl, starting when she was young and watched her favorite weather woman, Torrance Hale; now, Torrance is her boss, and Ari loves her job. Ari secretly hides the fact that she suffers from occasional depression, especially due to her mother’s illness, and breakup with her boyfriend; she does go to a therapist, and takes antidepressants.

Torrance and her ex, Sean (news director) constantly fight openly, in front of their employees, who try to pretend not to listen. When Ari talks with Russ (sports reporter), they discuss ways to try to bring Torrance and Seth back together, raising the moral at the studio.; together they devise a plan to with gifts, double dates, trips and invitations. While Ari and Russ spend a lot of time together to push their plan, they slowly find themselves becoming attracted to each other. Russ was perfect for Ari, as he was very patient and understanding, as he learned more about Ari, and she began to trust him. With Ari’s family issues, and mental health, Russ was always there for her; he too had his own issues, bringing up a 12-year-old daughter (Elodie, she was adorable) by himself.

What follows is a fun story, with two couples that we rooted for. I loved how Ari and Russ were able to pull Torrance and Seth together, and I enjoyed them too. It was a blast seeing all four become closer, and the banter between them was great. As we get closer to the end, a few things backfire, with us holding our breath if they can resolve those issues. The story also touches on various issues, such as depression, mental health, divorce, family.

Weather Girl was a fun lighthearted romantic story that was very well written by Rachel Lynn Solomon. I really did enjoy the couples, and how they each helped each other; Ari and Russ turned out to be a perfect pair, rising past their issues to trust love. I wholly suggest you read Weather Girl.

Weather Girl is much more than your typical rom-com. It deals with an honest look at depression and how it impacts your relationships with your family, has a plus size love interest, and how to overcome a toxic work environment.

I really enjoyed the first half or so of the book. I liked the scheming to get the bosses back together and how it was very easy to see the connect between Ari and Russell.

However it sort of lost me in the second half. I'm not sure why, maybe the predictability of it or a bit of repetitiveness? I'm not sure.

Oh, also, this one is NOT a closed door romance at all. It may seem innocent enough in the beginning but then... 🔥🔥🔥

“Eventually, you deal with something for long enough that it becomes such an intrinsic part of you, and you can’t imagine yourself without it. You accept it, maybe because you think you deserve it but also because you’re scared that if you tried to change it, it wouldn’t work. It feels easier to live in that somber place because you don’t know who you are otherwise, and you’re worried about putting in all that effort without a guaranteed outcome.”

Ari Abrams, a meteorologist in Seattle, has recently ended her engagement. She works at a local new station under her boss, Torrance, whom she has looked up to for years. Torrance’s ex-husband also works at the station, and she and her ex have a very toxic relationship which affects everyone around them at work. One evening after the work Christmas party, Ari and Russell, a fellow co-worker in the sports department, decide to work together to get Torrance and her ex back together to improve the environment at work (think The Parent Trap). Ari and Russell find out that they enjoy spending time together during the process.

This book was advertised as a romcom but honestly it was so much more than that. There are some heavy topics within this book and it’s one of the reasons I ended up loving it. The main character, Ari, suffers from chronic depression. It was so wonderful to see the author have a main character struggling with something that millions of people struggle with every day. Ari takes medication and goes to therapy, but she keeps this to herself and hides behind her sunshiny persona. Her ex-fiance left her after he found out about her depression and her father left her mother, who also suffers from depression.

There is often a stigma when it comes to depression, anti-depressants and therapy. I love that the author has Ari take matters into her hands and get the help that she needs to take care of her mental health. No one should be ashamed of getting the help that they need.

Things I loved:
Jewish main characters. I am not Jewish, but it was so refreshing to see Jewish representation.

A main character suffering from depression, who uses anti-depressants and goes to therapy. I feel that this was done in a very sensitive and accurate way.

A plus size male love interest. I love that Russell didn’t fit the stereotype we often see in romcoms.

I loved learning more about meteorologists! I wanted to be a storm chaser when I was younger!

Teen pregnancy, especially through the eyes of the father, and how hard it is on the parents.


This book was maybe a tad on the too steamy side for me. I actually wasn’t expecting it based on the tone of the rest of the book.

Content warning: language, depression, strained mother/daughter relationship, sensitivity towards weight, teen pregnancy and some very steamy scenes.

What first drew my interest to this book was the description of the main character; Ari, an outwardly bubbly protagonist who privately battles with mental illness who also happens to be the weather forecaster for a local Seattle TV station. Add a bit of a "Parent Trap" situation to get her bosses back together with the help of her unforgivably cute co-worker, Russell, and bam! Color me interested.

I can't quite seem to think of any other book I've read this past year with a similar plot so kudos to the author for something a little different in a sea of repetitive romance plots. I was also surprisingly impressed by the inclusion of a “plus-sized” male love interest. Russell, Ari’s co-worker who is a sportscaster, is described as your standard good-looking guy but with a bit of a belly (that he is realistically self-conscious about). And while these body issues are addressed and talked about, it is not the sole plight of the character. Oftentimes an author will make this the single personality trait of an overweight character and I did not get that at all with Russell. So, yay!

I also found Ari to be a very likable and relatable character. I liked that the book begins with establishing that Ari has been managing her depression long-term with the help of medication and therapy. She is aware of what can trigger a depressive episode and what steps she needs to take in order to help her through it. Again, her mental illness is not used as a personality trait. The author does a great job showing that you can be an individual who copes with a mental illness and not have it be the sole issue of your life.

Interestingly enough, the main thing that piqued my interest about the book is my main critique. The plot of Ari and Russell scheming together to get their respective bosses back together was kind of lackluster. It is established that right off the bat that her bosses, who were once married, do not get along and are continuously antagonizing each other through petty workplace microaggressions. So for them to get back together that quickly, no matter how much they secretly still loved each other, seemed a bit forced.

Overall, I found the book to be well-written with just the right balance of seriousness and humor as well as an adorable romance that oftentimes left me with a big goofy grin on my face while reading. I would definitely recommend this book to fellow romance readers.

After starting with a bang with The Ex Talk, and proving herself with Weather Girl, I will never not read a new release from Rachel Lynn Solomon.

This book had things I didn't even know I needed in a romance novel - frank talk about depression, a plus-size love interest of the male persuasion. But of course, it also had all the hallmarks of a good one - HOT sex scenes, chemistry, likable protagonists, and a conflict that could be solved with one conversation.

This is a great one for any romance lover out there.

Such an amazing romance story.
The emphasis Weather Girl has on mental health came at such a key time for me as a reader. After the holidays and more pandemic things happening, the long ignored emotions rise up.
As I read Ari's POV of her inner thoughts that she battles with, it just felt so validating. I say this with complete admiration to the author, both the romance and the talks on depression battle for first in this novel.
Which only made this even more of a fully immersive reading experience for me.
Ari's personality is adorable and upbeat, reminding me a lot of me, to say I saw so much of my personality in her is an understatement. Even the inclinations as she reaches her peak points with fatigue of masking the positive personality, that was so real, yet so beautifully written.
I think with this review it is obvious what my take on mental health in this book is. (Spoiler alert I LOVED it)
But in between all that we get the adorable glimpses, the swoony moments that we love to experience in romance. This book is a must for all to read!

Rachel Lynn Solomon does it again. Not only is there a fun storyline, sweet romance, and heartfelt characters, but there's also so much depth to this book. Getting to know Ari and Russ was such a joy and delving into Ari's mental illness and Russ's complicated past was a huge part of that. They both felt like such wonderfully complex characters and all I wanted was for them to be happy. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know.

I really enjoyed this book – it is so much more than a light rom com.

The characters in this book felt very real. They are dealing with depression, failed past relationships, and workplace stress. While these are very deep topics, the author did an excellent job keeping it light, funny, and oh so steamy!

This is secondary, but I really liked the behind the scenes look at being a meteorologist. I learned so much! Plus, it helped that the book was set in the Pacific Northwest; plenty of weather in Seattle!

I don’t usually gravitate toward romantic stories because I find that most of them don’t have a ton of depth to them. They usually follow a similar formula that leads to true love, which is great, but I prefer my stories to have a little more meat on them.

However! Ari Abrams, a TV meteorologist was not one note. Her character was complex, flawed, relatable. She hatches up a plan to get her two bosses romantically back together, since their split, they’ve made the workplace uncomfortable and Ari’s job difficult and dramatic. Joining her on this quest is Russell, sports reporter! Between the two of them, they go on a journey that is filled with romance, yes, but also complexities about their own struggles to address their past and move forward within their present.

I liked this story because, while there was an underlying story of romance, I preferred diving into the characters of Ari and Russell, separately, and together. I appreciated that the author chose to create a main character within this genre, who wasn’t squeaky clean, but someone who struggles with her mental health and putting herself first. I respected that her “happily ever after” may not be with another, but within herself.

Weather Girl, I can’t wait to see you – Russell to Ari

Weather Girl is an incredibly charming romance.  Warm and sweet, it’s also honest about what depression can do to a person and the rigors and difficulties of single parenthood, mean bosses and difficult parents.

Ari Abrams is a cheery weather girl stuck with a rotten boss.  Working at a Seattle news station, she works under her childhood idol, grumpy senior meteorologist Torrance Hale - who makes the adult Ari’s life utterly miserable, being impossible to please and often abusive.  It doesn’t help that Ari’s engagement has just fallen through (her fiancé didn’t like that she was taking pills to control her depression).

Russell Barringer works as a sportscaster at Ari’s new station, and his boss, senior anchor Seth Hale, keeps making his life miserable as well.  Yet the Seth and Torrance will not give an inch and continue to work together at KSEA.

One night, Russell and Ari get to commiserating.  Knowing that Torrance and Seth were once married, they decide to match-make their bosses back together, which will hopefully put an end to their grumpiness.  But Russell and Ari can’t predict that they’re going to find true love together – and that a number of obstacles will lie in their way.

Weather Girl is lovely, honest and kind about what it’s like to have depression but live through it without fear.  I liked Ari and Russell, two normal folks grappling with their scars as they try to find true love.

As always, Solomon brings a wonderfully diverse cast to the page.  Both Ari and Russell are Jewish; Russell is plus-sized; Ari’s brother is gay.  I loved spending time with all of them; I loved Ari’s obsession with the weather and Russell’s cinnamon roll behavior.  I loved how they come around to helping each other out, and recognize that the way the world has treated them is wrong.  I loved that Ari felt able to open up to Russell, and eventually show him her depressed side, without shame or guilt.  It was impossible not to love them.

There isn’t much to dislike here; the book itself is terribly cute, the romance wonderful and spicy, the grumps become friends and then realize the error of their ways.  The book is pretty and tender and honest and true.  I loved reading it, and I spent hours soaking in it.  Weather Girl showers its readers with warmth and sweetness, ultimately providing them with many a sunny day.

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Oh my, I absolutely adored this book!

After a disastrous work holiday party, Seattle meteorologist, Ari Abrams, and her co-worker and sports reporter, Russel Barringer, team up to manipulate their bosses into getting together (for the good of the office work environment!) The catch? Their bosses are actually exes and have been messily divorced for 5 years. But they know there is still chemistry there - they just need to give them a push. And along the way..... if Ari starts to notice how cute Russel is, and how much she loves spending time with him... All the better!

There is so much I loved about this book:
- Jewish main characters
- Plus sized Male love interest
- Clinical Depression representation
- Positive depictions of therapy
- So many Parent Trap references
- DILFs
-The list is endless

Ari and Russel are so sweet and their individual stories really touched my heart. Watching them scheme to get their bosses together while also realizing that they have feelings for one another was so funny and so sweet to watch.

There may have been moments where Ari's thought process or decisions made me frustrated but I think her the way she handles those situations really highlight her struggle with Depression and how she is managing it in her everyday life.

Bravo! All the stars!

Thank you Berkley Romance for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had seen so many raving reviews for Weather Girl and I'm happy to say it lived up to the hype!

What I liked:
- Inside look at being a meteorologist. We are always watching the news and weather so it's fun to get a behind the scenes look at being a newscaster/meteorologist
- Jewish representation
- Male lead with a dad bod. It's about time we feature characters that are not size 0 or models
- Focus on mental illness (specifically, depression) - I don't suffer from depression but I have friends who do and they also describe the need to appear happy go lucky so others don't know they are having a dark day. I thought the author did a great job handling this sensitive topic while brining awareness.

I have been DYING for another adult romance by Rachel Lynn Solomon. I absolutely loved The Ex-Talk so I jumped at the chance to read this one early.

Weather Girl follows Ari Abrams, a junior Seattle TV meteorologist who works under the legendary Torrance Hall. Even though Ari has looked up to Torrance since she was young, working with her is a nightmare as she is constantly fighting with her ex-husband who also works for the station. Ari teams up with sports reporter Russell to make their bosses fall in love with each other again.

As excited as I was for this book, I was kind of let down. It was good but that was it. Just good.

The good:
- Set it Up is one of my favorite romcoms of all time so the fact that they have similar premises was a plus for me.
- This book has great depression representation. Ari talks honestly about her depression and it plays a part in all of the decisions she makes.
- The mentorship relationship between Torrance and Ari was my favorite part of this entire book.
- I loved seeing Torrance and Seth falling back in love.

The not so goods:
- Honestly, I thought the romance was the weakest part of this book. I rooted for them and wanted them to find love obviously, but they didn't have much chemistry. I wish I loved them more.
- Ari makes some frustrating decisions. I understand that a lot of them were made because of her self-doubt, but still frustrating none the less.

Thank you to Berkeley Romance and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seattle meteorologist Ari Abrams has hit the end of her rope with her divorced boss Torrance Hale, who ruins the station's all-too-Christmasy holiday party when she gets into a major fight with the station's news director (and her ex-husband) Seth. While drinking her sorrows at the hotel bar, Ari connects with coworker Russell, a sports reporter who works with Seth, and the two hatch a scheme to get their bosses back together, Set It Up style. And in typical rom-com style, the pair gets into some romantic hijinks of their own.

Rachel Lynn Solomon has done it again, folks. She's kicking off 2022 with a heroine who has depression and a hero who is fat and it WORKS. I fell head over heels for both of these characters as they work to love each other and themselves and wish I could read this book for the first time again. I would probably read a grocery list if this woman wrote it.

The dialogue is fantastic and as someone who has worked in a local newsroom before, the dynamics of the reporters felt like conversations I have had. The discussions around depression and the outright horrific online harassment female local journalists deal with were real and issues that deserved a spotlight so thank you thank you thank you for that. Russell as a single dad was a great layer to the character I wasn't prepared for but made me fall in love with him even more.

All the love and heart-eyed emojis for this book. There is so much humor and heart. It's a comfortable contemporary romance that subverts a lot of things too.

I love that the hero is fat. We're starting to see more body-diversity for female characters and I love that this book is paving the way for male characters as well. I also love that he was a teen dad!

I thought that Ari's depression was handled with such care; which I appreciated. I loved these characters together and how they had to learn to be vulnerable together.

The weather puns and the life at the TV station were a few other aspects that made this an absolute joy to read. I read it in one day.

This book was an absolute delight! I loved Ari and Russell’s story. The Jewish representation in both main characters, the mental health and fat representation, everything was so charming and I loved this story.

This was a very sweet office romance which reminded me of a mix of The Parent Trap and Set it Up (Netflix rom-com). Also I think this is the first romance novel I've read with a plus sized hero (hurray!). Weather Girl was funny, heartfelt, and did a very good job of describing depression in a gentle and accessible way. This is the second book I've read by Rachel Lynn Solomon and it won't be the last!

This was a cute one-- a rom com with some realistic characters dealing with real things.

Ari is a weather girl at a Seattle news station, and her dream job, under her dream mentor, is anything but a nightmare. Ari's boss, a legendary Seattle meteorologist, cannot stop fighting with her ex husband, who also works for the news station, and it makes the lives of Ari and her co-workers miserable. After a particularly embarrassing episode at the station's holiday party, Ari and Russell, one of the sports dudes at the station, team up to try to get Torrance and Seth back together for the sake of a harmonious work environment.

I liked the premise of this book, and even though the getting the bosses together thing has been done before, there were enough twists to keep it interesting. Ari fights a battle with chronic depression, and her need to keep things cheery while battling her inner demons struck pretty close to home. Russell is a plus-sized dude, which was covered lightly but sensitively. I loved seeing these two come together amongst their machinations, hot scenes and all!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

Rachel Lynn Solomon hit it out of the park again with this book! She always does such a great job of combing silly, light hearted moments with more serious or emotional ones in a way that just makes the story and characters feel so much more real and believable!

Specifically in this novel, I loved both Ari and Russell! The friends to lovers workplace romance, with all the build up that goes into making that transition, felt believable and I found myself really rooting for their relationship. Though trying to get their bosses back together seemed silly at first, I loved that they were truly friends first, before venturing into a relationship. There were so many moments that had me laughing, and then would turn around into emotional punches. Especially the hesitation they both felt in being vulnerable (both for different reasons from their past) was so relatable and made me like them even more.

Beyond that, I was happy to see some representation of Jewish characters, non-traditional families, mental health and the importance of therapy. Oh, and who could forget all the dad jokes curtesy of Russell!

Would definitely recommend this read for your 2022 tbr!