I don't know if there is such a thing as a "perfect" romcom but Weather Girl comes seriously close. It was funny, romantic, and very steamy with all the sex scenes serving to push the development of the relationship forward. Ari and Russel were adorable together and I loved watching them open up to each other and learn to trust that they were capable of being loved just as they are. There was Jewish rep, fat rep, mental health rep. Some of the issues could have made the story depressing, but Solomon so skillfully wove it into the humor and the pacing of the love story, with the help of the Torrance and Seth secondary love story and more (Russel's daughter, Ari's mom, brother, and niece/nephew), and I found myself smiling almost the entirety while reading. Truly amazing book and already can't wait to read the author's next book!

This Is a terrific romance from the amazing Rachel Lynn Solomon. This novel has a wonderful love story, honest representation of someone who has depression, and a fantastic cast of characters. This is a book that any fan of the Netflix film Set It Up will love.

This was the first book I read by Rachel Lynn Solomon and now I FINALLY understand the hype!!!! I want to start off by saying this is not your typical rom-com book. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments that had me literally laughing out loud but there is also discussion of heavier themes such as mental health, therapy, body image and hard familial relationships. So, be sure to look up trigger warnings :) I personally found that RLS did a stellar job at addressing these themes while also keeping the book lighthearted and funny.

I was SO invested in every character and the sub plots. Normally, when I read a romance book, I’m usually only invested in the main love story. However, I was completely enthralled by everything this book had to offer. Torrance and Seth’s relationship was EVERYTHING OF THE SORT. I still laugh anytime I think about the holiday party scene (if you know, you know). I also adored seeing Ari’s relationship with her brother and mother. I found at times Ari and Russ’s relationship was lacking but I still adored them as characters and the spice did not disappoint!!!

If you’re looking for a book with great representation, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!! As a Jewish woman, it’s rare to see Jewish individuals represented in romance novels. Thus, discovering both Ari and Russell are Jewish was ICONIC. Any mention of Judaism in this book had me squealing. It made me feel so seen and excited. Additionally, this is the first book I read in which the male love interest is fat. It was SO refreshing to see!! I loved the open discussion of male body image in this book. Men like Russ need to be represented more in books. I really appreciated that many of the characters in this book were so vulnerable and raw.

Overall, I truly loved this book! I already know I’m going to be recommending Weather Girl to everyone :)

Okay, i ADORED this book so much! I’ve always liked weather myself so the fact that the FMC’s job was a meteorologist is so cool!

What I always love about Rachel’s writing is the way she explores deeper topics of conversation. Yes, this is a romance novel (akin to The Parent Trap!) but depression is also a prevalent theme. Real topics like that are so important in books to me. I also loved the Jewish representation in the book as well!

I really enjoyed Ari and Russell’s relationship. I liked they had a foundation of being friendly first, and not falling head over heels in love instantly. I also love that Russell wasn’t written as this dude with a rockin bod. He’s insecure about his appearance but he’s still attractive and incredibly sweet. And the steam moments in this were…PHEW! Hot!

I love Rachel’s writing and she’s an autobuy author for me! Thanks for the ARC!

Two colleagues at a news station: sports and weather. It's their dream career, will they also find their dream romance. Wasn't a big fan of this book. Too much angst and awkward relationships to start it off. I never found the flow of this title.

In Solomon’s Weather Girl, a TV meteorologist (Ari Abrams) and a sports reporter (Russell Barringer) play in a romantic comedy to set their divorced bosses up, as in The Parent Trap. Along the way, the tables are turned and Ari and Russell become an item. The book charts Ari’s mental health journey, through therapy and medications.

I absolutely loved this book! I was so engrossed by the characters right off the bat. Rachel Lynn Solomon's writing is out of this world, if you've been in a reading slump this is a great place to start, it absolutely blew me away!

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to @berkleyromance, @berkleypub and @netgalley for the ARC.

Like The Ex Talk¸ this book slowly and unexpectedly crept up on me. It didn’t have laugh-out-loud absurd antics – but a few parts made me chuckle and it had playful moments (though I wouldn’t classify it as a rom com). It didn’t have gorgeous MCs with rock-hard abs and perfect features – but they were endearing and lovable and real. It didn’t have over-the-top angst or deep drama but dealt with heavy topics in a very authentic way, especially how depression is its own slow burn, consistently simmering under the surface, bubbling up in places and sometimes boiling over. I appreciated RLS tackling the stigma around therapy and medication with grace. She handled the paralyzing fear of showing your true self and vulnerabilities with compassion and accuracy. Ari and Russ seemed like an unlikely pair, and they were fumbling and awkward at times, but such is real life. This definitely wasn’t your typical escapist, forget-about-your-life-and-live-vicariously-through-it type of book. It felt more like curling up with that friend who you can sit with in your rattiest sweatpants, completely open up to and who makes you feel less alone. Bonus points if you are interested in meteorology and the heartbeat of a newsroom.

Quotes: “For the longest time…I’ve thought I was unlovable. I didn’t think you would want me if I wasn’t always the best version of Ari Abrams. I didn’t think you’d want the person with issues. The person who wasn’t always happy.” And -- because this is just the total truth -- “Being a person is hard.”

Song for Ari and Russ: Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack: “I don't need you to sell me on reasons to want you, I don't need you to search for the proof that I should. You don't have to convince me, You don't have to be scared you're not enough. 'Cause what we've got going is good”

This rating hurts me to say. I loved The Ex Talk and have been looking forward to Weather Girl since I first heard about it. I loved so much about this book, I almost wish it was edited just a bit to be classified as contemporary fiction with a romance because that would easily have been a four-plus star.

First, the things I loved: Rachel Lynn Solomon's writing is just perfection. This isn't by any means a comedy but the timing and tone of a handful of lines absolutely killed me. I was immediately hooked into Ari's story and life in the workplace and ALL the just so perfectly SEATTLE vibes (seriously, I am so happy it is more than just a "location tag" but its own character). The framework of this book is that Ari and Russell have decided to THE PARENT TRAP their bosses to help reduce the toxicity of their workplace. I enjoyed this premise as the excuse for our two leads to get to know each other and spend time together. It was always fun to watch their plans almost backfire into romantic moments for the two of them.

I really appreciated Solomon's tackling of depression and mental health (and per her author's note was a deeply personal experience to write about which made it all the more impactful). I really enjoyed Ari's journey through not only managing her depression (therapy and medication that is managed prior to this novel) but in accepting this isn't a deep, dark secret and she doesn't need to hide that part of herself was very powerful. The two leads are also Jewish and the beginning of the novel takes place over the holiday season with them navigating a "Christmas" work party and just highlighting how un-inclusive that can be. And finally, Russell is a fat man who is the sexy, sweet, love interest which is rare to see in romance novels.

So, as I said ALL of the above: made this easily a four-star if not more. I would still recommend this book to people who are looking for mental health representation in romance books. I will definitely keep an eye out for reviews from others about this as it is not an experience I share so can only speak from MY perspective on this right now. Where the book took a bit of a nosedive is that... I never felt the chemistry between Ari and Russell. I didn't feel any moments that made me swoon for them. I could have ended the book with them appreciating the growth they had together but becoming friends (which HELLO I should want to RAGE if a couple doesn't get a HEA in a romance). A couple of moments of Ari gushing over Russell actually made me feel like he was doing the bare-minimum-decent-human (e.g. he accepted her love of weather and let her talk about it without judgment). So yeah, I loved both characters and felt like they were fully written individuals but I was missing some ingredient on them as a couple that bumped this down for me and I am distraught about it.

Rachel Lynn Solomon once again knocks it out of the park (look a sportsball reference 😉) with this charming, emotional, feel-good romcom about meteorologist, Ari Abrams, and her sports reporting co-worker/friend Russell Barringer who attempt to improve the News Station environment by reuniting their bosses.

I really adored this read – as I stated emotional but left me with a giant smile on my face too. Weather Girl had so many great things going for: thoughtful mental health representation (depression and anxiety), complex family dynamics, the true portrayal of the real struggle/journey of mental health – lifelong and with ebbs and flows, single parent romance, second chance romance, matchmaking and beautifully flawed hero and heroine (shout out for Russell being an all around amazing person with a dad bod and body positivity in the book!). In case you couldn’t tell, I just had so many things I enjoyed and was excited about. The skilled writing and care that went into this book just really hit me in the feels. ❤💕

There was so much going on in this read, but it really speaks to this writers skill that it all felt like a part of the story – it just felt like real life. I finished this one last night, but I’m still wrapped up in thinking about it and feeling it. This is definitely a book hangover read and I honestly cannot wait to see what Rachel writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance / Berkley Pub for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions and thoughts offered are my own.

Man I was rooting for EVERYONE in this book! I really, truly loved every single character that was introduced in Weather Girl. Even while realistically tackling subjects such as depression and complicated family relationships this book was upbeat and a joy to read from start to finish.

I really loved Ari and Russell. Their chemistry was palpable from the get go and they were just so sweet! Russell's banter with both Ari and his daughter Elodie was hilarious. I liked the fact that the body positivity extended to the male love interest in this novel, and that Ari was so quick to calm (rather than dismiss) Russell's insecurities.

Weather Girl has taken the spot of my favorite romcom for sure. I enjoyed this book immensely and gave it five Stars on my Goodreads! Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

It seems like when we see books promoted as having Jewish representation or being written by Jewish authors, they are often about the Holocaust - which are, understandably,
heavy, dark, emotional and often difficult to read. Reading about Jewish culture should not only be equated with such heavy topics. So today is my day on the #jewishbookstagramtour and I want to use my day to break the stereotypes and highlight an adorable, happy romcom written by a Jewish author and full of Jewish representation. Weather Girl by @rlynn_solomon is the story of Ari, a meteorologist, who teams up with Russell, a sports anchor, to reunite their divorced and feuding bosses, Parent Trap style, to make their work lives more tolerable. Ari and Russell are the only Jewish employees at their news station and first come up with their scheme at the office holiday party where they realize the connection. This book was an absolute delight to read with quick, witty and snarky quips, entertaining high jinx, and a sweet romance (with some 🔥). The book also tackled mental health head on in a very real and honest way. The characters were flawed but so relatable and likable and their weather puns won my heart. And Jewish traditions were woven into the story in a way to really showcase the joy and excitement in the celebrations. It was all done in such a way that it was just a normal book that happened to have Jewish characters instead of being designated as solely a Jewish book - if that makes sense.

Weather Girl gave me some serious Set it Up vibes, but even better with the angle of ex-wife and husband. Immediately, I loved the narration style of Ari. I have come to associate Rachel Lynn Solomon with characters who are able to convey these tidbits of vulnerability and honesty. How we see their thoughts and feelings all tangled up with our own denial and defenses. I knew I was going to love Ari. Because of her mother's experiences with depression, she's convinced she has to be sunshine.

To hide her rain clouds. And so Ari's journey explores feeling vulnerable with others, to let people see all facets of herself. She has a wry sense of narration, but it's one of those styles which ends up also conveying a sense of character. From her fashion sense, to her passion for weather, I love Ari. A part of me related to her feelings of having to pretend and her difficulty with vulnerability. At the same time, Russell is also such a fabulous character.

This is one of the best romances I’ve read in a while—which is saying something, because I have been reading a LOT of romances lately.

There’s so much to love about this book: the incredibly endearing leads, the premise of falling in love while trying to parent-trap their bosses, the humor, the Jewish and plus-size and queer rep, the showtunes references…and all of it, so genuine. I think what really makes this a stand-out romance, though, is the way that Solomon digs into the very real fear of being unloveable for whatever reason—be it your size or your history or your own brain sabotaging you. And while it is a romance, it is never as simple as finding a partner and magically being fixed; this book is Ari’s journey to accepting and being herself as much as it is a romance between her and Russell.

…All of that being said, of course, I am so enamored by the romance itself. Ari and Russell’s chemistry is excellent, and it’s lovely watching their relationship progress with gradual shows of trust and respect. Russell is just so GOOD, kind and supportive and caring but not without his own baggage and mistakes. His and Ari’s flirting literally gave me butterflies sometimes, which, what? Gross. But also love is so beautiful I wanted to cry.

And Elodie!! I’ve never read a romance in which one of the characters is a parent, so my ability to compare is limited, but I loved the way her relationship with Ari and the way she factored into Ari and Russell’s relationship is handled. Also she is the theatre kid rep we all deserve.

Weather Girl is both a steamy romcom and a genuine, heartwarming story about mental health and all the messiness of families—those we’re born with and those we choose—and it excels on both fronts. My favorite romances are the ones that make me blush in one chapter and cry in another, and it delivered that and more, so it gets a resounding five stars from me!

DNF at chapter 10.

I may eventually return to this one. Maybe I wasn't on the right mood for a contemporary romance, but that's kind of it: this doesn't seem categorized correctly. I was expecting a romcom, but this book quickly begins to explore some heavier topics, such as depression, that sort of removes that light-hearted label. Not a bad thing, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

Additionally, I had a hard time feeling any interest in Ari and Russell. Ari really just feels like another version of Solomon's MC (whose name currently escapes me) from The Ex Talk. As with that book and radio, this book and news meteorology is a mix of reality and nerd passion for the professional environment. It really felt like a retread of a story I'd read before (The Ex Talk). I do enjoy the Seattle commentary as it feels local to my PNWer upbringing. But that's about all I connected with to the point I read to.

Again, I might pick this up again, but as of now I'm just too bored.

Before reading Weather Girl, all I could say about my feelings about the weather was that I live in Ohio, so I get to experience all four seasons every year and I love that, but rain is NOT my favorite.... After meeting Ari & Russell in this adorkable story that stole my heart, I may just have a different opinion that involves embracing the beauty in all the parts of Mother Nature, even the rain.

𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕: 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒓, 𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕.

When a book can make me fall in love with just the chapter titles alone, I know I'm in for a good one, and WEATHER GIRL was everything I've come to expect from Rachel Lynn Solomon's writing style. With weather-related and new station puns woven in, Solomon found the perfect balance of corny but clever jokes and real talk in the storyline that kept these two main characters moving along in a realistic and endearing love story that I couldn't get enough of.

I totally appreciated the timing of reading this book right now - I love that Rachel always writes characters near and dear to her heart, and it is always extra special to read how those people embrace their Jewish culture. I loved that it really all starts at a holiday party; one of my absolute favorite lines being "Look at us, two Jews the last to leave a Christmas party." Full of warm fuzzy feelings and light-hearted humor even at the darker moments, Ari & Russell's relationship beautifully weathers the storm of a new office romance, acclimating to one another and their unique family dynamics as they transition from friends to lovers and try to Parent Trap their bosses into falling back in love as well.

Her poignant portrayal of so many topics in this book - heartbreak, second chances, depression, new relationships, families, dating as a single parent - were spot on for me, making this cast of characters one I won't soon forget. Each character introduced brought something MORE to the story that added to the reasons why I loved it, I highly recommend reading this one if you're in need of a feel-good romance that will leave you full of warm fuzzies with some terrific steam, and a beautiful romance that doesn't shy away from some heavier topics.

There is SO much to love about this one, and I don't want to ruin all the small moments but READ IT, you won't regret it!

Couldn’t get through it. Just too much slow burn for me. The author herself is very popular so I’m sure it will still do well just not for me

Rachel Lynn Solomon proves once again they are one of my favourite authors and an instant-buy!

Weather girl is set it up meets the parent trap (wink for other readers) with a healthy mix of body positivity and mental health.
Reading this book, I fell in love with Ari and her charm, her passion for her job as a meteorologist, her love for her family (even the problematic connection she had with her mother) and her depression. I get a thrill when books have and have characters open to therapy and getting help because it's normal and safe.

The Book gives us a world with great well-rounded side characters, an honest look at depression and how unexpected it is and how the world is both ready and not to be open and welcoming to it. The portrayal, in my view, was done spot o; II saw moments of my depression in Ari's dark days, and that strange and abrupt break up MADE TOTAL SENSE TO ME because depression waits for moments of don't and blows them up.

THE SPICE WAS CHEF KISS! The fantasy's had me giggling and squealing because they were so well done, and I needed them to get down to business. But I wouldn't trade the chemistry or the special emotional moments between the two because they are the building blocks. No fluff, no spice!

New favourite book, and I will be forcing everyone I know to read!

A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter take a page out of “The Parent Trap” and come up with a scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with results that turn up the temperature in more places than one.

Did someone say perfect rom-com premise? Because I am 100% here for it.

Weather Girl follows Ari Abrams, who’s always been fascinated by the weather and loves her job as TV meteorologist. The only thing she doesn’t love about her workplace? The ongoing epic throwdowns between her boss, the legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, and her ex-husband Seth who just happens to be the station’s news director. After a Christmas work party that ends with broken glass and disheartened colleagues, Ari finds an unlikely ally in Russ, the sweet but reserved station’s sports reporter. Together, they decide they’re going to parent trap their bosses into falling back into love. What neither of them expects? Falling for each other in the process.

I’ve come to expect a certain few things when picking up a book by Solomon: cosy feels, some laugh-out-loud moments, and at least one scene that feels so unbearably relatable that I want to simultaneously chuck the book across the room and clutch it to my chest and sob at the accuracy. And Solomon did not disappoint with Weather Girl. I got all of that and more.

Let’s start with the characters: Ari Adams, or as I like to refer to her, my dream woman. A woman who has had a dream since she was a little girl, who makes awkward weather-related puns, who prefers rain to sunshine, and who fought her way to become a TV meteorologist. A woman who’s been told by her ex-fiancé that she wasn’t real and someone who is scared of rejection if she does show someone all of her parts. Ari also lives with depression. Solomon mentions this in the introductory author’s letter, so I thought I’d include it here: She says that individuals living with mental illnesses deserve romantic narratives just as much as everyone else and I agree with this wholeheartedly. Including a protagonist with a mental illness in a romcom is so validating—because yes, we deserve a love story, too, if we want it.

Though Ari’s depression isn’t the focal point of this novel, I loved how it shaped the way she approached new situations and relationships and at times, it was almost too relatable to see how she reacted because of the stigma she’s experienced in the past. I felt so seen by the sunshine girl that never wants to show others the dark parts of her because she doesn’t think they’ll be palatable, that people will write her off as ‘too much’. It’s an unflinching portrayal of just how much stigma influences people with mental illnesses and I think including this in an immersive romance like Weather Girl was what truly made this book stand out. I also really loved that the stigma Ari experiences wasn’t “just” a thing that happens to her but that we get to see where these misconceptions about being too much stem from, without ever losing the focus on the present. There’s also a storyline toward the end of the book that made me feel seen like no portrayal of depression ever has—no one ever seems to get that people with mental illness often think that it’s easier to cut someone off before they can do the same to you (a pre-emptive protective mechanism, you might say) but Ari does. And people who live with depression will get it, too.

As if a character that relatable wasn’t enough, we get the love interest Russ, who stole my heart! Beyond having his own baggage to deal with, he also has this incredible enthusiasm for sports and for anything related to his daughter. Nevertheless, Russ also struggles with his image from time to time because of the extra weight he carries. Yes, readers, we have a fat love interest in this book and I am living! Body diversity is finally breaking its way into traditionally published romances and it was so refreshing to see a male love interest who wasn’t the perfect supermodel because guess what? Russ is just as sexy and downright naughty as that six-pack dude from that one movie you’re thinking of right now. Those readers who’d like a bit more open-door policy when it comes to sexy times won’t be disappointed as this might just be Solomon’s steamiest read yet.

Add to that a cast of flawed, lovable and hilarious characters and you get one hell of a ride. If you’ve seen The Parent Trap, you’ll enjoy all the small Easter eggs and if you haven’t, you’ll still giggle when Ari and Russ land themselves in one double date after another with their bosses as they try to fix a relationship they’ve only ever seen in broken shambles. There are moments that had me laughing out loud, moments that made me cry and moments, like a certain hotel room “can you help me change PJs because my arm is in a cast” scene that made me turn up the AC.

What struck me most about this book, however, was how everything was so naturally interweaved. Plotlines flowed together and broke apart in this seamless way that made it feel like watching your favourite TV show that you’ve seen five hundred times but still marvel at. Torrance and Seth’s marriage struggles presented such a nice backdrop to Russ and Ari’s vulnerable first steps. Meanwhile, Ari’s relationship with her mother only made it that much more clearer why she’s looking for stability and a safe haven. Really, the execution of the different elements of this novel was so elegant. Additionally, I loved the little elements that made this story feel so real: Ari making her own jewellery inspired by the weather, Russ’s daughter’s obsession with musicals or even the very unexpected “taking my boss to her grandbaby’s birth” situation that had me cackling. The attention to detail is a big reason for why this story is so immersive and I’ve come to love this about Solomon’s writing.

Whether sunshine or rainfall, Weather Girl is the perfect read no matter what storms you’re facing. With an enchanting protagonist who shows that living with a mental illness and finding the love of your life aren’t mutually exclusive, Weather Girl is a must-read for lovers of The Parent Trap and Set It Up!

Growing up, Ari Abrams dreamed of being a meteorologist. A lover of overcast days and rain, she was always mesmerized by watching the legendary Torrance Hale deliver the forecast on the evening news. Now, a weather reporter for local news station KSEA 6, everything should be a breeze. But, the nonstop hostility between Torrance and her ex-husband, the news director, was an uninvited storm in the workplace. It blew, not getting the mentorship Ari always hoped for and the only person who seemed to be floating in the same water was sports anchor, Russell Barringer.

Following a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up, taking ideas from "Set It Up" and "The Parent Trap," to reunite their divorced bosses in an attempt to fix their office atmosphere and stop the storm in its path. Together they form a friendship; the only thing the forecast didn't predict was that they might find love too.

The Jewish representation made my heart swoon. It was beautiful to see elements of my religious and cultural experiences reflected in a book so casually. Mentions of Hanukkah, Shabbat Dinner and Bar/Bat Mitzvah's are small things I always knew I wanted to see, but didn't know how good it would feel until I finally did. When Ari remarked, "I realize I live in a city with a Jewish population of less than two percent, but the assumption that everyone celebrates Christmas has never not rubbed at me like an itchy tag on the back of the softest sweater. This time of year, it’s nearly constant." I felt so incredibly seen. I love that non-Jews can learn a little bit more about Judaism too.

I, personally wouldn't market this story as a romcom. There was not a lot of comedic moments, falling on the heavier side. That said, the author handles mental health and depression in a really respectful way, showcasing how ones life can be affected day-to-day. It's very genuine. I think a lot of readers will be able to connect with Ari's struggles and was glad to see important topics explored in her journey, including therapy.

While I enjoyed getting to know Ari and Russell, I did have trouble buying into the romance. In my opinion, the chemistry was lacking between the two, but I have trouble pinpointing exactly why. I felt like I was rooting for them simply because I was supposed to. The side characters, however, were well-rounded and entertaining.

I also thought the chapter titles were a really cute addition and needed to give them a shoutout.

I definitely think this slow burn will be a hit for most. Unfortunately, I still need to wade through the fog on it. Romances are still a struggle for me as a reader a lot of the time, but I want to love them like I do the movies.