This was a very cute graphic novel. At first, I wasn't sure about Carter, who couldn't seem to take a hint and leave Adrian alone. But after a while, he grew on me. I liked the romance between the two, as well as how the authors tackled issues teens deal with, like school, crushes. parental expectations, and more. I would have liked a little more closure at the end of the book, some issues were left open-ended for me. But all in all, it is a very sweet coming of age story.

This was one of the first webcomics I read online, I was late to the webcomic game, obviously. I remember really enjoying it. I even rated it 4 stars on Goodreads. I still enjoyed it this time around, though not as much apparently. Probably because my tastes have changed over the years. It's a cute story. Carter is a douche with a solid moral compass. Adrian is a little stereotypical but with a bit of depth. Overall they work well together. I would have liked some sort of resolution to the issues that are brought up. Does Carter ever get his act together at school. What about Adrian and his shitty parents? What happens with the musical? We never find out. Side note, I love when gay comics include hockey in someway, even though it doesn't have a lot to do with the actual story and one of the hockey bros turns out to be a piece of shit. I think my main issue this time reading it is that I remember the story being longer. It's not, and it kind of needs to be. But I did still enjoy it, even if it wasn't as much as the time.

No means no?? Like the beginning really bothered me. I get it is supposed to be a cute YA romance, but after the beginning with Adrian saying no and declining Carter that's where it should have stopped. He was just too predatory at the beginning that trying to like him later was not possible Or at least get rid of it. While I finished the book, I still felt gross because I couldn't get over the lack of consent.
Carter asking a drunk Adrian for consent was a bit ehhhh (which he doesn't go through thank the deities). Like by the others ratings I was really looking forward to this book, but this was all just too much.

This was a sweet romance between two teenagers in the early 2010s. Heartstoppers fans will fully enjoy this title!

Super cute and just as fun as I remember reading as it was when I was waiting for chapter updates. The updated art is so good and the new Carter faces AHAHAHA so funny. I missed these boys.

This was such an adorable, upper YA queer graphic novel that releases 11/11 from 01Second! I loved how the main characters change throughout going from shy to bolder or cocky to sensitive. A great one for high school!

I’m so excited to see this coming to print! I remember discovering this story as a webcomic a few years ago and have been hoping to add a physical copy to my shelves since. The story is just a cozy read and the art is even better in the edition coming to print as I can definitely tell it’s been updated! Thanks to NetGalley for providing the e-arc.

Always Raining Here details Adrian and Carter’s blooming friendship as they face school stressors, parents with high expectations, and rocky relationships. This adorable graphic novel strikes the perfect balance between relatable teen challenges and genuine humor. The cast includes a litany of likable main and supporting characters; Maria was one of my favorites! Adrian and Carter are the embodiment of the sun and moon relationship, even in their respective color palettes. I enjoyed the video game references throughout the story, with nods to Animal Crossing, Mario Cart, and Silent Hill. Fans of Hicks’ Hockey Boy Loves Drama Girl and Oseman’s Heartstopper series will love Always Raining Here. Overall, this is a fantastic graphic novel, both in its writing and art, that any romance reader will enjoy.

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I will devour any graphic novel about the gay experience, no matter which version of that it is. Always Raining Here was incredibly cute and sometimes eerily familiar to what I myself dealt with in high school, which made it much more enjoyable.

DNF @ 33%

I am just not ... liking this at all. I don't like the pressure from Carter that seems predatory, running on cliches. It's icky. It's outdated? I stopped reading after the party scene where Carter x Adrian have a steamy make-out session. Adrian is drunk and Carter repeatedly asks Adrian's consent. Immediately after, Carter also saves Adrian's bff from a potential rape, which does shift my perception of Carter a bit.

Unfortunately, it's just not enough for me to keep on reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Carter has just discovered that he's gay and runs into Adrian. Adrian is in drama and also gay. Hijinks commence. Sorry this is a little vague, but I couldn't think of anything to write that wouldn't spoil the story! Adrian struggles with some self image issues, but Carter is super silly-and heroic. You'll understand when you read it.

This has me crying from sadness and laughter in turns and is an excellent addition to any collection.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was not really a fan of this book. I think it was too young for my tastes. I am also not a huge fan of the way the main two characters, who will be a couple, began. The needs for only sex relief to get Adrian to like Carter just did not do it for me. I do think it has potential to be cute and well-developed in their relationship, though, especially near the end, thus adding it to 2 stars.

another review said you can definitely tell this was from the early 2010s and i have to agree with that purely because of the One Direction reference. a jump scare that I loved. overall this was super cute! I wasn't sure about it in the beginning but Adrian and Carter, specifically, grew on me and I loved them by the end. very reversed Heartstopper relationship meets Dead Poet's Society #letgayboysbeintheplay

This book was very cute, both in art, and story! I was unfamiliar with the webtoon before this, and then was very disappointed to find that it hadn't been updated on webtoons since 2022!

I had a lot of ups and downs while reading this. At first I despised Carter for his pushiness towards Adrian, but there was a point in the book where you could tell that Carter's intentions had changed, and he genuinely started to like Adrian. Which was when I started to like Carter, he became a lot more fun to read when he stopped just trying to sleep with Adrian. I thought that his careless attitude was very endearing, and I also liked seeing him start to care more as he got closer with Adrian.

Adrian, on the other hand, I liked immediately! I really appreciated his academic stress and found that very relatable! I do think I would have liked to see him punch Carter in the beginning for how he was acting, but that's just me.

I really liked both characters development and I love that they both admitted they were wrong for how they acted. I think that the way they decided to be together and help each other work through their flaws was wonderful!

I also love that they did make each other better, they are opposites. Adrian helped Carter care more about himself and school, and Carter helped Adrian learn how to relax a little and have fun outside of the constant stress of school and parental expectations.

I loved the art, although it did feel rather inconsistent in the style. I thought the colors were lovely, and the backgrounds were gorgeous! I also loved the little mini comics in between parts of the story!

Overall, I think this was very cute and I wish there was more about Adrian and Carter, and their friends!

This is so good; the type of book I wish I had when I was younger. The representation is great, and the art is adorable. I was so invested in this and can't wait for more. The character development is really good.

I'd say this deserves a 3.75 or a 4 because I love a good webtoon that's cute which this one definitely is.

A sort of drifting, not particularly plot driven series of comics outlining the nascent relationship of two gay Canadian high school students. The character Carter is pretty repellent at first, but eventually proves himself to be a good egg. Adrian goes from a seemingly well adjusted teen to a character who is revealed to be ever more problematic with every passing page that reveals his litany of terrible coping mechanisms. It's a romance to a certain degree, but the relationship is very much framed as the result of their being few alternatives in what has to be the most straight high school to ever exist.

*2.5 stars
This was originally published online from 2011-2016, and you can really tell. The pestering and wearing down is really toxic at the beginning, but it is redeemed (at least in the eyes of the characters) by the guy "saving" a girl from unwanted advances (ironic...). I think the biggest strike against this is that I had apparently read the first half in August of 2022 and did not remember a single thing. In fact, I didn't even realize I had read it until I stumbled on my rating/review of [book:Always Raining Here, Volume 1|29725908]. Overall, this is fine if you're starved for a gay YA graphic, but there's plenty of better, more modern ones out there, so you shouldn't be.

A lovely story about two gay teens as they deal with heartbreak, romance, family, and high school. Carter is a fun loving impulsive teen who is determined to find a cute guy to hook up with, too bad his options are extremely low. Then he meets Adrian at a bookshop, Adrian is a straight laced, recently single, theater kid who is reeling from his recent heartbreak. Carter is determined to win Adrian over.. the only problem is Adrian is still in love with his ex. Carter and Adrian find themselves bumping into each other more and more, and a unlikely friendship begins to grow... but can their new friendship survive their first hookup or will Adrian's self-destructiveness threaten any chance of a real relationship between them. This was a great queer coming of age story between two different gay teenagers. I love how authentic the story felt and how much growth both characters go through. The romance was so well done and told in a fantastic way. It's just a really great read and one I'd definitely recommend!

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and First Second Books | First Second for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*