3.5

Very cute and a quick read. This ended up having some solid teen emotions and devotions going on. Young adult HS setting can always feel hit or miss for me but this one worked for me, probably because the original writing date was in 2011 and things like flip phones and data usage were still common enough.

The story feels complete, although it did leave me wanting more of the MCs actually dating, most of the book is them getting together. I did like the start more mainly for the humor of having one MC be an unrepentant horn bag, but one things really started rolling we got more character development.

One minor thing that stood out though was that the art was inconsistent. Search the web comic. I understand it was written and drawn over years so art style changed, but that is something that I did notice even though in the after notes it was mentioned that some of the earlier chapters were drawn for this publication. What are all I recommend this for the young adult crowd or someone that wants something sweet, but expect a few open ends.

dnf @25%

this graphic novel was not for me, maybe i have just grown out of YA which is very possible. i couldn't get over the toxic beginning the relationship had. the continual hitting on someone after being told no or being turned down rubbed me the wrong way. and some of the language i found to be a bit vulgar or offensive for this to be considered a young adult read.

thank you to first second books and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

thank you to netgalley and First Second Publisher for this e-ARC of Always Raining Here. I'd give it a 3.5 rounded up for goodreads. One sentence summary - Carter is a horny, extroverted, and bubbly gay teen on a quest to have set with ANY single cute guy, when he sets his sights on Adrian, a very hard working and more reserved young man, chaos in the midst of a very cute love story unfolds.

I will admit when I first started this book, I was kinda put off by Carter, which I think is the whole point right? But as I continued to get to see him and Adrian interact more and more, I warmed up to him! I feel like you gotta get through the annoying / harassing part first, and then the book shapes up to be really adorable and heartwarming. I love that the book focused on normal teenage angst and teenage problems like school and perfectionism. I love how Carter and Adrian both were complimentary towards one another in their characters! I feel like the pacing was good and I loved the writing. The art is absolutely stunning and it's really well done.

I would recommend this book to folks who love LGBT+ graphic novels, girlies who love problematic main characters who eventually get it together, men who love men, and folks who love strong and important side characters.

This charming YA graphic novel romance was a refreshing voice in what can be a very crowded genre.

I love the disaster gay vibes that Carter exuded in his hilarious single minded pursuit of his crush on Adrian. He managed to be doggedly persistent without veering over into creepy obsessive territory. This is an enemies to friends to lovers story about two teens in high school trying to navigate relationships and all the other complications of real life. There were parts that made me laugh and I loved the bit where they crash into the treehouse. A genuinely fun read and I recommend it for any teens who like a humorous romance.

This was so cute! I am devastated that this is a standalone!! I need more of them!! This graphic novel covered harder topics than I had anticipated from the summary, and I still had a great time. I thought with how the graphic novel started it would be on the goofier side, which it was at times, but there was also some difficult situations a teenager might face included in here, and I really like how the authors navigated through that.

But ESSENTIALLY, this was about a horny teenager who thinks all he wants is a casual hook up, but ends up falling in love, and somehow that had me emotional by the end. This novel covered such a real relationship, and the struggles between two people who are learning to communicate how they feel towards each other, and also who are still trying to figure out who they are and what they want. I wasn't initially sure how the story was going to play out, but I was so surprised to find myself tearing up at the end.

I absolutely adored the art style, and loved the little extra mini story/panels! They were sooo cute!!! I honestly could have read another 100 pages of them. I really hope they decide to make another one with these characters. And my only complaint is that I know that this was originally released from 2010/2011, but with it being remade, I think that the word "Hogwarts" could have been left out of this published version.

Thank you netgalley and first second books for this arc!

Always raining here is a mostly cozy and cute story focusing on the relationship between high school students Adrian and Carter. The parts that aren’t cozy and cute are real and relatable, bringing the story to life in a way that’s easy to resonate with. The art style of the novel is perfect for the tone, and the cartoonish cuts when things get goofy really bring it to life. The characters are also perfectly expressive in how they’re drawn and go through clear and well written development. All in all a good, relatable read that is perfect for anyone looking for a single sitting graphic novel!

An enjoyable, cozy read. The lead characters were flawed, but still likable. The lack of contrived angst was refreshing and the setting was strangely nostalgic (I was in high school around the same time as the characters). I did find the obvious improvement in the art jarring, to the point where I thought I was reading a different book, but I got used to it. I would recommend to any of my teens looking for sweet BL graphic novels.

This story was insanely cute, and I loved the dynamic between Carter and Adrian. Carter is happy living life with no strings attached, while Adrian is more reserved and unsure of how to take Carter. With the constant proposals for favors and then showing that he can be an amazing human. The story is one I wish I could read for the first time again.
At first first I wasn't sure how the story would progress since it is only a single volume. That's it no more, and that's usually not my piece of cake. I love long laborious series full of drama and growth between characters. I still was able to get the growth in this single volume without it seeming rushed or overdone.
The art also looks like it was painted in some panels, the use of expression is endering, and I really hope we get more from this creator in the future.
This is an early review. This volume isn't due to release until November 11, 2025, but best believe I have it preordered🩵

The enemies-to-lovers trope combined with the "he falls first" dynamic in this novel is absolutely captivating! The artwork? Simply stunning! I was completely swept away by the storyline. It perfectly captures all the wildness of high school love! The romantic moments are nothing short of magical, and I found myself laughing out loud at several hilarious scenes! I’m absolutely in love with Carter and Adrian’s journey, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that you won’t want to miss!

I was all over the place with this one, their were things I loved and things I didn't.

I loved both Carter and Adrian. I loved their relationship when we got their. I didn't like Carter's self destructive nature and stress brought on by himself and his parents. I didn't like at times Adrian not taking no for an answer but nothing in a bad way that was unforgiveable.

Adrian's persistence pays off and in the end Carter benefitted from Adrian care free attitude to things and life.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy of Always Raining Here by Hazel and Bell.

My biggest question is, will there be a second book with these characters? I am so invested and I wish they had talked about more of the topics presented in the book! For example I wish Adrian’s issues with his parents had been addressed and it seems like he experiences lots of anger and self hatred. Also, we don’t learn much about what happened with Adrian’s first relationship that is mentioned in the overview description of the graphic novel. I can relate to Adrian at times and would have liked to see these topics explored more, but I understand this novel is also about Carter. Carter, at first, was not my cup of tea, but he had such great growth and charming personality throughout the graphic novel. I liked how the two main characters figured out that there is still love for them, even if they aren’t “perfect.”

The art style on the cover of the book is what drew me to it and then the description. But overall it was the realness of the character’s emotions and love that made me keep reading.
I recommend this book to those who want a feel good graphic novel with a charming ending.

Oh my goodness this was such an adorable little comic! I really felt like I was back in high school during the early 2010s, watching two of my classmates fall for each other in the cutest way!

Hazel and Bell have an adorable art style that I just couldn’t look away from, the way they expressed emotion through the characters was perfect.

Carter and Adrian are such cuties, and I’m so happy with how their relationship progressed. The scene where they were finally realized they were in love with each other made me squeal!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an advance copy of this read!

This “enemies to lovers” graphic novel has pretty and engaging artwork throughout and messy, yet mostly well-intentioned main characters.

I really enjoyed the second half of the book and how the story concluded, but struggled with the relationship dynamics during the first half. I would have appreciated more dialogue about boundaries and appropriate courting, since it’s directed at teens and young adults, but in its absence, I’m glad for the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, First Second Books and the author for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 STARS

There were parts of Always Raining Here that were rough, but for the most part I enjoyed this comic! I think this was officially published in 2012? So I pretty much just chalked any weirdness up to it being from that era.

I thought the two main characters had an interesting dynamic and I enjoyed the little romantic moments interspersed throughout the story. There's apparently another volume but I think this one stands alone pretty well.

Being totally honest, I don’t think I’d like this book. The art wasn’t my style and the plot felt disgustingly cringy from the first few pages.

I’m so glad I kept reading. The art and plot blossomed beautifully. I felt like I was growing with the characters themselves, as I saw them more clearly in more ways than one.

Looking back, I’m grateful the book started off as it did. Didn’t love it at first. Fell for it by the end. Classic enemies to lovers—me and the book included.

This was such a cute graphic novel!!! I admit, Carter had to grow on me as well. He started out very annoying. But he was actually quite sweet and I'm glad Adrien realized it too. I couldn't sleep because I stayed up late finishing this last night. It was so cute and hopeful. I love how they decide to go through their own personal struggles together. It was very sweet and I'm looking forward to the next volume!

the first third of this book is a bit slow going, and has a lot of dialogue that was either offensive in a way that most teenagers I know have luckily advanced passed. Maybe it's nit-picky but equating men to only cis men, and using "acting like a girl" as an insult just really rubs me the wrong way. After the initial bump though it's a sweet story about two boys with issues finding comfort in each other, surprising themselves.

Thank you to @netgalley and First Seconds Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

★★★★★

Always Raining Here is an absolute gem of a graphic novel—tender, funny, and emotionally honest in all the right ways. As a longtime fan of the original webcomic, I was thrilled to see this standalone adaptation, and it completely lived up to expectations.

The story follows Carter and Adrian, two high school boys navigating identity, friendship, and the messy, beautiful beginnings of love. Carter’s bold, impulsive charm contrasts perfectly with Adrian’s quiet, guarded nature, and watching their relationship evolve from awkward encounters to something deeply meaningful is incredibly satisfying. Their dynamic feels authentic—sometimes clumsy, sometimes sweet, always real.

The art style is adorable and expressive, perfectly capturing the emotional beats of the story. From shy glances to chaotic house parties, every panel feels alive with personality. And while the pacing occasionally feels a bit rushed, the emotional payoff more than makes up for it.

What really stands out is how the creators handle the characters’ growth. Carter’s journey from infatuation to genuine care, and Adrian’s slow opening up after heartbreak, are both handled with nuance and heart. It’s a story about queer joy, vulnerability, and the power of connection—perfect for fans of Heartstopper or Bloom.

Highly recommended for older teens and anyone who loves a heartfelt, character-driven romance with a cozy, rainy-day vibe.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #firstsecondbooks #alwaysraininghere #hazelandbell #graphicnovel

Always Raining Here is a delightful story following the building relationship between two very different high school boys. This was adorable, and I really enjoyed it. I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a cute, queer YA story.

In my opinion, we can all agree that we should let Carter get laid LOL! This book is such a happy short read. My first thought was like "Let him get laid!" To "I thought you only wanna get laid?!" The author really made me freaking giggle and I didn't know Adrian's a tease and the one who wanna get laid the most is a wholesome baby><! The author also kept it light though some of the parts of the book touched a little emotional side that I think should have elaborated more like Carter being an emotional mess how that led to him doing that to Adrian. Also, there's always a cliffhanger when they're getting you know(゜ロ゜) making me guess if they did it all the way or not. I get it though the author wanna keep it light and PG.ヽ(*´＾｀)ﾉ Nice ending btw I threw my phone because of their cuteness.
In Conclusion, I need more of these two babies and have a more in-depth understanding of the story by adding fillers maybe, or more tension between them so the ending will be more emotional. 6/5 (the art is gorgeous)