Another suspenseful and page turning psychological thriller by Jessie Garcia. I thoroughly enjoyed this book however was a little disappointed in the ending - more closure was needed after the big build up - however this is worth the read. Thanks for the ARC.

Jessica Garcia captures the complicated nature of friendship with sharp insight and a touch of suspense. The Fairweather Friend is not just a story about betrayal, but also about how easily we can be blinded by loyalty, habit, or the comfort of shared history.

From the first chapter, I found myself questioning motives and second-guessing intentions. Garcia does a wonderful job of peeling back layers slowly, showing how one person’s version of friendship can be another’s form of control. The emotional beats feel authentic, especially the push-pull between wanting to believe the best of someone and noticing all the cracks in their behavior.

The pacing struck a nice balance — steady enough to let relationships build, but with plenty of tension to keep me reading late into the night. I appreciated that the ending wasn’t neatly tied up, but instead left me thinking about what real loyalty should look like and where we each draw our boundaries.

If you enjoy character-driven fiction that examines trust, toxic ties, and the price of misplaced faith, this one will stick with you long after the last page.

Book Review - Fair Weather Friend by Jessica Garcia

Who’s better than Faith Richards? She is the envy of everyone at the news station where she works and has masses of loyal followers, even striving to emulate the weather accessories she wears on air. She even has her own fan club, the Fair-Weather Friends Fan Club! Carol Henning and her husband, Jim, happen to be just two of those fans, as well as their niece, Olivia, who just happened to secure an internship at the same news station, where Faith has made her mark.

I really enjoyed this book! As the storyline slowly unfolded, I found myself more intrigued and casting doubts on so many of the characters in this book. Jessica Garcia was able to create characters in which the reader was able to form strong opinions, either rooting for them or picturing their demise. As I neared the end of the book, I found myself with more questions than answers and raced through to see it through to conclusion.

This book hooked me right from the beginning as I got to know each quirky character. This story is told through a third person narrator and the chapters provide the reader with glimpses into each of the main players’ thoughts as the plot unfolds. The author did a beautiful job, creating believable characters so that the reader experiences a range of feelings as they get to know each one a little more. You may find yourself laughing one moment and cringing the next. There are also times in which you might feel empathy or sympathy for a character’s particular situation. This book definitely kept me guessing about what had ultimately occurred until the final few pages.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jessica Garcia for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5

I really expected to love this book because I enjoyed The Business Trip and the summary sounded interesting. What worked me- the concept was original and the story had potential. It was descriptive enough without being drawn out. I felt like it was watching an HBO drama as I read. The ending was wrapped up with enough closure that you weren’t left wanting more.

What didn’t work for me-The plot was boring and predictable. The characters unlikable. I couldn’t believe that not one of these characters were written with common sense. At times the writing seemed juvenile (ex: He took a long sip of his water, whipped his mouth and said ahhhh). And way too many POVs.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Jessie Garcia does it again, pulling me into a story that is equal parts chilling and addictive. The Fair-Weather Friend begins with Faith Richards, Detroit’s beloved TV meteorologist, who seems to live her life in the sunshine. But the brightness doesn’t last long, one night she steps out on a dinner break and never returns. By morning, her body is discovered, and suddenly the entire city is cloaked in suspicion, secrets, and storm clouds no forecast could have predicted.

What I loved most about this book is the atmosphere Garcia builds. Beneath the glittering lights of the newsroom and the polished facade of Faith’s on-air persona, there’s a darkness simmering. Every character feels like they could be hiding something. Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing a tangle of jealousies, betrayals, and long buried grudges. I found myself questioning everyone, even the people closest to Faith.

The multiple POVs add a sharp, unsettling energy, like camera angles shifting in a thriller film. One moment you’re inside a grieving friend’s mind, the next inside someone who might be lying straight to your face. The tension is relentless, and the pacing kept me flipping pages long past midnight.

This isn’t just a murder mystery, it’s a story about the masks people wear, the secrets they guard, and the dangerous undercurrents that run beneath even the most picture perfect lives. Garcia has a way of reminding you that what you see on the surface is rarely the whole truth.

Dark, twisty, and utterly compulsive, The Fair-Weather Friend is domestic suspense at its most addictive. It left me unsettled, chilled, and still turning over the final reveals long after I closed the book.

Author Jessie Garcia knows her way around a newsroom, and when the story was taking place there I enjoyed it. But the more I read, the more preposterous it all became. The ending was just so unsatisfying. I wish the author better luck on her next novel, but for me The Fair-Weather Friend was not a rewarding read.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my gosh, this book was absolutely incredible! Jessie Garcia’s fast-paced thriller is a perfect blend of mystery and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down! I’m officially a member of the Fair Weather Friend Fan Club!

The Fair Weather Friend was my guilty pleasure last weekend. Kudos to Ms. Garcia for writing a fun, fast-paced thriller that kept me entertained for several hours! This book has multiple POV, an intriguing story, and great writing. There may have been a time or two when I had to suspend disbelief about a plot point, but it didn't bother me. This is a fun frolic with a dramatic ending you won't see coming!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Fair Weather Friend is a fun twisty thriller that can easily be devoured in one to two sittings! I really enjoyed the short chapters, multiple POVs, and that the story centered around a Weather Woman and news station. The concept felt like a breath of fresh air and something that has not been over done!

Some of the twists and turns were a bit far fetched if you enjoy a more realistic plot, but it was a fun read nonetheless!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars!

I enjoyed this for the most part. It was a fast read and the chapters moved along nicely. I had a good idea about the twist, but had to wait for it to be fleshed out. 4 stars for the first 3/4s of the book, 3 for the last quarter. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but it didn’t ruin the story for me. Carol and Jim were a very sweet couple and it was obvious that Jim was created by a woman, because he was most women’s dream of a perfect partner. Their relationship was the most endearing aspect of this story.

My first read from this author and I enjoyed it. There’s a lot of characters in it but thankfully I was able to keep them all straight. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was really going on and whodunit.
I did find the twist to be a little ho-hum and was expecting a bigger thrill there. I also found the ending to be a little lack-luster but overall I still enjoyed it and it kept me flipping pages.
Thank you to St, Martin’s press and NetGalley for the arc of this book!

📖 Book Review – The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

Faith Richards, Detroit’s beloved meteorologist, known as “The Fair Weather Friend,” seems to have it all until one night she leaves work for dinner and never returns. When her body is found the next morning, the city is shaken, suspects begin to emerge, and long-buried secrets come to light. Told through multiple perspectives, Jessie Garcia’s suspenseful style unravels a storm no one saw coming.

I enjoyed this book it was an easy read and kept me interested. That said, I felt it leaned more toward a domestic thriller filled with drama rather than a traditional mystery thriller. The pacing was a bit of a slow burn until the real buildup began. What I did like was the use of multiple POVs, which were done clearly and not at all confusing. The backstory and explanation of Faith’s past tied the story together well.

My only drawback was the ending it could have been stronger in my opinion. Still, it’s not a bad read at all, and I think fans of domestic suspense will find plenty to enjoy here.

⭐ Rating: 3.5/5

🙏 Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fast-paced read but unlike "The Business Trip", not as heart-pounding. More like a domestic suspense with lots of characters.
This story has multiple POVs, which I love. It's easy to keep track of the characters and their roles in the story. Some of the scenarios are a bit unbelievable, and somewhat quirky. However, I was engaged in every part of this book. I was expecting a clever twist at the end and felt a little let down. It was still a good read and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of this book.

This book is so well written! I loved what I was able to read before I had to out it down due to unforeseen content that was triggering (very personal and specific, one of the character names).

I loved the cover and I immediately was sucked in from the writing style and concept. I need to read other books by this author! Also like the cover.

Thank you for allowing me to sample this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of this book! I loved it so much!! I guessed some of the plot twists, but not the overall big twist!! Thank you again! I can’t wait to get a copy for my bookshelf!!

3.5 ⭐️


In Jessie Garcia’s upcoming release THE FAIR WEATHER (publishes January 20, 2026), Detroit’s Channel 9’s weeknight weather girl Faith disappears and is found murdered. From many POVs, including her fans and haters, the reader learns about Faith, past and present, and what happened to her.

I was surprisingly pulled into this popcorn thriller. From the first POV of Faith’s fan Carol, Garcia paints a picture of each person so well that the reader “gets” them. Despite that, there were a few things that didn't seem quite right that nagged at me at the back of my mind. At 73% you find out the real story, and I had immense problems with it. As zany and implausible as the plot gets, I did really enjoy the first 73% and found it to be an engaging read.

➕ You're not getting high literature here, but there are fun characters/suspects.

➖ Implausible starting at 73%

This novel publishes January 20, 2026. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast-paced page turner. I devoured it in just a few sittings. The premise was so intriguing, I don’t think I have ever read a book centered around employees at a news station and who knew how shady they could be! The way Jessie Garcia wrote the tv persona of Faith Richard’s and how loved she was with her earrings gimmick and online presence made me want to start watching my hometown weather channel! That being said, it started to fall apart at about 80% in. First of all, the dialogue felt very forced and clunky. A character is being taken in for questioning and the police officer says “Tell it to the detectives. It sounds like they were planning to contact you today for other things and then this.” This felt a little strange. The sentence itself and also that it’s coming from a police officer to a suspect? There’s another part where a character literally says “woohoo!” Nobody actually says “woohoo” in real life, do they? Maybe I’m being too nitpicky on the dialogue but it took me out of the story.
The last thing that kept me from loving the book is the end. It felt very rushed and a lot happened that seemed too unbelievable. I found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit at the absurdity of the “villain” and the naivety of the other characters. It seemed very obvious what the villain was trying to do but maybe it was because I was in their head at one point and knew their intentions had never been pure.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a masterfully written and emotionally charged thriller that explores the dark side of friendship and trust. The story is a slow burn, building tension with every turn of the page as the author skillfully unravels a web of lies and betrayal.

The characters are complex and realistic, and the shifting perspectives will keep you guessing until the very end. This book is a truly addictive and compelling read, perfect for anyone who loves a psychological suspense novel with a powerful emotional punch.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a temporary e-ARC!

Really good. Quick suspenseful story. Enjoyed the multiple points of view. Ending was tied up nicely. Will read this author again. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

I just finished The Fair-Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia, and it was such a quick, suspenseful read. The story follows Faith Richards, a well-loved Detroit TV meteorologist who suddenly doesn’t come back from a dinner break—and by the next morning, she’s found dead. From there, the book pulls you into a web of secrets, suspicions, and people who may not be as loyal as they first seemed.

What I liked most was the way the story was told through different characters’ perspectives. Normally, that can get confusing, but here it felt really smooth—each voice had its own personality, and it actually kept me hooked. Every time I thought I had figured out who was guilty, another twist popped up. The ending definitely surprised me (in a good way!).

If you’re into fast-paced mysteries with lots of character drama and a “who can you really trust?” vibe, this one is worth picking up.