Unsurprisingly, Rachel Lynn Solomon did it again with another rom-com hit, Weather Girl. This book was funny, sweet, steamy, and remarkably poignant. I loved reading about a protagonist who was actively struggling with mental health, going to therapy, taking medication, and still living a life full of joy and adventure. I can’t express enough how refreshing this was. Solomon’s perspective on mental illness, specifically depression, was extremely valuable. I hope that romances continue to move in Weather Girl’s direction of progress- instead of the perfect, seamless happily ever after, it’s amazing to see a realistic, messy, yet still happy ending.
The premise of Weather Girl is a twist on the classic workplace crush trope… Russell and Ari are coworkers at the same news station. Their bosses, who also happen to be ex-spouses, create such a toxic work environment that almost everyone is miserable at KSEA. After a particularly eventful (in the worst way) Christmas party, Russell and Ari decide to take matters of their boss’s relationship into their own hands. While plotting to get them back together Parent Trap style, sparks happen to fly for the two schemers as well. Cheesy in the best ways and serious in others, I loved Solomon’s take on this sometimes overused trope. It ended in a completely unexpected way, and felt fresh and new the whole time.
Just like in the Ex Talk (one of my all-time favorite romance reads also by Solomon), Ari is a strong female protagonist, who happens to be Jewish. I love that the plot of the story isn’t based on being Jewish, but Ari still talks about her heritage quite a bit and values it has a key part of her identity. I can probably count on one hand the number of books I have read with a Jewish protagonist that isn’t about Judaism, and it means so much to see that representation as a Jewish woman!
Rating: 4/5 fake dates
xx, Lauren
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