One day maybe I’ll be less blown away by how much I identify with Rachel Lynn Solomon’s characters. I’ve been making a point to read more books with rep I can relate to, but Rachel’s books feel intensely personal for me. I am grateful to read about Jewish families and Jewish characters finding love, and also to read about characters who describe depression in a way that sounds so much like my own experience.

Weather Girl is a vivid and fun romance between Ari and Russell, who work at the same news station in Seattle. Ari is a meteorologist and Russell is a sports journalist, and they team up in an attempt to improve their work environment by encouraging their bosses (who used to be married) to get back together, “Parent Trap” style. If this plot makes you wary, I can tell you that the way it plays out in this book is definitely fun and it won me over.

Russell has a 12 year old daughter who is in preparation for her bat mitzvah. He also has some insecurity around being fat. Arielle (Ari) has a fraught history with her mother’s depression and her father’s abandonment of their family, so even though Ari takes antidepressants and goes to therapy, she doesn’t open up about it with anyone, even her former fiancé. I can’t speak to being a parent, but I am familiar with a lot of impacts of depression and seeing Russell and Ari develop trust and chemistry was a delight that felt very true to life. They stumble along the way, but they find their way back to each other. Their intimate scenes together also reflect their vulnerabilities and their honest appreciation of each other. (Slight spoilers: I was thrilled to see both mutual masturbation and lube on page in this book, I personally interpreted their inclusion as being related to Ari’s depression.)

This was a strong winner for me, I was really invested in these characters. I tend to really enjoy when a character’s career is discussed, and in this book we get glimpses of both MCs careers and then some! It was the perfect balance of details without alienating the reader. Experiencing Russell’s daughter’s bat mitzvah on the page through Ari’s eyes was so meaningful. There is a bit of a secondary romance as well, which was a cute bonus. This is my third book by this author and it solidifies that I will gladly read anything she writes, and I am particularly excited for her future adult romances.

Note: The reviewer received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

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