It goes without saying that Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my all-time favorite authors, both for her young-adult and adult contemporary books alike. Her adult contemporary debut, The Ex Talk, was one of my favorite books of 2021, so I was more than excited to usher in the new year with her latest release and now a 2022 favorite of mine, Weather Girl!

Rachel Lynn Solomon is officially the queen of unique workplace romances, as Weather Girl takes place at a local Seattle news station, following meteorologist Ari Abrams. Ari has been working her dream job as a TV meteorologist with one of her role models, Torrence Hale, but work is anything but a dream as everyone at the station has come accustomed to the awful dynamics between Torrence and her ex & news director, Seth. After a disastrous holiday work party in which Torrence and Seth’s animosity takes center stage, Ari and sports reporter, Russell, team up to get the couple back together and better the workplace for everyone via Parent Trap style. As Ari & Russell work together to get their bosses back together, the two begin to form their own chemistry. 

There is just something so welcoming about Rachel Lynn Solomon’s writing style the entraps me in her books every single time. Her books, Weather Girl of course included, are the perfect blend of character and plot development. I really feel like we get a sense of who Ari is from the get-go, and we get to see her grow and go through challenges throughout the story. Rachel Lynn Solomon has shared that Weather Girl is her most personal book yet, as it reflects her own mental health journey as Ari has depression and often struggles opening up to others, including her partners, about her mental health. Like all of Rachel’s books, Weather Girl has Jewish representation, and both Ari and Russell are Jewish.

Russell is the most cinnamon roll, sweet love interest that I’ve ever read in a contemporary romance. I loved Ari and Russell’s relationship development so much, and the setting of their schemes was also really fun, from a Seattle Krakens hockey game to dancing to Ari bonding with Russell’s teenage daughter. Russell being a young dad was also a storyline I have rarely seen done in the contemporary romance genre, and I loved the addition of this storyline. Ari’s depression and her relationship with her family, specifically her supportive brother & his family and Ari’s complicated relationship with her mom. Ari’s mom also has depression, and the two never have had the best relationship. Again, Rachel Lynn Solomon has this way in most of her books of balancing the light & fun romance elements with more serious and thoughtful storylines. 

In addition, the meteorology and TV news setting was so unique and well done! I loved getting the details of what it was like for Ari to be a meteorologist, from her early wake up times to the prep & behind-the-scenes of meteorology & news reporting. The setting up of Torrence and Seth was so fun, and I loved seeing the mentorship and friendship between Ari & Torrence grow throughout the story (and yes, I completely caught the brief nod to Rachel’s YA book, Our Year of Maybe!). 

Overall, Weather Girl is an absolute favorite book of 2022! I am SO excited to read Rachel’s May 2022 YA release, See You Tomorrow! 

Have you read Weather Girl? What are your thoughts? Have you read The Ex Talk or Rachel Lynn Solomon’s YA books? Share in the comments!