Weather Girl

3.5 stars. I might be a little too close to this plot (Jewish woman with depression and a mother whose own untreated depression caused a traumatic childhood) so I'm not sure if I can objectively rate this book. I admire what Solomon is trying to do - combine a typical rom-com trope of “coworkers scheme to get their bosses back together, end up falling in love “ with a more serious story about a young woman realizing she doesn't have to hide her condition and making peace with her mother. So some of the scenes where Ari is acutely depressed pushed my buttons a bit too much and left me uncomfortable with their juxtaposition of wacky humor. But I suspect it won't bother other readers at all. Russell is an adorable cinnamon roll of a hero, a single father from the age of 17 who is self-conscious about his weight and determined to do anything to keep his daughter happy. He and Ari have a nice chemistry as they gradually come clean about their respective baggage and Ari makes it explicitly clear how much she loves Russell's body. The Third Act Breakup is predictable but doesn't last too long. And Ari's relationship with her boss Torrance is a welcome example of two women supporting each other in the workplace instead of competing. I do have one quibble. There are plenty of great plots out there that don't involve characters who are lying to other people in the service of making their lives easier (Solomon also went there in her breakout [b:The Ex Talk 53415121 The Ex Talk Rachel Lynn Solomon https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589505942l/53415121.SY75.jpg 74638665]). Maybe she should drop the scheming and replace it with something else in her next book.