melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
I was such a huge fan of Carol Anshaw's last book, Carry the One, I was very excited to see she was finally coming out with something new. Although I liked it, I didn't feel like Right After the Weather had as much emotional impact. I was disappointed in its lack of ending, but that's just me. I have noticed lately that I'm always hoping for some very surprising or emotional moment at the end of a book and that's just not always there, understandably. I did love that Cate was a set designer, because working in theater is my fantasy world career. I would have liked to hear even more about that. And of course I loved that Cate was such a big animal lover. Overall good, but not the GREAT GREAT GREAT I felt with her last book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Read in prepub, due out in October 2019.
I love Carol Anshaw's writing. Aquamarine remains one of my favorite books. Right after the weather is no exception. Anshaw captures perfectly the way a traumatic event can do different things to different people, but she takes her time getting you there, making sure that you are well-acquainted with the characters before creating the essential drama. You really do get to know the characters, so that when they take action (or fail to) it matters.
Recommended for readers who like character-driven stories, and don't particularly need happy endings. Also for people who like gorgeous writing.
I love Carol Anshaw's writing. Aquamarine remains one of my favorite books. Right after the weather is no exception. Anshaw captures perfectly the way a traumatic event can do different things to different people, but she takes her time getting you there, making sure that you are well-acquainted with the characters before creating the essential drama. You really do get to know the characters, so that when they take action (or fail to) it matters.
Recommended for readers who like character-driven stories, and don't particularly need happy endings. Also for people who like gorgeous writing.
katepowellshine's review against another edition
2.0
Aside from about 8 shocking/horrifying pages this book is pretty boring. I know that's kind of the point but I don't like it.
caitlin192's review against another edition
2.0
It was interesting to think back to the uncertain times leading up to and after the 2016 election, particularly from the POV of a marginalized group.
Cate can't understand how she finds herself 40 something, divorced, and unlucky in both love and career when everyone else seems to have the whole "adulting" thing down. Just as her career takes a turn for the better, she walks in on her best friend being brutally attacked, and then must deal with the fallout.
The concept of the book is interesting enough - how far we'll go for those we love, and I liked the sort of coming of age in midlife plot. Other than that, the plot seems wandering at times. Some threads are set forth and then never tied up.
I had trouble connecting with this one, but the writing was beautiful and I'd read more by this author.
Cate can't understand how she finds herself 40 something, divorced, and unlucky in both love and career when everyone else seems to have the whole "adulting" thing down. Just as her career takes a turn for the better, she walks in on her best friend being brutally attacked, and then must deal with the fallout.
The concept of the book is interesting enough - how far we'll go for those we love, and I liked the sort of coming of age in midlife plot. Other than that, the plot seems wandering at times. Some threads are set forth and then never tied up.
I had trouble connecting with this one, but the writing was beautiful and I'd read more by this author.
rgaiovnik's review against another edition
4.0
“All the time people send her videos of rescued dogs and how happy they are now. Like a dog so frightened by his pat that he stands facing a yellow wall, his nose an inch away. He just stands there. Then he’s shown in his new happy home playing with another dog. “Isn’t this heartwarming?” the sender will say. But all Cate can see is the dog staring at the yellow wall”.
This quote perfectly captures the complexity and raw human emotion that fills this book. Cate is navigating shallow and deep relationships while trying to find her place in the world, and seriously makes you wonder if the author came into your own head to grab those feelings. Absolutely fantastic character driven novel.
This quote perfectly captures the complexity and raw human emotion that fills this book. Cate is navigating shallow and deep relationships while trying to find her place in the world, and seriously makes you wonder if the author came into your own head to grab those feelings. Absolutely fantastic character driven novel.
lamindell's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
christiek's review against another edition
Read 70 pages. I wasn’t connecting with the characters. Also, by page 70, I should know why I’m reading this book, but I didn’t yet. Finally, the election night scene was dumb with bad dialogue and, really, not one of us wants to remember what that was like. It’s hard to write about floundering characters, and I don’t think this book pulls it off.
(Pet peeve alert - Also, if you don’t know Oregon rain, don’t write about it. Happens all the time that authors think rain means rain. No one from Oregon is going to say “Where I come from, this is just a sprinkle.” Oregonians say to your drizzle, “wow, it’s raining pretty good.” We have a dozen words for describing various types of barely raining but still wet outside. And finally, it rains in only half the state. The eastern Oregon town the sister is from gets only 13 inches of rain a year.)
(Pet peeve alert - Also, if you don’t know Oregon rain, don’t write about it. Happens all the time that authors think rain means rain. No one from Oregon is going to say “Where I come from, this is just a sprinkle.” Oregonians say to your drizzle, “wow, it’s raining pretty good.” We have a dozen words for describing various types of barely raining but still wet outside. And finally, it rains in only half the state. The eastern Oregon town the sister is from gets only 13 inches of rain a year.)
melissagomis's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this fast read and especially the main character, Cate, but I like slightly unlikeable characters. Cate lives in Chicago with her ex-husband who is into conspiracy theories, she's sort of under-employed, and is dating a woman she finds annoying. Cate's a set designer and enjoys judging people on their home decor among other things. This novel is set against the backdrop of the 2016 presidential election (but isn't overly focused on it) and the turning point in the book is when something horrible happens to Cate's best friend Neale. The second half of the novel grapples with the different ways similar people deal with shared tragedy. A few short chapters are from the perspective of Nathan and Irene, two criminals who live in Neale's neighborhood. I kept wanting to know what happened to them in the second half of the book, but it's never revealed and really isn't the point of the novel. This book was funny, sad, shocking, and entertaining.
jmarierva's review against another edition
2.0
Right After The Weather was a bit distant for me.. Throughout the book I felt as though the moment was coming where I could truly connect to the characters and the events of their lives, but it never really clicked for me. The characters all seemed to care so deeply for each other but dance around their emotions at an arm’s length, which seemed to limit the story not enhance it.
However the writing was beautiful and the plot overall was intriguing. Events move quickly and the spotlight is primarily on Cate’s processing of her life and her relationships. I think this is a good story for someone looking to connect to a character who feels a bit lost, unsure of what she truly wants, and impacted by many tragic events, with less of a focus on the plot and more on an inward look at Cate’s perspective of the world.
However the writing was beautiful and the plot overall was intriguing. Events move quickly and the spotlight is primarily on Cate’s processing of her life and her relationships. I think this is a good story for someone looking to connect to a character who feels a bit lost, unsure of what she truly wants, and impacted by many tragic events, with less of a focus on the plot and more on an inward look at Cate’s perspective of the world.
mellyjj's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was an interesting story, but there were a lot of things going on and I felt some were unnecessary. But it's a great "snapshot of life" book that will have you thinking about it long after it ends.