Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell

Abstract

Reviewed by: Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell Amanda Toledo Rowell, Rainbow Scattered Showers. Wednesday, 2022 [288p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250855411 $24.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250855428 $12.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 Master of romance Rainbow Rowell shows her prowess yet again with this delightful short story collection featuring characters new and returning. “Midnights” is a young adult homage to When Harry Met Sally, about two best friends reaching for each other over a series of New Year’s Eve parties throughout their high school years. “Kindred Spirits” is a witty, pop-culture tale of burgeoning new love discovered in the line to see the new Star Wars film circa 2015. Each story is crafted with humor and care, and the joyful early stories transition smoothly into more somber fare. “Winter Songs for Summer” is a mature but wickedly funny exploration of a first break up and moving on. “If the Fates Allow” revisits Reagan from Rowell’s Fangirl during the 2020 pandemic; “The Prince and the Troll” is a somber story about a world falling apart, ultimately focused on the sweet, human connection in the midst of chaos. Simon and Baz of Carry On are featured in “Snow for Christmas,” a perfect, poignant epilogue to the trilogy. This anthology neatly straddles the line between Rowell’s young adult and adult fiction, and it’s a must-read for fans of the author, while also offering a treasure trove for romance fans in general. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois