Weather Girl

Solomon’s wildly appealing sophomore rom-com (after The Ex Talk) takes readers behind the scenes of a drama-filled TV news station. KSEA 6 morning weather reporter Ari Abrams loves her job and has always looked up to Torrance Hale, the reigning queen of all things meteorological at KSEA 6. But recently, the nonstop hostility between Torrance and her ex-husband, the station’s news director, has made the workplace stressful. It’s particularly hard for Ari, who masks her clinical depression with relentless cheeriness at work—until one evening when she finally opens up and vents to the cute, chubby sports anchor, Russell Barringer. When Russell suggests he and Ari get their bosses back together to improve their dispositions, she thinks it’s worth a try and is glad to have made a friend who listens to her. Solomon handles Ari’s mental health and Russell’s body image issues with skill and sensitivity. Fans of Christina Lauren and Julie James will enjoy watching the duo’s matchmaking schemes as chemistry begins to sizzle between them—and, inevitably, the plotters are hoisted by their own petard. Solomon writes real characters with real problems without ever sacrificing fun. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (Jan.)