Books like When It Rains

Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout was a book I read long ago, and it's one that still sticks with me to this day. It's a book I've read and reread.

I love how the main character, Avery, is flawed–making her feel real. And I love Cam and how patient he is with her. Avery is a character who's had some trauma, and she's running. Little does she know she's running right into the arms of the man she's supposed to be with. These characters felt so real.

The writing was good, but not over the top to where I had to stop and think, "Who talks like this?" And it was paced perfectly–the couple grew to be closer over a longer amount of time rather than to meet, fall in love, and overcome everything in a matter of days or weeks. It's another example of something beautiful coming… show more.

I loved this book by Kelly Moore because of how emotional it was. I love when books are written so well, it makes you feel like you’re living the story, rather than reading about someone else. I love a book that you don’t want to step away from, and this was one of those books.

I loved the character development, the overall story, Kelly Moore’s writing style, but most of all, I loved how the emotions jumped off the page and right into my chest.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I love a good book that pulls every emotion out of you, even when you try to resist. And boy, did I try and resist. This book grabbed my heart and took me on a ride that I didn’t want to get off.

The writing is amazing, the author painting a picture so beautifully that I felt like I was right there, experiencing everything right along with the characters. It’s been years since I’ve read this book, but it’s always one I think about when I’m wanting something deep and emotional.

I loved this book because it gripped me the moment I picked it up. It’s suspenseful, so I never wanted to put it down. It was one of those books that I couldn’t stop thinking about. I devoured this book as quickly as possible and found myself thinking about it long after I finished.

Some books may shy away from taboos, but Heather Levy writes fearlessly, dragging topics into the open and spotlighting them, so talking about them is unavoidable.

This isn’t only the story of a woman trying to clear her or her stepbrother’s names after the man who abused her throughout her adolescence turns up murdered; it’s a coming of age as she leans into what she desires and steps into that power.

I love that this is set in rural Oklahoma, a part of the country I feel gets overlooked as far as thrillers and noir go, and the second chance romance and potential that builds between Sam and Eric. This book does feature frank discussions of BDSM/kink and how an abuser exploits it, so please read the content warnings before diving in!

I love this small-town romance with its strong characters and emotional plot.

I enjoyed Thea’s unique backstory. To survive it, she needs to be tough and careful, meaning she has walls that Shep has to learn to scale. Thankfully, he’s up to the task.

The Colson family is full of found family and real family, a fabulous combination that proves love comes in all forms and for all people. I loved the emotional roller coaster and, of course, the happy ending!

This is an intense story and kept me on edge while reading, wondering what would happen next. Shannon upped the thrills as the book went on.

I really appreciated the two main characters, Jason and Addison, who are Christians. Unlike many Christian novels, not everyone around them was also a Christian. This book was a realistic example of people who try to live a Christ-like life, but can get caught up in things out of their control.

The romance between Jason and Addison is fascinating as both come into it with so much baggage. I found myself rooting for them and Shannon does a great job building that suspense as well.

Coming out of law school in 1994, around the time of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, I firmly believed that criminalization was the way to address intimate partner violence. As a new legal services lawyer, I encouraged my clients to turn to the criminal legal system because I believed it would keep them safe. 

This book introduced me to the reality that that system was punishing survivors and showed me how Black survivors of violence were uniquely vulnerable to criminalization. I owe a massive debt to Beth Richie’s work.

I loved this book because it transported me to the sun-soaked island of Barbados—but not only the glossy image from travel magazines, which I’ve visited before like many other tourists.

It offers an unflinching peek at the authentic, sometimes tragic, side of paradise where the locals live and work. Following the intertwined lives of a grieving young mother, her violent husband, a wealthy widow, and a conflicted gigolo, this novel reveals the darkness that festers within the places we call home.

I like this book because it takes on the troubling theme of consent in the case where one person is an adolescent and the other a significantly older adult. I think in all cases of this power dynamic, the confusion a young person feels when she is eager for the love and attention of the older man blurs the meaning of consent for her.I know it did for me.

Yet the truth is a young teenager isn’t capable of consent; she is unaware of the price she’ll pay for what seems like love but is actually abuse. When the perpetrator is a well-liked or respected leader, like a coach or teacher, the confusion is worse because we are all led to believe this is a trustworthy person.