Right as Rain

by Tashie Bhuiyan

"I was struck by lightning and now there's rain following me around. I was struck by lightning and now there's rain following me around."

Recent high-school graduate Megh Rashid has plans to escape to the other side of the country for college and leave behind the stormy household she’s been trapped in for years. But things are complicated when she gets struck by lightning right before the start of a prestigious summer internship that’s key to her getting accepted to her dream university, and she wakes up to a storm cloud that follows her everywhere, seemingly attuned to her every emotion.

Megh’s struggles with depression, fear of leaving her home and loved ones, and uncertainty about her future cause the cloud to act up, creating rainstorms that dampen her spirits and her hopes of making an impact at her internship. With the help of fellow intern Lev Osman, a boy whose warmth makes her feel less alone, Megh has to find a way to control her feelings and decide what she’s willing to sacrifice in order to secure her desired future.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, Mental Health

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Tashie Bhuiyan is the author of Counting Down with You, A Show for Two, Stay with My Heart, and I'll Pretend You're Mine. She is a New Yorker through and through, and hopes to change the world, one book at a time. She loves writing stories about gaining agency through growth and surviving against all odds. When she's not doing that, she's probably traveling, attending a concert, or bothering her cat, Zuko.

Reviews

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I have to take a moment to compliment the cover, that has to be the prettiest book cover I've ever seen, I'm obsessed. Now onto the book.
I like when the characters are smart. Megh doesn't know why the cloud happened but she immediately clocks that it is attuned to her emotions and finds a way to deal with it. To me it seems believable, and that's something I love about Tashie's writing, her characters feel real.
I related to the main character from the get go, I somewhat understood her home life and I was rooting for her to get to go far away as she wanted. I really wanted to see her succeed. I got really invested really fast, to the point I felt deeply all her emotions. I love LOVE Lev, he is such a perfect character, he made me laugh in a love confession I didn't even think it was possible.
To be fair Right as Rain made me incredibly emotional throughout the entire book. I lost count of how many times I cried. This was a very painful book, but it was also comforting and hopeful at times. A bit like a hug and a “everything will be okay eventually”, and I appreciate it more than I can say.
The cameos from I'll pretend you're mine characters made me miss that book so much(it's still a favorite of the year btw).
One thing about this author's books is that they always leave me wanting more(I would quite literally read thousands of pages, the characters' entire lives even), and this one is no different. I was absolutely not ready for it to be over, I don't feel ready to leave these characters. When I saw “acknowledgements” I when to the previous page because I couldn't believe it was over already. I don't know if I devoured it or if it is just a short book.
Ps: whatever you do DO NOT listen to Matilda by Harry Styles while reading this book, I did this mistake and I had to take a break for crying.

Thank you so much to Tashie for another perfect book, as long as you're writing I'll be reading. Also thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC!

[Tashie Bhuiyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm soooo excited to share my newest book with all of you! RIGHT AS RAIN is a speculative contemporary novel about a girl living with depression who, after being struck by lightning, must find a way to get rid of the storm cloud attuned to her emotions that's begun to follow her around.

more soon!

[Kendra]

7 jul 2025

OMG WE’RE ACTUALLY GETTING THE MOVIE FROM I’LL PRETEND YOU’RE MINE?! HELL YESSS

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Right as Rain follows Megh Rashid; after she gets struck by lightning, she must find a way to get rid of the storm cloud attuned to her emotions that’s begun to follow her around or lose her internship, which is her ticket to UCLA and her ticket out of her parents’ emotionally draining house.

Depression representation:
I have always loved the way Tashie has represented mental health in her books, and I was excited to see her representation going one step further in this book. I found tons of lines in Right as Rain that I related way too much to; one such line was "That's the thing. Nothing happened, and I'm still this fucking sad. What the hell am I supposed to do?"Many young readers will find solace in Right as Rain; I’m sure everyone will find something to relate to in this book.

Romance:
Miss Tashie KNOWS how to write a romance; Lev Osman was an amazing love interest. From the first meeting to their last meet, I could see the affection they had for each other. I believe healthy relationship representation is of immense importance, especially in young adult books, so that these teens who are soon going to be adults know what to look for in their partners. The author shows us that a person who loves you will be willing to send you to another state if it means you will feel safe and secure.

Magical Realism:
I liked the concept of a storm cloud following Megh and being attuned to her emotions a lot; it was fun to see her deal with the cloud with Lev. The only reason I reduced my rating was because we never get a proper explanation for how this cloud even came into existence.

If you loved Ann Liang’s If You Could See the Sun, you should pick this book up.

[eithy ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️!!

I absolutely loved this book! This was my very first story by Tashie, and honestly, I regret not picking up her other works sooner because she absolutely nailed this one.

After Megh, our fmc, was struck by lightning, a cloud started to follow her, connected to her emotions. Because of this, Megh tried to keep her feelings at bay, but it wasn’t easy since she struggles with depression, not to mention the constant fighting between her parents that only made things worse. And yet, despite all of this, Megh kept pushing forward toward her dreams. Watching her slowly find strength, learning to live with her depression instead of letting it consume her, was honestly so satisfying.

Behind all the pressure from her parents, Megh is not completely alone. She has people who genuinely support and care for her, like her cousin Sadia and her best friend Emily. I loved both of their relationships with Megh, but if I’m honest, I preferred her dynamic with Sadia more. Sadia was always there for Megh, every second, never failing to take care of her, and always making sure she was okay whenever she was at her lowest.

And then there’s Lev, our mmc, my sweet Lev 🫠💟. He’s such a sweetheart, he's caring, selfless, and willing to do anything to make Megh happy, even if it meant making sacrifices, always putting others before himself absolutely melted me. He’s the very definition of a green flag, truly. I found their romance wasn’t an instant “boom", but rather a slow build of sparks into something tender and sweet. I do think the romance was pushed a little too far back in the book, but when it came, it was so worth it.

Tashie also succeeded in making me furious with Megh’s parents. Every time they spoke even just a word, I wanted to scream and slap them. And while I don’t personally live with depression, this book made me feel Megh’s pain,the heaviness, the exhaustion, the frustration of it all.

As for the ending… I won’t give anything away, but let’s just say I was a mess of tears. If possible, I’d love nothing more than a second book about Megh and Lev 🥹.

---

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC!!💟💟

[DAEB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looved this book! I recieved an ARC through NetGalley. I loved Megh and Lev together and I loved them separately. Tashie is always good at writing parental angst and this was no different. I liked how Megh's emotions and depression played into the weather aspect and how that affected their lives. This might be my new favorite book of hers.

[Monique🪐 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.2⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc. This book follows Megh as she navigates life in a toxic household, while struggling with her mental health. On top of all that she has a rain cloud following her around.
I really enjoyed reading about Megh and Lev’s relationship develop throughout the book. I also found Megh’s connection with her cousin Sadia and her friend Emily really sweet.

[Isabella Moura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tashie never fails to deliver a beautifully tragically written book with an amazing MMC and a funny and heartbreaking fmc. Had me hooked since counting down with you and I’m so excited I can hardly wait till march! ( yes this is five stars, no I don’t even have to read)

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone please take this girl to the hospital I'm literally begging.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Review to come.

[ab ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually LOVE Tashie’s books, but I sort of knew going into this one that it wouldn’t be for me.

Firstly, I’ve never loved a book that’s 90% normal with one random magical plot point that’s never really explained. It’s why One Last Stop was not the book for me either. It always ends up feeling a little ridiculous to me, and this book was unfortunately not the exception.

Secondly, I did not enjoy reading from the MC’s POV. I have sympathy for her and I understand that many people will relate very heavily to her experiences— I am not denying these things. However, she’s such a drag to live in the mind of. The first 40% of the book was just catastrophizing and anxiety over, frankly, stupid decisions. I do not deny the realistic element to it, but it just made the book feel like a chore. Again, I’m not a monster, I have compassion and understanding for Megh and people in her scenario, it just did not make for a good reading experience for me.

Now, all that said, this book is not atrocious by any means. I have a feeling there are many people who will love it very dearly. As usual, Tashie writes in such a fluid and natural way that reading her works is a breeze. I finished this in well under 24 hours. The many cameos and connections to her other works are also very appreciated. The romantic relationship is sweet, if slightly rushed, and I liked how it wasn’t treated as a cure all for mental illness.

All this to say, I did not particularly like this book, but it will definitely not discourage me from picking up Tashie’s next book the moment it’s released. She’s still a wonderful writer with a great talent for depicting romance. This book just didn’t click for me. It felt very personal and that’s not a bad thing. Can’t wait to see what she drops next!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Farrah, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tashie Bhuiyan’s “Right as Rain” is a heartfelt, emotional, and often heavy young adult novel that focuses on contemporary realism with a touch of magical whimsy to explore depression, resilience, and the search for hope. Before going into this book, you should be aware of content warnings such as depression and suicidal ideation. I would recommend this book to more mature YA readers as the story and Megh’s emotions get pretty dark.

The story follows Megh, a teenager living in a toxic household where her parents’ constant fighting and verbal abuse leave her feeling unloved, unwanted, and blamed for everything, even her own depression. When Megh is literally struck by lightning, a mysterious rain cloud begins to follow her, mirroring her emotions and making visible what she has always felt inside. The premise may sound unusual, but it works as a powerful metaphor: depression isn’t invisible, it hangs over you, changing how you move through the world.

What makes “Right as Rain” so striking is its honest, sometimes unflinching depiction of mental health. Megh’s negative self-talk, spirals of hopelessness, and desperation to escape her home life are painfully real. This book doesn’t shy away from suicidal ideation or the crushing weight of depression, which (as stated earlier) makes it best suited for mature YA readers. But amid the darkness, there are rays of light, such as Megh’s cousin Sadia, her best friend Emily, and most of all Lev, the gentle and supportive new friend who becomes something more. Their banter, care, and slow-burn romance add warmth to the narrative without reducing love to a “cure” for depression.

Bhuiyan’s writing is fluid and engaging, bringing humor, tenderness, and raw honesty together. While I did find Megh’s perspective a bit difficult with her self-deprecation and catastrophizing are heavy to sit with, the emotional depth is what makes the story so resonant. Megh’s journey may feel deeply relatable, even healing, as the book illustrates that depression is not weakness, and that finding support and joy, however fleeting, can keep you moving forward.

There are moments where the magical element feels underexplored, and Megh’s growth at the end may seem a little abrupt, but the themes shine through: sunshine isn’t guaranteed, and happiness isn’t constant, but even small glimpses of light are worth holding onto. Lev’s reminder that Megh’s dreams matter more than any temporary comfort is one of the most powerful takeaways.

With a tender romance and an unflinching portrayal of mental illness, “Right as Rain” is a moving and important read. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt the weight of their own rain cloud, and a reminder that while storms can last a long time, they don’t define you.

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
i wish this wasn’t an ARC so i could quote this whole book because it quite frankly changed me. not only that but it helped me. Megh has always known there’s been a theoretical rain cloud that follows her. It’s who she is, she’s accepted that. However when that rain cloud actually materializes and is controlled by her emotions, everything gets a little harder. What would you do, and how far would you go, to be happy? If the weather was all on your shoulders? Well Megh has no idea but luckily a new face, Lev, has a couple. i like seriously don’t know how to put into words what this book means to me. I have always enjoyed Tashie’s writing, and each new book comes feeling a little more seen by the stories i use to escape. this story however was a story that hit so close to home it hurt in a beautiful way. i think depression is a word that is scary to a lot of people. i also think people think it’s just a scary word. but this book showed the ins and outs and the difficulties that come with it. you don’t know why your brain won’t let you be happy, you don’t understand why you spiral til you feel so far deep there’s no point in getting out. this book SHOWED THAT. it showed the dark thoughts that come, the way the small things that bring us joy are so important. as a pathological people pleaser i never want my mood to affect others. so if the weather depended on my mood there would be no hiding it beneath a self depreciating joke or forced smile. we get to see that with Megh. we get to see the spirals and the dark thoughts. but the best part? we get to see the sun after the rain. even if it’s just for a moment, it’s enough to keep Megh going. enough for her to continue searching for the light. sunshine is never promised, it’s about what we do in the rain that counts, and i think this book showed that beautifully. i was crying from the authors note and beyond, but i also giggled and kicked my feet. all in all this book has changed me and made my soul a little brighter.
Songs i thought of while reading:
Noah Kahans entire discography

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC of Right as Rain by Tashie Bhuiyan.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

Right as Rain has a slow start, and it took me a while to get through the first fifty pages. After that? I finished the book within a day. This book has romance but it is not a romance book. It is a coming of age story about a girl battling through depression. This is one of the best depictions of depression I’ve seen in a while.

Megh Rashid is real and raw. She’s antisocial, her only friends being her older cousin and her best friend, Emily. Her parents are in a loveless marriage, and in turn have no love for Megh either. Megh has dreams of escaping and with the help of her cousin, she gets an internship that changes her life. Every thought, feeling, and interaction she has feels real.

The magical realism aspect of the novel was one of the things that pulled me in the most. It’s when the story picks up, personifying her emotions as a cloud. It’s simple, often clouds being used to describe our emotions, but it’s well done, pulling in the reader at every turn.

Lev Osman is a highlight of this book. He’s bright and friendly, a nice change from the normally broody male characters in most others books in the YA genre. Megh and Lev are reverse grumpy x sunshine, where Megh is grumpy and Lev is the sunshine (Ironic since Lev often calls Megh Sunshine). He feels real and full, as do all the characters

*Potential spoilers in next paragraph*

I’m really glad that this is as a story that tried to say that romance and love can fix depression. Instead, it actively challenges the idea. Lev truly shows how much he loves Megh as he would rather let her go than have her never achieve her dreams. Something her parents would never do.

*Spoilers rant over*

Overall, Right as Rain is a beautiful coming of age story that explores depression, love, and dreams. It’s a short read that takes a minute to get into, but once you do, it’s a page turner.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: 4.5 stars

Thank you, MacMillan Children for the eARC via Netgalley.

I love Tashie’s recent book and was excited to see her releasing a new book with a gorgeous cover!

Megh Rashid suffers from depression which is constantly triggered by her parents and their unhappy marriage which trickles down to the household and resulting in a toxic household. Megh applies to UCLA in hopes of getting accepted so she could escape from her parents and NY but have been waitlisted. Unexpected circumstances lead to an opportunity to intern at the prestigious company managed by a UCLA alumni. When Meg is struck by lightning, a mysterious cloud attuned to her emotions resulted. What is usually invisible becomes visible and might jeopardize her internship - will she be able to get into the prestigious UCLA she so desperately wants?

This one breaks my heart, what Megh suffers is real and raw - her battle with anxiety and depression daily was realistic and her struggles to constantly just live for herself is so sad. This also results in her antisocial-ness or lack of bother for most things. I love that she has support in the form of Emily, her best friend and Sadia, her cousin. It’s also beautiful to see her let in Lev, who she at first dislikes and trusts due to her nature…

I love that the author wrote how love doesn’t fix everything even though it hurts and while depression will never go away, finding a way to live with it daily through pockets of small happiness does help. I also love the theme of loving someone enough that you want to let them go to chase their dream is also explored here.

The magical realism portrayed here is woven very well throughout the story and is so unique. I just wish a little more of it could be explored! I finished this one in one day and definitely recommend it.

[Bijuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh. The writing was surprisingly clunky, which created a jarring reading experience for me. Usually, Bhuiyan's writing is smooth, and it's the characters and/or plot that have a more negative effect on the rating. This was almost the opposite, resulting in a similar rating to Bhuiyan's other works, but for a different reason.

I thought the concept was intriguing and executed well enough; magical realism (or perhaps more accurately, a singular magical element in an otherwise non-magical setting) is usually tricky to pull off, but I think the author managed it. And I thought the lesson at the end was spectacular. The bittersweet ending felt realistic, and I quite liked it.

Strangely, while I was able to suspend my disbelief about a cloud hovering over the MC's head, or a LI that fell for the MC almost instantly, I could not get over the turnaround time for the program implementation at Megh's workplace. Which was unfortunate, because that program's success led to the conclusion we got in this story. And I understand it was only a soft launch, but even a soft launch for a program as involved as that would take longer to implement than the remainder of a week. To arrive to work on a Monday morning to find that a program was implemented after the email detailing the idea was sent sometime the previous week is beyond unrealistic. I wish this author put a little more effort into the subplots of her stories, especially when their outcomes significantly impact the direction of/conclusion to the narrative overall. It's a delicate balance to make a subplot developed enough to surpass "vibes" but not so intricate that it takes over the story, and it often feels like Bhuiyan misses the mark here.

Anyway, despite my mixed feelings, I'd recommend this book if you've enjoyed Bhuiyan's other works!

ARC provided by Macmillan via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to an arc in exchange for my honest review!

now, let’s get into it.

this book is just the perfect depiction of depression. and it felt like a breath of fresh air. i feel like mental health has definitely become easier to talk about in real life and other forms of media we consume, but i still feel like there is a lot of inaccurate representation.

we have megh, who is a girl suffering from depression, living in a house with her two basically ready to explode parents. she’s doing her best to get out and away from them, which honestly that’s the only option for a lot of people, and to start her life at her dream school. but yet, she is still having cold feet.

and then you have oh so sweet lev 😫 he’s literally all the green flags there ever was put into one person. he’s there to help megh through her ups and downs. and even when she reaches a crossroad, he nudges her in the direction he knows she needs to go.

i just love love love this story. and i cannot wait to see what else this author has in store.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

TBH this was my first DNF. I got 17% of the way through and just couldn’t stomach reading anymore. The description for this book fell extremely short when compared to the actual novel.

I wanted to like the story line, and I did really love the idea of a rain cloud that manifested her internal emotions and mental state. However, I found the main character very one dimensional, flat and whiney. Which I guess you can attribute to her age, but was just very off putting.

I also am personally not a fan of pop culture references in books. Etsy? The Today Show? UCLA? SZA? No thanks I’m good.

I’m sure this is someone’s cup of tea, but it’s not mine.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Jamachia Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIND THE SUN THROUGH THE RAIN

Right as Rain by Tashie Bhuiyan is an emotional and beautifully written story that captures the raw, vulnerable moments of growing up and finding yourself. I love how Bhuiyan weaves in cultural relatability and heartfelt emotion in a way that feels so authentic and grounded. Her writing has this quiet power that makes you stop and reflect.

That said, her stories do tend to read a bit younger, which pulled me out at times, but the depth of the themes and the strength of the message more than make up for it. For young adults especially, this is a wonderful coming-of-age story about identity, growth, and learning to be okay with who you are.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warning: depression, thoughts of suicide, toxic and abusive parents

This is such a powerfully poetic way to illustrate mental health struggles. I also really appreciated that in the end, Megh doesn’t get magically fixed or saved by a boy.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a while.

[Fanna]

i love how her name is megh and i'm pretty sure this book is going to leave me all emotional