The Fair Weather Friend

by Jessie Garcia

The next gripping domestic suspense novel from Jessie Garcia.

It's always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as "The Fair Weather Friend" by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.

The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth.

In this riveting thriller from the author of THE BUSINESS TRIP, Jessie Garcia's signature multi-POV, rapid-fire style will propel you into the heart of a mystery no one could have forecasted.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Crime

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2026

About the author

Jessie Garcia knew she wanted to be a writer or a reporter from about the age of 8. After growing up in Madison, WI she attended college at Boston University, gravitating to television journalism.

Jessie spent over 25 years on the air as a sportscaster and became the sideline reporter for the Green Bay Packers as well as a host of NFL coach's shows. She then got into TV management and now oversees a newsroom of journalists.

Jessie also taught journalism at four universities and produced a documentary on a little-known piece of track and field history.

She has several award-winning non-fiction books out but recently turned to fiction. She has always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers and is excited to be bringing you THE BUSINESS TRIP.

Jessie has two adult sons and lives in Wisconsin with her husband. Their two animals truly rule the house: a savvy cat who simply appeared in the front bushes one day, and a dog who won their hearts at the Humane Society.

Follow her on Instagram at jessiegarcia_author for behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Reviews

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Jessie Garcia’s “The Business Trip” last year, finding it to be clever, layered and unpredictable but unfortunately, this book left me with mixed emotions.

3.5 ⭐️

Faith Richards is Detroit’s ultra popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as "The Fair Weather Friend" by her Channel 9 viewers-many who also belong to her fan club. Two of those fans are Carol Henning and her husband, Jim. They are beyond thrilled when their beloved niece, Olivia lands a job as an intern at Channel 9 and they cannot wait to hear about what Faith is like behind the scenes.

But one night, just a few days after Olivia started the job, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Just before leaving, she handed Olivia a note to deliver to Tom who is one of the Anchors-a note which ends up pointing the finger at a few possible suspects when she is found strangled to death the next morning.

The story unfolds through the alternating POV’s of both Carol and Jim and of Olivia, who want to play Armchair Detectives and also from those of the “suspects” : Steve the stalker, her college roommate Kelly and her boyfriend Joel, her executive producer Laura and her husband Elliott and the weekend weather guy, Matthew and his fiancée Tara.

I loved how the author painted a picture of middle America and how average folks can become overly invested in the life of celebrities who start to feel like friends-in both a positive and a negative way. And, her personal experience as an award winning journalist with experience in Television news shines through in this entertaining, unique story.

BUT, much of this story was predictable and I didn’t believe that most of the “suspects” were credible as such. And, instead of the clever reveal we got in “The Business Trip” this one was fed to us in a long drawn out “TELL not SHOW” explanation.

Although the story came full circle by the end-it would have been more satisfying for me if a certain character had made a different decision.

Did Marilyn, Mary Beth and DeAnn agree? Please watch for their reviews!

NOW AVAILABLE

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ Michigan
Publication date ~ January 20, 2026
Publisher ~ St Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 320 (38 dated/character named chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 31 minutes
Narrator ~ Gail Shalan
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ 3 parts, workplace drama, unlikable characters

Faith is our Fair Weather Friend. Beloved by those that watch her on TV, but what about those that really know her? When she turns up dead there isn't a lack of suspects that’s for sure.

There are so many POV's that I'll give you a quick rundown of them.
Carol ~ Faith's #1 fan
Olivia ~ Carol's niece and an intern at the news station
Laura ~ executive producer
Matthew ~ the weekend meteorologist
Kelly ~ Faith's college roommate
Steve ~ the stalker
Hope ~ Faith's sister
Heather ~ a Faith fan
Tom ~ a news anchor

Overall, this was alright, but I felt there were too many characters/suspects to truly enjoy the story. The pace was steady, I suppose, but I didn’t really care what happened to Faith one way or another. Wasn’t super thrilled with the anticlimactic ending either.

Narration notes:
Well, she did mostly good, but she had so many different POV's that some weren't that great. A couple sounded shrill and grating to my sensitive ears. This would have definitely benefited by having a full cast. The Business Trip had 10 narrators, so this one should have had a bunch, too.

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia


This is another read where, if you appreciate it for what it is you're bound to have a good time. This is simply an enjoyable "who done it" that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I personally really enjoyed the small town feels this book brought.. I thought the author hit the nail on the head with accuracy. A lot of the time when towns are small enough, there really are those who do tend to look towards local news casters or other authoritative figures as local celebrity.. The author was very clever with the methods chosen to bring the small town "vibes".. You really REALLY feel as if you're living in a small town, with more haybales than people, listening to local gossip at the 1 diner in town over a cup of coffee.

The seemingly multiple personalities of certain characters was also cleverly used

Overall, this is definitely a book I would recommend reading. Especially if you're looking for a good bordum buster. I would have MAYBEEEE filed down the suspect list, it felt a little ADHD..but that's really my only genuine "complaint" with this one. Overall I enjoyed it.



Until next time
Hades
🩵

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars - this was a very serviceable, if somewhat forgettable, thriller and I appreciated the short chapters and fast pace. The ending was a bit OTT but it still seemed fairly plausible. I also liked the look at local TV weather & news rooms. I'll be watching for the author's next release.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving this author's debut last year, the bar was high for The Fair Weather Friend. Although I did like her first book better, this one was thoroughly enjoyable and I was always excited to get back to the story.

For a good part of the story, it seemed like it was written by a younger less experienced writer, however as everything came together, I was impressed. I loved the ending, I thought it was it's brilliant, albeit a bit implausible.

I will continue to grab her books as soon as possible!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it rains, it pours! Faith Richards is a popular TV meteorologist in Detroit. Her fans refer to her as "The Fair Weather Friend." She is known for her bubbly personality, good looks, and earrings. The viewing public and the city of Detroit are shocked when Faith's body is found the morning after she left work on her dinner break.

The Fair Weather Friend is a captivating mystery which was full of secrets, lies, various POV's, deception, and drama. As the book progresses, readers learn more about Faith and her not so sunny life. This book had a few twists and turns along the way. The drama, the characters, and the mystery kept me turning the pages wanting to know more. The book does take a bit of a left turn into OTT territory, and I was all there for it. This book is entertaining and dramatic,. I enjoyed going through the characters while trying to determine whodunit.

Just when I thought Jessie Garcia had no more aces up her sleeve, she threw in that ending which may be shocking for some and predictable for others. I didn't see it coming and found it to be fitting.

Mysterious, captivating, and a fast-paced read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Fair-Weather Friend, by Jessie Garcia, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Faith Richards a popular meteorologist is found dead. I was not expecting the ending, you never know who you can trust, or who to believe.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this after absolutely loving The Business Trip last year., so it had a very high bar to reach for me. I really did enjoy this twisty and fun thriller, where secrets and lies were in abundance.

The narrator was brilliant! I don’t think I have listened to Gail Shalan before but she knocked it out of the park with this book. So many characters and at no time was I confused about whose point of view we were listening to. The different voices were spot on with each character amazing.

Faith was an interesting character, and my feelings changed about her so many times, this was the first thriller I have read with a weather presenter as the main character too. I loved how the author shone alight in the down side of fame, it is not all it is cracked up to be.

This book was so easy to binge listen to, very cleverly written.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio on NetGalley for my early copy to listen to. Out on January 20th.

[Michelle (Murder Books and Wine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Catching up on reviews!**
If you loved Jessie Garcia's first novel, The Business Trip, you will love The Fair Weather Friend! I think this one is slightly better than the first. I may have loved it even more because of the connection to Detroit, which is where I'm from (the burbs) and the Detroit news station that is at the center of this story. Thanks Jessie for giving a shout out to the D!

I read this in two days because I could not put it down and I had to know what was going to happen next! This was told in signature Jessie Garcia style using multiple pov's, and keeps you wanting to know more.

The story centers around Faith Richards, a popular (and pretty) TV meteorologist, who is adored by her viewers as "The Fair Weathered Friend",. which is also her signature sign off every evening. One night, Faith leaves the studio for a dinner break and never returns, then her body is found the next morning.

Can the new intern solve this case? You have to read this book to find out! And just like The Buisness Trip, you may have to suspend a little bit of reality because this is afterall, a fictional story. But please don't let that stop you. It was a suspenseful and fun read, and even had me shedding a tear or two at the end (don't judge me!) that I won't forget for a long time!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

If you liked The Business Trip, you’re going to love this one even more!! RTC! 💕

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Garcia continues to deliver bonkers and bingeworthy thrillers with her sophomore 2026 release, THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND! ☂️

I really enjoyed the pacing and story of Garcia’s 2025 thriller, The Business Trip, so when I heard about her having a new one releasing this January, I jumped at the chance to read my copy. Thank you @stmartinspress for this gifted copy. No sophomoric slump here!

When Detroit’s beloved TV meteorologist Faith Richards vanishes during a dinner break, the city’s sunny facade shatters overnight. As secrets surface and tensions rise, Jessie Garcia’s THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND delivers a razor-sharp, multi-POV thriller where no one—not even the forecast—can be trusted.

This book is deliciously dark and twisty throughout. Diving into the phenomenon of parasocial behavior, I was hooked from the beginning. Even my small little account has experienced parasocial engagement and that immediately hooked me with this book. Don’t take it too seriously, but if you loved 2025’s wild thriller, Best Offer Wins, or want a Frieda McFadden type of thriller journey with more meat to it, then this is your book! STARS: 5, PUB: 1/20/26

[Frank Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yeah... that was not what I expected, at all.

The Fair Weather Friend starts off strong with an intriguing premise and plenty of tension, but unfortunately didn’t fully land for me in the end. The pacing slowed noticeably at about the halfway mark, and a major twist didn't land and pulled me out of the story, ultimately dropping my rating from four stars to three.

This story centers around meteorologist Faith Richards, who has a cult-like following. When she is found murdered in her vehicle after missing a nightly telecast, her loyal fans decide to investigate what could have happened.

While the setup promised a twisty, addictive thriller, a few plotlines stretched my suspension of disbelief — particularly the fixation on the weather girl — and one other spoiler-related element I won’t mention.

That said, this one could still work for fans of Jessie Garcia’s writing. Her debut, The Business Trip, was everything I love in a fast-paced, popcorn thriller, and I went in expecting something similar here. While this one sadly missed the mark for me, I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoyed her previous work — this one just wasn’t quite my favorite.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia
Mystery.
Faith Richards is a TV weather personality in Detroit. She has a following and fan club that not everyone appreciates. One night she leaves for dinner and doesn’t come back for her next broadcast. She’s found dead the next day which starts an investigation around the news room as well as her fan groups. Who had reason to kill Faith?

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan who has created a great performance considering the number of POV’s that had to be covered. It’s an investigative murder story revealed by different people impacted or part of Faith’s contacts. Fortunately the dialog is clear for each POV change.
I kept this at 1.5 to easily follow the changes and what I hoped were clues.

Twists and turns, who really knew Faith and who is lying? Or being misled?
I was confused for a while and admit I had to restart the audiobook at one point to clear up a question.
Interesting turns and wrap up.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith is a television weather presenter meteorologist. She is extremely popular, and she even has her own fan club. Channel 9 has cutesy sayings and gimmicks based on her popularity. But fame has its downside. She has a creepy stalker and can’t go anywhere without fans. Then one day she doesn’t return from her dinner break and she is found dead. Strangled.

What follows is a collection of various points of view. There is Matthew, the weekend weather reporter who thinks of Faith as his bitter enemy, the stalker Steve who is all kinds of creepy, Faith’s college roommate, Kelly, who has unsettled business with her, Olivia the intern, and Olivia’s aunt Carol.

Like Jessie Garcia’s first book, there is a ton of POV. I hope there are a million narrators when this is released in audio. It is not - AT ALL - hard to keep them straight because their place in the story is repeated often. The ending is a surprise and packs a punch.

My favorite character was Aunt Carol because she was so weird. Her internal dialogue was all about how much she was starstruck over Faith. Like- are there people that are THIS into a local weather reporter? Yes. Plenty of people. Carol doesn’t have a lot going on in her life and she really feels like she knows Faith since she sees her every day. It’s not like the stalker chapters, which are obviously unhinged, but you know? They’re in the same ball park.

Jessie Garcia has a lot of experience in TV reporting; and you can tell. The setting rings true.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Opinions are my own, I was not paid for this review.

[Tini · Rating 3 out of 5]

All is fair in love, war, and on television.

An entertaining look at the dark side of fandom, "The Fair Weather Friend" explores how ordinary people can become dangerously obsessed with celebrities who start to feel like "friends" - both in good ways and very bad ones. Think "Misery" on TV.

When TV meteorologist Faith's popularity skyrockets, she's given the nickname "The Fair Weather Friend" by her viewers and earns her own fan club - but her life suddenly becomes public property. Viewers hang on her every word, coworkers circle like sharks, and one particularly unhinged fan begins to blur the line between admiration and fixation.

Author Jessie Garcia's background as an award-winning journalist and longtime television sportscaster clearly shines through in this book. Having spent over 25 years in front of the camera, including as a sideline reporter for the Green Bay Packers and a host for NFL coaches' shows, she brings an insider’s authenticity to the newsroom scenes and behind-the-scenes TV drama. That realism grounds the novel, especially through the newsroom dynamics, which feel spot-on.

Through multiple perspectives - including Faith's colleague, her college roommate, an ambitious intern, and even her stalker - Garcia paints a vivid portrait of middle America's obsession with fame and the thin, fragile line between the watcher and the watched.

That said, the big twist is heavy-handed - both predictable if you’re paying attention and baffling in its logic (some of these decisions defy reason). The ending ties things up fairly well and redeems some of the absurdity, though I would have liked to see every character get the justice they deserved.

I was lucky to receive copies of both the ebook and the audiobook for a truly immersive experience. The audiobook, narrated by Gail Shalan, is easily the highlight here. Despite the large cast of characters - Faith, her scheming coworker, her college roommate, her stalker, intern Olivia, and Olivia's aunt Carol - each with their own chapters, Shalan manages to give them all distinctive, believable voices. Even when the story itself wobbles, her narration keeps it engaging and easy to follow.

An entertaining, quick, bingeable read / listen with a newsroom setting that feels authentic and immersive.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of both the book and the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"The Fair Weather Friend" is slated to be released on January 20, 2026.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What perfect timing for this one, huh? I think nearly everyone in the country might be ready to off their local weatherperson at this point. Looking at you there, Katie . . .



(I keeeed, I keeeed.)

In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, everyone’s “Fairweather Friend” Faith has been offed and throughout the course of this book you’ll meet various people who might have done it and their motivation to do so. As it has been negative eleventy billion degrees here for most of the month, this was strictly in the office around the empty floor 40 times to get my 3.5 miles in lunch hour walk. Had the weather been not so inclement, this would not have inspired me to keep stepping until my feet fell off so that equals “meh” for me and I’m not sure if I even would have given it that had I picked up a written version. It helped pass the time just fine once I cranked it up as fast as I possibly could and still understand what was being said, but after the twist it just never ended.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

"THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND" was FAIR.

And I am being kind.

---------------------
The book's premise was ultra-compelling:
A popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as "The Fair Weather Friend," is murdered.

Who killed her and why?

Talented author Jessica Garcia wowed me with "THE BUSINESS TRIP", so perhaps my expectations were set too high????

I had anticipated an intriguing thriller with nonstop, turbulent twists and emotional thunderclaps.

Instead, this storyline about a murdered female meterologist was a stagnant high-pressure system of predictability.

The author showcased waay too many characters, resulting in shallow characterizations.

I always prefer books with fewer well-developed characters.

The book's final reveal felt implausible, rushed, and anticlimactic.​

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Gail Shalan.​

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a big fan of the authors previous book and therefore excited for this new read. Her last book i read the physical format and this one I did the audiobook so it was interesting to see the contrast between how her writing differs the reader experience through different formats.

This book had just as much drama and twisty characters. A beloved weather reporter is found murdered and as we investigate her death we also get background on who she was as a person. It seems like the people in her life are split into two categories, adoring fans who know her from her tv personal and real life connections who seem to dislike her for the reality of who she is of screen.

I enjoyed the read, but sadly not as much as the last book! Thank you for the gifted copy

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Garcia proves that her impressive debut, The Business Trip was no fluke with her terrific follow-up with The Fair Weather Friend. Faith Richards is Detroit's Chanel's 9 's most popular metorologist. Faith's 11PM weather reports have earned a following that she dubbed her "Fair Weather friends." Olivia is Chanel 9 news newest intern. She knows what Olivia is like off-camera. She knows Faith's difficult reputation at the station has created a disdain for her that is shared by her coworkers. Faith suddenly dissappears then eventually is murdered. Olivia takes it upon herself to investigates Faith murder. She discovers that everyone around her at work had their motives, but she's surprised to find out that their motives expand outside of the newsroom with a stand out secret from Faith's past. Garcia successfully uses my favorite plot device which I dubbed the (Agatha) Christie technique where all the suspects are rounded up then is followed by the mystery. Olivia is a refreshing change from the young heroines that I read about to often who despite their abiilities to help solve a complex mystery, lack common sense outside of their investigations. The biggest standout for me is how Garcia took her time to reveal the answers of who's behind Faith's murder to avoid any plotholes. Instead of throwing in an overdone final chapter followed by an epilouge that's supposed to throw us off guard, I should say that in this case I was truly caught off guard. Garcia takes her time to un cover all areas of the plot. We know the answers to the questions, who, what, and why? I'm always dissappointed when an debut author can't measure up to their successful debut (ex: Paula Hawkins). Jessie Garcia's sophomore release proves that she's no one-book wonder, but she's about to take her place among mystery's most popular writers.

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Garcia quickly won me over with The Business Trip in early 2025 so I was eagerly awaiting her next release - The Fair Weather Friend - and let me tell you, it delivered!

I listened to The Fair Weather Friend on audio and binged nearly the entire novel in one sitting. Told from multiple viewpoints about a local Detroit news station and its beloved weather girl who ends up murdered, I was hooked from the opening lines. Knowing Garcia always has tricks up her sleeve, I knew nothing may be what it seemed, but I had no idea what dark, twisty path she was leading me down. I was totally surprised and excited to buckle up and enjoy the ride!

My husband works in the news so much of the story really resonated. I felt like Garcia nailed the relationships, local celebrity status of the news anchors, and the drama that goes on behind the scenes. I was totally invested in the characters and really surprised with how everything played out.

The narrator was excellent. She kept me hooked, brought the drama and entertainment without being over the top, and added just enough flair.

Garcia has solidified herself as an auto-read author for me and I will eagerly await her next twisty, thrill-ride! Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the great read.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and this author are so amazing! I loved every minute of this crazy story! It is told in multi- POV's with short chapters. Faith Richards is Detroit's beloved meteorologist, disappears during her dinner break, and is later found strangled. What unfolds is an intricate mystery told through the eyes of a tightly knit circle of characters: coworkers, fans, friends, and even a stalker.

This book is a swift, sharp, and cleverly plotted domestic thriller. It is a solid choice for readers who love methodical mystery over emotional immersion. So much is going on with the story and it goes in many different directions!

Twisty, Ensemble of Perspectives and the Finale is Satisfying! 5 stars! This so good and a top 5 read for 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 1/20/26.

[Vito · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Fair-Weather Friend had the chance to be suspenseful and thrilling, but it’s silly and mostly nonsensical. And anything but fair of the reader’s time.

Fair-Weather posits a world that the hardest job anyone could have would be that of a meteorologist in the city of Detroit. It’s so difficult that you’re likely to be killed or embroiled in the death of said meteorologist. It’s tough out there for folks in front of green screens with a clicker in hand.

I digress, kind of. The book has an interesting if not tried and true formula. Faith, the popular meteorologist with her own fan club — the titular fair-weather friend(s fan club) — is found murdered one evening in between her weather on the 8s. Before she’s taken from us, she hands off a mysterious note to an intern, Olivia, one of many trope-y and one dimensional characters that fill out the cast. The note paints several others as suspects with chapters switching from one POV to the next. Tried and true. But does it have to be so boring? Yes, yes it does.

From there we follow each as they piece together (mostly incorrectly) the murder of Faith. The result is wild but not in the “wow, I can’t believe this!” way but in a “wow, this is very lame!” way. No spoilers but Detroit must be known as coincidence city. Things seem to fall in place here, like the temperature Faith reports to her fan club. You may laugh more than gasp here. And then cringe at the hours spent reading this poorly plotted and silly book.

I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.

[Jamie Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia in echange for honest feedback.

I really enjoy this author's writing style. Just like The Business Trip, the premise and style was unique and fun to read/listen to. I particularly like the varying POV's that revisit the storyline each time. It gives you the feeling that you are an investigator pulling together the pieces of the puzzle as you interview each character.

Things got a bit weird for a second at the end of Part 2 where one the twists was rolled out. In my opinion, i was a little too casual for such an uncovering. However, I forged on and was happy I did because things definitely came together in Part 3. Just when I thought I had the ending figured out, the final twist popped up and my jaw dropped all over again.

The audio was easy to to follow, despite the multiple POV's and varying timelines. I also really liked the narrator.

Excited for more to come from this author.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND is so bingeable! I became invested right away! Some of the characters made me laugh, while others were down right mean. It’s an easy story to follow without having to think too much. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and she is definitely a great storyteller.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for my #gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews closer to publication date.

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as "The Fair Weather Friend" by her viewers, has a devoted following. But one night, Faith leaves work during her dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.

The Fair Weather Friend is a wild ride. There are multiple narrators but not really a main character. There are bad guys, unlikeable characters, and a few decent, regular folk. All have different views on the matter of Faith's death. That's because no one, most of all her viewers, really knows her. The public is devastated at the terrible news. Do her coworkers feel the same?

Everyone in this book has their own troubles or plans, and they all play a part in the in unexpected ways for the characters in the story. You have to suspend belief but I had a lot of fun reading this. It's mostly due to the way it's written. The characterizations are well done. Carol and Jim are the best. I love how cozy they are in their routines. They're good people.

There are some hilarious moments that I think Jessie Garcia added just to make readers laugh. guessed part of what was going on, but the full answer is pretty wild. I didn't love the ultimate outcome, but that's just personal taste.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the chance to read. All opinions are my own.

[Misty Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jessie Garcia's debut, The Business Trip. I was eager to read this one as soon as I was offered an ARC. It did not disappoint!

Faith Richards is Detroit's favorite meteorologist. She has many admirers and a fan club. But not everyone is a fan of Faith's. When she is found dead, there is no shortage of suspects. The novel unfolds using multiple POVs.. I really enjoyed this one! The story was very detailed and had great character development.

I rated this 4.5 stars!

A big thank you to @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review..

This book releases on January 20, 2026.

[DeAnn✨deannsreadingriot✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟rounded up

📈book 5 of 2026
🎧8 hrs 31 min 🗣️Gail Shalan

Your local meteorologist knows when to cancel school, when to panic-buy bread, and when to ruin your weekend plans. So what happens when the woman everyone trusts on TV has a lot more going on behind the scenes?

Faith Richards is Detroit’s beloved meteorologist, aka The Fair Weather Friend. She’s polished, confident, and basically part of people’s daily routines. This story pulls you into the orbit around her, the newsroom, the superfans, the coworkers, and the people quietly hating on her too.😒

I had fun with this one. Yes, there are a lot of characters, but I never felt lost. Everyone had their own vibe and purpose, which made it work instead of overwhelm me.

I also had a lot of fun with these characters. Carol and Jim felt painfully accurate. If you’re from the Midwest or a smaller city, you know these people. The ones who treat their weather person like family and plan their lives around the forecast. That obsession felt weirdly comforting and real. Add in some toxic energy, messy relationships, and people making questionable choices, and I was locked in.

The newsroom setting was fresh. A thriller centered on a TV station and meteorologists and I loved the behind-the-scenes drama. It gave the story a fun, slightly campy edge that totally worked for me.

The pacing and energy gave me a popcorn thriller feel. Easy to listen to, easy to binge. I did prefer the first half more than the second, but it was fun getting there so I didn’t mind much.

I’ve seen this compared to Freida McFadden, and I get it. Fun characters, some over-the-top moments, and a willingness to lean into the fun. Not mad about it.

✌️ Vibe check
☔️ Meteorologist energy gone wild
☠️ Toxic people energy
🍭 Campy, fun characters
💨 Quick, bingeable listen
🔚 not my favorite

🎧 Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook through the Early Listener Program. All opinions are my own.

It’s a yes for me 🖤

DeAnn | @deannsreadingriot

[Mandy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fair Weathered Friend 4.25 ⭐️

Jessie Garcia is such an amazing story teller! Crafted chaos with so many POVs leaves me hooked all the way through.

Faith, a local celebrity meteorologist, hands off a simple list of names and is reported dead shortly after. It becomes a puzzle to figure out if one of the names listed is the murderer. They each certainly have their reasons for getting rid of her. Each character was wonderfully written. This was on track to be a 5 star read for me, but the ending wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I predicted some of the twists, but I didn’t mind because it was still entertaining to see how all the details would come together.

Narrater Gail Shalan did an AMAZING job! There were so many character voices and she got them all just right.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jan 20 2026

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fair Weather Friend is a fast paced, popcorn thriller that leans hard into twisty fun without ever becoming confusing. When beloved Detroit TV meteorologist Faith Richards vanishes and is later found murdered, the story unfolds through a wide cast of viewpoints, each revealing another layer of lies, secrets, and betrayals. Jessie Garcia’s multi POV approach keeps the pacing brisk and the tension high, making this a book that’s incredibly easy to fly through.

One of the standout elements is the newsroom setting, which adds a fresh and entertaining backdrop to the mystery. The behind the scenes look at local television news gives the story texture and stakes, while also serving as a breeding ground for rivalries, grudges, and carefully hidden truths. Every character feels like they have something to hide, and part of the fun is trying to decide whether they’re merely a little odd—or genuinely capable of murder.

Things do get a bit wild and occasionally implausible, but that only adds to the entertainment value. This isn’t a gritty, hyper realistic thriller—it’s meant to be devoured quickly and enjoyed for the ride. With its quirky cast, nonstop momentum, and steady stream of reveals, The Fair Weather Friend is perfect for readers looking for a twisty, engaging mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

[Yaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is justice? What defines a crime? Can a work of fiction genuinely challenge your ethics and moral boundaries? My answer is yes. This novel follows Faith, a prominent weather reporter at a Detroit news station whose on-air success has expanded into a loyal Facebook following and a carefully curated online presence. On the surface, her life appears polished, aspirational, and enviable. As the story unfolds, the line between perception and reality blurs, raising questions about what is being concealed and what may be misunderstood by those around her.

The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view and reads like a compelling blend of office dynamics, celebrity gossip, and small town intrigue. The pacing is especially effective, pulling you deeply into one storyline before seamlessly shifting to another. Each transition feels intentional, keeping the tension steadily building.

Jessie Garcia is a remarkably talented writer. This is the second book I have read by her, and once again she delivers a fast paced, engaging novel. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that linger after the final page, leaving you with one unsettling question. Was that fair?

#TheFairWeatherFriend #JessieGarcia

[Shaniah Hackbarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Fast paced, Multi-pov, multiple twists the whole way through! Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this one and I had no idea how it was going to end!

Felt like I was reading a Frieda McFadden book but with a different writing style which was fun!