When It Pours

by Rachel Pluck

She’s the brand visionary. He’s the budget buzzkill. Together, they’ll put VitaPop soda on the map, and find an unexpected ally along the way.

Cate Seymor has big ideas, sharp instincts, and is determined to turn her next marketing campaign into an award-winner. What she doesn’t have? Patience for Paul Andrews: the uptight, spreadsheet-loving accountant who publicly torpedoed her most recent campaign in the all-hands meeting. So when her boss forces her to collaborate with Paul on a new product launch, Cate braces for a nightmare of budget cuts and mutual loathing.

Paul likes things quiet, calculated, and drama-free; the exact opposite of Cate. But as they film quirky social media videos hoping to make VitaPop’s newest soda go viral, something unexpected bubbles up between them: late-night edits, inside jokes, and undeniable chemistry.

What starts as an awkward alliance becomes a burning connection neither of them saw coming. But Paul is still guarding a grief he’s never shared, and Cate’s used to going it alone, even when it hurts. If they want to build something real, they’ll have to stop hiding behind what’s safe…and decide if love is worth the risk.

Perfect for fans of opposites attract, fizzy banter, and the kind of slow-burn romance that lingers long after the last page turn.

Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy romance that will have you feeling all your feels. “When It Pours” is a novella about finding love, confronting the past, and learning to be yourself, unapologetically.

Cate and Paul will win over your heart in less than 200 pages. We love a modern “enemies-to-lovers” trope featuring two lovable leads with some emotional baggage sprinkled in. This is a quick read that will leave you feeling like you just got a big hug from your best friend.

“When It Pours” is best enjoyed under a blanket with a pumpkin spice latte in your hand 🧡🍁🎃🍎

[Breland Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read both of Rachel’s Olympus series novels and so I already knew I was in for a great time. This was a novella so it’s shorter than her other works, but somehow manages to pack even more of an emotional punch despite its shortened format. There’s a fun rivals to lovers workplace romance with great banter and cute fall themed activities, but Rachel explores serious themes of grief and abandonment and gives her characters a lot of substance in these 178 pages. It’s definitely worth the read.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Rachel Pluck read and I loved it! The story was engaging and who doesn't love the enemies to lovers workplace romance trope? I was hooked from the start and finished this in one day. The dual POV was helpful to understand both characters' backstory. It was a sweet romance and the characters' breakthrough of their individual issues was helped along by the other pointing it out to them. That's what a good solid relationship is all about. :).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started as a showdown between workplace enemies, quickly devolved into a beautifully written journey between two people helping each other work through their traumas and coming out on the other side as the best versions of themselves. I caught myself smiling and shedding tears, and experiencing every emotion in between.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative marketing employee Care hates how financial guy Paul's words cuts her down and oblivious Paul doesn't realize how his focus on numbers hurt her. Her boss asks them to work together to make her media campaign within budget. I would be angry at her boss for not telling her the budget before she came up with the media campaign. Paul ends up visiting his past recording videos with her about the company's products and in the process they fall for each other. But will hurtful words tear them apart? I laughed at their video outtakes. This was a sweet, steamy, and funny adversaries to lovers romance.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully done romantic comedy and worked well with the genre, I was engaged from start to finish and was invested in what was happening with the characters and their world. I was enjoying the way Cate and Paul was written and thought this was realistic and had that element that I wanted. Rachel Pluck has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Petra Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice gentle romance story with interesting characters, with a good storyline. An enjoyable and entertaining read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cate and Paul are so alike and so different. They really needed to take risks and I am sure glad they did. I loved their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Blaise Dewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I loved this novella!

[Victoria Liiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story. I was hooked from the start. I loved the dynamics between Cate and Paul and how their relationship grew!