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Scattered Showers
Rainbow Rowell has won fans all over the world by writing about love and life in a way that feels true.
In her first collection, she gives us nine beautifully crafted love stories. Girl meets boy camping outside a movie theater. Best friends debate the merits of high school dances. A prince romances a troll. A girl romances an imaginary boy. And Simon Snow himself returns for a holiday adventure.
It’s a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful storytelling—in short, everything you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell book.
In her first collection, she gives us nine beautifully crafted love stories. Girl meets boy camping outside a movie theater. Best friends debate the merits of high school dances. A prince romances a troll. A girl romances an imaginary boy. And Simon Snow himself returns for a holiday adventure.
It’s a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful storytelling—in short, everything you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell book.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2022
613 people are currently reading
17573 people want to read
About the author
Rainbow Rowell
142 books141k followersRainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,417 reviews
July 16, 2023
it's summertime and you know what that means (i am now only capable of reading fluffy books).
it's also short story collection time and you know what that means (mini reviews for each one):
STORY 1: MIDNIGHTS
this is fun because i've already read this story but i have the functioning memory of a small child, or an animal without a central nervous system, so it's all new to me.
ohhhh yeah. this is the friends to lovers goodness we're looking for.
STORY 2: KINDRED SPIRITS
i have also read this story. but this one i remember. so the whimsy score is slightly lower. but then slightly higher because this is also kind of the goodness we're looking for. but then lower again because not as much as the first one.
STORY 3: WINTER SONGS FOR SUMMER
okay slay...i just said in a story review of a collection i read yesterday that the best thing anything can be about is a breakup. there's nothing more interesting.
guess what. still true.
STORY 4: THE SNOW BALL
this is interesting because it's like if that same friends to lovers goodness we're looking for centered on a relationship in which 50% of the requisite friends were nightmare creatures, or grotesque ogre types, or draculas.
this girl is pure evil!!!
STORY 5: IF THE FATES ALLOW
for all the fans who were crying out to be reminded that there is, or very recently was, a global pandemic to be concerned about while reading fluffy distraction content. even better that it focuses on a years-old side character no one was particularly into even when she had 4 lines of dialogue and roughly 1 personality trait.
the very definition of a recipe for disaster. and i didn't even mention the jello salad.
STORY 6: THE PRINCE AND THE TROLL
interesting...neither of these characters are princes nor are they trolls, but this is kind of a fairytale, but there are, in fact, iPhones and starbucks.
a real worst of both worlds scenario.
STORY 7: MIXED MESSAGES
this is ANOTHER story featuring side characters from ANOTHER book that no one really liked with ANOTHER covid setting. why would rainbow rowell think that anyone wants any of those things??!?
it's a landline spinoff story...my guilty pleasure book...it's so wrong and yet...so edward cullen creepy. (as in creepy but not as creepy because the guy doing it is attractive.)
still not forgivable though.
STORY 8: SNOW FOR CHRISTMAS
this is, no joke, another characters-i-don't-care-about-from-an-old-book story.
i pray because this takes place in a magical land we are at least excused from the presence of the novel coronavirus.
STORY 9: IN WAITING
wow. really ending on a high note. this one is so random and weird and creative and also cute and fluffy???
living the dream.
OVERALL
most of these were just ok, but like 3 of them were a good time and that's really all i needed. a few goodies and the capacity to complain.
see? i'm not evil and impossible to please all the time.
rating: 3
it's also short story collection time and you know what that means (mini reviews for each one):
STORY 1: MIDNIGHTS
this is fun because i've already read this story but i have the functioning memory of a small child, or an animal without a central nervous system, so it's all new to me.
ohhhh yeah. this is the friends to lovers goodness we're looking for.
STORY 2: KINDRED SPIRITS
i have also read this story. but this one i remember. so the whimsy score is slightly lower. but then slightly higher because this is also kind of the goodness we're looking for. but then lower again because not as much as the first one.
STORY 3: WINTER SONGS FOR SUMMER
okay slay...i just said in a story review of a collection i read yesterday that the best thing anything can be about is a breakup. there's nothing more interesting.
guess what. still true.
STORY 4: THE SNOW BALL
this is interesting because it's like if that same friends to lovers goodness we're looking for centered on a relationship in which 50% of the requisite friends were nightmare creatures, or grotesque ogre types, or draculas.
this girl is pure evil!!!
STORY 5: IF THE FATES ALLOW
for all the fans who were crying out to be reminded that there is, or very recently was, a global pandemic to be concerned about while reading fluffy distraction content. even better that it focuses on a years-old side character no one was particularly into even when she had 4 lines of dialogue and roughly 1 personality trait.
the very definition of a recipe for disaster. and i didn't even mention the jello salad.
STORY 6: THE PRINCE AND THE TROLL
interesting...neither of these characters are princes nor are they trolls, but this is kind of a fairytale, but there are, in fact, iPhones and starbucks.
a real worst of both worlds scenario.
STORY 7: MIXED MESSAGES
this is ANOTHER story featuring side characters from ANOTHER book that no one really liked with ANOTHER covid setting. why would rainbow rowell think that anyone wants any of those things??!?
it's a landline spinoff story...my guilty pleasure book...it's so wrong and yet...so edward cullen creepy. (as in creepy but not as creepy because the guy doing it is attractive.)
still not forgivable though.
STORY 8: SNOW FOR CHRISTMAS
this is, no joke, another characters-i-don't-care-about-from-an-old-book story.
i pray because this takes place in a magical land we are at least excused from the presence of the novel coronavirus.
STORY 9: IN WAITING
wow. really ending on a high note. this one is so random and weird and creative and also cute and fluffy???
living the dream.
OVERALL
most of these were just ok, but like 3 of them were a good time and that's really all i needed. a few goodies and the capacity to complain.
see? i'm not evil and impossible to please all the time.
rating: 3
November 17, 2022
When one of your favorite authors writes a story collection, you jump on it.
I love the way Rainbow Rowell writes. Eleanor & Park is among my all-time favorites, and I’ve loved Fangirl, Landlines, Attachments , and the Simon and Baz series. Seeing as I’d read her grocery list, you can bet I was excited to read her first-ever story collection.
All nine of these stories are love stories. A few feature familiar characters—Simon and Baz appear in “Snow for Christmas,” Beth and Jennifer from Attachments are featured in “Mixed Messages,” and Reagan from Fangirl is the star of “If the Fates Allow.” It’s so good to return to characters I’ve loved, but it’s equally wonderful to meet new characters.
These stories are charming, funny, romantic, and one even features a prince who falls in love with a troll. (But the story has much deeper meaning.) Unlike when I’ve read many story collections, there wasn’t one weak link for me. Each story made me smile, some made me laugh, and I even teared up from a few. (That shouldn’t be surprising.)
If you love charming stories that will touch your heart, pick up Scattered Showers . Now that I'm done, of course, I'm ready for another of her books, but I can be (mostly) patient…
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
I love the way Rainbow Rowell writes. Eleanor & Park is among my all-time favorites, and I’ve loved Fangirl, Landlines, Attachments , and the Simon and Baz series. Seeing as I’d read her grocery list, you can bet I was excited to read her first-ever story collection.
All nine of these stories are love stories. A few feature familiar characters—Simon and Baz appear in “Snow for Christmas,” Beth and Jennifer from Attachments are featured in “Mixed Messages,” and Reagan from Fangirl is the star of “If the Fates Allow.” It’s so good to return to characters I’ve loved, but it’s equally wonderful to meet new characters.
These stories are charming, funny, romantic, and one even features a prince who falls in love with a troll. (But the story has much deeper meaning.) Unlike when I’ve read many story collections, there wasn’t one weak link for me. Each story made me smile, some made me laugh, and I even teared up from a few. (That shouldn’t be surprising.)
If you love charming stories that will touch your heart, pick up Scattered Showers . Now that I'm done, of course, I'm ready for another of her books, but I can be (mostly) patient…
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
January 15, 2023
Audiobook… read by Euan Morton, and Rebecca Lowman
….. 7 hours and 57 minutes
I like Rainbow Rowell
I’ve read or listened to several of her books. I don’t even know if I reviewed them all but my favorite has always been “Eleanor and Park”.
Well….
“Scattered Showers” is definitely my 2nd favorite.
It’s her first ‘collection of short stories’ (9 in all)…. and they are as delightful as can be.
A few days ago I listen to more than half of these stories while swimming around in the large pool by myself in the rain. My phone was water-protected — as I hooked it up to our outside pool speakers —
I was feeling the grace-of-god —
There’s something about swimming around in warm water at 97° when the pouring rain is dripping on your head….
I’m looking out to the garden —I’m alone but it’s peaceful —
I have these two wonderful audio-narrators reading to me. I was in storytelling water soaking heaven!!
Sweet, sassy, nerdy, heartwarming, coming of age. Boy loves girl, girl loves boy, awesome friendships, …. and of course love.
[gave this 70 year old a dazzling buz]
….. 7 hours and 57 minutes
I like Rainbow Rowell
I’ve read or listened to several of her books. I don’t even know if I reviewed them all but my favorite has always been “Eleanor and Park”.
Well….
“Scattered Showers” is definitely my 2nd favorite.
It’s her first ‘collection of short stories’ (9 in all)…. and they are as delightful as can be.
A few days ago I listen to more than half of these stories while swimming around in the large pool by myself in the rain. My phone was water-protected — as I hooked it up to our outside pool speakers —
I was feeling the grace-of-god —
There’s something about swimming around in warm water at 97° when the pouring rain is dripping on your head….
I’m looking out to the garden —I’m alone but it’s peaceful —
I have these two wonderful audio-narrators reading to me. I was in storytelling water soaking heaven!!
Sweet, sassy, nerdy, heartwarming, coming of age. Boy loves girl, girl loves boy, awesome friendships, …. and of course love.
[gave this 70 year old a dazzling buz]
May 31, 2024
Gathering of short stories- from a great author! 👍
Midnight: Noel and Mags- such a cute pair. Loved this short New Year story! 5/5
Kindred Spirits: Adorable, nerdy, Starwars story. True fans camp in line. 4/5
Winter Songs for Summer: A breakup and heartache leads to a new musical friendship. 4/5
The Snow Ball: A sweet friendship and wanting more. 4/5
If the Fates Allow: Covid story, honestly, not my fav. 2/5
The Prince and the Troll: Whimsical fairytale-esc story. 3/5
Mixed Messages: I loved this one. But I also loved the book Attachments. 5/5
Snow for Christmas: Spin-off of the book Carry On- 3/5
In Waiting: I loved this one. ❤️ 5/5
Midnight: Noel and Mags- such a cute pair. Loved this short New Year story! 5/5
Kindred Spirits: Adorable, nerdy, Starwars story. True fans camp in line. 4/5
Winter Songs for Summer: A breakup and heartache leads to a new musical friendship. 4/5
The Snow Ball: A sweet friendship and wanting more. 4/5
If the Fates Allow: Covid story, honestly, not my fav. 2/5
The Prince and the Troll: Whimsical fairytale-esc story. 3/5
Mixed Messages: I loved this one. But I also loved the book Attachments. 5/5
Snow for Christmas: Spin-off of the book Carry On- 3/5
In Waiting: I loved this one. ❤️ 5/5
December 8, 2022
trust me, you need to gift this book to all the book lovers out there this Christmas ✨💫
__
I recently finished this book and totally enjoyed each and every story. It's a collection of short stories from various older characters like Simon & Baz, and some new ones as we.
I enjoy every book written by Rainbow Rowell and definitely couldn't miss on this one as well.
__
I recently finished this book and totally enjoyed each and every story. It's a collection of short stories from various older characters like Simon & Baz, and some new ones as we.
I enjoy every book written by Rainbow Rowell and definitely couldn't miss on this one as well.
March 19, 2023
"If you broke Elena's heart, Star Wars would spill out."
°•*⁀➷
I think what got me the most in this book was how much I adored the second story about Elena. I loved how much was covered in such a short amount of time, and wish that every short story ever written had as much thought put into it. She was what we all are: fangirls. The quote I chose was from her story because if you broke my heart... Twilight would fall out. And I think that line captured more than relatability, but connection as well.
When we love something as much as she loves Star Wars, all we want to do is find other people that feel the same exact way. I think each of the stories in Scattered Showers captured perfectly what it means to love something bestie someone. Whether is be Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Years... whether it's in March, on the sidewalk, or in someone else's brain (you'll understand when you read), there is always someone that is going to be standing beside you.
I loved this little collection of stories and know it's going to be a comfort read anytime I'm looking for something easy to put me into a good mood. Especially Kindred Spirits.
Also, Simon and Baz are adorable. What a sweet little addition to their characters.
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
I think what got me the most in this book was how much I adored the second story about Elena. I loved how much was covered in such a short amount of time, and wish that every short story ever written had as much thought put into it. She was what we all are: fangirls. The quote I chose was from her story because if you broke my heart... Twilight would fall out. And I think that line captured more than relatability, but connection as well.
When we love something as much as she loves Star Wars, all we want to do is find other people that feel the same exact way. I think each of the stories in Scattered Showers captured perfectly what it means to love something bestie someone. Whether is be Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Years... whether it's in March, on the sidewalk, or in someone else's brain (you'll understand when you read), there is always someone that is going to be standing beside you.
I loved this little collection of stories and know it's going to be a comfort read anytime I'm looking for something easy to put me into a good mood. Especially Kindred Spirits.
Also, Simon and Baz are adorable. What a sweet little addition to their characters.
- Paige
November 16, 2024
On my library ebook, I could not read the start of every story as it was purple on pink or something ridiculous. Maybe sometime in decent format.
It has been sometime in the future and I was finally able to read this library ebook on the internet as it was unreadable on Adobe for some reason. A truly wonderful collection with great dialogue throughout. I loved how each story developed and each relationship came to fruition, through dialogue, very little narrative. My second adventure with Ms Rowell after Eleanor and Park. I really like her writing and will read more of her engaging characters. 4 solid stars.
It has been sometime in the future and I was finally able to read this library ebook on the internet as it was unreadable on Adobe for some reason. A truly wonderful collection with great dialogue throughout. I loved how each story developed and each relationship came to fruition, through dialogue, very little narrative. My second adventure with Ms Rowell after Eleanor and Park. I really like her writing and will read more of her engaging characters. 4 solid stars.
November 19, 2022
It feels so good to meet again with my favorite babies 💓 (and some new ones!)
December 24, 2022
my seasonal depression is cured
November 9, 2022
Dei 4 só pelo extra de Snowbaz ( não li os livros das outras histórias que tem extra) só me importo com snowbaz e amei!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Preciso de mais extras com eles. São MARAVILINDOS como NAMORIDOS 💞💓💞💓💞💓💝💕💗💝
Preciso de mais extras com eles. São MARAVILINDOS como NAMORIDOS 💞💓💞💓💞💓💝💕💗💝
May 17, 2024
I bought this book because of the GORGEOUS cover and because I have read a few of Rainbow Rowell’s books! It was a fun switch up to read a collection of short stories vs a whole book for once.
There was so much variety within the stories and I loved some more than others. My favorites were Kindred Spirits (the star wars fans in line for the new movie), Snow for Christmas (Simon & Baz) and In Waiting (the unwritten characters waiting to enter the book.)
As for some of the others…I found the characters unlikable. With how she wrote them it almost seemed like she did that on purpose. Some of them went past “complicated” or “quirky” and just came off as irritating to me.
I’m feeling like Rainbow Rowell is an author I loved when I was younger and have maybe grown out of, but overall I had a fun time reading these!
There was so much variety within the stories and I loved some more than others. My favorites were Kindred Spirits (the star wars fans in line for the new movie), Snow for Christmas (Simon & Baz) and In Waiting (the unwritten characters waiting to enter the book.)
As for some of the others…I found the characters unlikable. With how she wrote them it almost seemed like she did that on purpose. Some of them went past “complicated” or “quirky” and just came off as irritating to me.
I’m feeling like Rainbow Rowell is an author I loved when I was younger and have maybe grown out of, but overall I had a fun time reading these!
November 18, 2022
I only read the snowbaz story I don’t ever care – they own my heart and soul. This felt like reading fanfiction (and I mean it in the best way possible!!!!). @ Rainbow Rowell just keep writing snowbaz stories please!!
(18/11/2022)
-----
only here bc of snowbaz
it's honestly embarrassing the power this ship has over me... 😔✌🏻
(13/04/2022)
(18/11/2022)
-----
only here bc of snowbaz
it's honestly embarrassing the power this ship has over me... 😔✌🏻
(13/04/2022)
November 15, 2022
Midnights – 3.5 Stars
This story was published in a YA anthology years ago. I tried reading that anthology probably five times and each time I think this was the only story I read. I remember really liking it and I did like reading it again, but I didn’t like it as much as I remembered. Maybe I’m too old for it now?
Kindred Spirts – 3 Stars
This was had some funny moments, but I never really got invested with the characters. It’s not anything I would pick up again.
Winter Songs for Summer – 4 Stars
I loved this one! It gave me some Fangirl vibes (minus the fanfic stuff). I liked the characters and shipped them and it just made me happy reading it.
The Snow Ball – 3 stars
This one was ok. Reading these short stories back to back has really brought into focus that Rowell’s bread and butter is the sunshine/grump trope – with the female character always being the grump. If I had read this one before the others, maybe I would’ve liked it more, but it felt like a rehash to me.
If the Fates Allow – N/A
I didn’t dislike Reagan in Fangirl, but I’m not really interested in reading more about her. After finding out Levi and Cath aren’t in it – and that there is a big COVID focus – I skipped right on past it.
The Princess and the Troll – 1 Star
I read this when it was first released and I HATED it. I didn’t read it again.
Mixed Messages – 3.5 stars
Attachments is one of my all time favorite books, so I loved getting to see Jennifer, Beth, and Lincoln again. Jennifer and Beth’s banter is still great and Lincoln is still so, so sweet. This wasn’t exactly the story that I wanted to revisit them with, though.
Snow for Christmas – N/A
I read Carry On and then I was over the whole Simon Snow story, so I skipped this one.
In Waiting – 3.5 Stars
I LOVE the concept for this story. But once the novelty of it started to wear off, it was kind of boring. I do hope to see these characters in a full length book some day, though.
This story was published in a YA anthology years ago. I tried reading that anthology probably five times and each time I think this was the only story I read. I remember really liking it and I did like reading it again, but I didn’t like it as much as I remembered. Maybe I’m too old for it now?
Kindred Spirts – 3 Stars
This was had some funny moments, but I never really got invested with the characters. It’s not anything I would pick up again.
Winter Songs for Summer – 4 Stars
I loved this one! It gave me some Fangirl vibes (minus the fanfic stuff). I liked the characters and shipped them and it just made me happy reading it.
The Snow Ball – 3 stars
This one was ok. Reading these short stories back to back has really brought into focus that Rowell’s bread and butter is the sunshine/grump trope – with the female character always being the grump. If I had read this one before the others, maybe I would’ve liked it more, but it felt like a rehash to me.
If the Fates Allow – N/A
I didn’t dislike Reagan in Fangirl, but I’m not really interested in reading more about her. After finding out Levi and Cath aren’t in it – and that there is a big COVID focus – I skipped right on past it.
The Princess and the Troll – 1 Star
I read this when it was first released and I HATED it. I didn’t read it again.
Mixed Messages – 3.5 stars
Attachments is one of my all time favorite books, so I loved getting to see Jennifer, Beth, and Lincoln again. Jennifer and Beth’s banter is still great and Lincoln is still so, so sweet. This wasn’t exactly the story that I wanted to revisit them with, though.
Snow for Christmas – N/A
I read Carry On and then I was over the whole Simon Snow story, so I skipped this one.
In Waiting – 3.5 Stars
I LOVE the concept for this story. But once the novelty of it started to wear off, it was kind of boring. I do hope to see these characters in a full length book some day, though.
July 31, 2023
Avg. rating - 3.17 stars - In order of my favourite to least favourite of the short stories:
Snow for Christmas5 stars. I'll never get enough of Simon and Baz! In which Simon spends his second Christmas at Baz's parent's house.
In Waiting5 stars. This one was amazing! Super interesting. A place for characters whose author (Rainbow presumably) haven't used in a book yet, where they are able to interact with one another. Some are more of an idea, others are only there for a short while before unraveling to be in a book (some fading away unused). Rainbow needs to give Anna and James their own full length book!!!
Kindred Spirits4 stars. This was a reread for me. A fun read about three people who meet while camping out days in advance of a new Star Wars movie.
Midnights3.5 stars. Another reread, but I enjoyed it a bit less this time around. We follow two people who met on new year's eve, and see how closer they are on each subsequent new year's eve.
Mixed Messages3 stars. I really enjoyed the text aspect between the main character and her friend.
The Prince and the Troll3 stars. A quirky fairytale-esque short.
If The Fates Allow2 stars. Boring, also reading from the perspective of someone who catalogues every negative aspect of a person she just meets is not fun.
Winter Songs For Summer2 stars. The main character was so pathetic, and her fixation on how big Benji was made me think this was ghost written by Ali Hazelwood
The Snow Ball1 Star. The opposite of good. I was rooting for them not get together.
May 4, 2023
زیبا، و به شکل دردآوری قابل لمس.
November 30, 2022
Stories 1 & 2 were lovely. Absolutely lovely.
3 was a halfy. Didn’t love. Didn’t hate.
4 & 5? Trash.
6…huh?
7 was cute.
Skipped 8 because Trevor said I could.
9 had potential. Loved the concept, wasn’t in love with the execution.
3 was a halfy. Didn’t love. Didn’t hate.
4 & 5? Trash.
6…huh?
7 was cute.
Skipped 8 because Trevor said I could.
9 had potential. Loved the concept, wasn’t in love with the execution.
June 12, 2025
Estoy gratamente sorprendida con este libro y creo que fue de los que más disfruté de la autora.
Rainbow Rowell se destaca por su creación de personajes e historias de romance. Hace que pequeños gestos y acciones se conviertan en el motivo central de por el que dos personajes se enamoran. Sabe encontrar dulzura en las pequeñas cosas.
Muchas veces plantear eso en una novela es complicado, porque termina dándome la sensación de que es demasiado simple. Pero para el formato de cuentos su estilo funciona perfectamente.
Diría que todos los cuentos me gustaron y de todos me llevo algo. Obvio que algunos se transformaron en mis favoritos, pero todos están bastante bien.
Siempre son historias de romance que nacen de algún gesto de cariño y ninguna de ellas se siente apresurada (teniendo en cuenta los breves que son).
Creo que es de los mejores libros de la autora!
algunos de estos relatos cuentan con protagonistas de sus otras novelas, pero no es requisito haberlas leído.
Mi relato favorito fue Almas Gemelas, me encantó el final.
Yo leyendo lluvias dispersas: 🥹😱🤭🥰🥲
Rainbow Rowell se destaca por su creación de personajes e historias de romance. Hace que pequeños gestos y acciones se conviertan en el motivo central de por el que dos personajes se enamoran. Sabe encontrar dulzura en las pequeñas cosas.
Muchas veces plantear eso en una novela es complicado, porque termina dándome la sensación de que es demasiado simple. Pero para el formato de cuentos su estilo funciona perfectamente.
Diría que todos los cuentos me gustaron y de todos me llevo algo. Obvio que algunos se transformaron en mis favoritos, pero todos están bastante bien.
Siempre son historias de romance que nacen de algún gesto de cariño y ninguna de ellas se siente apresurada (teniendo en cuenta los breves que son).
Creo que es de los mejores libros de la autora!
algunos de estos relatos cuentan con protagonistas de sus otras novelas, pero no es requisito haberlas leído.
Mi relato favorito fue Almas Gemelas, me encantó el final.
Yo leyendo lluvias dispersas: 🥹😱🤭🥰🥲
November 23, 2022
Rainbow Rowell has this very specific voice, light fluffy fiction with some snark (and a lot of Nebraska settings, just like the characters in the last story point out). I have read almost all of her longer fiction, I love short fiction and this sounded like a treat - but it was not as much of a treat like I hoped. I spaced out stories, one or two at most each day, in between other reads so I would not finish it all too fast nor get fed up with the author's voice (any author's.. A problem I have with single author anthologies). But while I enjoyed some of the stories here, a few others were just frustrating and showed patterns I did not like.
Midnights - YA'ish, probably my favorite of the anthology, a quintessential Rainbow Rowell, misunderstood girl, sensitive interesting boy, friendship into more.
Kindred Spirits - I had read it before, when it came out. YA love in a line (an unnecessary line, or maybe not) for Star Wars Episode VII. In Omaha, Nebraska, in December. I enjoyed it when I first read it, still enjoyed it now.
Winter Songs for Summer - more YA, or maybe new adult, college breakup, and recovery of that and establishing a new, better relationship. And there is this pattern in some of Rainbow Rowell's stories, she-grump and he-sunshine, the curmudgeony somewhat self-centered girl and the boy showering her with attention and friendship till they get into a relationship. It works sometimes (it does not in the next story), here I thought it was borderline. Summer, you were an awful dorm neighbour, lucky he fell in love anyway. (She was probably very hot but the author spared us those descriptions?)
Snow Ball - same theme again, time I hated the (female) main character, not sure that was an healthy relationship, she was totally controlling and honestly I wished Owen broke free of that. Libby is not really changing, is she, in this story, she just gets rewarded by him adapting to her...Maybe the author meant Libby to not be neurotypical (maybe?), I just do not know, but this was a really toxic relationship anyway and Libby does not change anything really.
If the Fates Allow - read last year when it came out on its own, skipped it this year. A COVID story, I remember liking it a lot.
The Prince and the Troll - very odd story. Was this actually sponsored by Starbucks? An allegory to environmental catastrophe (or something in that ballpark), which reads as an ode to Starbucks. With fairytale (and Wizard of Oz?) motifs? I do not think you can write movingly, even if vaguely, about global warming and ecosystems being compromised using daily Starbucks habits being a relationship bonding thing and not subject to criticism (or criticism I could spot).
Mixed Messages - a sequel to Attachments set now, post-covid, dealing with pregnancy (maybe) and menopause (characters are now 49). And there are a lot of great lines occasionally and some snarky girl-power theorizing (though I do think men in their 40s also find themselves with a lot less f**ks to give generally about everything so probably not estrogen related). I liked a lot of it. But while I love, I am very pro, short stories, I am still demanding of the format, that whatever is written has to have some internal structure, feel like it stands on its own. And open endings can be fine, .
- Snow for Christmas - a sequel to her Simon Snow books. Cute, though I think only devoted fans will have top enjoyment out of it. I liked the series, remembered enough, enjoyed it, but I did not love it.
- In Waiting -very meta, characters in waiting and clearly they are all her own characters and she is the author they are waiting for (makes sense). Maybe for top enjoyment it helps to be a big fan of her books. Otherwise it is very odd with open ending. I just found it frustrating.
In all, some stories were enjoyable for me, others not. Big fans will likely love it (duh...), but kind of average fans might just feel it is skipping them - if this makes any sense, I just do not know how to phrase it better. It just left me feeling I am not enough of a fan to really enjoy this.
Midnights - YA'ish, probably my favorite of the anthology, a quintessential Rainbow Rowell, misunderstood girl, sensitive interesting boy, friendship into more.
Kindred Spirits - I had read it before, when it came out. YA love in a line (an unnecessary line, or maybe not) for Star Wars Episode VII. In Omaha, Nebraska, in December. I enjoyed it when I first read it, still enjoyed it now.
Winter Songs for Summer - more YA, or maybe new adult, college breakup, and recovery of that and establishing a new, better relationship. And there is this pattern in some of Rainbow Rowell's stories, she-grump and he-sunshine, the curmudgeony somewhat self-centered girl and the boy showering her with attention and friendship till they get into a relationship. It works sometimes (it does not in the next story), here I thought it was borderline. Summer, you were an awful dorm neighbour, lucky he fell in love anyway. (She was probably very hot but the author spared us those descriptions?)
Snow Ball - same theme again, time I hated the (female) main character, not sure that was an healthy relationship, she was totally controlling and honestly I wished Owen broke free of that. Libby is not really changing, is she, in this story, she just gets rewarded by him adapting to her...Maybe the author meant Libby to not be neurotypical (maybe?), I just do not know, but this was a really toxic relationship anyway and Libby does not change anything really.
If the Fates Allow - read last year when it came out on its own, skipped it this year. A COVID story, I remember liking it a lot.
The Prince and the Troll - very odd story. Was this actually sponsored by Starbucks? An allegory to environmental catastrophe (or something in that ballpark), which reads as an ode to Starbucks. With fairytale (and Wizard of Oz?) motifs? I do not think you can write movingly, even if vaguely, about global warming and ecosystems being compromised using daily Starbucks habits being a relationship bonding thing and not subject to criticism (or criticism I could spot).
Mixed Messages - a sequel to Attachments set now, post-covid, dealing with pregnancy (maybe) and menopause (characters are now 49). And there are a lot of great lines occasionally and some snarky girl-power theorizing (though I do think men in their 40s also find themselves with a lot less f**ks to give generally about everything so probably not estrogen related). I liked a lot of it. But while I love, I am very pro, short stories, I am still demanding of the format, that whatever is written has to have some internal structure, feel like it stands on its own. And open endings can be fine, .
- Snow for Christmas - a sequel to her Simon Snow books. Cute, though I think only devoted fans will have top enjoyment out of it. I liked the series, remembered enough, enjoyed it, but I did not love it.
- In Waiting -very meta, characters in waiting and clearly they are all her own characters and she is the author they are waiting for (makes sense). Maybe for top enjoyment it helps to be a big fan of her books. Otherwise it is very odd with open ending. I just found it frustrating.
In all, some stories were enjoyable for me, others not. Big fans will likely love it (duh...), but kind of average fans might just feel it is skipping them - if this makes any sense, I just do not know how to phrase it better. It just left me feeling I am not enough of a fan to really enjoy this.
Read
July 6, 2023From this collection of short stories I read only the Simon Snow story.
Set at the Christmas following Any Way the Wind Blows, it does a nice job of balancing 'enough conflict to hang a story on' with 'cute and sweet enough to not muck up the HEA.' (I once read a Christmas coda which totally undid the relationship, at least in my mind, to the extent that I wished I could reach in and grab the MC and shake him and tell him to run. So yeah, striking that balance is crucial, and probably not as easy as it might seem.)
I don't normally rate short stories, so I won't rate this one, but I'm glad I read it and hope the author gives us more.
Set at the Christmas following Any Way the Wind Blows, it does a nice job of balancing 'enough conflict to hang a story on' with 'cute and sweet enough to not muck up the HEA.' (I once read a Christmas coda which totally undid the relationship, at least in my mind, to the extent that I wished I could reach in and grab the MC and shake him and tell him to run. So yeah, striking that balance is crucial, and probably not as easy as it might seem.)
I don't normally rate short stories, so I won't rate this one, but I'm glad I read it and hope the author gives us more.
Want to read
March 15, 2022Rainbow Rowell is literally killing me with this.
I MEAN THERE WILL BE SNOWBAZ IN THIS PLEASE CKSJCJSHFSHDJSHFS
Also: the rainbow on Rainbow Rowell's bookcover heheh
Yeah, thought that might be funny
I MEAN THERE WILL BE SNOWBAZ IN THIS PLEASE CKSJCJSHFSHDJSHFS
Also: the rainbow on Rainbow Rowell's bookcover heheh
Yeah, thought that might be funny
December 25, 2022
read snow for christmas for clear skin!
May 9, 2023
"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚." 𝙃𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧." 𝙔𝙤𝙪 ���𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
This was the loveliest collection of short stories! ❤️😌
Scattered Showers is a collection of 9 short stories, each with their own illustrations. If you are familiar with some of Rowell's books, you might recognise some of the characters mentioned in the stories.
I always find it hard to rate individual stories since I feel they are appreciated as a whole. From the first story Midnights to the last story 𝑰𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 is enjoyable, and you will definitely find yourself smiling. It's like a full-course meal that leaves you satisfied at the end.
My favourite stories were 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜. This last one is specifically about fictional characters, I loved it! Each story has its own theme and humour, but some of the stories will stay with you long after reading them.
I feel this collection is perfect for a palate cleanser in between reads and it will quickly become a favourite that you'll find yourself rereading. The illustrations are wonderful and the stories are uplifting. This is the first book by Rowell I've read and definitely want to read all the others, especially Fangirl because I'd love to see more of Reagan.
With gorgeous endpapers and red sprayed edges, this collection of short stories is bound to bring joy and colour to your life! Highly recommended!
Thank you Pan Macmillan SA for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was the loveliest collection of short stories! ❤️😌
Scattered Showers is a collection of 9 short stories, each with their own illustrations. If you are familiar with some of Rowell's books, you might recognise some of the characters mentioned in the stories.
I always find it hard to rate individual stories since I feel they are appreciated as a whole. From the first story Midnights to the last story 𝑰𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 is enjoyable, and you will definitely find yourself smiling. It's like a full-course meal that leaves you satisfied at the end.
My favourite stories were 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜. This last one is specifically about fictional characters, I loved it! Each story has its own theme and humour, but some of the stories will stay with you long after reading them.
I feel this collection is perfect for a palate cleanser in between reads and it will quickly become a favourite that you'll find yourself rereading. The illustrations are wonderful and the stories are uplifting. This is the first book by Rowell I've read and definitely want to read all the others, especially Fangirl because I'd love to see more of Reagan.
With gorgeous endpapers and red sprayed edges, this collection of short stories is bound to bring joy and colour to your life! Highly recommended!
Thank you Pan Macmillan SA for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
September 3, 2022omgggg shut uppppp!!! i can't wait for a new snowbaz story 😭😭😭😭
May 30, 2023
Not gonna pretend like I didn’t read this solely for the Snowbaz short story (which was perfect)…….. anyways.
Midnights - 4 ⭐️
So so cute. The yearning between Mags and Noel over the years—conveyed in just a few pages—was palpable! I love those two dorks; the allergy bit had no right being so sweet.
Kindred Spirits - 4.5 ⭐️
Charming for its mundanity. I love nerdy things, and camping out for a movie premiere (Star Wars, no less) with fellow fans is about as close as you can get to just that. The ending was was cute, too.
Winter Songs for Summer - 2 ⭐️
Summer annoyed the hell out of me at the start. If I lived in her apartment complex I’d have complained to the landlord LMAO. This was alright, but very forgettable.
The Snow Ball - 3.5 ⭐️
Teenagers being frustratingly dense when it comes to romance sure is entertaining (i say this as a high school senior witnessing my friends do this firsthand, and semi-frequently). Kind of surprised I liked this one, despite the misunderstanding element.
The Fates Allow - 2 ⭐️
I like my romances with heaps of escapism, and one set during the height of covid-19 will never give me that. (Seriously, who thought people would love covid stories?? We’ve been through enough 😭)
The Prince and the Troll - 3 ⭐️
Pretty sweet, though I was a little confused by some of the metaphors(?) and writing. I wish more about the troll was explained!
Mixed Messages - 2.5 ⭐️
Wasn’t a fan of this one, probably because I couldn’t relate to Beth’s struggle at all. Not horrible, but forgettable.
Snow for Christmas - 5 ⭐️
Amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique.
Are we surprised? No. This was the whole deal for me (who used to be obsessed with Carry On). It was so nice seeing Simon and Baz a little after the events of the main trilogy, especially when some family tension was resolved in the process. As we well know by now, SnowBaz and Christmases are always a good combo.
“You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on, Simon Snow.”
I grin. I get my arms around him. “I thought you said vampires could see themselves in the mirror.”
In Waiting - 3 ⭐️
Such a unique concept! This was probably the strangest story in this anthology, so naturally I enjoyed it. Anna and James were such a great pair!
Midnights - 4 ⭐️
So so cute. The yearning between Mags and Noel over the years—conveyed in just a few pages—was palpable! I love those two dorks; the allergy bit had no right being so sweet.
Kindred Spirits - 4.5 ⭐️
Charming for its mundanity. I love nerdy things, and camping out for a movie premiere (Star Wars, no less) with fellow fans is about as close as you can get to just that. The ending was was cute, too.
Winter Songs for Summer - 2 ⭐️
Summer annoyed the hell out of me at the start. If I lived in her apartment complex I’d have complained to the landlord LMAO. This was alright, but very forgettable.
The Snow Ball - 3.5 ⭐️
Teenagers being frustratingly dense when it comes to romance sure is entertaining (i say this as a high school senior witnessing my friends do this firsthand, and semi-frequently). Kind of surprised I liked this one, despite the misunderstanding element.
The Fates Allow - 2 ⭐️
I like my romances with heaps of escapism, and one set during the height of covid-19 will never give me that. (Seriously, who thought people would love covid stories?? We’ve been through enough 😭)
The Prince and the Troll - 3 ⭐️
Pretty sweet, though I was a little confused by some of the metaphors(?) and writing. I wish more about the troll was explained!
Mixed Messages - 2.5 ⭐️
Wasn’t a fan of this one, probably because I couldn’t relate to Beth’s struggle at all. Not horrible, but forgettable.
Snow for Christmas - 5 ⭐️
Amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique.
Are we surprised? No. This was the whole deal for me (who used to be obsessed with Carry On). It was so nice seeing Simon and Baz a little after the events of the main trilogy, especially when some family tension was resolved in the process. As we well know by now, SnowBaz and Christmases are always a good combo.
“You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on, Simon Snow.”
I grin. I get my arms around him. “I thought you said vampires could see themselves in the mirror.”
In Waiting - 3 ⭐️
Such a unique concept! This was probably the strangest story in this anthology, so naturally I enjoyed it. Anna and James were such a great pair!
December 31, 2022
i am not even going to apologize to say that a new rainbow rowell book announcement still has me gagged 😭🌈✨💕
THREE STORIES ABOUT EXISTING CHARACTERS!!!
THREE STORIES ABOUT EXISTING CHARACTERS!!!
Read
February 2, 2024Review and rating withheld in solidarity with the SMP boycott.
June 14, 2023
I spotted this collection while shelving in the YA section of the library one day and admired the sky blue naked hardback for its red sprayed edges, chunky rainbow endpapers, distinctive font, and teal and magenta interior color scheme. I’d read one Rowell book before, the graphic novel Pumpkinheads. This is probably a better match for her dedicated fans in that three of the stories are spin-offs from her fiction and a few of the rest are one-offs (Amazon Original Stories, a World Book Day publication, a contribution to an anthology), such that I felt a little like I was reading leftovers. A B-sides volume, if you will.
Four of the nine are holiday-themed, so this could make a good Twixtmas read if you like seasonality; eight are in the third person and just one has alternating first person narrators. All are what could be broadly dubbed romances, with most involving meet-cutes or moments when long-time friends realize their feelings go deeper (“Midnights” and “The Snow Ball”). Only one of the pairings is queer, however: Baz and Simon (who are a vampire and … a dragon-man, I think? and the subjects of a trilogy) in the Harry Potter-meets Twilight-meets Heartstopper “Snow for Christmas.” The rest are pretty straightforward boy-girl stories.
I liked “Kindred Spirits,” in which Elena joins a small group (“three cold nerds”) of hardcore Star Wars fans waiting in line for the first sequel and notices Gabe, a classmate, as if for the first time; “Winter Songs for Summer,” in which a sensitive jock proves he knows his upstairs dorm mate better than anyone through the breakup-recovery tracks he puts on a mix CD for her; and “If the Fates Allow,” about Nebraska neighbors who bond over Jell-O salad during a couple of pandemic Christmases.
I wasn’t as enamored by the couple of fantasy stories, “The Prince and the Troll,” a fairy tale twisted into a vague environmental dystopian parable (“This isn’t easy. This is just another kind of hard. That’s all that’s left now, for any of us”), and “In Waiting,” about the evolving characters incubating in a writer’s head. “Mixed Messages” was refreshing for having middle-aged characters, two friends texting back and forth to try to work out whether the one missed a period because she’s pregnant or in perimenopause, but I doubt I’d be tempted to seek out the book these characters originated in (Attachments), or any of Rowell’s others.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Four of the nine are holiday-themed, so this could make a good Twixtmas read if you like seasonality; eight are in the third person and just one has alternating first person narrators. All are what could be broadly dubbed romances, with most involving meet-cutes or moments when long-time friends realize their feelings go deeper (“Midnights” and “The Snow Ball”). Only one of the pairings is queer, however: Baz and Simon (who are a vampire and … a dragon-man, I think? and the subjects of a trilogy) in the Harry Potter-meets Twilight-meets Heartstopper “Snow for Christmas.” The rest are pretty straightforward boy-girl stories.
I liked “Kindred Spirits,” in which Elena joins a small group (“three cold nerds”) of hardcore Star Wars fans waiting in line for the first sequel and notices Gabe, a classmate, as if for the first time; “Winter Songs for Summer,” in which a sensitive jock proves he knows his upstairs dorm mate better than anyone through the breakup-recovery tracks he puts on a mix CD for her; and “If the Fates Allow,” about Nebraska neighbors who bond over Jell-O salad during a couple of pandemic Christmases.
I wasn’t as enamored by the couple of fantasy stories, “The Prince and the Troll,” a fairy tale twisted into a vague environmental dystopian parable (“This isn’t easy. This is just another kind of hard. That’s all that’s left now, for any of us”), and “In Waiting,” about the evolving characters incubating in a writer’s head. “Mixed Messages” was refreshing for having middle-aged characters, two friends texting back and forth to try to work out whether the one missed a period because she’s pregnant or in perimenopause, but I doubt I’d be tempted to seek out the book these characters originated in (Attachments), or any of Rowell’s others.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
October 22, 2025
Collection of mostly paranormal YA short stories
Reread Oct 2025 to get my Simon Snow fix … worth it 😭💕
—————
Initial read Feb 2023
5 ⭐️
Reread Oct 2025 to get my Simon Snow fix … worth it 😭💕
—————
Initial read Feb 2023
5 ⭐️
July 16, 2023
Let's be generous and call the collective average 4 stars
This book is a collection of short stories by Rainbow Rowell. I do not usually read short story collections, but a review I read of this book piqued my interest and I picked it up. Like any collection, there were hits and misses, and fortunately the hits exceeded the misses. I’ll talk about the hits first:
The two short stories “Winter Songs for Summer” and “In Waiting” together make this collection worth the price of admission. Both are solid “5” stars.
“Winter Songs For Summer” is a story about a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend and the person who lives in the dorm room below her, the one that hears her crying and playing Tori Amos songs all night (We've all been there). He gets so sick of hearing Tori 24/7 that he makes her a mix CD and the story proceeds from there.
“In Waiting” is about the “place” where characters go, who have been created by an author, but haven’t been placed in a book yet. Some characters arrive fully formed, some only partially formed, and some change while they’re there. Anna is 32 and has been there since she was 8. James arrives fully formed and ready to be placed. (and yes if you see religious parallels this is probably not an accident). The story is about their relationship while in limbo.
“Midnights”, “Kindred Spirits”, are both rated 4 stars.
“Midnights” is about a series of New Years Eve parties which introduce the characters and then you see them from sophomores through first year in college. Sweet story.
“Kindred Spirits” is about waiting in line , for 4 days, in order to get Star Wars tickets, and who you meet and what happens. Another sweet story.
“If the Fates Allow” a third sweet story, but it takes place during the first year of the pandemic, and loses a 1/2 star because it made me remember what 2020 was like.
“Mixed Messages and “Snow for Christmas” both rated 3 stars. They were OK. “
Mixed messages” is maybe about peri-menopause, being 49 and late with your period, and panic sets in.
“Snow for Christmas” is about two gay men who go to ones family house for Christmas, and the parents don’t approve of their life style, SO, it’s OK Baz is a vampire, but not ok he’s gay. AND why does Simon (not a vampire) have wings? These were characters from another book that I hadn’t read and didn’t completely understand.
The Misses:
I did not like “The Prince and the Troll” or “The Snow Ball”. I am sure someone did, just not me.
In summation, if you can pick up this collection, just to read the first four mentioned short stories, I would recommend doing it. In Waiting is particularly clever, and Winter Songs is such a sweet story (I’ve over used that word) but for the most part these are feel good stories.
This book is a collection of short stories by Rainbow Rowell. I do not usually read short story collections, but a review I read of this book piqued my interest and I picked it up. Like any collection, there were hits and misses, and fortunately the hits exceeded the misses. I’ll talk about the hits first:
The two short stories “Winter Songs for Summer” and “In Waiting” together make this collection worth the price of admission. Both are solid “5” stars.
“Winter Songs For Summer” is a story about a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend and the person who lives in the dorm room below her, the one that hears her crying and playing Tori Amos songs all night (We've all been there). He gets so sick of hearing Tori 24/7 that he makes her a mix CD and the story proceeds from there.
“In Waiting” is about the “place” where characters go, who have been created by an author, but haven’t been placed in a book yet. Some characters arrive fully formed, some only partially formed, and some change while they’re there. Anna is 32 and has been there since she was 8. James arrives fully formed and ready to be placed. (and yes if you see religious parallels this is probably not an accident). The story is about their relationship while in limbo.
“Midnights”, “Kindred Spirits”, are both rated 4 stars.
“Midnights” is about a series of New Years Eve parties which introduce the characters and then you see them from sophomores through first year in college. Sweet story.
“Kindred Spirits” is about waiting in line , for 4 days, in order to get Star Wars tickets, and who you meet and what happens. Another sweet story.
“If the Fates Allow” a third sweet story, but it takes place during the first year of the pandemic, and loses a 1/2 star because it made me remember what 2020 was like.
“Mixed Messages and “Snow for Christmas” both rated 3 stars. They were OK. “
Mixed messages” is maybe about peri-menopause, being 49 and late with your period, and panic sets in.
“Snow for Christmas” is about two gay men who go to ones family house for Christmas, and the parents don’t approve of their life style, SO, it’s OK Baz is a vampire, but not ok he’s gay. AND why does Simon (not a vampire) have wings? These were characters from another book that I hadn’t read and didn’t completely understand.
The Misses:
I did not like “The Prince and the Troll” or “The Snow Ball”. I am sure someone did, just not me.
In summation, if you can pick up this collection, just to read the first four mentioned short stories, I would recommend doing it. In Waiting is particularly clever, and Winter Songs is such a sweet story (I’ve over used that word) but for the most part these are feel good stories.
February 2, 2025
Average story rating: 3.5 ☆
This was cute in a very specific way that might only work for you if you want something fluffy to make up for some deeply embarrassing and unromantic years in your adolescence.
All of these stories are, in some capacity, romantic, but Rowell plays with what that might look like in different situations in a way that was really refreshing and added variety to a potentially one-note collection. I will admit that there were some flops for me—bringing back characters from Fangirl or Attachments just to give them brief little 10-page oneshots seemed like a way to fill space more than anything else.
But the stories that I didn’t particularly care for were often bookended by surprisingly introspective or metafictional pieces. I was not expecting hard-hitting dystopian speculative fiction written in the style of a children’s fairy tale. Or a glimpse into what the world might look like to a series of characters that have been fleshed out within the author’s head but never committed to the page. And yet these scenarios were by far my favorites in the collection.
I would recommend this to anyone who: loves how ridiculously and dramatically romantic YA fiction can be, is looking for something quick and lighthearted to read on a Sunday afternoon, wants to relive the feeling of excitement that you felt when they announced a seventh Star Wars movie, or keeps rewatching the 2017 Black Mirror episode “Hang the DJ” in order to feel something.
Far from perfect or revolutionary, but pretty much exactly what it promises to be.
This was cute in a very specific way that might only work for you if you want something fluffy to make up for some deeply embarrassing and unromantic years in your adolescence.
All of these stories are, in some capacity, romantic, but Rowell plays with what that might look like in different situations in a way that was really refreshing and added variety to a potentially one-note collection. I will admit that there were some flops for me—bringing back characters from Fangirl or Attachments just to give them brief little 10-page oneshots seemed like a way to fill space more than anything else.
But the stories that I didn’t particularly care for were often bookended by surprisingly introspective or metafictional pieces. I was not expecting hard-hitting dystopian speculative fiction written in the style of a children’s fairy tale. Or a glimpse into what the world might look like to a series of characters that have been fleshed out within the author’s head but never committed to the page. And yet these scenarios were by far my favorites in the collection.
I would recommend this to anyone who: loves how ridiculously and dramatically romantic YA fiction can be, is looking for something quick and lighthearted to read on a Sunday afternoon, wants to relive the feeling of excitement that you felt when they announced a seventh Star Wars movie, or keeps rewatching the 2017 Black Mirror episode “Hang the DJ” in order to feel something.
Far from perfect or revolutionary, but pretty much exactly what it promises to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,417 reviews