This book made me cry several times, and was an amazing experience.

Touching, tender, unique, and well written, this is a story that pulls at your heart. I'm excited to see what this author does next.

I got an ARC in return for an honest review from NetGalley.

I got this book because I have a brother with Asperger's. I understand that there are differences with Asperger's and Autism. There are also a lot of similarities. I even considered going into ABA to work with kids like Ethan, the program was shut down half way through my undergrad though, so I was unable to complete it. 

Rain is a caring (read controlling) sister that does everything she can to help her brother and her (absent) mother. I didn't see how controlling Rain was until a few chapters in. She started to ick me out after that. I loved her weird food blog. I would have tried so many of those recipes. I am a foodie, but the reason she was doing it was so disgusting to me. She was doing it because her mother was convinced that Ethan had autism because of processed food (GROSS!). The mother is a lawyer and an idiot. She is anti medicine to the point of endangering her life and to the point of neglecting her own children. She has complete shut out Ethan and his needs, she leaves them for Rain to deal with. Rain should not be the sole care taker of anyone. She should be allowed to have a normal childhood. The further I read in the book, the more I hated the mother. She was judgmental and inappropriate (there was not a single reason to make the kids choose between her and the father. None. Then getting upset that the father was in the picture at all when he was not abusive or a bad person, was just downright awful).

Rain was controlling. She was constantly standing in the way of Ethan doing anything. She constantly judged him for his behavior and was embarrassed by it. She hid him away and then acted like a guard dog. Hope, Liam, and the father did more for helping Ethan than Rain did through the entire book. Liam isn't stupid. Liam is beyond brilliant. Liam knew that he wasn't neurotypical and he didn't want to be. Rain didn't listen. Rain spiraled downward very hard and very fast in this book. It was like a train wreck in some aspects and like a turtle tipping off a log in another. Rain spiraled down, but it wasn't anything really worth watching. The real star of the book was Ethan.

The last major plot of Rain's was boring. I really couldn't have cared less about her at that point. The part I cared about was everyone else learning around her that Ethan was capable of doing what needed to be done. He knew he had challenges, but he was smart and would figure them out. Rain was just background noise to that. That last plot was just obnoxious to me. 

So if you can ignore a bad mother and a controlling sister to read the empowering story of Ethan, then this is a good read. If you have issues with ignoring the main character/narrator then avoid this book.

It was a big deal, a decade or so ago, when middle grade authors started giving a voice to autistic characters, to cast them as protagonists rather than barriers for their desperate to belong siblings. It only makes sense, then, that we are beginning to see exploration of the further lives of such characters, especially as our understanding of ASD and its effects continues to be refined. We're beginning to consider college, careers, and love lives for people on the spectrum. At the same time, we have a deeper exploration of the roles of siblings as caregivers. All of that is fascinating on a sociological level. That being said, I wasn't actually overly fond of this book. The plot twists were equal parts obvious and terribly unlikely.

The way that autism is dealt with can be frustrating, but overall, the story kept me hooked and I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen.

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of "Rules of Rain!"

Summary: Sixteen year old Rain has always taken care of her family, especially her twin brother, Ethan, who has Autism. She has very specific rules for Ethan and very specific ways of comforting him during his darkest periods. But things start to change and Rain has to learn that, maybe, it isn't her job to protect everyone else. Sometimes you need protecting yourself.

Opinion: Let's start with Rain. I really liked her, probably because she reminds me of myself. Rain's biggest goal is to protect everyone else but, in the process, forgets to worry about herself. And, when it's evident that Ethan is capable of being independent, it's hard for Rain to change the world she's constructed for sixteen years. I'm reminded of my own little brother who I feel like I raised for so many years. And now that he's nearly seventeen and independent, it's hard to realize you aren't needed as much as before. It's hard to come to terms with this change so I can completely relate to Rain.

I also like that Rain makes a mistake that is all too common for teenagers and young people. One mistake that can really alter your entire world. And it's a breath of fresh air to know that Liam isn't your classic "bad boy" so this didn't feel like the "good-girl-seeks-bad-boy" scenario so often present in romance novels today.

Both characters are flawed and that's a plus because it's very real. And, not just Rain and Liam. Rain's mom and dad are just as flawed and we're reminded that parents make mistakes, still do, and they're a lot like teenagers themselves.

I took away one star because Ethan's change seemed very flawless and I'm not sure how realistic that is. I suppose I can't say because I've never known anyone to have Ethan's type of autism and each person is different but I figured that he'd have slipped up at least once (meltdown...something) as he tries to complete his list of dreams. But he never did.

I like the way it ended, too. Not your classic happy ending but a glimmer of hope for us readers.

Overall, this was well-written and very relatable. I will be recommending this to my students, for sure.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The connection between twins can be unique. Add into the mix one twin has autism, and the dynamics are even more complicated. Rain's entire life has revolved around her brother and helping him navigate the world. She has been Ethan's voice and rock for so long that she knows no different.

Now teenagers, Rain and Ethan are beginning to grow into themselves and somewhat apart from each other. She is interested in cooking and blogging about obscure recipes, while he is fascinated by the inner workings of the human body. Rain and Ethan experience many firsts and learn a lot about each other and themselves. While Ethan seems to be thriving in his independence, it is Rain who begins to unravel.

THOUGHTS: This is more than a coming of age story, and there are a lot of issues involved. At the heart of the novel twins are learning as much from each other as the world around them. Their twin/sibling relationship, autism, family dynamics/relationships, parent/child roles, divorce, bullying, underage drinking, as well as teen relationships (friendship and romantic). While other issues are present, to say more would spoil the surprise. Teens with complicated home lives and/or challenging sibling dynamics will like this character driven novel. Some mature content makes this book more suited for high school readers.

I loved this story and found that I really connected with Rain. I know what it is like to feel like someone depends on you and then how it is difficult to cope with them not needing you anymore. It is a bit disorienting and can result in feelings of anger and jealousy. I feel like the author took exactly how I felt and put it into words. This story was beautiful and heartwarming.

I loved all the characters and found that even though it was from Rain's point of view with only pieces of Ethan's point of view thrown in it that his pieces made a huge impact on the book. I thought that Leah Scheier did a wonderful job of portraying an individual with autism. It was not romanticized. She showcased some the difficulties that go along with this particular diagnosis but also showed that people that are dealing with autism are still capable of accomplishing the goals that they have for their life whether they are simple every day tasks or occupational/college goals.

I think that the author was trying to get the point across that each person should live for themselves and their own dreams and not hold each other back by enabling those around them to remain as they have been and never change and adapt as life moves forward. Life is not always black and white. There are many gray areas to people as well as the decisions that they make. These are things that Rain learns as the book progresses but in order to get the full affect of the messages that Leah Scheier wrote in the book it should be read in its entirety.

If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it would be "okay." Everything about it was just "okay." The romance was okay, the characters were okay, the plot was okay. Everything was a little blah and just.. there.

Rules of Rain is the story of Rain and Ethan. They are twins but Ethan has austism and Rain is his voice/rock. This is a beautiful book about siblings, love, understanding and growth and I think the author did a fantastic job.

Rain is our main character. She runs a foodie blog and spends a lot of her time taking care of her twin brother, Ethan. Ethan has Autism and he no longer attends public school so Rain and their mother is all his social group consists of. Until Rains best friend hope starts showing interest in Ethan. Rain doesn't think anything will come from this because of how Ethan is. But what happens when maybe Ethan likes Hope in return? And what happens when Rain also introduces her love interest into the mix?

The bond between Rain and Ethan is something that not many people in this would can possibly understand. A bond between siblings is one thing, but a bond between siblings where one is mentally disabled is a very beautiful yet volatile thing. How can I say this for certain? Because my younger brother has Down Syndrome and I have been his rock for most of his life. I know how frustrating it can be but I also know how rewarding it can be to be the sibling to someone who isn't 'normal'. Rain does some things throughout the book that seem to be bad or not right but in reality these things are what she thinks would be best for her brother. We siblings aren't perfect but we never give up and I could see a lot of myself in Rain.

In the end, this book was hard to read for me with my personal history but I got through it and loved it in the end. The book was so truthful and realistic and I am so grateful to the author for being able to write this book and GET IT RIGHT. I have read some other reviews where people were angry at how the author portrayed Autism and I wish I could ask those people WHY. This book is pretty spot on and that is coming from someone who deals with these situations every day between my personal accounts with my brother and my accounts with my job.

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.

The story of Rain and Ethan, twins of a very special sort, is a complex one. Ethan is autistic, and Rain has been his primary care-giver for most of their lives. Mom has pretty much stepped out of the arena, leaving all the responsibility to Rain. I felt very sorry for Rain in that regard, because she had no opportunity to live her own life. She was really living Ethan's life. I realize the situation was very complicated, but I found that brutally unfair. Which just goes to show you, this story felt very real. I was totally drawn into the struggles of Rain and Ethan and the other secondary characters in the book. I'm not sure I believe that Ethan was capable of quite so much growth in such a short time, but that aside, this is well worth reading. Should almost be required reading, because it does give a really good look inside the world of autism, and what it's like not just for an autistic child, but for everyone around him as well. The toll autism takes on the family is monumental, and The Rules of Rain does a great job of bringing those elements into the light. Highly recommended YA title.

I l o v ed this book. The main reason why I love it is because of Ethan. The fact that the author wrote him in a way that was relatable made my heart fill with joy. I personally know a handful of people who have autism and vary on the spectrum and I know someone who I just like Ethan, except he obsesses over the Blackhawks and not medical things. I would love to read more from this author because she writes so realistically and I have not seen a realistic book since TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE trilogy by Jenny Han. If you are a person who wants diverse characters, realistic situations, and a plot twist you will never see coming, I highly recommend this book.

I'm really torn on what I think about this book.
The premise is amazing. I mean, a novel about the bond between a teen and her twin brother? Sign me up fam. The characters however... meh. I can't really connect with Rain, I tried but I just can't. There are some parts/scenes that I really liked, though, hence my reluctant rating.

...................................................

This is the first book by Leah Scheier that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. In fact, I’m going to have to get my hands on her previous novel, because I enjoyed this one a lot.

Rain has always taken care of her autistic twin, Ethan, helping him navigate the world when he needed it. That’s her role in her family: responsible caretaker, always negotiating crises and in control. Even her cute new boyfriend, Liam, has to come second to Ethan’s needs. Rain doesn’t think Ethan will ever change, and she’s got her whole future planned around continuing to support him. But then Ethan’s behavior does start to change, and he no longer seems to rely on her in the same way, leaving Rain unsure of her role in their family and in her plans for her future. When other changes further challenge Rain’s carefully planned life, Rain has to learn to relinquish control and allow herself to be supported by others, including Ethan.

Rain is one of those characters that can drive you crazy but, at the same time, you almost can’t help sympathizing with her. She sincerely wants to help her brother, but she’s so sure she’s right about things, she can be completely insensitive to his actual needs. There were moments that I cringed at things Rain would do or say, not just to Ethan, but to Liam and Hope (Rain’s best friend and Ethan’s girlfriend). But they so clearly grew out of her past experiences with Ethan and the rest of her family, and she was so clearly struggling to adapt to the changes in her life, that I found myself forgiving her. (It helps that Rain can be pretty funny when she’s not obsessing about analyzing other people’s behavior.)

Even though the book is written from Rain’s point of view, the secondary characters come through very strongly. Ethan gets the most development, because notes from his journal are inserted into the novel periodically to give some insight into Ethan’s mindset. I’m not an expert on autistic behavior, but Ethan seems very real to life, and I was rooting for him to reach the goals he set for himself so he could achieve his dreams, both of becoming a surgeon and of developing a relationship with Hope. Hope, Liam, even Rain’s other friends, Marcus and Kathy, get enough page time to make them interesting, not just in relation to Rain but in their own right.

Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary coming-of-age YA novels.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I had a difficult time getting through the beginning of this book - but I am glad I did.
In the end it turned out to be quite a nice, quick and engaging read.

I think my difficulties were with the main character in the beginning of the book - she just was rather irritating but her character development was done incredibly well and she got much more tolerable farther into the book.
I don't have any friends or family that are autistic, so I am not sure how spot on that representation was but it didn't feel over the top, or underdone either so I hope that others will find it accurate.

I’ve been given an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest review.

The story begins with Rain's posts on her blog and then you get a glimpse of Ethan's world by his journal. The beginning is like any other a slow burn so you can get to know your characters and their personalities.

Halfway through the book and I still can't connect with Rain, she's just too selfish for me and it's a struggle to keep seeing her point of view. Her twin brother has autism but she needs to let him spread his wings anyway and she just wants to keep him locked up in a cage. Her thoughts are all over the place and sometimes I wish I could just shake some sense into her to see if it would help taking her head out of her butt.

I really like Ethan, he's not normal and he doesn't wanna be normal but he wants to understand better the world around him and I find this completely adorable, I think he deserves all the happiness coming his way. And I love that Hope, which is Rain's best friend, is trying to get closer to him and help him in this part of his life. I'm still not getting much of Rain's other friends but maybe we'll get more towards the middle/end of the book.

Liam is dorky, geeky and shy you learn a lot about his story but still there's more to come I hope.

I finally ended the book and I can tell I have mixed feelings about it. Lots of things I wanted the author to talk about and she didn't. She just dropped subjects out in the open and there it stayed.

Autism. Pregnancy talks. High school love. Divorce. Teenage hormones. Lots of great things it could have been discussed in this book.

Rain comes off as selfish, self-centered in her being the only thing her brother needs. I hated this all the way through the book it was exhausting seeing her doing that to herself and her brother, I can understand that for years he depended on her but it must have shown through the years that he wanted to break free, it couldn't have been out of nowhere. Then she's fixated with Liam and after that she's just pushing him away for something that both of them did while drunk. I hated her for that. I really wanted to like the main character but she just didn't work for me at all.

The person who shone through the book was Ethan, even being autistic he tried his best through a list of things he needed to overcome to become a Doctor. He tried his best to be better for himself and for everyone around him, sometimes he couldn't understand the person's feelings but he was still trying he wasn't being dismissive. I really liked his character from beginning to end. The way he feel in love and showed everyone that even him could have a girlfriend, I loved it.

Hope is Rain's best friend but I would dump Rain's ass in the curb in the first moment she started being a bitch to Hope. It was so unfair the whole thing. And for Rain to have two other friends that barely showed in the book was frustrating even more when homosexuality was one of the topics towards the end of this book.

Liam was one of the characters I hated the end, the way you learn about his life and how it ends for him, I'm still thinking of what the author was trying to do.

I mean she had GREAT topics to talk about and she just ran past them, just throwing them to complement the story but not getting deeper in it, crucial topics I'd have loved to see more about. Rain wasn't the best character for it and I feel like this book could have been so much more than what it was.

I do liked the author write style but I'm on the fence about future next stories, I just hope she can do more with the topics she presents herself.

In my point of view everyone should have a list of dreams, a secret rule and some crazy revolutionary recipes at hand.

It's fairly easy to find a story about young people dealing with various issues.  It's more difficult, though, to find one dealing with the siblings of those young people.  So I'm usually highly optimistic when such a story comes across my radar.  This one did not disappoint.

Rain has always taken care of her twin brother Ethan.  As the sister of a person with autism, her life has its own obstacles.  But she rises to each challenge, putting Ethan's needs before hers.  She eventually finds out just how difficult it is to put her life on old for everyone else.  And the hardest part may be realizing that Ethan doesn't need her as much as he used to.  

This is a book with a solid storyline.  It's enjoyable and believable.  The little sidenotes from Rain's blog make it even more so.  Four stars!