Many thanks to Netgalley and SourceBooks for the chance to read and review this novel.

Leah Scheier's upcoming release Rules of Rain explores family relationships in one of the most interesting ways I've experienced as a reader. The main character, Rain, has grown accustomed to taking care of the needs of her family members, especially those of her twin brother, Ethan. Rain has managed to keep her brother's Autism from crippling his life by finding unique ways to put him at ease, protecting him from bullies, and moving past their father's abandonment. When Rain is faced with her own personal trials along with her mother's illness, Rain finds roles being reversed. As change after change happens within the family, Rain struggles to find her identity after her twin brother finds his independence.

This was one of the most heartwarming YA novels I have had the privilege of reading. In our self-centered culture, reading about Rain's altruism was a breath of fresh air. I admired Leah Scheier's creation of such a character in a novel geared for young adults. Rain teaches readers many valuable lessons, such as the importance of family, caring for others, all while nurturing our own needs. The book world needs more selfless characters like Rain.

The unexpected element of Rain's adventurous cooking was hilarious to read about. Her concoctions were kooky, but possibly worth trying out! I loved the added recipes and information about types of food and how they could treat different ailments. Besides, food is the way to a man's heart - something Rain was able to accomplish with Liam.

The secondary characters in this story were superbly fleshed out and equally as interesting as Rain. I enjoyed learning about Ethan's quirks and what life could be like with Autism. His short journal entries at the beginning of certain chapters was pure gold. I enjoyed this small touch and found myself looking forward to his perspective. Ethan showed some of the greatest character development I've seen and was just so much fun to read about. I would love to read a follow-up novel with Ethan and Hope at the center of the story! Not to mention Kathy and Marcus - so many teen issues were tackled with the secondary characters! I feel like I received two books worth of hard-hitting moments in one story.

I relished in the sibling relationship within the pages as Rain and Ethan encountered events together and separately, leading to an unbreakable bond. I was worried this relationship would be sometimes boring or tedious to read about upon picking up this novel, but was easily proven wrong, much to my delight. I ended up being pleased by Rules of Rain more than I ever expected.

This was the perfectly portrayed coming of age novel, full of setbacks, romance, emotion, and growth. This is one for the TBR, folks. I highly recommend this story to readers of all ages upon its release on December 1st. Find the links to purchase this inspiring story below.

Great YA novel. Very well-written coming of age story that deals with the pressure that comes along with having a sibling with sensory and behavioral issues.

I really wanted to like Rules of Rain by Leah Scheier... I really did, but I couldn't. This book nearly put me into a reading slump after I set it down.

Overall, I felt very so-so on this book. Rules of Rain tells the story of Rain and Ethan, who are twins. Rain feels an immense responsibility to take care of Ethan partially because he's family and partially because he's autistic. Rain feels that she has to be the one to take care of her brother through everything that life throws at them. Their parents divorce, their mother's illness, bullies at school... it doesn't matter. Rain is there for Ethan. That is until Ethan starts to want his independence. It is then that Rain realizes that the brother she's spent her entire life protecting may not need her anymore, but she needs him more than ever.

While I really could not get into this book, I will say the character development in it is done very well. In addition, the side characters were another saving grace. They were funny and likable. I feel like this book would have been better if we learned more about them. Ethan was another really likable character. I felt like his character development was the best in this book and did enjoy reading about how hard he worked so he could achieve his dream.

What really pushed this book into the realm of difficult for me was Rain. She got under my skin in the worst way possible. I did not enjoy her as a character so reading the book through her narration really hampered my enjoyment of the novel. She was really difficult to read. I thought her POV was skewed and wasn't the biggest fan of how she thought her brother should be treated. While there is character development, I just couldn't stop thinking about how hard it was to read from her POV in the beginning.

This book had a lot of promise for me because one of its main characters has autism, which you don't always see in popular media. I honestly think that if it wasn't told from Rain's perspective, it would have been great. I had to give it 2.5/5 stars because it did have some saving graces, but I just can't stop thinking about how much I want to shake Rain in the beginning and tell her to cut it out.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*' The Rules of Rain' is about twin teenagers, Rain and Ethan. They live in Montana with their mother and are trying to navigate the difficult world of adolescence. It's not quite that simple, however; Rain is neurotypical and Ethan has autism. The book is a beautiful glimpse into the world of high function autism, dysfunctional families, small town life and burgeoning adolescent sexuality. It is both an engaging read and a hard-hitting book. Life is not easy for this family and their community. I would recommend this book to teenagers, but also parents and teachers, for the insight it provides into Ethan's world and Rain's struggles.

The Rules of Rain was a great read with a plot that wasn’t just your normal cookie cutter young adult contemporary romance, which I loved. I really enjoyed the peak into the inner workings of the mind of someone with autism and the challenges everyday life presents to them. But ultimate this was such a positive story about the love that Rain had for her brother and his ability to show that just because you are different does not mean you are less..

DNF 43% - I just couldn't anymore. Rain is so annoying and condescending to me and Hope is pretty much the worst character ever written. Not a fan.

The first half of this book was tedious at best. It was a struggle for me to continue but I was interested enough in the fate of the characters that I continued. I was fairly pleased that I did because it did get better once Scheier settled into her characters and figured out how to better pace the story. I thought it would have perhaps been better to have multiple perspectives, it would have helped with the execution problems.

I’ve been given an ARC by Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

4,5 to 5 stars

When I read Sourcebooks Fire Editorial Manager Annette Pollert Morgan’s note it said:
“At Sourcebooks, we talk a lot about how books change lives. (…) We are passionate about finding narrative with authentic teen voices that create -and validate- the teen experience in all its diversity. We’re looking for dynamic storytelling that engages teens and make them want to read our books, then turn around and share those books with their friends. Because we want our books to be the stories, the characters you remember.”

Well Annette I can honestly say that Rules of Rain accomplished its mission.

Dear readers I apologize for what will probably be once more a longish review as I have so many things to say about the book. I will compromise and give you a summary first and then dive in deep if you still are interested.

In a nutshell this story is:
Realistic.
Uplifting
Loveable.
Enlightening
Sweet

Realistic in its description of the daily life families being graced with the presence of an autistic child experience. I’ll delve further into this topic below but what Leah Shreier wrote about autism and how it affects the whole family is spot on.

Uplifting because in spite of the serious topic this book is filled with humor! I’ll wrote the first sentences somewhere below but I was laughing alone on the street while reading the book. Yes I readwalk I’m weird like that.
Loveable as the characters main and side are easy to fall in love with. Rain and Ethan are unique, courageous, loyal, kind and united you can’t not like them. The side characters are not just added for the sake of it either as they have their own battle and side stories, especially Liam.

Enlightening because you will leave this book with no more preconceived ideas about autism. It also reminded me all the struggles of finding yourself when you are a teen. How there is not one story in a divorce but two stories. That nothing is ever black or white but rather shades of grey.

Sweet because we speak about teenage love. The first attempts, often clumsy interspersed with shy smiles. You make mistakes because you want to impress the other. Sweet because Ethan for all his robotic exterior IS sweet and cute. Ethan will surprise us with his wisdom and his attempt at soothing Rain proving that he definitely is NOT a robot but has many emotions.

End of the nutshell

**********************

Bone marrow of the story:

Sorry to use this anatomical pun but Ethan corrupted my mind. What can I say when I read about detailed description of intestines or when Rain went back home to find a gigantic hologram of a human colon sitting where the refrigerator was meant to be?
There are many variations of autism and in some cases like Ethan’s these kids are terribly smart and ingest huge amounts of facts and theories as easily as I would empty my Rocky Road ice gallon.
Ethan loves anatomy and have big dreams for his future.
Now there is a big problem as it’s a struggle to be around people, noises, lights, odors. Everything is invading his personal space overstimulating. Ethan has been in Germany all his life -figure of speech- having all these feelings trapped inside and unable to express them to others. Now he has to learn German even if it’s with the help of Google translate.
All her life Rain has been the one to calm him when he was in a deep crisis. She was his human blanket.
Rain has built her life around her brother. She has planned her future to stay close, never really wondering what SHE wanted. This was truly admirable. I LOVED that Rain was not ashamed of Ethan and if people wanted to be friend with her they had to accept her brother. They were a package deal. But now Ethan wants his independence. He does not to need her all the time anymore. She’ll be shocked and hurt by some unexpected reactions and decisions he made. He lied to her that brother who can not lie!
Honestly I shed tears while reading about Rain lost without Ethan. She was conflicted. Of course she should be happy. Ethan was moving on becoming independent broadening his friend’s circle. But they had been glued to the hip for so long…suddenly she felt empty, adrift. She also had to trust Ethan. Let him take risks even if he could be hurt. That was hard for that loyal and caring girl.

More than a simple story about autism it’s a story about finding yourself. Who are you really? What makes you happy? At this time of your life where everything is possible you have to choose your path and choose it wisely.

Characters will make mistakes because nobody’s perfect. We are human and growing up is also realizing that the Manichean view of the world is a false one. That you are entitled to love people even if they hurt you in the past. You have to forgive to get better. Sometimes we will make decision that we will regret for a long time while we made them to protect others. But that’s life: you stumble, you fall and you get up. You learn.

This book has been a splendid experience. Cute, sweet, hilarious, grave, sad.. I could apply many more adjectives to this story.
Will it leave its mark in your reader’s experience? I bet on it!
*****************************
Quotes just for the sake of it!

Rain’s foodie blog excerpt:
“Dear Lovesick: We’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So don’t squander this opportunity by bringing chips and dip! Instead, knock him dead with a double dose of aphrodisiac. How about avocado chocolate mousse with agave nectar? Both avocado and chocolate are packed with libido-boosting fats and vitamins. Did you know the Aztecs forbade virgin women from leaving their houses during the avocado harvest because they feared the sexually overwhelming powers of the avocado? That Casanova snacked on dark chocolate before romancing his date? Well, you can use these ancient food secrets to make your boyfriend hot for you!”

Ethan’s journal excerpt:
“The route by which human pheromones turn us on. (Notes from R. Douglas Fields’s Sex and the Secret Nerve) Note: This may explain the Hope phenomenon. Proposed experiment: Attempt communication with subject during day four of upper respiratory tract infection (when congestion most interferes with the olfactory process). Alternative: Stuff cotton balls in nose next time she visits.”

“I’m used to finding pictures of unappetizing body parts taped to random places in our home. This is, however, the first time the refrigerator has gone missing.”
“The truth is, I’m lingering at my friends’ houses because I don’t want to go home. For the first time in my life, I have no idea how to act around Ethan. What am I supposed to say to him? How can I explain feelings to him that even I don’t understand?”

“Yeah. You’re basically the chemistry antitutor. You make me stupid.” It’s the strangest compliment I’ve ever gotten. But it makes me smile anyway.”

I loved this YA novel about twins, Rain and Ethan and their quirky family life. Rain has always taken care of Ethan who has autism and has been bullied enough that he is now home-schooled. When Rain's best friend, Hope declares her crush on Ethan, Rain know she must work even harder to protect them both from heartbreak. But does Ethan need Rain's help as much as she thinks he does, or is he making progress dealing with his emotions; will she have to be his caretaker/protector forever? Told with much humor and pathos, this novel shows a family trying to cope with divorce, a young teen struggling with her first boyfriend, a brother attempting to fit in, and parents struggling to maintain a healthy relationship for their family. Lovely read!

An amazing novel filled with solid, realistic teen characters and the intricate yet confusing relationships they have with friends and family. Such a fantastic emotional impact, and when you add in the sensible and honest way the book handled autism, it all adds up to an above average read with above average content. Would highly recommend.

A really lovely YA book showing an emotional and complex relationship, I loved it!

I was expecting this to be a story about Rain and her relationship with her brother, Ethan, who is autistic, but it was so much more. This is a story about friendship, love and support. It is about the way we act to protect those we love. It is about the bad choices that teenagers sometimes make. It is a bout letting go of control and trusting others to help carry the burden. Well written and full of heart, this story had more depth to it than I ever imagined and I found it to be a wonderful read.

Well written and somewhat emotional, this contemporary book about siblings, complicated family relationships, and finding out who you are was a great read. I particularly enjoyed the unusual ending, and how it resolved situations without feeling like it needed to wrap everything up into a bow.

This is the story about Rain and her twin brother Ethan and how they handle life dealing with autism. A real emotional story and a must read for any age group.

I really enjoyed this book that dealt with some difficult topics. I enjoyed reading about Rain's relationships with her family and her peers and seeing how she coped with her own challenges as well as the challenges of her peers. A lovely story about chasing dreams and family.

This was like 50% enjoyable and 50% frustrating, and not in a good way. I realise every story needs tension, but I kind of ended up hating the protagonist and her better-than-thou attitude and the treatment of autism was a little insulting. However! I loved the foodie aspects and how Rain ran a blog and the SHEER AMOUNT OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT is a sign of good writing.


It was actually really addictive to read! I was invested in the characters and I totally wanted to see what dramatic trainwreck would happen next.

Unfortunately Rain is her own worst enemy, but she also thinks she's perfect and endearing. However her character development is truly great (except at the end when I wanted to perhaps throw the book). But she totally has this I Am Perfect™ attitude and analyses all her friends and acts like she knows 500% what's best for her autistic brother. She is so pig-headed in her perfection

The secondary characters were the actual BEST. In just a few sentences they were totally fleshed and engaging! I was really really invested in Marcus and Kathy's lives. Spin-off please! I also thought Hope was sweet (if originally I hated her because she wanted to "break Ethan out of his shell" ... no). But books with engaging and sweet and interesting secondary characters are just nailing it. And Liam, the love interest, was the sweetest and most pure boy of them all and I rooted for him to have a good life so much!

The unfortunate reality about the autism representation is, while Ethan is a great (if a stereotyped) view of autism, the way he's treated is disheartening at best and problematic at most. I absolutely applaud HIM. But the goal of the book seemed to be making him less autistic. His parents DO NOT LOVE his autism. (Saying "love the child, but not the autism" is so disgustingly harmful; don't please.) And his ultimate goal, as forced by parents and those around him, is to be less autistic. But he calls people out when they treat him wrong and he is sweet and kind in his own way and I loved him a lot! But the book truly truly needed to have characters who stopped trying to change him. And it didn't and that's where it failed. I wouldn't recommend this book to an autistic reader because it's really disheartening.

I had a lot of ups and downs but ultimately the book was engaging, if it had very problematic underlying beliefs about autism.

This book told the story of Rain and her brother, Ethan. Rain and Ethan are very smart and provide each other a great deal of support. Ethan was diagnosed with Autism, but this does not stop him from pursuing his goal to go to college and strive to be a doctor. There are steps he must take to meet his goals. Rain is very protective of her brother, but also has found a guy she really likes. Older students would enjoy this book. Rain and Ethan have blogs and it gets interesting when Ethan starts counting down his steps to get to college.

3.5 stars

I had some mixed feelings about this book. "Rules of Rain" follows Rain and her autistic twin brother, Ethan, through a tumultuous time. The twins have lived with their mother for several years after their parents' divorce when they were young. Their parents do not get along, and this causes some tension for the twins, particularly Rain, as she feels forced to take a side. It seems like everyone is starting to have some direction for life, but Rain's direction is her brother. She believes she will need to continue to take care of him in the future and has built all of her goals around it. Ethan, however, is becoming more independent and making his own strides towards building his own future. This leaves Rain feeling a little aimless and causes most of the conflict in the book.

At the same time, both twins are starting to expand their social life into romance- Rain with Liam and Ethan with Hope- and these relationships bring their own levels of drama. The book begins slowly, and I found it tough to stay engaged at first. However, around halfway through, everything escalates and the pace really picks up. I found the second half of the book more intense and really intriguing as their lives have been shaken up and both twins need to figure out what this means and how to move forward. The parents in this were somewhat terrible (hardly parenting the twins), but I think this was presented fairly realistically (divorce is not always pretty). The strength is really in Rain's growth throughout the novel from trying to cover all the gaps to discovering that she can have her own hopes and dreams.

There is teen drinking, mentions of child abuse, and risky behaviors, but I don't think any of them escalated to the point where this book would be inappropriate for young adult. I really liked the integration of Ethan's journal plus Rain's blog into the storyline, and I wish we had gotten to see even more of the events from Ethan's perspective, as this was quite different from Rain and really fascinating. I think Ethan was one of the best characters in the book, though a lot of the other characters were really well done. Although we follow Rain, we end up learning a lot about her social circle and their lives/challenges also. Not all of the plot lines were closed by the end of the book (e.g. with some of her friends, things were partially resolved by the end of the book), and I wonder if some of them might be featured in sequels of sorts (like Marcus and Kathy). I'd be curious to see where all of the characters go in the future. Overall, it was an intriguing book and a great book about sibling relationships/growth.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This book was Fantastic! The author did an excellent job of portraying the relationship between the twins, and the rigidity of their relationship was spot on. I love how both characters grew independently during the story, with realistic bumps and hurdles along the way. I will highly recommend this to YA readers online and in person. Thank you for this book. It is not often that a teen with autism is portrayed so realistically and so lovingly.

Rules of Rain is one novel on the surface and quite another if you take the time to become engaged with each character on a personal level. Rain and her brother Ethan are twins. Their parents are divorced and they live in Montana with their mom. Rain has a best friend Hope and is considering a relationship with Liam. Each character is flawed and some flaws are more noticeable than others. I felt Rain had too much responsibility thrown on her and their mom seemed as absent as their dad. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.