Liked the premise of this story but it felt like it was missing some heart or substance. There was no real story besides generations of heartbreak. Little Mae and Gabe were most interesting to read about, but all the adult characters lost everything that was enchanting about them. Maybe it was a combo of too real and too dismal that didn't quite do it for me.

Fiction
Adult
Someone once said the only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead. But a secret held by one person can still burst out if that person is developing dementia. Thus we learn Lilly’s secret early on, and unfortunately for her, so does her husband George. He moves out, despite 60 years of marriage, into a local hotel. There he runs into Jonah, the alcoholic father, now sober and dying, of Gabriel, the boy George and Lilly took in 20 years ago. They were already raising their granddaughter Mae, whose parents died in a tragic accident when Mae was six. The two children are bestest pals, a friendship that germinates into young love, until one day Gabriel leaves abruptly, breaking Mae’s heart. But Lilly holds another secret about Gabe’s departure. When Mae’s New York City life comes crashing down around her, she flees to her grandparents’ home, once an inn for holidayers on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, and slowly the secrets are revealed, as Gabriel also returns to his dying father’s side. Love, loss, sacrifice, family, and forgiveness are the big themes in this novel by Canadian Stapley. (I remain mystified as to why it is set in the States, by the way. There is a Montreal connection, but why not put the whole damn story in Canada?) I really liked our young protagonists but kept expecting more secrets to emerge, in reality it is Mae who is mostly in the dark. Stapley was inspired by her own family’s reluctance to talk about her grandmother’s first husband; not a secret but somehow shameful. In this fictionalized interpretation, she weaves a story that rings true, with characters who make mistakes and hide their hurts and shames, impacting others in ways they did not always intend. Is it too late for Gabe and Mae or is forgiveness possible? Other than the unnecessary epilogue, this is a moving and emotional story – an excellent choice for a summer vacation. The title is based on Mae’s mother’s list for guests. Each chapter starts with an entry from the list, giving the reader a clue about what will happen. My thanks to publisher Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy provided through #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33305555.

The first thing that intrigued me was the title. Then the cover. Then the setting.. An old family drama centred around the St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands area. The problem was right from the get-go I was a little confused with all the characters. When I got things straightened out I wanted to warm to them but just couldn't. Instead of a feel-good story about unravelling family secrets, and rekindling a lost love, it was just a joyless trip down memory lane. It just left me a little down and unsettled.

Although I love the rain, I did not love this book like I thought I would! The storyline sounded so thrilling however it was not in the end. I found myself uninterested and a little bored.

I really enjoyed Marissa Stapley's "Things to Do when It's Raining". It is set in a small tourist town on the St. Lawrence River, and having spent time on the St. Lawrence myself it was all to easy for me to imagine. With a combination of small town secrets and a history of alcoholism Marissa has created a story of love and loss that sucked me in from the beginning, and didn't let me go until I had finished it. A wonderful story that explores the true meaning of family, while questioning how important blood really is.

Long held family secrets come to light as Mae returns home to her grandparents inn following the revelation of her fiancee's company fraud. Her heartbreak over the breakup of her relationship is compounded when she meets up with the man who once held her heart as a young girl. Both Mae and Gabe have to confront the secrets and trauma of their pasts before they can begin to heal and maybe fall back in love all over again.

I had a hard time with this one. I was really intrigued by the synopsis, title, and cover image, but it just fell short for me. Characters are integral to me, and I like a good flawed character, but I didn't like any of these characters. They all seemed to ruminate for years over things they did, or things that were done to them. So much so that it completely affected every aspect of their lives. I had a hard time connecting to anyone in the story, which is important to me as a reader.

I was really confused for the first few chapters, too, because so many characters were introduced at once. I often forgot whose perspective I was reading from. There were two characters with names that started with 'V', and I kept confusing the two.

I did really like the setting. The river played a big part and definitely felt like a character at times. The cover leads you to believe the story will be optimistic and sunny, but in reality it was kind of dark and dreary. I like when the atmosphere interacts with characters and becomes one itself.

I ended up rating this 3 out of 5. It was a decent story, but just not the right one for me. I still think it's worth a read, though. I really wanted to like this one more than I did.

Review can be found at: https://wanderlustbooksandtea.blogspot.ca/2018/03/from-goodreads-when-secrets-tear-love.html

This was such an easy read. I was a bit confused at the beginning when the characters were being introduced, but once I figured it out I loved it. I couldn't put it down! Mae and Gabe's relationship was the perfect love story.
Perfect for a summer read.

Brenda and I were once again 'Lost in a Coulee Reading' together! It has been a little while for the two of us reading a book together. We have done a lot of group reads together but not just the two of us. I love our group reads but it is always pretty special reading with my sister!

THINGS TO DO WHEN IT'S RAINING by MARISSA STAPLEY is a character-driven story that was an enjoyable, entertaining, and fast read! It's an interesting, moving, and engaging multi-generational family drama that was well-written with flawed and interesting characters. The ending was satisfying and pleasant! Would recommend!

I also really enjoyed the "Things To Do When It's Raining" recommendations that started off each chapter throughout the book. I thought that it really contributed to the theme of the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Marissa Stapley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Things to Do When It's Raining is a more somber story. It touches on a lot of mental health issues as well as that of abuse. Mae and Gabriel are brought back together to their childhood home out of coincidence--or is it fate? Together, they help each other fight through the trials life has thrown at them and together they heal and try to forge a path together. It's not a cheery, rosy tale but a very real one that is tough to sit through at times. The point of view works well, the story is there, but I felt like it could be flushed out that much more. There was a lot about their past, how Mae's and Gabriel's parents (and grandparents) lives were intertwined and how it affected Mae and Gabriel's childhood and relationship. I think, at times, I felt like I wanted to know more, though--like what happened with Mae's fiance and more about Mae's grandparents' own tumultuous relationship. I found bits of the book slower moving but was still a good read--definitely not your average, lighthearted read.

The characters frustrated me a little. How stubborn they were, how secretive. Overall it was a beautiful little romance with some secrets and mystery thrown in. The little bits on what to do when it was raining was an entertaining diversion from the story. It really set the tone of the book and this family.

I also liked that it had a happily ever after

I loved this book!

The story was very fast paced. A lot happened in a short time. Though there were a lot of characters, I felt like I knew all of them very well. They all had a detailed history, from Lilly and George’s generation to Mae and Gabriel. This made them feel like real people.

I usually have trouble with novels with ensemble casts who span generations. I find the authors try to appeal to readers of different ages by including specifics about each generation. However, it was not the case with this book! Each of the generations brought a new depth to the story.

This story contained many different genres. There was mystery or thriller because Mae’s fiancé disappears under suspicious circumstances. There was also romance between the characters. Finally, there was historical fiction when George has flashbacks to his time in WWII. I loved the way these different genres were woven together into this story.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

This is the story of Mae and Gabe who were not only childhood friends but were also each other’s first loves. The story starts with Mae and Gabe coming back to the small town Alexandria. They each have their reasons for coming home again, but what they didn’t count on is seeing each other again. The story unfolds as secrets from the past intertwine into the story along with their families. Marissa Stapley blends romance, intrigue, suspense and mystery all into one beautiful story of love and forgiveness. I was so graciously gifted this book from NetGalley for an open and honest review, Thank you NetGalley

Oh how I enjoyed this book.

This is a story - a story about four people - messy, complex people who are burdened by their pasts, as they try to move forward and make peace with their lives.

Lilly and George - married for almost 70 years are each facing their own demons - demons brought to life as Lilly struggles with her deteriorating memory. Little snippets that are grasped to keep her sane, drive George away until it's too late.

Mae and Gabe - best friends in childhood, more than friends in adolescence until Gabe disappears. 17 years later they are faced with the decisions they have both made, and have to decide if they can let the ghosts of the past go.

Connecting both these generations is Virginia - Mae's mother, Lilly's daughter - died in a tragic accident, but her memory and spirit are very much alive.

This is a story about people and hurt and loss. But also about so much love. If you read the author's note at the end, you know that Marissa Stapley based the story on her maternal grandparents story - and you can feel it when you read this book. These characters feel alive and loved and part of someones family.

This is a book for people who don't need perfect characters, and for someone who wants a story that will simply transport them to a different place; nothing complicated, nothing mysterious, simply a good book.

Recommended read. Well written and really well paced.

Powerful, poignant, and heartrending!

Things to Do When It’s Raining is an absorbing novel that delves into the mental and emotional anguish that can be caused by underlying secrets, grief, guilt, family dynamics, friendship, first loves and loneliness and emphasizes the importance of closure and forgiveness.

The prose is smooth and well turned. The characters are consumed, troubled, raw, and authentic. And the character-driven plot interweaves the past and present of two multigenerational families as they learn to cope, survive, accept, support and love each other unconditionally.

Things to Do When It’s Raining is ultimately an intelligent, evocative, pensive novel by Stapley that tugs at the heartstrings from start to finish.

It’s a pleasure to read, and positively review, a charming, pull-at-the-heartstrings novel from a fellow Canadian, a compelling family drama the Toronto Star calls “commercial fiction at its best.” This one comes out tomorrow so if you’re looking to have your heart torn apart a little bit, pick it up.

Kudos to author Marissa Stapley for a well-written and engaging multi-generational family saga with compelling characters and an intense storyline. The relationships became a little overwrought at times but the story was full of heart and soul, coming to a satisfying conclusion. I will definitely add her first novel, Mating For Life, to my TBR.

Beautiful book about family and love. Gabe and Mae story is so beautiful. It’s like a poem.. Wow,

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows three generations of women who live in Summer's Inn at the edge of the St Lawrence River.
We first meet Mae who has just learned that her fiancé has disappeared during the night , destroying their future together. Did she really know who he really was? She finds herself returning to her home town to try and pick up the pieces and find a fresh start. Mae comes home to find that her Grandmother, Lily, is alone, her grandfather, George, having left to contemplate an admission made by his wife. We soon find that Lily is struggling with a progressing case of dementia and is trying to hide it from her loved ones. The past starts to unfold and the many secrets that Lily has kept become revealed. Secrets that affect everyone in different ways.
I enjoyed the book but I found the tone of the book to be incredibly sad and heartbreaking.

This is a story of loves and families and secrets, It is a quick and entertaining read that I think would be enjoyed by Nicolas Sparks fans.

Things to Do When It's Raining by Marissa Stapley follows Mae and Gabe and Lilly and George through love and through heart break.

Lilly and George are the grandparents, then guardians to Mae after a terrible accident killed both her parents. Then shortly following the accident they take Gabe in from his alcoholic and abusive father. Mae and Gabe are the best of friends until one day he leaves without a word. Nearly a dozen years later and they both find themselves back in their home town of Alexandria Bay for different reasons.

There were several reasons why I didn't enjoy this one..

1) I found the narrative confusing at first and didn't really know what was going on. We were introduced to so many characters at once that I had to re-read a few pages to understand who we were following for the first few narratives. I would of liked to see some names at the beginning of the chapters for some clarification.

2) I felt there wasn't enough back story for any of the characters that honestly, I just didn't care what emotional journey they were going through. I wanted more about Everett or Virginia or even Jonah. I was wishing for more in-depth backgrounds and flashbacks.

3) Can no one get over their "wrong doings" in this book? I mean, all the characters seemed hung up on some sort of betrayal from something someone did to them or something they did to someone else. Everyone just seemed to be wallowing too much in their own self pity for my liking.

4) Besides the end of the novel, it never really rained, so I don't get the whole "things to do in the rain". It is important just because Virginia wrote it? Maybe I'm just being too critical now and it's just supposed to be this beautiful metaphor that I'm taking far too literal.

I'm sure there was more, but I don't want to deter anyone too much from wanting to read this one. It wasn't all bad by any means, just not "gripping" enough for me.

2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3