u/dogojosho

Hey friends,

I know I'm kinda late to the party but I just finished the River of Rain series and I need people to talk to about it. So I'm gonna get out my thoughts, but then please share yours!!!!

*** WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ***

First off, I want to start with the first book. This book had me in a CHOKE HOLD when I finished it. I barely was able to fall asleep that night cuz dang it was so crazy! It made me FEEL things, which I guess was her entire point, and damn did I just want to wrap them both up and let them stay at the cabin for the rest of time. This was definitely one of the darkest, most intense books I've read, and she did a damn good job with it. This book also made me fall in love with both of the characters, and them as a couple. Also, FUCK Ted Anders and everything he stands for. Seriously.

That being said! I genuinely did not really care for the second book. According to Goodreads, that is not super common, so I wanted to see if anyone else felt this way. But honestly? My opinion is that there should not have been a second book. Heres why:

• The inclusion of a Roman POV and all of the Enclave stuff was glaringly obvious on what it was: a setup for a new book/series... that didn't even make it past the first book. In my opinion, it really did not add what I think she was trying to make it add. She absolutely could have done the ultimate plot without all of that, and it kinda ruined the second book imo. It just felt so unnecessary and pushing something that I didn't care about, really, and took away focus from the main story.
• Really, what she should've done is:
  • Make it one, longer book
  • Eliminate all of the Enclave stuff. Ted can still come back, demand the money, and shoot River. River still could've ended up in the hospital. The ultimate plot and ending would've basically been exactly the same.

So yeah.

TLDR: Book 1... Top notch, consumed me, made me fall in love with the characters, made me want to keep them safe. Book 2... eh, unnecessary, should've cut most of it out and made book 1 longer and end on the HFA/HEA from book 2.

What is everyone elses thoughts? Both on what I said and the books/series as a whole?

I want to ask this here because I started reading this, but a few chapters in I did not get any romance vibes from it at all. Then I read online that the romance storyline doesn’t even really become romantic until the third book…. Why does this book qualify as romance? Why do so many people in MM subs recommend it?

This isn’t meant as a judgement, I’m genuinely curious. So many people have recommended it but, of the almost 40 books I’ve been recommended, it doesn’t seem to fit them at all. It more seems like a sports/crime drama with a romance B or even C plot.

So again, why do so many people recommend it? Should I keep reading it? Is there more romance than I’m seeing from it?

I started reading MM romance this year and have already gotten through over 30 books. I'm starting to run out of my reserve so I'm looking for your favs!

I'm looking for: Contemporary slice of life (no fantasy or anything) books. I've read everything from sports to college to queer friend group to small town, so the actual subject doesn't matter much to me as long as its contemporary slice of life. Audiobook companion needed (I listen and read at the same time because of my bad ADHD, keeps me focused.) I prefer explicit but am fine with closed door. I prefer cis characters, only because I relate to them more.

Heres my already read list:

• Time to Shine — Rachel Reid
• Role Model — Rachel Reid
• Him — Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love — Emmy Sanders
• The Shots You Take — Rachel Reid
• Boyfriend Material — Alexis Hall
• The Long Game — Rachel Reid
• Heated Rivalry — Rachel Reid
• Win You Over — C. S. Autumn
• To Catch a Firefly — Emmy Sanders
• Caught Stealing — CE Ricci
• Playing Dirty — CE Ricci
• Like Real People Do — E. L. Massey
• Like You’ve Nothing Left to Prove — E. L. Massey
• The New Guy — Sarina Bowen
• The Last Guy on Earth — Sarina Bowen
• Fair Catch — CE Ricci
• I’m Your Guy — Sarina Bowen
• My Kind of Guy — Sarina Bowen
• Us — Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• Iced Out — CE Ricci
• Red, White, & Royal Blue — Casey McQuiston
• All Hail the Underdogs — E. L. Massey
• Epic — Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• Top Secret — Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• Game Changer — Rachel Reid
• The Understatement of the Year — Sarina Bowen
• Tough Guy — Rachel Reid
• Common Goal — Rachel Reid
• Seasons Change — Cait Nary
• Husband Material — Alexis Hall

Thank you!!!!