Rain in October is a novel by LeAnne Keely.
Finished on: 15.11.2024
[I won this book in a LibraryThing Early Reviewer give-away.]

Plot:
Helen LeFitte is dropping out of college and returning home to her mother, two things she would never do if her mental health and lack of other options didn’t make them absolutely necessary. On the drive home, her car crashes in a storm, though. When Helen regains consciousness, she is in Luciana’s home, a mansion hidden away, and currently – thanks to the storm – cut off from the outside world. Luciana herself is a fascinating woman, and Helen is only too glad for the break she gets with her. But there is something more going on here.

Rain in October is a very nice romance with excellent characters who both get to grow with each other – my favorite kind of relationship development. I really enjoyed reading it, the only drawback being that it is a rather short book.

Going into the story, I thought this was going to be a vampire thing. I don’t know why – maybe the black fingernails on the cover, paired with the red roses? The book never seems to make any implications in that direction apart from that, but it keeps you guessing a little as to what is going on, so I won’t spoil it here other than to say: this is not a vampire story.

What it is is an engaging romance that is more than just a magical meet-cute. For one, Helen’s mental health issues are well-handled (and they don’t get cured magically either, so yay!), both in the description and in the way Luciana’s reaction is contrasted to Helen’s mother’s reaction, as well as Helen’s inner monologue at times.

Secondly, even though the story is told through Helen’s point of view, and she is at a bit of disadvantage as the non-magical being in the relationship, the book doesn’t just change things for her, folding her into Luciana’s world while leaving Luciana untouched. No, Luciana also gets to grow and change through her encounter with Helen and I absolutely loved that.

Most story beats are fully what you expect from a romance, there are some very nice spicy scenes and there is a happy ending, but there are also a couple of horror moments and the ending is more open than a classic HEA, leaving easy room for a sequel that I, for one, wouldn’t mind reading – as long as the two of them stay together.

Summarizing: lovely.