Something Like Rain: The Something Like Series, Volume 9

Another great addition to the series.

Long book.. especially when we already know much of the story... it is lovely to see things from a different point of view and there were definitely some surprises in the plot! I was shocked a couple of times..Must admit I've missed a couple of books out. And didn't really understand the end of Something like spring and what that meant for William and Jason... bit sad about the end 😢

I can't lie, I'm a sucker for the 'something like series' and if you are considering reading the series then I would say yes they are brilliant. The reason why I gave this book such a low rating is because, while in the first 3 books, the different perspectives was fresh and gave you new insights into feelings and reasons why characters acted the way they did this one just adds nothing new that we didn't already know. I'd say about 80% was lifted straight from the spring and hail books and this was just a chore to continue reading for the third time. It also didn't help that I didn't like William initially (big Kelly fan here) and my dislike only grew all the way through the book. William is mundane and self serving all while thinking and believing he is being Nobel and kind. It becomes almost insurable to the point of just wanting to put the book down and not pick it up again and if William was real then I would have no issue with hitting him over the head with this gargantious book. Saying that, the fact that Jay Bell can make me feel such dislike towards a fictional character shows credit to his previous books and character creation. If you are looking for more Ben, Tim, Kelly or Nathaniel you will be left feeling underwhelmed with their lack of input (or Atleast new input). And of you didn't like William before reading this then I'd give it a miss.

Another great read from Jay. There are times when l forget who is who but it hardly matters. A long story and more lose ends to knit together later no doubt. It is a slow burner but it covers a long time period and it will not impress those who like 100 page novellas. I look forward to the next one.

Just gave up after reading 30%. As a great Jay Bell fan I was really disappointed with this book as I have been with last three books of the Something Like series. There must be a limit to how often you can tell the same story even from a different persons perspective. In large part this just seemed a copy and paste job from previous books. I have never really warmed to William or Kelly in this series so that didn`t help my effort to finish the book. I may well go back to it if for no other reason that I have paid for it.The concept of retelling a story from different characters perspective is not new. It worked well in the first three books because of the strong storyline and compelling main leads and there was enough additional story lines and characters in the first three books to keep the reader interested. Book 4 worked well because it started with a completely different story line and was then skilfully blended into the characters from the previous books. None of this happened in this book ( as far as I read anyway) .The authors of series like this need to be careful of not taking their loyal readers for granted thinking they will continue to buy the books simply because they are part of a series.

Great storyFilled in gapsAlthough lazy in 0laces

Jay Bell is a remarkable story teller. The author of the “Something Like…” stories, I picture his office with two laptops, one for the project at hand and one for keeping track of the many characters he explores through about twenty books. There are yellow post-its everywhere, a cup of room temperature coffee with current pop music playing and if I were he, an ashtray with at least one cigarette burning. But I suspect that Mr. Bell doesn’t smoke. None of his characters do. They’re young and fit and active. I’ve lived a fairly “straight” life- whatever that means- and never gave much thought to the differences between my family and the families of the LGBT people in my life. Me? I’m bisexual, somewhere in the middle of the Kinsey Scale, a measurement of sexuality that one of Mr. Bell’s characters taught me. What I was moved by is just how normal everyone is. Their lives are important and Mr. Bell writes character driven narrative, his dialogue is real, and any sex scenes (there are several) are comfortable, even hot, but always necessary to the story. Having read a lot of gay fiction lately I find Jay Bell to be the very best, chewing my way through all his “Something Like…” books over the summer. Sixteen of them, each book bringing us closer to his characters. Gay, straight, Bi, Thai, we meet and live with all these characters and we come to love them, like an extended family; not many writers have achieved this. Not that I have found. And fortunately for us, Jay Bell is another Agatha Christie. Or Stephen King. He writes quickly but carefully and during his relatively young life has produced an ample catalog of great fiction. It’s all worth your time, regardless of your sexuality. Begin with “Something Like Summer” and begin with Ben and Tim, the anchors of this series. You’ll know them from puberty to death, both of which are beautiful. The conflicts real, the characters flawed. But familiar. Start with Summer and I would easily bet that you will want to read more. Jay Bell is fantastic. And his husband is responsible for the art work which actually applies to the story. It causes me to sometimes consider Mr. Bell as the main character in all his books. He’s there, just below the surface and we begin to believe that we know him. And so I thank him for normalizing LGBTQ people. Ah, how the world has changed; Mr. Bell has done more than most. My grandfather always said, “It is our job to leave the world more beautiful than we found it.” Bravo, Mr. Bell.

I read this book and it was the slowest book to read for me. As it was William's view of most events we already knew. I wanted more out of it then I got I think. Amazing author.

I have been a fan of Jay Bell's writing since the first time I read one of his books (Something Like Autumn).Rain is a long book that covers a lot of ground (too much?). Anyway, readers who like Bell's writing style ought to enjoy it. The characters are very well developed and all the situations true to life. I could relate to the main character, William. Maybe one day Jay will write a book about William and Jason that picks up four years after the Epilogue of Rain. I, for one, would like to read it! :)

Okay, Jay Bell, I really like the characters you have created, but the twists and turns of this book just hurt my neck... I would just feel like I could relax a bit, and this plot would twist my soul... I literally cried out at several points with an audible “Oh NO!!” Even after what I thought was the final twist with them planning to move to Astoria, you screwed them up AGAIN. I really like these guys, and I’m expecting finally to have a good ending... I hope you make it happen.. I am buying the volume 2 of stories and holding my breath... Damn, this is a good series, helping me get through this horrible pandemic... but worried sick about these special friends. Thank you... I think.

This is the longest of Jay Bell's "Something Like Series" through the eyes of William Townson. We cover his relationship with Kelly, his time in the Coast Guard as a Rescue Swimmer, other events with some twists and turns, and finally with Jason Grant, the man he loves. I have said this before in my other reviews -- Mr. Bell is the master story teller -- there was one outcome I saw coming with William's friend Lilly and one that I didn't see coming (no pun intended) -- you will never order Boston Cream Pie again with a straight face, but I digress. The theme of love is patient sacrifice! Well now I will begin the second volume of short stories...