Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Rain #2

Rain Remembers: A Middle Grade Coming-of-Age Verse Novel About Identity, Healing, and Strength

Rate this book
"A satisfying, well-written, and authentic sequel highlighting the ways healing and self-love are ongoing processes."— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)  In the companion novel to the critically acclaimed Rain Rising , Rain must once again find the strength to rise above. The start of the school year is bringing a lot of changes for New school. No Circle Group. No Dr. McCalla. No Miss Walia. No step team. And Xander, her older brother and superhero, is away at college. Although everyone else seems okay with change, Rain struggles to open up to her new counselor, her mom, Umi, Alyssa, and even Xander, who seems to have forgotten all about her while away at college. But when an older boy starts giving Rain more attention than she asked for—will she be able to open up again before things go too far? As Kirkus Reviews said of Rain Rising : "A gorgeous a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience.” Readers will be eager to follow Rain in this companion novel. Like the rain, she is both gentle and a force, finding strength to rise again.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2023

8 people are currently reading
1806 people want to read

About the author

Courtne Comrie

2 books44 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
49 (39%)
4 stars
53 (43%)
3 stars
19 (15%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,328 reviews
December 20, 2023
This is the sequel/companion book to Rain Rising. It is told in verse.

Rain is now in 9th grade starting high school. She struggles with her new school, a boy, her brother being in college… Parts of her struggles were hard to read. But I really enjoy how her friends, family and therapy have such a positive influence on her.
Profile Image for Tasha Langford.
7 reviews
December 26, 2023
It would be a crime not to write a review on such a beautifully written book. A book about acceptance, but most of all remembering you. I loved the idea of doing what you love so at times when you feel upset or are in the dark place finding those activities that show you who you are will help you find your place. I love the relationship between Rain and her brother mostly because he reminds me of my big brother. I think Courtne Comrie writes Rain like she is all of us. Rain is me and I see myself in her, and I love that about Comrie’s writing. You can see yourself in every character. This was another well written book. I can’t wait to see what the next book Courtne Comrie comes up with.
Profile Image for QUEENIE CLEM.
292 reviews29 followers
September 19, 2023
"Rain Remembers" by Courtne Comrie is a poignant and thought-provoking companion to the highly acclaimed "Rain Rising." In this sequel, Rain continues her journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of life's challenges, and once again, the author's storytelling prowess shines through.

The novel opens with Rain facing a new school year filled with changes that threaten to disrupt her sense of security and belonging. The absence of her cherished Circle Group, the guidance of Dr. McCalla, and the camaraderie of Miss Walia leave Rain feeling adrift in unfamiliar waters. These changes are skillfully woven into the narrative, highlighting the universal theme of adapting to transitions in life. Readers, especially young adults, will connect with Rain's struggle to embrace change while longing for the familiar.

One of the novel's standout qualities is the authenticity with which it portrays the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. Rain's difficulty in opening up to her new counselor, her mother, Umi, her friend Alyssa, and even her beloved brother Xander, who seems distant since leaving for college, feels achingly real. Comrie delves deep into Rain's inner world, exploring her fears, insecurities, and the weight of expectations placed upon her. This emotional depth gives the story a resonance that lingers long after the final page.

The introduction of an older boy who disrupts Rain's life adds a layer of suspense and intrigue to the narrative. Comrie handles the sensitive subject matter of boundaries, consent, and personal agency with care and nuance. Rain's journey to assert her boundaries and regain her voice is a powerful subplot that provides an important and timely message for young adult readers.

Comrie's writing is both evocative and poetic, drawing readers into Rain's world with vivid descriptions and poignant prose. The recurring motif of Rain as a metaphor, both gentle and a force of nature, beautifully underscores her resilience and the inner strength she discovers as she faces adversity.

While "Rain Remembers" is a compelling and emotionally resonant novel, it falls just short of a perfect five-star rating due to occasional pacing issues in the narrative. Some parts of the story may feel slightly slower, testing the reader's patience. However, these moments are offset by the rich character development and the authenticity of Rain's journey.

This book is a worthy continuation of Rain's story, offering readers a deeper understanding of her character and her ongoing struggle to adapt to a changing world. Courtne Comrie's skillful storytelling, combined with the novel's relatable themes and well-drawn characters, makes it a valuable addition to the young adult genre. Like the rain it portrays, this novel is both gentle and powerful, leaving readers eager for more from this talented author. It earns a solid four-star rating and is a must-read for fans of Rain's journey.
Profile Image for Teenage Reads.
863 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2023
Plot:
Rain Washington is about to start high school, and like every other freshman she is nervous to leave her middle school behind. With Xavier in university, at home it becomes just Rain and her mom. When Xavier Facetimes her and asked about school, Rain finds it difficult to voice her fears outside. With none of her usual doctors, or her Circle Group, Rain finds herself lost in this new environment. Even Umi and Alyssa, her best friends, cannot help her all the time as they have different schedules than Rain. High school seemed like it was going to suck until Rain met Tommy. In her all grades gym class, Tommy is a sophomore, who thinks Rain is cute and texts her at night to ask about her day. Yet in the hallway, Tommy does not glance sideways at her, even as he walks right past her in their shared class. Tommy makes her feel like the prettiest girl in the world, but only when they are alone, and because of this, Rain finds it difficult to tell Umi and Alyssa what's going on. With crisis after crisis appearing in Rain's life as she tries to navigate her own environment, Rain begins to realize that her voice matters, and must find a way to allow herself to speak her truth.

Thoughts:
Courtne Comrie is back giving us this, honestly, short story about Rain and her first few months in high school. Comrie makes this novel unique as it is written in verse style, making the novel fly through your hands and making the plot happen quickly. As a sequel, Comrie hints at what happened to the first novel, but never explains it to readers who might (like me) just have read this novel. Referring to Xavier’s accident, Nara being an ex-friend, and the fact that Rain is going into high school holding anxiety due to the trauma from the first novel. Despite never explaining, Comrie makes it easy for readers to relate to Rain and see where she is coming from. From (what I assume) the first novel, there is less family dynamic in this novel. Rain lives with her mother, whom she rarely mentions, and Xavier just moved out but calls frequently. Seeing how caring Xavier is towards his sister is heartwarming, as their relationship dynamic is beautiful and uplifting, making you wish only the best for our sibling pair. Rain’s anxiety of new situations and not feeling comfortable in her own skin is something that I think all readers can relate to as it is something that we have all probably gone through. I really love how Comrie painted Tommy, as he’s the guy that I think everyone has met in their life, and is a good lesson for young readers to have as they see Tommy ignore Rain in public, only to text her when he’s alone. Where there is no overarching plot to the story, besides the Tommy romance, Comrie readers just take readers through the first few months of Rain’s life in high school and the obstacles that come her way, and how she overcomes them to lead a brighter future.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,170 reviews75 followers
May 21, 2023
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

A year after the events of Rain Rising, Xander is now off to college and Rain is starting high school. It’s a lot of change for her and while she’s trying to stay in a good place, keep the promises she made to X and her mom before, it’s harder than she wants to admit. Especially when an older boy starts giving her compliments and she believes him to the point that when he turns on her she begins to doubt her self-worth again. Luckily Rain has so many people in her corner who love her and help her challenge the negative self-talk.

I really love Courtne Com roe’s voice and Rain’s voice. This book deals with several different topics, from older boys being predatory and the threat of deportation for so many families. I really love the people Rain has in her corner and especially her relationship with her brother. I love seeing her growth over the story, and seeing how she’s grown from Rain Rising. I look forward to more from Courtne and the care taken with these wonderful, important stories of growing up and loving yourself.
Profile Image for Teonna Taylor.
232 reviews14 followers
November 6, 2023
I loved this follow up to Rain Rising! This is a beautiful and authentic read.

A new school year brings many changes for Rain. Starting 9th grade also means changing schools, getting a new school counselor, and overall routine as she adjusts to her older brother Xander going off to college. Yet, Rain is not quite ready for all the new changes. Sadly, Rain continues to deal with trauma of almost loosing her brother and depression among other challenges she has faced. These changes make her unsure of herself and impact her relationships with her mom, Xander, and two best friends Umi and Alyssa. To add to this, an older boy from school starts giving Rain attention she is not use to. However, Rain keeps this a secret. With all of the new changes, Rain is tasked with remembering who she is and finding her pockets of happiness.

Rain Remembers is a novel in verse that continues Rains journey of self love and understanding. Part of the beauty of this read is witnessing the strength Rain finds to overcome her fears and self doubt as she also learns to express her emotions and needs. Rain Remembers is a great lesson on how things do not need to be perfect to be beautiful. Furthermore, it proves how healing is not a linear but an ongoing journey.
1,826 reviews
November 26, 2023
I wish the book concentrated solely on one topic. I know kids deal with many heavy things at once but this book, written mainly in verse, was too short to take on two heavy topics. Neither received the focus they deserved. It felt like one was resolved too quickly and not realistically and the other never resolved. And did I totally miss or misunderstand the historical event that seems to be the premise of half of the book? I was/am confused.
Profile Image for Nicole Glynn.
47 reviews
May 22, 2023
This is a great coming of age story written in prose. This story deals with a lot of topics that face young people today. I did not know that this book is a sequel so I will definitely being going back and reading the first one. The characters are rich and I love the development of Rain and all the tough topics she faces as a freshman in high school. Thanks Netgalley!
60 reviews5 followers
June 30, 2023
In this companion novel, Rain, the main character, continues her quest to overcome past challenges while dealing with change and coming of age without the brother she found a sense of normalcy with, instead, she must struggle to gain renewed strength to see the beauty that lies in her and her ability to create her own path to success.
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,008 reviews17 followers
January 3, 2024
I had to read this for DBF and it's a sequel to another book so I missed some of the references.
I still really enjoyed this book - it had a great exploration of starting high school (which not a lot of teen books talk about), being a "large girl", and dealing with trauma and mental conditions. Short, sweet, and really enjoyable!
201 reviews5 followers
December 1, 2023
3.5 ⭐️

I liked this follow-up a fair bit… it’s just that the bar was ridiculously high from Rain Rising. Still good, just not AS good. Lots of important issues and themes. Great for middle school class libraries.
Profile Image for Jeni Enjaian.
3,651 reviews55 followers
April 28, 2024
(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)
When compared to the first book, this one does not quite shine as bright. However, Comrie continues to shine a light on teh real life struggles that so many young teens face even when everything seems okay. I highly recommend this book as well as the first one.
148 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2024
No LGBT+ characters, no profanity. Mild romance.

Self harm discussed.

The plot had potential, but Rain kind of bugged me. She came off as whiny and gullible. I did like all the other characters though.
Profile Image for Josh.
4 reviews
April 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this. This is half poem, half book and is an incredibly smooth read. It was eerily reminiscent of my own experiences going through middle and high school. There's an important lesson in this story about how self-love is an ongoing process.
Profile Image for Nikki Abraham.
4 reviews
December 3, 2025
Amazing Book for young teens navigating transition into high schools and navigating different friendships. Courtne makes Rains character feel real and relatable. Love the way this is written. 10/10
Profile Image for Meghan.
363 reviews
September 25, 2023
A wonderful follow-up to the first book, Rain Rising! It was wonderful to see Rain and her family coming through some of the trauma mentioned in the first book. Rain is growing up, and she learns some tough lessons- especially in regards to boys. Rain is challenged to adjust to new people and a new school environment, but as readers know from book 1, she is strong and can do it. The content of the book, while heavy in parts, is written in such a way that I feel younger middle school students can and should read the book. I just really loved this one!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Childrens for the advance copy!
Profile Image for Anne.
5,140 reviews52 followers
January 12, 2024
sequel/companion to Rain Rising. Novel in verse
Rain is struggling at a new school. Her brother is now off at college. Her supports from her old school are gone. She has a new counselor but it is not the same. Nobody else seems to be having the same troubles adapting to the new school. She things things are starting to look up when a cute boy starts paying attention to her however.
CW: intense issues bordering on body dysmorphia and attempted date rape as well as continued family issues from first novel
Profile Image for Ms. Yingling.
3,992 reviews609 followers
December 31, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this sequel to Rain Rising, Rain is starting ninth grade while her brother Xander has gone away to college. They are both still dealing with the effects a racially motivated beating had on both of them, although they are both in counseling and trying to process their trauma. Rain is very anxious about starting a new school, especially since she no longer has the support of her friend Nara or her Circle Group. She does still have her friend Amare, who is in her dance group at church, and she has also been noticed by a sophomore, Tommy. Tommy's actions are a little confusing; he's a popular sports guy, and he is making overtures to Rain, telling her that she is beautiful and that he wants to spend time with her. Sometimes, though, he won't even make eye contact with her in the hallway. The two text, meet at the mall, and spend a decent amount of time together before he asks her over to his house after school. Since she doesn't believe her good luck, Rain hasn't told any of her friends or family about Tommy, but is a bit uncomfortable about his invitation. She has good reason to be, and Tommy shows his true colors, although Rain is very fortunate that nothing serious occurs. Still, this alarms her enough that she finally talks to her new counselor, who tells her that she has to start trusting other people with her emotions and ask them for help. There are other issues going on in Rain's life; her parents are divorced, but she doesn't want to talk to her father. Her mother is very stressed, but has recently started counseling. Alyssa uncle has been detained by immgration officials; he's a DREAMER and is struggling to stay in the country he has called home since he was eight. Friend Umi is glad to help Rain set up a Circle Group at the high school, and she is fortunate enough to find a teacher who not only will be their supervisor, but who is good at providing snacks. High school isn't as bad as Rain thought, and with the help of her friends, she thinks that she can not only survive high school, but thrive by helping others thrive as well.
Strengths: Since this is a novel in verse, it is on the shorter side, and I loved that Rain was starting high school. There are so many books about 5th graders, and 6th-8th graders really do NOT want to read about elementary school students! Rain's anxiety is very common now, and it's helpful to read about her ways to cope with it, as well as seeing her feelings of inadequacy about how she looks, etc. I thought it was particularly interesting how her friend group seemed to change a bit, because this certainly looms large in the middle school experience. I knew right away that Tommy was not a good person for her to see, but it's a good lesson for readers to watch as he toys with her affections. There are just enough dynamics playing out with the mother, father, and Xander to add some depth to Rain's characters and experiences. I think this will be a popular title with readers who enjoyed the work of Paula Chase, Laurie Morrison, Renee Watson, and Tanita Davis, since all of those books blend realistic stories about older characters with problems in a way that is understandable to middle school students.
Weaknesses: I didn't remember reading the first book, so kept waiting to find out what had happened to Xander, since Rain and Xander acknowledge that something happened but don't talk about it.
What I really think: This book would be a great choice for 8th graders who want to read a little bit about high school but aren't really ready for YA books with a lot of colorful language or instructional situations. I think Rain Rising must have been back ordered and didn't come last year, so I'll have to make sure to reorder it when I buy this title.
Profile Image for Deb.
277 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2023
Wonderful messages to be who we were created to be.
Profile Image for Whitney Weinberg.
891 reviews10 followers
September 26, 2023
I absolutely loved the first book and this one just continued that love. Rain and her family are so great and go through so much. I love the prose. The way this is presented is so lovely and heart wrenching. Impossible to not want to hug all the main characters and their friends.
I hope there is more to come but regardless I will definitely revisit this many times.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s for an eARC.
Profile Image for Nora deMelo.
14 reviews
June 10, 2024
This sequel to Rain Rising is just as good as the first book. Heart-breaking, beautiful, emotional, and impossible to put down, Rain Remembers follows Rain as she navigates her first year of high school, which is completely different than middle school. When she meets an older boy who gives her the attention she craves, she starts to think school might not be as bad as she thought. But will she become too obsessed with spending time with him?
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.