ALWAYS RAINING HERE

Two boys explore a budding romance in this slice-of-life graphic novel set in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2013.

Carter wants nothing more than to hook up with Adrian, the only gay guy he’s interested in at his high school in a “painfully boring suburb.” Carter’s unrequited pursuit of Adrian is, at first, solely motivated by physical attraction (“I’m just trying to get laid”). Adrian finds this distasteful, a feeling he expresses in a way that unfortunately references gender stereotypes: “I know I’m being a total girl about this, but I really don’t want to have sex with someone I don’t love.” But Carter begins to show more genuine interest, winning him over. The pair fumbles through challenges, like Carter’s lack of academic motivation and Adrian’s parents’ high expectations, and romantic tension builds as their relationship becomes one of sincere love and care. Carter’s laid-back attitude complements Adrian’s high-strung personality, creating an entertaining relationship dynamic. This work, which originally appeared as a webcomic, features some updated illustrations. The soft color palette, expressive facial expressions, strong visual gags, and dynamic panel compositions will keep readers engaged. Carter and Adrian, who present white, initially feel generic and underdeveloped, but they become more well-rounded as the story progresses. The exploration of life as a queer teenager is overall surface-level but maintains a level of charm and relatability.

A light and largely appealing queer romance.