Midnight Rain: A Those Who Wait Story

To understand the emotional weight of this book, I strongly recommend reading Those Who Wait, Forever and a Day, and The Snowball Effect first. That being said, Midnight Rain is devastating. I’ve read it four times, I’ve cried reading it four times. I’ve needed to take breaks and plan appropriate times to read certain sections (especially chapters 15 and 16) because there have been *moments* that left me completely wrecked. Haley Cass pulled no punches in this ‘what if’, and the happy ending is thoroughly and gratefully earned. It is, of course, spicy, but never obscene, as with any other book in the Cassiverse. Each passionate *moment* serves romance, and the love between Sutton and Charlotte is beautifully written. And as painful as it may be in the midst of the storm, the entire book is, well, perfect. I would have a hard time admitting it’s my favorite book, because it does strike a deeply personal and painful chord inside be, but I also couldn’t put it second. All I can say is thank you, Haley Cass, for writing it.

Having read the Charlotte and Sutton’s original 2 books, I was very ambivalent about this “alternate universe” version. The almost 600 pages of Those Who Wait was not nearly enough for me — I have it in digital, audio, and paperback versions. But reading the pre-publication summary for Midnight Rain, had me hopping mad about an AU version where they never made it as a couple! Charlotte and Sutton were probably my favorite literary sapphic couple since Kallmaker’s Rett and Angie in Unforgettable. I was afraid that this new book would ruin them for me — in a way I was right? Midnight Rain has blown every other story out of the water. This is now the yardstick that all future reads will be compared to. To say that Midnight Rain was very well written, is a gross understatement. Ms. Cass has that rare ability to have the reader bond with the characters and become invested in their lives. They become real in a way that almost feels like you’re reading the biography of a friend. I always look forward to her new works with anticipation, but I was experiencing some trepidation about the release of this one. I didn’t want to mess with the lives and love of such beloved characters. For those who haven’t yet read Those Who Wait, I recommend reading that first, up to the end of Chapter 23, before starting this one. That being said, I liked the concept of Sutton and Charlotte finding each other again in the what-if Charlotte hadn’t come out scenario … and essentially Midnight Rain…

I have read For Those Who Wait more times than is probably healthy. When life slows down I actually think about the characters. I love how in -depth the story is and I feel like I know the characters personally. This alternate ending isn’t one that I will re-read over and over but it was also great. I loved how Charlotte’s grandmother changed her tune with her letter in the end. It tied up her character nicely. One of my favorite things about the first book was how well-edited it was. No mistakes to be found. This one however, could use another read through.

When the author offers an extended story, a different perspective (POV), an “alternative” storyline as a result of one decision, and the author is Hailey Cass. No need to question it. Take it. Immediately. You’ll be thankful.

Truthfully, I was skeptical. My first thought was, ‘why mess with perfection.’ The first book was a classic, beautifully conceived and written. I was not sure about this redux, but I was intrigued. To say it surpassed expectation is an understatement. Here is the thing: in order for this to work, the author had to be extremely thoughtful and careful not to spoil the original work. This is where Haley Cass shines as a writer. First, I can tell how beloved these characters are to her because she does them a type of justice in Midnight Rain that is laudable. This is a whole new book, and that is an accomplishment that has to be highlighted. More powerful, is how changed but the same the characters remain, and she accomplishes that with subtle nuances that cannot go unnoticed. How Sutton is here, is not who she was in the original, and I loved that. I loved the bold stoke of Sutton having a child. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but there is such depth in the narrative that it shines brightly. From the plot line to the character development and arc, Ms. Cass left no stone unturned. It was absolutely fitting. This could easily have been a swing and a miss. The courage it took to do this, and to succeed so tremendously is a feat in itself. The genre has really exploded in the past year, with notable content. I put Midnight Rain right at the top as I did the original.