[Knowing the Rain Trilogy, Book One]
Series order: 1. Knowing the Rain: The Summer Breeze Still Blows, but the Boy Is Gone (Complete) | 2. Knowing the Rain: The Lights Fade at Night, and Old Dreams Crumble (Coming Soon) | 3. Coming Soon
The characters carry over between books, but each story stands alone. Reading them in order is recommended.
Ji Zhiyu is an outstanding student who seems to have it all in the eyes of others. She has spent years living up to her mother's harsh expectations, keeping herself tightly controlled while concealing a deep-seated sense of inferiority.
Then Chen Yu appears. He sees the timid girl beneath her facade, and with small acts of tenderness, becomes a brief ray of light in her bleak youth.
A young boy's love is pure and sincere, but another person's warmth cannot smooth away the inner wrinkles left by years of growing up.
Their youthful feelings cannot overcome the gulf between reality and their personalities. Neither of them is at fault. The summer breeze still blows, but the boy is gone. This tender missed connection is the beginning of her slow journey toward self-acceptance.
[Reader Advisory]
- A realistic coming-of-age story with an unhappy ending. No melodrama or malicious supporting characters.
- The male lead is kind but imperfect, and cannot save her from everything.
- Focuses on the pressures of growing up and inner turmoil, with a slow-burn style.
- There are no villains, only the helplessness and crossed paths of youth. If you want a perfectly happy, sugary romance, read with caution.
All rights reserved. Reposting, plagiarism, or commercial adaptation without written permission from the author, Shumo, is prohibited. All rights to adaptations for film, short-form dramas, audiobooks, and other media belong to the author.
Theme: Amid the long pressures of growing up, a brief youthful crush teaches a girl to slowly make peace with herself.
