What is When the Rain Came about?
The rain hasn’t stopped for weeks, and the flooding is apocalyptic with every building, including homes, schools, shops etc drastically flooded.
The main characters are constantly busy, making sure they stay dry and safe as their mansion home begins to fail under the onslaught to constant rain.
They must get to somewhere safe before that happens, but there is no sign of any emergency services, or government aid anywhere. They must survive on their own.
Plot summary of When the Rain Came
This novel begins with a wealthy home surrounded by water, nearly to the 2nd floor. It hasn’t stopped raining for weeks and 17 year old Aurora is now living with her new foster parents Nico & Jada. They are well prepared for this event as they are preppers. They have food, a radio, weapons and maps.
Aurora gets a taste of what these new foster parents would be like in a normal situation, but that changed as the waters rose, and their circumstances became more dire. Rising waters aren’t the only threat however, as Nico tells Aurora that other people may have what they have stockpiled, and want to take it by force. She didn’t expect to be learning how to throw a hatchet with accuracy, and wonders if she could actually throw one at a person.
When she finds herself alone, she must draw on all that she has learnt. Escaping the house is a must, and finding a boy a little younger than her a surprise. They quickly form a close bond and must not only navigate the rising floodwaters in the constant rain, but avoid strange things in the water and other people wanting all that they have for their survival.
Finding a refuge is the most important thing, but the journey is dangerous, and the final destination a risk.
Review
When the Rain Came intrigued me in the beginning by its cover. Experiencing more rain events than ever in NZ, this novel felt entirely possible. The story is a gritty one, with society collapsed and no rules applying to anyone – including empathy and common decency.
Life is desperate, and many will not hesitate to take what they believe they need by force. The characters and their actions were believable in this horrifying scenario, and easy to root for.
The setting is rich in description – constant rain, thick clouds and endless damp crept off the page and into my imagination. Trying to comprehend being surrounded by water under endless rainfall and the noise it brings, is a tough one.
I’m looking forward to the sequel, When the Sun Returned, as the scenario is flipped to never ending, intense sun and the need to escape and survive it.
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC.
Writing Style
When the Rain Came is written in Aurora’s point of view in present tense. This allows the reader to be right there in the action as she ventures out onto the floodwaters, teams up with a younger boy and is forced to make tough decisions constantly.
The 1st page of each chapter has a raindrop above the chapter heading and a dark pattern at the bottom of the page. The chapters are short to medium length, making it easy to carry on reading to find out what happens next.
FAQ’s
What age is it for?
12 – 18 years
Where & When is it set?
Mostly on top of floodwaters inside floating craft / Near future / USA
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
1st person / Present tense
Is there Violence?
Yes
What genre is When the Rain Came ?
YA /Â Dystopian
Is there any sex in the novel?
No
Themes
Family / Courage / Climate Change / Survival / Societal Collapse / Adaptability
Is it part of a series?
Yes. When the Rain Came is No. 1 in a duology.
- When the Rain Came
- When the Sun Returned (Release around Sept 2026
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Author
Matthew Eicheldinger
Publisher
Andrews McMeel Publishing (US)
Simon & Schuster (Aust/NZ)
(2026, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Survival, Rain, Action, Betrayal, Conflict, Courage, Dystopian, Family, Series, Adaptation, Prepping, Societal Collapse)