Chelsea Curto’s contemporary romance novel In Stormy Weather (2026) follows the evolving relationship between two rival meteorologists during a turbulent Florida hurricane season. Quincy Monroe is a dedicated scientist who has built a successful online weather show from the ground up, fighting for credibility in a male-dominated field. Her professional and personal life is disrupted by the return of her lifelong academic rival, Sebastian Dunn, a charismatic TV weatherman who is secretly battling career burnout. As they’re forced to chase storms together, their sharp antagonism gives way to a deeper connection. Thematically, the novel explores The Professional Burden on Women in STEM, The Duality of Nature’s Power, and Finding Connection Through Shared Passion.

In Stormy Weather is Curto’s traditional publishing debut, following her independently published hockey romance Face Off (2024), which gained popularity on the social-media platform TikTok. The author is known for writing stories characterized by witty banter and high-heat romance. The novel draws on Curto’s personal experience growing up in Central Florida and living through numerous hurricanes. In Stormy Weather is the first book in a planned series of interconnected standalone novels set in the fictional town of Oak Valley.

This guide refers to the 2026 Atria Paperback edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, substance use, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

Quincy Monroe is a successful meteorologist with a PhD in atmospheric sciences and the popular host of a weather blog, The Rainy Day Show, and related social-media channels. As she celebrates reaching a million Instagram followers, she secretly applies for a prestigious position as science and operations officer at the National Weather Service (NWS), a long-held dream. Her life in Oak Valley, Florida, centers around her best friends—local bar owner Harlow Whitaker and optimistic romance author Mia Dunn. The start of hurricane season brings an unwelcome disruption: Mia’s brother, Sebastian Dunn, a charismatic TV weatherman and Quincy’s lifelong academic rival, returns to town to film a docuseries. Unbeknownst to his own friends Cooper Givens and Nate Shaw, Sebastian is struggling with career burnout, feeling disconnected from the exhilaration of storm chasing that first inspired him. His rivalry with Quincy is immediately rekindled when they run into each other at the grocery store and trade their signature sarcastic barbs.

Later, Sebastian and Quincy find themselves chasing the same potential tornado, and their on-screen banter, captured on Quincy’s livestream, prompts overwhelming engagement from viewers who love their onscreen chemistry. During the chase, Sebastian lets slip his disillusionment with his celebrity-status job, admitting that he misses the thrill of being in the field. Even though the two rivals claim to despise each other, the mutual attraction between them grows stronger.

At a local summer festival, Sebastian challenges Quincy to a carnival game, insisting that the winner gets to choose the loser’s punishment. When Sebastian emerges victorious, his forces Quincy to ride the Ferris wheel with him, despite her fear of heights. When the ride stops at the top, Sebastian distracts a panicking Quincy by discussing an approaching tropical storm named Claudia. In this vulnerable moment, Quincy shares her constant struggle for respect in a male-dominated field, and Sebastian admits that he feels creatively and professionally stuck.

Their tentative truce solidifies when they decide to chase Hurricane Claudia together in Miami. During the storm’s lull, Sebastian rescues a woman and her dog from a flooded car, an act captured on video for network news. After witnessing his selflessness, Quincy begins to see him as more than just an arrogant rival. They soon discover that they’re both final candidates for the coveted position at the NWS and support each other through each stage of the interview process. During a tense panel, one of the interviewers is openly dismissive and makes sexist comments directed at Quincy. Furious, Sebastian jumps in to defend her, emphasizing Quincy’s qualifications and threatening to withdraw his own name from consideration if she’s not treated with the respect she deserves. This act of solidarity effectively sacrifices his own chances at securing the job and shatters the last remnants of his and Quincy’s rivalry, replacing it with a deep mutual respect.

As the emotional and professional barriers between them continue to break down, they give in to their physical attraction. During a game night at Quincy’s house, a charged moment in the kitchen leads to their first kiss. They agree to a “one-time” hookup, which quickly evolves into a secret friends-with-benefits arrangement. Sebastian begins co-hosting Quincy’s show, and their natural onscreen chemistry earns them the ship name “#Quibby” from viewers as The Rainy Day Show’s popularity skyrockets. The more time they spend together, the more emotionally vulnerable they become. Sebastian confesses that he has been watching Quincy’s show every morning for seven years “[b]ecause seeing [her] on [his] screen [wa]s the best part of [his] day […] and watching [her] show made [him] feel like [he] was […] home, even when [he] was thousands of miles away” (299). Quincy admits to herself that she’s developing real feelings, and Sebastian asks her to go on their first official date. During a picnic under the stars, Sebastian asks for a real relationship. When Quincy asks if there’s really room in his life for her, he reveals that his phone passcode is 8737, an acronym for The Rainy Day Show (TRDS), confessing that he’s had feelings for her since they were in high school. 

As Hurricane Georgianna approaches, Quincy discovers a critical, last-minute shift in its trajectory that the National Hurricane Center has missed. Georgianna is rapidly intensifying into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane aimed at an unprepared part of Southwest Florida. She and Sebastian go on national news together to break from the official forecast and warn the public. They drive directly into the storm’s path in Punta Gorda to document it. Caught outside in the eyewall, they face 160-mph winds and flying debris that put their lives in danger. Sebastian is injured while saving a group of baby ducks, and in their terror, he and Quincy finally find their way back to their hotel. Trapped together in the bathroom as the storm rages, they confess their love for each other. 

In the storm’s aftermath, Quincy and Sebastian help with local search-and-rescue efforts before beginning the long drive home. During the ride, Sebastian confirms that he’s in love with Quincy. When they reunite with their friends, who sheltered in place together during the storm and are all safe, Sebastian realizes how much he’ll miss this life, his friends, and Quincy when he returns to New York. 

After returning to Oak Valley, Quincy receives a call offering her the NWS job. Almost simultaneously, Sebastian is informed that his replacement at ABC has quit and that he must return to his job in New York the following day or face a breach of contract with severe financial penalties. Determined to make their relationship work, Sebastian and Quincy agree to try a long-distance relationship. However, while waiting at the airport gate, Sebastian has an epiphany about what truly matters. He finds a loophole in his contract and abruptly quits his high-profile job. He rushes back to Oak Valley and surprises Quincy during her livestream, declaring his love for her and his decision to stay in Florida for good.

One year later, Quincy is thriving in her new role at the NWS while still running The Rainy Day Show. Sebastian has found his own professional fulfillment by creating a successful YouTube series that focuses on the human impact of weather disasters, a job that allows him to help people directly. After returning from a work trip, Sebastian goes live on his social media, telling his viewers that he’s driving home to propose to Quincy. At home, he challenges her to one last game of “Truth or Dare,” getting down on one knee, and daring her to marry him. Quincy accepts, solidifying their journey from bitter rivals to loving partners ready to face any weather together.