A Little Rain

GRAND PRIZE FINALIST FOR THE ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD 2023.

". . . hard to put down. . ." -Reedsy Discovery ★★★★

". . . a stellar family drama with a compelling mix of contemporary issues, powerfully emotive writing, and twist-driven mystery." -Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★★

"A LITTLE RAIN is a textbook slow-burn storyline where author Bill VanPatten peels back the details in a deliberately methodical . . . narrative." -Readers' Favorite ★★★★★

Sixteen-year-old Alexander Chance's love of another boy has turned into an obsession-and the consequences have pushed his family to the brink. Sitting in a courtroom, he reflects on the past four months and what led him to the present situation. His father watches a quiet and dissociated son during the proceedings, forcing him to confront his own secretive past and the repressed sexuality that destroyed a happy home. Alexander's mother keeps a diary and confesses how her sublimated rage at her ex-husband drove a wedge between her and Alexander, and to a pill-popping, wine-drinking existence. In the end, the judge listens to expert testimony and must determine Alexander's fate. But Alexander is hiding a secret-a secret that would have profound consequences on the judge's decision.