Wish You Were Here is a very emotional and heartbreaking read. Carlino writes a beautiful bitter sweet story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart. Her stories are original and truly one of a kind. I was swept off my feet with this lovely novel that took me on a journey through many emotions. I was crying one minute and laughing the next. The characters are well thought out with very creative backstories and a refreshing plot line that is full of ups and downs. This book is full of love, life, hope and loss. A book that will not be easily forgotten

Wish You Were Here is one of those books that i cannot stop thinking about, even days after finishing it. It was such a sad love story, yet inspiring all at the same time.

i will try to make my review short and sweet since i do not want to ruin the magic of the book for future readers, nor do i want to give away any spoilers :) 

Charlotte is in her late 20’s and drifting through life. She doesn’t make commitments of any kind…. jobs, boyfriends, college…. she isn’t necessary a happy person over all either. she knows something is wrong with her. Why can’t she meet a guy and stay with him? Why can’t she get a job and stick with it? Why can’t she just LIVE her life?

Charlotte meets Adam, a wild child artist one may call him. This is where Charlotte’s life changes forever. The night she meets Adam, she changes. She starts to feel and live. The one night together changed everything.

Charlotte moves on with life but still isn’t really living. She meets another man, Seth. Now Seth is more of my type of guy. He is pretty perfect… and amazing… and a baseball player…. anyway ;) Seth really is falling for Charlotte but Adam returns in her life and changes everything. This is NOT your typical love triangle. It’s not really a love triangle at all. It’s full of love, sadness, and anger. This is the part of the book i cried and i cried hard. Lots of sadness….

Wish You Were is like no other book before. Renee Carlino writes so beautifully i felt the book was so poetic and inspiring in many ways.

The ending was sad and happy all at the same time. I really loved Seth, he stole the book for me. My reasoning for giving it 4.5 stars instead of a full 5 is I could never really love Charlotte as a person. She had a lot going for her and was so flakey and let good things go right past her. I wanted to love her, but couldn’t. 

I give Wish You Were Here, 4.5 Stars!


Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review

Shel: The truth of the matter is that I've become one of those fans--you know the ones that don't even need to read the description of the latest Renee Carlino book to know that I'm definitely going to read it? Yep, that's me. Guilty as charged. Court: Her gift of writing is unmeasured and we literally are in love with her I think. Superfans, I think they're called. 

Shel: So, of course, when I had a chance to read and review it, I didn't even hesitate...and I had no clue as to what this novel was about. (See synopsis below because this review is more about my reactions than retelling the plot). The first moment I had to read this novel, I did, and truth be told, at first I was a little disconnected from Charlotte--her character seemed so aimless and it was a little off -putting. Trusting Renee Carlino as I do, I kept an open mind and decided to just trust that it would all come together for me by the end. As I continued to read, I puzzled through a strange one night stand with Adam and fell for Seth. Court: I love reviewing with you because as we analyze the characters our reactions end up being so fluid but different too. I love it! I loved Charlotte because I found another character that is pretty much describing my twenties. I wouldn't say I'm as aimless per se due to things in our lives that our different, but our overall feeling of w t f am I doing where I am at a particular moment...yeah, that. She's unsure of taking a risk, that leap into the unknown...that the scariest step of all is the first one that really gets us going in a completely different direction than we are on. I get that, and I think at any given time every one of us has felt that way. And then...an event, or person or place hit us like an earthquake and shook us out of that rut and bounced us on our way to another path. That happened to Charlotte. 

Shel: Things were off for Charlotte which meant they were off for me--I wanted something for her character that her character didn't want for herself and I was getting frustrated. Ugh! But then, Renee Carlino did what I knew she'd do--she started connecting things together for me in a way that made me love and respect Charlotte, Adam, and Seth. There was a method to her author-madness that wasn't clear to me at first, then it started clicking in place and  I got it. Totally got it. And I appreciate so much of the wisdom offered through the conversations of Adam and Charlotte and what was shown with Seth and Charlotte. Court: It's like she laid out the puzzle pieces, and even though we couldn't see what would happen...she had the idea of how she wanted to put it all together. Thinking of how she put the book together, plotting and planning, makes my heart race because the actual craft of writing is fascinating and beautiful. The fact that Renee is so dang good at it...well....she's a household name for us. This one is an immediate paperback on the shelf, y'all and I think these characters journey is one that you'll want to go on as well. It's a wonderfully realistic novel with just enough fantasy that we love in our romance that rounded out a great book. 

Shel: I should also point out that throughout all of this, I cracked up with Charlotte's interactions with Chucky, Helen, and her family. They (those characters) were my voice to Charlotte, many times, and many times what they were saying made so much sense but in retrospect, many times what they had to say was rooted in misplaced motivations, I think. Thankfully, Renee Carlino knew better than me and Helen and Chucky and the parents and allowed Charlotte to have the journey she absolutely need to have. And what a journey it was--it was quirky and funny and enlightening; it was sweet and sad and joyful...and at times frustrating. It was exactly what I needed and I didn't even know I needed it. Isn't that the best? Court: Sometimes finally figuring out your stuff and getting off your butt and letting your wobbly legs is what a girl needs to get it together. Her family is hysterical. Chucky and Helen are my favorites. Adam is a poetic and beautiful addition to the story, and I really loved Seth. He's my underdog character and I felt a lot for him a lot of the time and just knew my heart was going to be ripped to shreds over these characters. It's a hard one, but gentler than I expected. Instant favorite for us, y'all..

Shel: I really think you are going to enjoy this novel--but if you're a little disconnected at first, like I was, trust me when I say that it really all comes together, just wait; be patient. Court: I know! I get that, totally. Be patient. Charlotte is disconnected and confused and we feel everything she feels right along with her.

I have many favourite contemporary/romance books but, Wish You Were Here is one of those books that blew me away and cry all at the same time. Being in Toronto at the time of reading it, I was remembering everything that happened with my father and that life is short and be with the ones you love most. Renee Carlino really out did herself with this book. I was pretty much an emotional wreck through some scenes. You can always count of Renee with writing a stunning story about love and loss. I was done with it in a matter of hours.  

Charlotte is our main character who is in her mid-late twenties and is not having very good luck at finding the one, working as a waitress and is changing jobs a lot. Then she meets Adam and her world changes. They have one unforgettable night that changes her for the next few months because she can't forget him. I seriously loved Adam to pieces!! His character had a lot of soul and love that he will not leave your mind until the last page because you also fall in love with him when Charlotte does. She grows so much throughout the book that in the end she is the one who is selfless and would do anything to help others. 

Wish You Were Here is a story that will make you fall in love and cry at the same time. It will touch your heart in many ways. Carlino's writing was as always beautiful and flawless. I have fallen in love with her books for the past few years and I can say that she is one of my favorite writers and auto-buys. If you're looking for a great emotional read with romance you definitely want to read this book!

***6 Stars

Wish You Were Here is a standalone novel by the amazingly talented Renee Carlino. I don't want to spoil this beautiful story so I am going to make this short and to the point. 

I went in totally blind. I did not read the synopsis. I had no idea what this book was about going in. I have my list of authors I do this with and Renee is on there. I just know that I will want and need to read their words. And wow. This one blew me away! It's one of the most beautiful stories that I have ever read. If I didn't have kids, I wouldn't have stopped reading at any point yesterday. I was fully invested and felt like I was in the book. I felt it all. I usually review a book within an hour of finishing it but I couldn't do it. For one, it was late. And two, it would have been a mess. Speaking of mess. Make sure to have tissues. You will need them. 

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters. The story. The emotions it brought out. Even now, I am about to lose it. I highly recommend reading this book. It's one of my favorites for the year! I wish I could explain more but I just can't. I won't. You just need to read it. There are parts that are slower but needed. Just go with it. Trust that Renee knows what she is doing. 

Overall...Thank you, Renee for such a beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. 

Quotes: 

“There’s nothing geeky about that body.”

“Feel me, Charlotte.”

It’s terrifying what your imagination will make you see.

I couldn't put this book down. I pulled it up on my iPad thinking I could read a few chapters before bed, and the next thing I know it's 2 in the morning. This book should come with a disclaimer stating that you shouldn't start it unless you have a few hours on your hands, not only to read this story but to process it. I don't want to give away any spoilers for this one, it's one of those stories that I think will impact readers so much more if they go into it blind. Every once in a while I come across a book that just blows me away, a book that I can't stop thinking about for weeks and this is without a doubt one of those books. It doesn't just tell you a story, it makes you feel absolutely every emotion. 
Carlino introduces us to an addictive cast of characters. They are all equally captivating and flawed in their own ways. The main character, Charlotte, was so frustrating and yet I couldn't get enough of her. She was perfectly imperfect. I loved that Carlino didn't only focus on the romance aspect of this story but also explored  family dynamics. I adored the relationship and witty banter between Charlotte and her brother. 
Carlino's writing was beautiful. I couldn't help but highlight certain lines throughout the story because they just spoke to me. There was not one part of this book that didn't have my absolute full attention. Carlino had me both laughing and crying, and I loved every minute of this reading experience. I highly recommend this novel. I appreciate that I was able to receive an ARC from Atria via Netgalley but I definitely think this will be one I have to have on my shelf. This had everything I look for when I open a book.

It's not that this is a bad book.  The writing is engaging and the story is unique and interesting.  But the hair on the back of my neck stood up very early on in this book and once I realized what was going on, I had to stop reading.  This was ultimately a DNF for me because these types of books are the closest thing I have to a trigger.  I adore this author, I have loved other books and was so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to read and review this one.  Unfortunately the subject matter is a dealbreaker this time.  I sincerely appreciate the opportunity.

Wow! This book was more than I expected, that’s for damn sure. Talk about giving a giving a girl the feels! 

Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino was such a beautiful and heartwarming story.

This book took me on emotional and wonderful journey of love, loss and healing. I do hope you get a chance to read it for yourself to see if you can the same fulfillment as I did. This books makes you question if you can really fall in love with someone in just one night.

Charlotte is gorgeous but she doesn’t even know it. She is also kind, sweet, and loyal. She is the true definition of what a friend, sister, daughter, woman is supposed to be. You can see her as your  friend or loved one easily. She has this ADHD thing about her and I fucking loved it because she reminded me of me. I would most likely still be all over the place if I didn’t have children.

Adam. Oh, Adam. He was. . . different to say the least but the was also something magical about him. He had an old soul, one that has been here on Earth before. I found myself intrigued by him. I wanted to learn more about him from the moment he was introduced to me in the book. I could tell early on that there was something major going on with him but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

After a beautiful night together, questions are asked and answered. Some we want to see and others that hurt us to read about. No matter what does or doesn’t happen, Adam made me fall in love with him in just one moment.

Unfortunately, Charlotte and Adam’s time is cut short early on so we never get a chance to figure him out completely. As the the story goes on we eventually learn Adam is so much more complicated than anyone could have expected. This unexpected turn make Charlotte and Adam’s love story one of the classics.

Now, Seth is a whole different story. Don’t get me wrong, he is a sweetheart but he is no Adam when it came to the connection he had with Charlotte. If there really is a thing called, soulmates, it would be Charlotte and Adam. But, if there was a thing called, um…this could work, it would be Charlotte and Seth. It wasn’t like Seth was a bad person or that Charlotte couldn’t love him, it was more like Adam already owned her heart whether she wanted him to or not. This puts Seth in a really funky position.

Is Seth man enough for the job of capturing Charlotte’s heart for his and his alone? I guess you will have read the book to find out. Did you really think I was going to tell you? Y’all should know me better than that by now!

So, here is Adam and here is Seth and there goes Charlotte. You’ll have to read the book to see what I mean with that statement.

This book made me wish I had my own Adam. I have my own real life Seth, so I don’t need to wish for that. Adam takes life by the balls and lives his life to the fullest even though he has his own shit he’s going through, it never takes away his ability to love.

4.5 stars!

I love it when I come across a book that pulls on my heartstrings in the best possible way. I know when I pick up a Renée Carlino book that it will have the perfect blend of inspiration and suffering.

I easily related to Charlotte and her uninspired, directionless life. She has changed college majors and career goals several times. Even her love life is stagnant since. Her lack of confidence causes her to sabotage relationships, although she freely admits she has crap taste in men.

Adam is instantly likable, and I can see why Charlotte would be drawn to him despite his confusing behavior. He’s spontaneous and always joyful. He recognizes the goodness that she can’t see in herself. Despite the fact that they’re strangers, their connection is inexplicably familiar and it moves their affair along at warp speed.

There is a love triangle, and I have to say that Seth, the baseball player, is one hell of a catch. The patience and love he lavishes on Charlotte makes her one lucky lady. Adam is equally devoted. My only issue is the way in which Charlotte handles the conflicts resulting from her relationships with both men.

At one point, I felt the story was heading into tearjerker territory. While it is emotional, I think it would have been more impactful for me if the pace slowed a bit so I could more fully appreciate the experience. The last quarter of the book, in particular, seems rushed. 

Charlotte’s evolution is still fascinating, though, and I cheered her on every step of her journey. This is a beautiful story that encourages you to prioritize your life and live without fear of others’ approval.

2 stars

*

Wish You Were Here is an emotional story about love at first sight. The fast pace and good writing keep the reader engaged, though it fails to sell the relationship between the two main characters. There is little character development, and while there are a few humorous scenes to balance out the heavy and painful themes, the dialogue feels too forced and awkward.

Renée Carlino and her writing sure keep readers flipping pages. It is very easy to get through the book, as the flow between chapters is done rather well, and the narration is smooth and engrossing. Unfortunately, the plot does feel rather shallow, and there is a lack of connection with the characters and their relationships. The novel also deals with a subject that is very personal and difficult for me to read, which made this rather hard to get through.


This novel has a serious case of instalove. The premise hinges on Charlotte and Adam having one night together, which sparks a connection that lasts for the entire story. The issue is that, for over half the novel, Charlotte doesn’t actually interact with Adam at all. She moves on with her life, but still stays hung up on that guy. I did appreciate the realistic approach to Charlotte moving on, but the execution is not done well, especially when Adam comes back into play.

I had a lot of problems with Charlotte. Despite being an easy narrator to follow, her personality left a lot to be desired. She is extremely scattered and indecisive, and most of her actions in the book left a bad taste in my mouth. The way she deals and interacts with people is rather selfish, as she’s only worried about her own feelings. And there is basically no character development throughout the story, which does not help.

One thing that did hit me incredibly hard, and not in a good way, is the main twist regarding Adam. It’s tangled with a subject that I have a lot of trouble reading about, due to personal experiences, and it caught me totally off-guard. This means I had to skim a lot of the Adam scenes – roughly the last half of the book -, as a way to protect myself and take care of my mental health.

In the end, Wish You Were Here is a very fast read that did not sit well with me. The awkward dialogue and lack of character development impacted the emotional aspect the plot leans on, and Charlotte’s actions throughout the story are hard to swallow. Being faced with a subject that also affects me personally, and not in a good way, also collaborated with this not being a good read for me. Romance fans who like soulmate and love at first sight novels might like this, but it was not for me.

Renee Carlino is one of those authors that I know I want to read her book without ever reading the blurb. She is an amazing writer and crafts a story that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the story. From the start, I knew I was going to speed through Wish You Were Here. It was easy to read and Charlotte was very easy to connect too, even though she was like the complete opposite of me.

However, I figured out the twist early on. I felt like 50% of the book was depressing. While I coudn't put this book down, I was kind of not feeling the "Me Before You" vibe and wanted to get to the end...to the happy ending. In the end, the story was bitter sweet. I feel like there could have been just a little bit more but I couldn't tell you what.

I can always count on Renee Carlino to write stunning stories. Wish You Were Here is an emotional, poignant, and beautiful story of love, loss, and soul mates. This is one of those books that rocked me to my core. I started reading it, and to be honest, it didn’t’ hook me at first. The more I read, though, the more I loved it. It affected me so much towards the end, I had to leave my bed and go read on the couch so I didn’t wake my husband up with my crying.

Charlotte is in her mid-late twenties, but she still doesn’t feel like she has much direction in her life. She lives with her best friend, Helen, works as a waitress full-time, and is in school… again. This time for cosmetology, which she learns she doesn’t really have a knack for. Along with being a little lost on the career front, she also has a bad picker. Her last few boyfriends have been less than stellar. Then, one night, she meets Adam. Charlotte has never met anyone like this man. He enamors her from the start and she knows it’s only one night, but she’s never felt like this before about anyone.

One night is all Charlotte and Adam have, but it’s an unforgettable night. No matter what happens or who comes into her life the next few months, she can’t forget him….

There is so much more I want to say about this story, but I loved being surprised by certain things so I’ll keep quiet about the plot. This book, it moved me. It made me think, made me feel, and really got to me. It’s been a few days since I’ve read it, and it hasn’t left my mind. I love books that have that type of impact on me. They seem to always end up on my favorites list, as I’m sure this one will.

Adam is such a beautiful soul. He is an unforgettable character. Charlotte is one of those heroines who I wasn’t sure if I loved at the beginning. She really did change and grow though, and I ended up adoring her. I was blown away by how selfless she was.

Wish You Were Here is a story that touched my soul. Carlino’s writing is flawless. If you’re looking for an emotional read with lots of heart, don’t miss out on this book. It’s a top favorite for 2017.

Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino 

This was a difficult book for me to read for personal reasons and so my review won't be a lengthy one. 

Wish You Were Here has kind of an instalove-ish feel to it. Charlotte and Adam meet late one night and have that instant connection people dream about. Unfortunately, come the next morning, Adam pretty much kicks Charlotte out of the house, never to be seen again. Charlotte spends weeks, no months, trying to get over Adam, even dating someone new but she still needs closure and goes to his old apartment to find it. What happens next was pretty goddamn heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time and well, I'll just leave it at that. 

What I loved about this book is Carlino's writing. She can make the most godawful situation so lovely and beautiful and all I want to do is devour her words. I loved that our main character grew and matured throughout the book because she came across as rather immature to begin with. I didn't really believe the connection between some of the characters and that was a turn-off for me, thus the four star rating. 

*arc received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. 

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

Renee Carlino is one of those authors that I will watch out for her next new release.  I have never been disappointed by this talented writer.  Although I enjoyed all her stories so far, Wish You Were Here was by far her best work yet.  For me to get emotional over a book is a big deal.  If I get to shed a tear, which by the way was a bucket load of them, it deserves all the star in the sky.

  This is the kind of story that one should get to experience first hand.  It's not your traditional romance, it's unique, raw and poignant.  I read this on a matter of hours.  The characters were perfected to make me fall in love with them.  This storyline grabbed my undivided attention from the first page to the very last one.  

  A beautifully written story about love and loss.  This is a standalone with an HEA.  I strongly recommend this story.

Absolutely well written story between Charlotte, Adam, and Seth.  This story grabbed my attention from the beginning.  I cannot wait for this book to be released!

5 stars. Brb gotta go sob uncontrollably into my pillow.

Okay, so I started reading this at midnight one night. Next thing I know, it's four AM and I can't breathe because the book is finished and Renee ripped out my heart! I LOVE everything she writes. I say it every time, that with each book she gets better and better. But this one- this one is my ALL TIME FAV thing she's written. 

This book blew me away. If you need a reality check, a life lesson, or just an uncontrollable sob... look no further. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. But by the end, you're so wrecked that when she puts you back together again it's the most glorious thing. 

I'll stay if you want me to..... 

God, I loved Seth and the type of man he was. I wished things would have been different for Charlotte, and she wouldn't have had to endure all the heartbreak. All the struggle and pain. But that's what life is. And you can't help who you love, or when they come into your life. 

Charlotte is funny. I love her relationship with her brother. It doesn't start out the best but Chuck won me over. He plays a big part in Charlotte's healing, I believe. And for that, he's a good man. 

Adam.... Don't even get me started. I just can't. This is where the crying comes in. 

Why does the story have to end? ........ It doesn't. 

My favorite part was their stories they made up together. I closed my eyes for a second and relished in the feeling they felt. I could feel it. The longing to love one another just a moment longer. 

This is not your typical love triangle. Not at all. You just have to read it to understand. Read it and devour it and cry your little heart out because it's so emotional and so perfect.

Thank you, Renee for this beautiful book of art.

This was only my second novel by Renée Carlino. When I first started reading it I really felt like something was off. I wasn't connecting with the story or characters. I couldn't place my feelings on the book yet and wasn't even sure I was enjoying it. But right around the halfway mark the whole story turned around, things became clear and I found myself devouring every word!

"This is the part about one-night stands that I hate. In the end, everyone is just pretending."

WISH YOU WERE HERE starts with a one night stand and a cold shoulder. Charlotte feels rejected and used. What she thought was something special turns into something that could possibly be her biggest regret. Despite her hurt feelings and his strange behavior, she finds herself still thinking about him almost a year later. Can she get past this one person who left such an impact on her and move on? You'll have to read to find out.

"I was in love with his spontaneity. I envied it."

Like I said, once I hit about the halfway mark in this story I couldn't stop. I was so invested in the story, these characters lives and what would happen next that I found myself up into the wee hours of the night finishing the book. I went into reading this book knowing basically nothing about the story. The synopsis doesn't give much away so I want to try and do the same but I will leave you with this: my eyes were leaking without my permission by the end of this book. I. Don't. Cry! Books never make actual tears fall but this one did. I wasn't expecting to have these kinds of feelings when I picked this one up. I really enjoy her writing style and will definitely be reading more of her work.

"It was the first time I’ve ever really been scared to die. I think because it’s the first time I’ve ever really wanted to live."

I absolutely adored this novel. Wish You Were Here grabbed me from the first few pages and didn’t let go. Without giving spoilers, I warn that this novel requires ample Kleenex in your immediate vicinity while reading! There are such devastating moments in this story, but this novel is also packed full of love, commitment, and self-discovery.

Honestly, I struggled with Charlie as a character in general at the beginning of the novel. There wasn’t anything really unlikable about her, however, I struggled relating to her. As the novel progressed, so did Charlie. She went from not knowing what in the world she wanted or who she wanted to learning how to completely love and how to behave selflessly. Her relationship with her brother and parents strengthened, and although she and Helen had some struggles during the novel, theirs also grew by the end of the book. 

The plot was engaging and paced perfectly, but I felt that the character development fell short compared to the novel as a whole. Besides my initial struggles with Charlie, it occurred to me that although I just finished this novel last night, I cannot tell you what any of the characters looked like. What I did learn about them felt somewhat superficial, but even with this drawback, I loved this book. 

Wish You Were Here is a tearjerker, but it includes such important themes about love and life in general. I highly recommend this to lovers of new adult & women’s fiction.

*Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5-4 STARS! Another Carlino masterpiece! While I enjoyed a lot of this book, the characters, the relationships—this was not my favorite of Carlino though I loved the relationships and support between all the characters. This one hit close to home for me as I recently experienced this with a friend and it really tore at my heartstrings. 
There were some things that didn't work for me including some of the insta-love and how Charlotte treated Seth. But overall this book and story grabbed my attention from the get-go and I couldn't stop reading—addicted to the words and frantically trying to finish to see how it would all go. 
Carlino is still one of my faves of all time and I look forward to what she has in store for us next.

Wow, talk about an emotional rollercoaster! I read the blurb of this book way back, and I knew right away that this will be something quite special., as it is always the case with Renee Carlino's books. 
I couldn't stop reading. She truly outdid herself with this one. When I got to the end, I wanted to start all over again. Unique, beautiful, poignant, refreshing and most definitely my favorite books this year! 
Very moment I finished this book, I sent an e-mail to my friends telling them they should read this like... ASAP!