This book had everything a YA novel needs - pining, angst, self-doubt, growing pains, witty dialogue, misunderstandings, friendship, secrets, love. The wring was beautiful, inclusive and approachable. The plot, spread out over a twenty-four hour high school senior camp out - didn't have a single dull moment. And the emotions...this story had me really feeling for every one of these characters from the very first chapter.
I loved this read and couldn't recommend this book enough.

Thank you for the digital ARC!

I WISH YOU WOULD is a Taylor Swift song perfectly bottled, with a sweet, angsty, yearning friends-to-lovers dynamic and a fun plot tying it all together. I loved the tight timeline, and the pacing never felt slow, even though sometimes books set in the span of a day or less sometimes sag in the middle. Eva Des Lauriers keeps the momentum moving with close examinations of the relationships involved, and beautifully captures the messy feelings that come with being a high schooler with hidden feelings.

I WISH YOU WOULD by debut author Eva Des Lauriers is a standalone contemporary Young Adult Romance that touched me so deeply (in the best way), that I went through half a box of tissues. It's Senior Sunrise and part of the tradition involves writing a letter telling yourself what you would do this last year in high school if you were brave enough. When Natalia, the class president, accidentally releases some of those letters from their bottle, chaos ensures as she and her sort of best friend Ethan try to find them all before her mistake is discovered. I loved the two main characters, the setting, and the family and friendship dynamics. Before I gush on more, let me share the setup.

Ever since something that sort of happened between Natalia and her best friend Ethan after prom, they ghost each other the following summer, and it is difficult for both of them. Tensions at both of their homes are resulting in anxiety and angst, and they miss having their best friend there for them. As part of the beginning of senior year, there's a tradition of watching the sunrise together on the beach. Part of that tradition is burning those aforementioned letters.

After Ethan catches Natalia scooping up the letters she accidentally scattered, they are tied together with this secret. The problem is, they don't talk about what happened after prom because events and people keep getting between them. The other problem is that each of them have one of their fellow classmates looking for a relationship with them, sparking jealousy, and in some cases, feelings of betrayal. Will they figure out how to talk things out and to trust one another again? You'll have to read to find out.

What I loved most about this book:
- The characters, every single one of them, were well-crafted, and felt like people I might have met or known in high school
- The side characters did some heavy lifting at some points, and I found that clever and realistic
- Natalia, my perfectionist, half Hispanic sister! How I wish someone had known me so well back in high school that he could help me when I panicked or was being too hard on myself. A friend like Ethan comes along once in a lifetime. Her struggles about what was happening with her family life, her struggles with other burdens that were placed on her by herself and others just felt so real, and my heart felt so deeply for her.
- Ethan, my fellow nerd at heart, how I wanted to fix it all for you, help you say the right things to Natalia to clear the air, even though she wouldn't let you. This age is already trying, but add onto it all of the burdens Ethan was carrying, well, I'm impressed he's as collected as he is at times. Until he's not.
- The heightened feelings described with Eva's beautiful words resonated with the part of my heart that will always be seventeen. How much everything felt like the end of the world at times.
- On top of the main romantic arc in this story are some other arcs that were so, so well-written, and again reflecting the contemporary high school experience.
- I liked the glimpses of the lost letters. It set up tension, and ratched it up. At one point, I had to put the book down because it was stressing me out, in a good way.
- Natalia's approach to art and how she experiences her feelings through paint on a canvas was a great inclusion. Also, neuro-diverse rep, for the win! Anxiety can be crippling, and I hope that if readers see themselves in Natalia and they realize they have anxiety, they seek the help they need to better cope with life and the world.
- This story did a great job of hinting that something bad was going to happen, and then having it happen.
- I mentioned that I cried while reading this book. There's this one part that is so touching, so completely moving that I bawled. It wasn't for the whole book, just to be clear. You'll know when you get there. Chef's kiss. Bravo, Eva, for really sticking the landing.
- I almost forgot: This book has a stunningly gorgeous cover.

What didn't work:
- My only constructive feedback was that I grew frustrated towards the end when there just seemed to be so many barriers piled up to keep Ethan and Natalia from having an actual conversation about what happened and how they feel. But that's just me. I shy away from conflict by nature (Natalia, much?), so maybe that's why I grew frustrated at that one point in the book when a character believed something that couldn't really come from a trustworthy source.

I WISH YOU WOULD is a romantic, pacey, emotional read that helped me reconnect with my memories of what it was like to be seventeen and in love. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order this fantastic novel! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

It would be easy for me to say that I loved this book emotionally. It would be easy for me to say that I loved the writing. But I think the most important thing this book did was put me into Natalia's and Ethan's heads so well that I felt like I was there. I felt it intensely when Natalia would have panic attacks. I felt my heart clench when Ethan was talking about trouble with his dad. Multiple times throughout the book my heart broke and swelled for these two characters (and the extremely present cast of side characters).

Eva has created a story that so many of us can identify with. If you're in high school you can see your current life reflected in it. If you're several (ahem, almost 20 years) out of high school, you can still put yourself back there. The main conflict (at least the one on the surface, not the actual one) is that the private "Lion Letters" of over 50 high school seniors get accidentally scattered along the beach. Thinking about that from the eyes of a 35 year old, it's not as big of a deal because of the experiences I have had. However, the way Eva crafts this book, I can 100% remember just how devastating that would have felt to me as a senior in high school.

The romance is sweet and you spend so much time just wanting the two main characters to just TALK TO EACH OTHER. Because so many of their issues could be solved with communication.

Ok, I'm rambling now. But tldr, this book is amazing. If you're a YA fan you should read it, if you're a romance fan you should read it, if you're a coming of age fan you should read it, if you're a swiftie, you should read it. If you are someone who just craves a story that you cannot put down? Read it. You will not regret it, I promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This was a very sweet YA novel and I thought the writing was excellent. Although I'm no longer a young adult, I still enjoyed this read. Both Natalia and Ethan were great main characters.

A beautiful young adult book revolving around high school drama with the sweetest romance. He author did a great job at portraying how worriers are high schoolers when it comes to their future, their dreams and their relationships. I read this in one day because it was pretty short and it had such an easy writing that I ended up losing myself in the pages. I truly loved this one.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for letting me read this book early.Between the writing and the well-drawn characters, you won't be able to put this one down.

After an awkward encounter on prom night best friends Natalia and Ethan have barely spoken and with changes on the horizon it's now or never for them.

I liked parts of the book. The beginning was my favorite and I had high hopes! There were a lot sweet moments and laugh out loud moments. I just wish there wasn't so many back and forth moments, it felt a little redundant after so many times. But overall I liked the book.

Even though I was not so much a fan of high school, I LOVE a story revolving around high school drama. To kick off senior year, there's a Senior Sunrise where each member of the senior class writes a letter to themselves that no one else will see. Except, oh wait, these letters get out due to Natalia wanting to be extra sure her letter is safe. Ethan is her best friend, but after prom something went down, and it's meant they've drifted far apart. I liked how the core of this story was about Natalia and Ethan (and they narrated alternating chapters), but also brought in some letters from other classmates. Honestly, I wanted more secrets as the letters were fascinating. This was a quick read, and it's one I found I was drawn to the characters and wanted the best for them and their relationships! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this May 2024 release - This will be a great summer 2024 beach read!

I Wish You Would has been one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint! The premise is to die for, with secrets of a gossipy private high school's senior class scattered across the beach—and the way it brings together two estranged best friends, pushing them closer and closer to confessing their wounds to each other and giving their relationship a shot, is just delicious. Eva writes with such heart and atmosphere and joy—I couldn't put this down!

I liked the premise of the story. It was cute. Though parts I felt were repetitive. And the letters were interesting and at times intense. Overall, it was a nice romance story of two best friends. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book! When I was in Middle School/ early High school, I used to devour YA romances. As I got older, I switched to reading more fantasy books. It's been a while since I read a good romance, and this one gave me all the nostalgic feels.

I really enjoyed the characters, particularly our main ones, Ethan and Natalia. They felt so well fleshed out and realized. Every emotional response felt earned, which isn't always true in this genre of books. These felt like real people and I recognized so many of my own feelings and fears and insecurities from that time in my life. I was rooting for them from the start, and that never stopped. I also loved the side characters. Again, this felt like a real group of high schoolers.

The setting and the fact that the bulk of the story took place in a 24 hour time span also worked for me. I'm not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, but I have to say, it worked here. I understood why these kids weren't talking and the heightened sense of emotion and stakes felt true to what a seventeen year old would be feeling at the time.

Honestly, this was just a blast. It was swoony and sweet and filled with character you will come to love.

What a wonderful debut novel!

This was chock full of angst that kept me turning the page. I was rooting for Ethan to be nosy and read Natalia's letter almost from the beginning, just so those poor kids could be put out of their misery. I needed to see Natalia and Ethan realize the other loved them and just confess their feelings. As a result, I sped through this in almost one sitting.

I think fans of Jandy Nelson will really like this. It's got the coastal Norcal setting, the artistic protagonist, and a good dose of family drama.

3.75⭐️

There's really nothing better than the drama and angst of a YA novel. This book follows best friends Natalia and Ethan, who after almost crossing the line at junior prom and not speaking to each other all summer, have to confront their issues after confession letters go missing at a senior class overnight trip.

Both characters are struggling with family issues and with themselves. Ethan is suddenly popular after being bullied for most of his life. He is struggling with his relationship with his famous father. Natalia is striving hard to be perfect and be good enough for everyone else. She's struggling with her parent's marital issues and with wanting to do art instead of what her father wants her to do. They could be frustrating (between some miscommunication about prom night and them both keeping secrets), but they were likable.

This was an angsty, but sweet first love story.

I started and finished this book in one day. I could not put it down. This story and these characters are undeniably special, about such a meaningful time in a person’s life - when you discover who you are, and even more than that, that YOU get to decide who you are. Multiple lines brought me to tears and I know this is a book I will reread for the feels. A wonderful, magical debut.

I WISH YOU WOULD tells the story of high school seniors-to-be, Natalia and Ethan, who were best friends until something happened the night of their junior prom. They haven't spoken in months, ghosted each other, and are now reunited when their senior class comes together before school starts. This novel was so well written I was not surprised it sold *at auction*. Told in dual perspectives, the characters (not just Natalia and Ethan) felt real, solid, and alive. That's hard to do! Bravo to Des Lauriers for that! The aching romantic tension was a flame lit high. I could not put this one down and can see fans of Kristin Dwyer, Sarah Dessen, Rachel Lynn Solomon and Jenny Han being into this one. I can't wait to shove into the hands of teens-reading-romance at the library in May. :)