Sigh...I'm struggling with what to say about I Wish You Would. I got sucked in quickly, which was nice since I've picked up and put down about 4 or 5 books lately because they didn't snag my attention quickly. I read this book quickly, but I had two major complaints. Let's get into the story.

Natalia and Ethan have been best friends for years. They made a pact in freshman year that if they were still virgins by senior year, they would use each other to change that. First of all, I think that's completely idiotic, and if this information had been in the description, I probably would have skipped this book. Why would "just friends" even consider making a pact like that? It makes no sense. And the reasons that Natalia shared were bogus as all get out. Anyway, after junior prom, they had a moment where they considered calling in the pact. But Natalia made a comment that spooked Ethan, and he backed out knowing that he couldn't cross that line with her without changing their relationship. Natalia takes his backing out as rejection. These two could have rendered this book pointless if they'd just had a simple conversation. Honestly, I don't love it when books are centered around one or two big misunderstandings.

Natalia is the student council president, and it's her job to organize these events for the school, like Senior Sunrise. Like the pact that Natalia and Ethan made, I found the entire idea about Senior Sunrise and writing these bravery letters to themselves bogus. I mean this is one of those things that sounds good, but the execution would never work. If this is an event the school holds every year (not the camping part, but the letter-writing part), there's no way that people's personal secrets being shared or exposed has never happened or come up before if they keep them in some jar for a big burning ceremony. It only makes sense to burn those suckers immediately if you're going to have some big event like this. But also, why does a group need to come together for individuals to write a letter like this to themselves? Why isn't this an exercise that each kid could do on their own time in the privacy of their own home and dispose of in whatever way they want to? If you were going to have some bogus tradition like this in the first place, that is.

I could continue describing the events of the book, but honestly, I don't feel the need to do so. Even though I've complained already, one of my biggest two complaints was that there was so much drama. Do you guys know how video content creators have learned to cut clips to different camera angles and to hype the drama so that people's brains are engaged and never bored? Well, I felt like the writing in this book was the equivalent of watching some of those YouTubers who play video games and hype their videos so much that it feels ultra-intense the entire time. One minute Natalia's running away, and Ethan's chasing her. Only for them to have the briefest of conversations that didn't actually move them any closer to a real discussion of their emotions or the secrets they're hiding from each other, only for Ethan to run away from Natalia, and then her to chase him right back. The back and forth was like watching a yo-yo go up and down. That's not even to include the actual events the characters experienced or were struggling with.

The book featured essentially 10 characters (not including the adults). Of those 10, four were LGBTQIA, two adults were sexual predators of some sort, and one of the LGBTQIA identified as a they/them. Guys...this makes no sense whatsoever. The character "identifies" as an individual but uses plural pronouns. I don't understand how we've gotten to this place. One character was a bully. Bullying used to be pushed in every young adult book for a period, but now apparently, the criteria for mainstream publications is to have at least one they/them character. We also had 2 characters that were "persons of color". Unnecessary information if you ask me, except the characters have to experience adversity because of their races. I only mention this because it felt like we were checking all the boxes in a leftist agenda. This felt like the exact narrative that certain individuals want to portray as a typical American experience, but I just don't see this where I live. Maybe it's because the book takes place in California. Again, had I known this was the cast of characters this book would feature, I would have skipped this book.

All of that said, I find it hard to rate this book. On the one hand, I read it quickly. I was interested in finding out what happened to Natalia and Ethan. I wanted to see them resolve their issues. But I also had so many logistical issues with this story...the plot, the characters, the writing method, the drama. All of it was just too much for me to truly enjoy this book. Overall, I guess the best rating I can come up with for I Wish You Would is 3 Stars. Have you read I Wish You Would? What did you think? Let me know!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book before release day. I really enjoyed this YA debut novel. It held true to Rachel Lynn Solomon and Chloe Liese vibes.

Such a touching, REAL teen story with all the elevated emotion of first love, misunderstandings and all. Great supporting cast, both other teens and adults.

I love a good young adult book when the emotions are real and not over dramatized. The characters need to be relatable and their angst understandable and heartfelt. The frustrations of their miscommunication would normally work my nerves but with teens it’s perfectly acceptable because you know they just don’t get it but their emotions are high. You get all of that in this book. I really loved it!

First off, I love the cover and title of this book. I was excited to read it! I usually love YA romances, but this book relied way too much on the miscommunication trope. It really took away from my enjoyment of the budding romantic relationship between Ethan and Natalia. The story also felt too slow, even though most of the events take place on a particular day.

Sadly, this book just wasn’t for me, but I’m glad to see so many others are enjoying it! I’m just not a big fan of the constant miscommunication.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh my god, this book was so cute!! I wasn't even thinking about it as a potential favorite but it completely took me by surprise. I was so invested in this so quick I could not stop reading. I can't begin to describe how much I appreciate wholesome romances that aren't all fluff.

Natalia and Ethan were absolutely everything — together as well as individually. The mood of this story was very reminiscent of To All The Boys I've Loved Before, one of my all-time favorite YAs, so I was already in with the vibes of this. But it was the writing of the protagonists' bond that really sealed the deal for me. Since that first car scene, I thought their avoidance of each other, and the underlying friendship and love was juggled so well. The intricacy of their feelings was so well-written that I was truly invested in their history.

I really loved the plot too! Something about an academic girlie romance that will always speak to me. I thought it was so cute how Ethan was loyal to Natalia without suffocating her, and she knew he was there for her whenever she needed him to be. Natalia's people-pleasing personality was honestly so relatable and I felt for her throughout this book. Watching her navigate trying to avoid conflict while in the depths of it, and handle a situation that was out of her control was such a compelling read; her relationship with her friends and classmates really made the book. I mean, the whole thing is set in one location over the span of like, a day, but at no point do you feel that. That's such a hard thing to do and the author does it so well.

I can't talk enough about how much I appreciate a good YA romance, and reading about two teenagers who don't know what to do with what they're feeling is just so wholesome. You know, when they do figure it out!!

I loved everything about Ethan, Natalia, and this book. It was just what I needed when I picked it up, and a solid four star read (on the upper spectrum!).

I would say this book is a 4.5 leaning towards a 5, which is great for a debut author. The cover is so good and it has a great concept. It is also a friends-to-lovers romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. I read this one in about a day because I couldn't put it down and it sucked me in right from the beginning. I think it did feel a little long towards the middle-end of the book and I wish it had been a tad less angsty, but overall it was very solid and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I WISH YOU WOULD is a charming and emotional debut young adult romance from Eva Des Lauriers. The two main characters are incredibly likable and sympathetic, if flawed in the way that all teenagers are. The "this whole thing could be resolved if they'd just talk" trope is strong here, but it's perfectly believable given the characters' deep friendship, their prom night encounter, and the various situations with their families and with their classmates at Senior Sunrise. The balance between how all the characters treat each other with varying cruelty and compassion rings so true for high school, and I love how the writing leans into big, gushy emotions.

This book is perfect for fans of You’ve reached Sam, and If he has been with me. After their prom they decide to enact their pact that they would be each other’s first if they were single by prom, and after second thoughts and she bolts they end up going their own ways for the summer. After spending a weekend for a senior retreat before graduation, she writes down her fears and places it in a jar to burn, but only after she places her letter in the jar that she realizes she doesn’t want a specific person to know her fear, only when she tries to reclaim her letter it ends with her spreading the letters to the wind. Her and her friend gather all of them but 7 notes. After a lot of self growth they both realize what it is what they really want out of life and that they need to go after what they want and not what people expect of them.
🔹Dual POV
🔹He falls first

DNF, mostly for personal reasons. Book’s got an interesting premise, but it’s a little too heavy on the exposition dumping, especially for a contemporary. I’d like to try and revisit this when I’m in a better headspace.

Call this book Humpty Dumpty because 'I Wish You Would' BROKE me and put me back together again. The perfect second chance YA romance.

The book was a little cliched but you know what? It worked. I did not like how hard it leaned into the miscommunication trope. JUST LET CHARACTERS COMMUNICATE PLEASE!

A fun summery read for the beach. I enjoyed reminiscing about the complications of high school romances through the two main characters in this book. Remember how difficult everything was when you were a teen with a crush? This novel will take you right back to those painfully difficult days. I enjoyed the character development and the setting was especially fun. What a great idea for a senior year memory maker!

I would give this to any 15-18 year old library patron who is looking for a contemporary young adult with a romance centered plot. I felt like it touched a lot of great YA notes - solid side characters and a compelling plot.

This was a cute book. I did feel that it was slow at times. I’m not the biggest fan of miscommunication trope but it did work here since this was a YA novel!

Thank you Macmillan for the eARC!

I really struggled with the pacing and the structure of this book. I tried giving it time to fix itself, but the back and forth POVs really slowed down the pacing.

Also, I feel like we get a lot of reveals within the first few chapters and I think this novel as a whole would benefit from a restructuring.

Not for me, but this could definitely be for someone!!

Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Senior Sunrise is the kickoff of Natalia and Ethan’s senior year in HS, but it also represents the first time seeing each other after being separated all summer after their long-time friendship was put to the test. Now awkward is the norm and guilt and secrecy plague the exchanges of the once very close friends.
When anxiety riddled Natalia starts making one mistake after another, Ethan will be the one by her side offering his never wavering unconditional help and they will be forced to face the truth.
I found this story beautiful and profound. Filled with teenage angst and drama, is a tale about finding yourself and facing the reality surrounding you no matter how painful. The characters are full of the hope for the future and reading about those hopes and the choices they make made me feel the melancholy of a time long gone.
The book is touching and one of the best young adult stories I’ve read in a while, totally moving and one can only hope others can feel it too.

3.5⭐️

every thought i had about this book literally flew out of my head the minute i started typing. idk what to tell you.

there’s a HEAVY miscommunication trope in this book and i was so frustrated with it and mentally SCREAMING at natalia and ethan to JUST FUCKING TALK. their problems would literally be solved if they just talked. but yk. teenagers.

i’m not really understanding how natalia didn’t think art was a career option..? like yes, she thought her dad would force her to give up art forever, but there’s no way she didn’t see other people on the internet pursuing art as a career and didn’t think “i want to do that”?

This book was such a gem and I and I am so happy to have discovered it.

“As soon as I read your letter, everything just made sense. You two have always had this...snow globe thing. Like, your own magical world. Everyone else can see it, but you’re so deep in it, you can’t. I’m just shaking the snow for you.”

This is friends-to-lovers done SO WELL. This book has easily launched itself into being one of my favorites! From the first page, I was swept up in the magic and romance. This book captured the feelings of being a senior and on the verge of starting the rest of your life. The confusion that comes with figuring things out and wanting to put your best foot forward but not really knowing how. Despite being on the shorter side, this book is not afraid to dive into some heavy feelings and emotions and is able to tackle them with grace and care.

I fell in love with the characters really quickly and got to know them well. It easily weaves between POVs without it being a drag to read either one. This book really benefits from having both of those POVs as you got to empathize with both Natalia and Ethan, and got to know what was going on in their head. There is a maturity and growth seen in them throughout the novel that almost sneaks up on you in between some of the teenage drama moments.

This is such a sweet and summery romance novel that you don’t want to miss. It is a story that has stuck with me and that I have come to cherish.

I Wish You Would comes out on May 21st! Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Co, and Macmillan for this review copy!

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4.5 | 😘=3 | 🤬=4 | 14/15+

summary: friends to lovers; after an almost-hookup on prom night, three(?ish?) months later the MCs have to like collaborate at this high school senior event thing? and get their lives together and admit their feelings??? and be open and honest!!!!!

thoughts: the intense miscommunication slow burn was… so much. like it’s kind of ridiculous that these two couldn’t just talk to each other from the start, but honestly it mimicked how wild and dramatic it actually felt like to be a teenager!! by the end I wasn’t frustrated, I was just rooting for them, which is cute.

so basically: adorable and emotional with very lovable characters! friends to lovers is so underrated and honestly the only trope that actually makes sense in a contemporary romance. also i think the 24 hours timeline worked very well, which is quite impressive. cute! very soft!! made me Feel Things 🥹