I received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

“Wish You Weren’t Here” is a sweet coming of age YA story. While this is classified as a romance, I’m not sure I’d go that far. While there is a romance, it’s more of a subplot than anything else. This is more about Juliette’s journey to finding self-discovery and acceptance.

I only went to summer camp once and unfortunately; I don’t remember much about it. However, this story has made me see what I was missing. Camp Fogridge is Juliette’s oasis from her home life and it’s the only place where she feels like she can really be herself. At home she’s a middle child that is ignored and considered “too much.” At school she has to deal with Priya, a social media influencer, that she’s known most of her life. Priya, while not an enemy exactly, gets on her nerves with how perfect her life is. Her plans to enjoy her last summer at Camp Fogridge come crashing down when she finds out Priya will be her roommate for the summer.

Juliette is an intense girl with intense feelings. She doesn’t make a great first impression as she is pretty insufferable to start. Because of her home life, she has some issues with her self-worth and being insecure. She doesn’t take Priya being at camp well and it takes a lot of work for her to accept the situation. Luckily, she has some friends that help.

Priya has known Juliette for long enough that she doesn’t let Juliette’s attitude get her down. Their relationships grows and evolves over the 5 weeks and I loved how sweet and funny they were with each other. I did have an issue with Juliette some of the time. She could verge on being a bully sometimes and I wanted to see her held accountable and deal with that more.

I appreciated all the queer and POC rep. I think it did a nice job of showing how differently things are now even if it doesn’t always feel like it. Especially with the younger generations. Race and sexuality were accepted without much discussion if any at all.

Also, kudos to the author. This is Baldwin’s debut and nothing about this felt like it. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find out she’s written under a pen name or something like that.

I want to end by saying this felt young adult. I read quite a bit of YA and it doesn’t always feel YA. There’s a lot of teen angst and emotions and I appreciated that the author did make this seem like 20 years old and slap a YA label on it.

YA Romance is not usually my genre, so I was surprised how much I loved this. The summer camp vibes and relatable characters took me back to my own high school camp days. Highly recommend for anyone looking for sapphic nostalgic vibes!

I have never been a summer camp kid so it’s very possible that colored my experience of this book. Besides having no affinity for the camp life, the narrator of this book was just insufferable. The pop culture references and asides just got on my nerves. If you want a much more fun and toxic version of the relationship from this book you should just read I Kissed Shara Wheeler. The moment the really sealed my distaste for this book was the theatre stuff that had absolutely no understanding of how a production works. In no world is a costume designer building set pieces, that makes absolutely no sense. A costume designer does not have the time to do that work especially on a high effort production like Beauty and the Beast. Bad theatre rep in YA is the bane of my existence, since I minored in it I just have way too many opinions. Again see I Kissed Shara Wheeler for good theatre rep. Overall, I personally wouldn’t recommend this but maybe if you’re a camp kid this’ll really do it for you.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wish You Weren’t Here is a YA romance told from the perspective of Juliette, middle child of 7, regularly deemed “too much”… unless she’s standing next to her childhood frenemy, Priya, where she becomes invisible. Her saving grace is Fogridge, the summer camp Juliette has been going to for ten years, the one place she truly feels like she can be herself. You can imagine what happens when Priya ends up at the camp during Juliette’s senior year. And even worse, they are cabinmates.

Ugh this book is so… freaking… cute. I had no idea going in that it was YA (I tend to judge books by their cover and this cover is too good), but in the end it didn’t matter because I legitimately adored this book and in no way thought it was a read for “ages 16-20 only.”
*Unless you’re looking for spice in which case this one probably isn’t for you*

I loved Erin’s writing style, the queer rep, and the amazing cast of side characters (who I wouldn’t hate reading about in future books *hint hint*). I also thought Priya and Juliette’s relationship was adorable and loved watching their growth, both personal and as a couple. But what I loved most was how Erin was able to encapsulate Juliette’s feelings. They were often extreme and heightened in the way your feelings really only are as a teenager but the way Erin described it never made me annoyed, only sympathetic. I was reminded of how hard it is to exist at seventeen, when everything feels huge and life changing and I truly felt for Juliette as she dealt with the idea of losing something that had been such a huge part of her life for ten years. #changeishard

Still, there was a lot of funny banter, swoony encounters, and laugh out loud humor throughout the story and I spent the majority of the time with a giddy smile on my face. It’s an overall feel good romance and I recommend everyone check it out.

EVERYTHING I NEEDED IN A BOOK AND MORE!! IT WAS EVERYTHING! The plot was easy to follow, and the characters were amazing

4.25 stars

Again am I a bit biased in terms of my love for queer romance? Absolutely yes, but this one did not disappoint.

The summer camp setting felt so nostalgic and comforting. There are a few great romances set at summer camp but it can be hard to not make it feel immature as a result. I was impressed that this book had some maturity for the setting.

The tenseness of their frenemies-t0-lovers dynamic made it such a page-turner! I loved seeing their quips and bonding moments. That said, there were times when the banter turned a bit toxic. There comes a point where teasing becomes bullying and I fear it crossed that line.

Overall while I do not love the toxic moments, the vibes as a whole were immaculate. The cute cover had me falling in love!

I tried really hard to get into this book, but I couldn’t. I’m not sure if it was because I was feeling slump ish, or if I just didn’t vibe with it but I didnt finish. I think I’ll come back to it another time and give it another shot! I’ll be giving it three stars since I didn’t finish, but feel bad punishing the author when it might’ve been right book wrong time.

This just felt a little flat to me. Characters were 2 dimensional and not exciting. The drama was predictable. I wanted more out of this sapphic summer camp rom com!

I really loved this book! Priya and Juliette had a great development of their relationship. I enjoyed the burgeoning friendship and then more that built up over the course of the story. I also liked their other friends from camp that were featured. The camp setting and games there were super fun as well!

I absolutely devoured Wish You Weren't Here by Erin Baldwin! As someone who works in summer camp marketing and has a major soft spot for all things camp-related, this book felt like it was made just for me.

The story follows Juliette, who’s just trying to enjoy her final summer at Fogridge Sleepaway Camp, free from her rival Priya. But of course, Priya shows up as her cabinmate, and everything Juliette hoped for seems to crumble. The whole rivals-to-lovers angle is executed so well here—there’s tension, awkwardness, and lots of sweet moments that make you root for them to get along.

Baldwin nails the summer camp vibe, capturing all the little things that make camp so magical. The way Juliette and Priya’s relationship evolves is super satisfying and, honestly, just plain swoon-worthy.

If you’re into summer camp settings and enjoy a good rivals-to-lovers story, definitely check this one out. It’s got all the charm and feels that make for a perfect summer read!

This sapphic YA rom-com is a love letter to camp 🏕️ my time as a camp counselor was so special, and I loved how Baldwin portrayed camp as a place where everyone can feel like they belong. Wish You Weren’t Here is a fun childhood-rivals-to-lovers romance with forced proximity. It’s also emotional with complicated family dynamics and character growth.

I thought the setting of a summer camp was so fun & liked the friend group & frenemies aspect! For me the romance didn’t work, I think if it would have been focused on the friendship I would have enjoyed it more. What made my rating go so low was Juliette’s personality. She came off as self centered, dislikes everything and whines so much. I felt there could have been more room for her character development and it's unfortunate because this had real potential for a great redemption arc with self-reflecting for Juliette. I feel like Priya deserves better honestly and I would not have shipped them together. The romance did not sell me here, like I previously mentioned, if this was based on the friendship piece alone I would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

Why am I so skeptical all of a sudden. I feel like no book is satisfying me lately. This was an enjoyable sapphic summer camp read and I liked it but I also feel apathetic about it at the same time. I think this is a me problem but whatever.

Also, I don't generally like when one of the characters is famous or social media famous. I feel like it's often exaggerated and in this book it did not fit at all. Like there's mentions of Priya being featured in magazines but then no one knows who she is. I feel like it was an element that threw me off for most of the book and one that my little brain latched on to and couldn't shake.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Wish You Weren't Here" by Erin Baldwin is a delightful summer camp novel that combines the charm of classic camp experiences with the complexities of teenage emotions and relationships, specifically a sapphic relationship between the two main characters. The story centers around Juliette, a somewhat prickly protagonist, and her unexpected cabin mate, Priya, who has long been her perceived rival in their shared real-life circle. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers story with little drama (mainly teenage angst), and it’s a perfect book to read in the summer, especially if you have experience with summer camps. I highly recommend this book to younger YA and even MG readers as it’s a simple but super sweet summer camp romance story.

The book is set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic summer camp where every other scene is an activity, from kayaking to toasting s'mores. The setting itself is contrived in the best way possible, offering a fun escape into a world where teenage angst and camp spirit blend seamlessly. However, the book offers more than just a light-hearted camp story. It focuses on self-discovery, acceptance, and the complexities of teenage relationships. There's a particular focus on the nuances of queerness and the sometimes confusing feelings that come with it, making it a thoughtful read without being overly heavy. While the romance element is present, it's relatively low-key, allowing the story's other elements—like friendship and personal growth—to shine through. If you were expecting a romance-heavy book, then this one may not be the right fit for you. But if you enjoy playful banter/flirting throughout the story along with an overarching plot, then you will love this story, especially due to the characters.

Juliette is a character who initially comes off as grumpy and insufferable, especially with her antagonistic attitude towards Priya. However, as the story progresses, you see a deeper, more vulnerable side of her. Juliette's struggle with her insecurities, her desire for validation, and her attempts at self-improvement are relatable and compelling. She is a middle child with parents who are both physicians, and she has her eyes set on Yale, adding layers to her character as she navigates the pressures and expectations of her life, which makes her quite relatable. Summer camp is like an escape for her, and we can see her grow as a character throughout the story.
Priya, on the other hand, is a warm and giving person, often leaving Juliette questioning the basis of their rivalry. Her kindness and small acts of thoughtfulness make her an endearing character. The dynamic between Juliette and Priya evolves from tense and awkward to sweet and affectionate, with their banter becoming a highlight of the story. I do wish we got to see Priya’s perspective as I think that would have fleshed her out even more, but I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters.

Overall, "Wish You Weren't Here" is a charming, fun read with a lot of heart. Whether you're in it for the summer camp nostalgia (I wish I attended a summer camp like Fodridge!) or the sweet romance, this book has something for everyone.

dnf @30%
unfortunately, i just didn't click with this book. i tried to get into it multiple times and wasn't able to get past 9-10 chapters. it seems like a fun summer read, but i just couldn't connect with the characters at all. this book was blurbed as an enemies-to-lovers, but it just really wasn't? the rivalry was very one sided and honestly made the main character feel insufferable at times. i rarely dnf books but i just couldn't get myself to push through. might attempt this book again in the future, but right now it just wasn't for me.

⟶ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this was such a cute summertime story. I loved the banter between Priya and Juliette as well as the development of their relationships from rivals to friends to lovers. I think the author did a really good job at providing a camp experience through each page. The side characters in this story really helped in benefiting the story progression and I’m really happy with how this story ended.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me.

I just couldn't connect to the overall vibes of the story.

This was such a fun summer read! The perfect amount of feeding my nostalgia for summer camps of years past, and a great sapphic romance with a fun plot and great characters alongside it. It was also a really quick and pretty easy read for me, especially once the characters get to camp, and I’m so glad that I picked it up when I did! There were a lot of nostalgic elements for me (summer camp and theater), and even if there were moments that weren’t exactly realistic I was having too much fun reading to really care. It was also really cool to watch Juliette go from hating/tolerating Priya, to becoming friends, to realising that she likes her romantically. The elements of camp that were included, from the traditions to characters that make it up, were all so fun and made it enjoyable to read about Juliette’s story even before her romance with Priya. I do think that there are some elements of Priya’s character that feel less nuanced and kind of just meant to juxtapose her to Juliette, but it didn’t really affect my reading experience, and I enjoyed the details that were used to flesh out her character and make Juliette realise she might have misjudged her, like her clothing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it’s a great debut YA contemporary romance, and one I definitely recommend if that sounds like your thing. I’m really excited to see what Erin Baldwin will write in the future!

This ended up being a DNF. Couldn’t keep my interest, and gave up around chapter 7/8. I’m surprised because I was really interested in the synopsis, and this being a sapphic coming of age romance.

Ugh I love queer love stories. I haven’t read a lot of wlw romances lately and this was such a nice intro back into lesbian stories. I loved the setting and the tension was absolutely amazing.