Wish You Were Her is a cute ya romcom that blew me away. I was shocked at how much I loved this book! It features autism rep, enemies to lovers, and a small town setting.

I really love Allegra’s character development throughout the story. I feel like she really learns how to be herself and discovers who she is.

I really love Jonah and Allegra’s romance. Jonah is kinda grumpy and there’s a bit of a dislike/rivalry with Allegra when she first shows up. I loved watching them open up, fall in love, and have beautiful, meaningful conversations along the way.

‘Wish You Were Her’ by Elle McNicoll is a captivating story that blends love, chemistry, and friendship with more serious topics of autism and self-growth. Set against the backdrop of a charming small town, the story follows Allegra Brooks, a young movie star who decides to spend her first summer vacation in years doing what any other 18 year old would do - work at her father’s bookstore, spend time at the lake, and maybe, if shes lucky, fall in love.

Through a series of happy and tough moments, firsts, and so much more, Allegra learns to let go of her fears and live a life true to herself. All the main characters in ‘Wish You Were Her’ were so well developed, it feels almost as if they are your own family and friends. Beautifully written, I would highly recommend this book to those looking for a deep and fun read.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting but this exceeding it all. I read it quickly, very invested in Allegra and Jonah. I'll definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

This book was a cozy read that I cuddled up and read. It was so awesome to see neurodivergence be represented. I loved it and appreciate the read! Can’t wait to recommend to my friends!

This was an enjoyable YA rom com. It took a little bit for me to get into, but I loved the characters and the rivals to lovers dynamic.

I would probably give this closer to a 3.5 or 3.75! I did really enjoy the concept of this book! When I heard it gave You’ve Got Mail vibes, I knew I would like it and I did. I loved the setting and the bookshop and the characters. I think the reason that it does not get a higher rating from me is because of some areas that didn’t feel smooth or resolved fully. For example, in one chapter it starts that Allegra and Jonah have been arguing at the bookshop since she got there, but I did not feel like it gave context to how much time had passed. Also, maybe this was problem with the e-reader, but not every Allegra/Jonah section was broken up and sometimes there would be no indication that a shift in pov was coming. Lastly, I felt like we didn’t get great resolution with Allegra’s parents, specifically why her dad was so weird towards Jonah and her mom. We did get so,e explanation, don’t get me wrong, but not a lot.
Overall though, I really, did enjoy this book and wanted to keep reading whenever I picked it up! I thought about it when I wasn’t reading, too, which is a big tell for me when I like a book. I loved the autistic representation and think that this book will mean even more for young people who can relate to the feelings that Allegra and Jonah share! That was beautifully done.
Special thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am a huge rom com fan and a big supporter of books with neurodiversity. This book was a fantastic read on both accounts. I really enjoyed it! Will definitely be recommending this one!

This book felt like a soft, rainy afternoon curled up with a blanket—comforting, thoughtful, and sneakily powerful. Allegra, the autistic main character, instantly pulled me in. She’s honest, smart, and a bit prickly in the best way. I loved how the story let her be fully herself—flaws, strengths, and all—without trying to make her “fit in.”
The setting? A charming little town and a grumpy bookseller named Jonah who slowly, wonderfully unravels in the presence of Allegra. Their dynamic is the perfect mix of tension and tenderness. There’s a little mystery, a bit of rivalry, and so much heart. And if you’re into stories that involve bookshops, quiet moments, and meaningful conversations—you’ll absolutely vibe with this.

But the real magic is how it made me feel.This book hit close to home and it made me feel all the emotions. It’s a love story, yes—but it’s also about being seen and accepted, even when the world doesn’t always know what to do with you. I closed the book feeling full—in that quiet, satisfied way where you know a story will stick with you.

I always need more YA books with autism rep, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I like that it features love interests that are both autistic, and shows how challenging it can be to let people know. I do wish she had cleared up her identity with Jonah sooner, it really felt like lying/playing with his emotions.

I'm usually not a fan of just romance but I absolutely LOVED this read! I fell in love with the story and characters, and absolutely always LOVE a rivels to lovers story. Definitely recommend, even for those branching out into this genre!

I give the book 4.25 stars. I like fiction and romance books. I really liked the idea of a romance from an autistic point of view.

The book was YA even if I am not the target audience ( I am too old), I really liked the book. I could identify with the characters.

It is an easy book to read. I finished the book in less than a week. Short chapters. A sweet story. Easy to follow along.

The book is good to read if you need motivation, something positive, trying not to care what others think, or just trying to follow your own path in life.

I am thankful to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book. I look forward to reading more from the author.

I want to first of all say a big thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this beautiful piece, I am so honored to read this book. I enjoyed reading this beautiful stories and I was glued to the book from the first page , The character development was really great and it was a sweet and refreshing read and I will definitely recommend to everyone to read this. Looking forward to more reads from this great author.

title: Wish You Were Her

author: Elle McNicoll

publisher: Wednesday Books

publication date: August 26, 2025

pages: 352

peppers: 2 (on this scale)

warnings: vomit, overstimulation, meanness

summary: Allegra, who's an eighteen-year-old star plans to work at her father's small-town bookstore for the summer to get out of the spotlight. Before she goes, she sends an email to the bookstore's account, thinking her father will answer, but she ends up in a sweet email exchange with one of the store's young employees. When she arrives at the store, she is greeted by two employees around her age, both good-looking, but only one of them is nice to her.

tropes:

epistolary exchange
anonymous love
movie star
enemies-to-lovers
small town gossip


what I liked:

autism representation
small-town scenes
showing the downside of fame
books rule

what I didn’t like: 

minor characters are too one-dimensional

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

I love the story of Cyrano, and the movie was so good. So when I saw this book had a small Cyrano twist, I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, this did not catch my interest as much as I hoped it would.

I’m not a big YA fan but was tempted to give this a read and I’m glad I did. 4.5 stars rounded up.

I really appreciated the different representations of autism, seeing how it manifested in both Jonah and Allegra is similar and different ways. I loved Jonah’s growth throughout the book - pushing himself emotionally with Allegra, embracing change with work, and having faith in himself that he was good enough. While Allegra’s character arc wasn’t quite as strong in my book, it was still nice to see where she ended.

My biggest issue with the book was the storylines with George. Both how things ended with Jonah and Allegra felt like while they were technically resolved, they wasn’t the depth or emotion tied to them that they deserved.

Thank you to Elle McNicoll, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book! The way it very calmly worked in autism as part of the story without making it a neon sign was wonderful. Would recommend! Especially if looking for a book with neurodivergent characters.

The only reason it was 4/5 stars is because it felt very weird when speaking on her father. She hasn’t seen him in 4 years in person and he basically never makes an appearance in the book even though they live together. When he DOES make an appearance, he is mad at Jonah and nothing with her father ever feels resolved. There’s no heartwarming moment with him. There’s maybe a hint he is autistic as well but never addressed. And the entire book, this sweet and lovely girl basically ignored her dad- it goes against her personality with everyone else.

Thank you Wednesday Books for inviting me to read and review Wish You Were Her. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have never read a book with autistic main characters and this one was so well done! I love the slight enemies to lovers plot along with the stardom! It was a fun read and I enjoyed the. Neurodivergent representation.

Thank you Wednesday Books for inviting me to read and review Wish You Were Her. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There may be spoilers ahead.

Allegra Brooks is an eighteen year old starlet who finally has a break from stardom and decides to stay with her dad in his small town for the summer. Jonah Thorne is a bookseller at her father's bookstore and the organizer of an annual Book Festival the town prides themselves on. Allegra emailed the bookstore to find out information about the Book Festival before she arrived, and what she found was someone who she could be friends with without the prying eyes of the fans and media. When she meets Jonah for the first time, he is rude and judgmental leaving her wondering who the mysterious "friend" is and crossing Jonah off right away. Jonah and Allegra don't realize it's the other person who is emailing them. They continue a sweet friendship through emails but banter and butt heads in person as Allegra helps with the Book Festival and her father's store.

Wish You Were Her is a sweet story with amazing autistic representation. Both Jonah and Allegra are autistic and I think the author did a great job conveying their emotions during overwhelming moments. While Jonah is upfront about his autism, Allegra is hiding it from the public eye. I think many neurodivergent readers will be able to relate to both Jonah and Allegra's stories. I found both characters to be relatable and realistic.

I did really like the inclusion this story presented and how the author wrote it but besides that the story itself is okay. The execution felt off at times and the pacing dragged a bit through the middle and the ending. I wasn't too crazy about the romance between Allegra and Jonah. It also felt off and disjointed. I think my only real miss would be the execution of how the author wanted to the story to go after Allegra and Jonah find out who they've been emailing. Well, technically only Allegra finds out and leaves Jonah still wondering but eventually he finds out at the end. So at that point is where the story began to drag and lose it's rhythm from the beginning.

Overall, it is a cute story with great representation, and an entertaining You've Got Mail plot.

3 stars

4.5

This was an absorbing YA romance about a teenager who found herself rocketed to stardom, and how that chewed up her life. Especially as she is neurodiverse, something she only admits late in the story, though the hints are all there. In escaping the fame fishbowl (and its not-so-nice dangers) for a summer with her dad, she meets a neurodivergent boy at Dad's bookstore--and sparks fly. At first, sparks of anger and hurt.

How the two untangle the crossed signals, and make friends and plans for their futures along the way, leads the reader through the rest of the book at a fast clip. A terrific read for teens on the spectrum--and teens who want to understand what that means.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Allegra is 18 years old and suddenly very famous because of the popular television show she was in. No one knows she is autistic. No one knows she just wants a normal summer. She decides to head out to Lake Pristine, where there is an annual book festival organized by Jonah, a senior who is also not the friendliest. Eventually the two encounter one another, and do not exactly connect well. Her only escape are the emails she exchanged with a bookseller, whose identity neither person knows.

The setting of Lake Pristine and the bookshop and festival were just divine. This is great readerly escape if you are needing that in your world. I also deeply appreciated the inclusion of a neurodivergent character in this book, written in a way that was very aware and educational, yet accessible and relatable. Though this book centers on Allegra, I thought the author did a great job of showcasing how Jonah's character evolved, as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.