I very much enjoyed the psychological complexities this book wove into the plot. Main character Samantha Foster envies her University best friend Erin Blake and wishes she had her life. I think any woman can relate to pieces of this story and the common toxicity that sometimes infects female friendships and relationships. I loved that the book was nearly impossible to figure out and the end really picked up speed and I read it at such an insane pace it was done before I knew it. While nothing was totally "shocking" it was absolutely satisfying and I would recommend this to other readers.

Thank you for the early copy and letting me review it!

This book tried to do much and sadly gave us nothing in the end.

What I thought was the plot summary was essentially only relevant for the first short part of the book, after that characters make unbelievable choices and you don’t know enough about them to find yourself able to suspend disbelief.

The big twist is overshadowed by other less poignant twists being revealed on the same page and the ending is flat.

JER is a master at her craft! I love the way she draws you into her books and keeps you on the edge of her seat. I’m so grateful to have received this as an ARC. I think that you’ll appreciate how thoughtfully the characters are written in such a way that you really feel like you know them. I read it in one sitting! It almost felt like I too was trapped (book reference) and absolutely had to finish right away. Great job!

This is my second book by this author, so I knew what a crazy ride I was in for.. The settings were amazing and well-described, the characters were devious, and the plot was twisty.

Made a for a quick yet highly enjoyable read which left me trying to figure out where the story would take me next.

A fun read!

I found this book a bit boring and hard to follow. There were a lot of random twists that didn’t really make sense and the plot line felt pretty drawn out.

Wish You Were Here follows Samantha, whose life has spiralled after a painful divorce, job loss, and living in a budget motel. When she reconnects with her college friend Erin, who now runs an exclusive retreat in Aruba, it feels like a lifeline—an invitation to paradise and a second chance.

I was completely hooked from the very first pages—the tropical setting, the rekindled friendship, and the slow-building tension made it a perfect summer-escape read. However, as the story approached the end, the pacing shifted. The narrative jumped back and forth between climactic moments and revelations in a way that felt a bit rushed and disjointed compared to the strong, immersive beginning—and it pulled me out of the flow at times.

Still, the finale tied everything together in a satisfying way. Despite the pacing quirk, the ending delivered the payoff I hoped for.

Recommendation: A smart, sun-drenched psychological thriller that’s ideal for a holiday by the pool or beach. If you're after atmospheric tension, friendship entanglements, and a twisty ride—this is a solid pick.

<strong>Unique Psychological Thriller</strong>

Psychological thriller based on a unique premise. Samantha is destitute, divorced, jobless, penniless and living in a hotel that she can no longer afford. She accidentally likes a photo on her old college friend's (Erin) Instagram, perfectly curated for her followers. Erin is the esteemed director of very expensive wellness retreat.
Erin invites her to stay until she's back in her feet. Erin's husband picks Samantha up at the train station.
Suddenly there's an opportunity for all of them to go to Aruba for Erin's wellness retreat. Erin offers Samantha 5000 pounds to go and photograph it.
During the retreat, Erin disappears and leaves Samantha to lead the retreat. Small things add up to bigger things, which culminate in a confrontation between Erin and Samantha, both revealing their hidden agendas.
Enjoyed the book and especially the twist at the end. Didn't see that one coming.

It was a good book. A bit slow at the start, but it really picked up around 50% of the way through and I read the last 50% in one sitting. I was a bit confused as I was expecting a psychological thriller and it definitely isn't a thriller, but is very psychological with a lot of different angles.

I found this intriguing, and the first half was really engaging. In the middle, i wanted more, and the final ending was brilliant. There was lots of misdirection, which I loved i just wanted more from the characters and more of the reasons why.

What a ride! I really thought I knew what was going on, but that ending! Plot twist after plot twist.
I am so happy it went the way it did. I hated Erin. I loved Sam. Was unsure of Nicholas the entire time, and it turned out he was the least of my worries! I loved all the one upping, it was so over the top! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It's my second by this author and I already have a few more on my TBR! Her books are so good, so twisty, and so quick to read. Highly recommend!!

I’m giving it 1.5 stars.

This book was quite a rollercoaster for me. Within just five minutes, I went from feeling excited to confused, and eventually disappointed by the range of ideas presented. Some concepts were genuinely interesting and thought-provoking, while others, unfortunately, detracted from the overall experience.

The concluding message was a nice touch, but overall, I didn’t enjoy the reading journey. The content felt inconsistent and somewhat unpolished, as if it could have benefited from more thorough editing. While there were a few strong ideas, they were often overshadowed by less compelling ones.

This book is sharp, twisty psychological thriller built around a toxic friendship and emotional manipulation. Its strengths lie in its well-drawn central character and suspenseful atmosphere.
However, the ending might feel rushed compared to its strong start.

This ended up not being for me! Very disappointing. Overall, it was a very repetitive narrative and really dragged on. This took away from the suspense level. Very flat and terrible pacing.

An ending I was not expecting and another perfect example of toxic friendships. This book was incredible in it's execution of the manipulation from both characters. I think the ending was the perfect payback

This book got me hooked from beginning to end. Love the twists! Kept me guessing what could be next. Quick smooth read. Highly recommend.

“Wish You Were Her” by J.E. Rowney is a fast-paced psychological drama that pulls you in with its twists and emotional depth. The story follows Ava, who is grieving the loss of her partner, navigating love, guilt, and obsession. It’s written in a style that’s easy to read but still delivers a few clever surprises. The ending might divide readers, but it definitely leaves you thinking. A quick, compelling read if you like stories with dark emotional turns.

Didn’t hate it but very predictable and basic

For a quick read I would recommend but wouldn’t go out of my way to get it

I loved the way the settings were described - whether in the motel Sam finds herself in or the environs of Aruba. Sam's downward spiral and the way she's drawn into Erin's game is fascinating. The retreat and program are interesting, but the character of the husband is not very believable. Maya's revelation and the twist at the end are a bit abrupt though, and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood.. A cleverly written novel.

Often repetitive, mildly confusing. While I enjoyed the overall concept, I was left feeling dissatisfied and quite frankly lost.

The grass is always greener - we often think that, but do we ever act on it?
Erin and Sam are old friends, who each secretly envy the life led by the other. One ,makes a move to change things, but will it all go smoothly?
There is a lot of psychology, and even reverse psychology in this book. Who is telling the truth, and who is manipulating who?
This book draws the reader in as the 'upper hand' seems to switch between the two characters.
Is the grass really greener or is it all a smokescreen, or a mirage?
An interesting and enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.