Review: Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino

Wish You Were Here

by Renee Carlino

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, floating from interest to interest, job to job, and guy to guy, searching for a spark but never quite finding it. All she knows is that she won’t discover it working as a waitress at a pies-and-fries joint in Los Angeles or living with her fun but aimless best friend in a tiny apartment in the Arts District.

Then Charlotte collides with Adam, a gorgeous and soulful painter who seems just as lost as she feels. Their instant connection turns into a midnight drink… and a whirlwind night of champagne, Chinese food, and the kind of conversation that only happens in romantic comedies. But the next morning, Adam gives Charlotte the cold shoulder, leaving her confused and hurt—and wondering if the few odd moments between them the night before were red flags in disguise.

Months later, Charlotte hasn’t been able to shake Adam, so she decides to find out what happened the morning after their magical night together. This fateful decision rewrites their wild love story, but what Charlotte doesn’t know yet is that the ending has already been written.


Kritters Thoughts:  When I read the synopsis for the book, I was immediately intrigued.  When I heard it had some romance, I got excited.  When I sat down and read it, I didn't love it.  

Charlotte is a flighty lady in her twenties and hasn't found her true passion.  She has hopped from job to job and relationship to relationship and nothing is sticking.  She has a magical night with a random guy and then he disappears.  Then she starts something with another guy and then things just go all wonky!

I don't love books where female characters entire world seems complete once they find the right guy.  I just wanted Charlotte to find satisfaction and contentment without needing a guy to hold her hand.  

I also didn't love the pacing or flow of the book - it felt so bouncy and all over the place.  First Charlotte was headed in this direction then when a guy spoke up she bounced over here and I just couldn't buy into her and her story.  

I love a romance book, but for many reasons this one just didn't work for me.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.