Wish You Were Here - by Renée Carlino (Paperback)

About the Book

"You know when you're looking at someone and you can't help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That's what was happening to me, and it was making me feel...happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn't exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks."--

Book Synopsis

*Soon to be a major motion picture!*

A USA TODAY bestselling second chance romance about a young woman who reunites with a soulful artist after their magical one-night stand--from the bestselling author of Swear on this Life and Before We Were Strangers.

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She's had as many jobs as she's had bad relationships, and now she's feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.

Then she collides--literally--with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam's spontaneity and joy for life. There's promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam's tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.

Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte's still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime's worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.

Review Quotes

Praise for Swear on This Life
"Swear on This Life is Renée Carlino at her finest. Raw, real and gripping; I read it in one sitting."

--Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends With Us

Praise for Wish You Were Here

"Readers will enjoy meeting Charlotte's family, be charmed by Charlotte and Helen's friendship, and will be eager to uncover just what's going on between Charlotte and the mysterious Adam--all while swooning over the sexy parts." -- "Booklist"

"If you loved Me Before You, then you have to read this book!"-- "Aestas Book Blog"

"...Captivating and intriguing, utterly addictive, and filled with the emotional intensity that comes with a heart-wrenchingly powerful love that's been given a second chance."
-- "PopSugar"

"[Readers] will find themselves simply smitten by both the novel in front of them and the story within the story. Romance readers and women's fiction fans should snap up this charming love story."-- "Booklist"

"A beautifully-written second-chance romance that stays with you long after you're done."-- "Vilma's Book Blog, 5 stars"

"An absolute must-read. One hundred percent feelings, beginning to end."-- "USA Today"

"Another Carlino masterpiece! Emotional and heartbreaking comes to mind when I think of Wish You Were Here . . . This book and story grabbed my attention from the get-go and I couldn't stop reading, addicted to the words and frantically trying to finish to see how it would all end."-- "Shh Mom's Reading"

"Beautiful and heartfelt, and once again, Renee Carlino has delivered the touching prose she does so well! Wish You Were Here is a thought provoking, poignant, and remarkable story about self-discovery and love."-- "Totally Booked Blog"

"Beautiful. Absolutely, stunningly beautiful. And spectacular, and powerful, and heartbreaking... I just don't have enough adjectives to describe my feelings for this book!"-- "Night Owl Reader"

"Carlino fans will love this one, and so will readers who have not yet made her acquaintance. The tale is engaging and paced to keep the pages turning long after the lights should be out."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Carlino's writing will transport you."-- "Book Baristas, 4.5 coffee cups"

"Easily one of the very best reading experiences I've had all year. I absolutely loved every word and highly recommend it to everyone!"-- "Aestas Book Blog"

"Holy schnikes, this book...I love the juxtaposition of the story within a story, and I'm addicted to Emi and Jase's ill-fated love."-- "Heroes and Heartbreakers"

"I absolutely love this woman's ability to tell a story and pull me right in."-- "Girl Plus Books"

"If you loved Before We Were Strangers and Swear on This Life, then Carlino's latest, Wish You Were Here, will be a no-brainer addition to your to-be-read list as she's outdone herself. Wish You Were Here will have readers laughing, crying, crying some more and basically running a gamut of emotions in this beautiful, heart-wrenching story. The relatable heroine finds herself not only at a crossroads in her life, but torn between two great guys. Furthermore, this is a memorable story where readers will fall in love with both men. It would not be surprising if readers picked Wish You Were Here as one of their top reads this year."-- "Romantic Times (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick)"

"Mesmerizing. A story of love and redemption, Renee Carlino's novel is a perfect reason for staying up too late to read."-- "Shelf Awareness"

"Mysterious and compelling, Swear on this Life is the epic love story your summer needs." -- "Bustle"

"Romance fans will find this heartfelt story of resilience and first love hard to put down."-- "Library Journal"

"Set in sunny San Diego, Swear On This Life celebrates the unpredictable - and often hilarious - journey of an aspiring writer on the West Coast."
-- "Sunset Magazine"

"There's an unwritten rule that you must read at least one sticky-sweet romantic book per summer. And we suggest Wish You Were Here." -- "Hello Giggles"

"This bestselling author knows how to deliver a literary punch, and Swear on this Life is her strongest yet."-- "Redbook.com"

"This luminous tale from bestselling author Renée Carlino is easily devoured in one sitting..."
-- "Working Mother"

"With a surprising cast of lovable and relatable characters, witty banter, and some utterly romantic scenes, Renee Carlino's Wish You Were Here is about more than just finding love--it's about rediscovering what love is. Just remember to have tissues on hand."--New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle