I wish I had picked one of Tara Sivec's romcoms to start off my reading journey into this author's works. Even though I love friends to lovers romance, this story was a slow slow burn for me with the romance finally budding after a death of a lifelong friend.
Aiden, Cameron, and Everett have been inseperable, childhood friends, Three Musketeers. Unbeknownst to her friends, Cameron has been in love with Everett since she was 12 years old, but Everett never realized it. When Cameron hit puberty and started transforming into a woman, Everett started to see his friends differently, but didn't want to risk their friendship to take the dive. Everett leaves town severing the friendship bond to pursue his dreams, but tragedy strikes. A letter from his lifelong friend, Aiden, has Everett going back home, but he does not immediately seek out his other friend, Cameron. He hits the bottle and hides from her for 9 months. When he finally gets up the nerve to go see her, she is not at all welcoming because she knows he has been in town and did not come to her immediately. Cameron has grown into a feisty woman and is not going to be easy on Everett, but he is hard on himself dealing with issues of insecurities and doubts. Everett feels that he failed Aiden by not being there for him when he needed him, but Everett is so blinded by his past actions that he might miss his opportunities for a HEA with Cameron.
The dual POVs, switching between past and present, and repetition of thoughts makes the story drag a bit and I knocked off a star for it. But I would gladly read more from Tara Sivec to see what else she has in store for the reading community.
** I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

I'm not going to take the time to summarize the story for you because I think the blurb does a fine job of that. I really want to tell you how this book made me FEEL. This book was angsty, heart-warming, heart-breaking, sexy and sweet all wrapped up in one perfect little bow. I love the author's use of dual POV in this story so we could really understand Everett. At times, I was so sad for him that I struggled to read through my tears and other times I felt frustrated that he couldn't vocalize how he really felt. He's kind, loving, sweet and definitely swoon worthy. There were some scenes in this book that left me more than a little hot and bothered- in a good way :)

Cameron was a great heroine. She was loyal and loving and a great testament to Shelby and Eli (If you haven't read The Story of Us a) what is wrong with you and b) get on that shit...NOW). Together, Cameron and Everett were the perfect blend of romantic angst and steam, emotion and humor that yields a truly great read. My favorite part of this novel was how the author chose to end the book. It could not have been any more perfect, in my opinion

After absolutely LOVING The Story of Us, I was thrilled that I'd be getting more of that world with this book. Cameron James is the daughter of Shelby and Eli, and I was beyond excited when I realized this. I'm a huge fan of Tara's emotional second chance romances, and Wish You Were Mine certainly packed a good angsty punch.

Everett and Cameron grew up as best friends, and unbeknownst to each other, in love. But then life happened, teenage insecurities and family dynamics came into play and they drifted. Now Everett is back in the small town he grew up in, reeling from the death of his best friend and the letter he left him after his death, determined to finally make things right.

This was a slow paced, character driven story that was told in present and flash backs. And while I wanted to love both of these characters, I struggled. I simply couldn't connect to them or their plight. I couldn't even put my finger on what or why, but I couldn't help feeling like something was just...missing for me. Because of that, I struggled to stay connected to the story. Everett and Cameron have a slow paved road to their HEA and I found myself getting easily distracted and disengaged from the story.

The writing was wonderful, the set up was there. I think this was just a case of me and not the book. I adore Tara Sivec and can't wait for more of these stories from her, but sadly this one just didn't blow me away like her others.

Tara Sivec can write every genre, from laugh-out-loud, to thriller, to suspense, to emotional, and with Wish You Were Mine, she brings all the emotions; but they are quick. Despite the prologue, this is not an ugly cry book, you don’t have to work yourself up for it, the way you might in some of Tara’s other books, it’s mostly a happy friends-to-lovers romance.

Wish You Were Mine is loosely tied to The Story of Us in that Cameron, the heroine, is Shelby and Eli’s (the couple from The Story of Us) daughter, but they are not in the story most of the time, and this can stand alone just fine. Cameron grew up on the plantation that her parents turned into a camp for military families. Everett was a troubled boy with some problems at home, and as a camper, he became best friends with Cameron, despite him being three years older. Aiden quickly joined the two, and the three became best friends.

Since they weren’t always together for their birthdays, they did a special summer celebration. One of the traditions was writing their wishes on Cameron’s star-shaped notepad and putting them in their own puffy-painted boxes, hidden under the floorboards of their treehouse. Cameron always wished Everett would notice her as more than a kid. He was always the one she crushed on. But she would never admit it for fear of messing up the friendship.

Everett noticed her all right. But she was too young. And he never shared his feelings with anyone, including his other best friend, Aiden. On the eve of his departure to train for Doctors without Borders, he is ready to come clean, but overhears a conversation that made him want to do what is best for Cameron, as much as it killed him.

“He’s not good enough for her. Would it kill the guy to smile every once in a while? If Cameron’s going to be with anyone, it should be someone who makes her happy, not someone she exhausts herself trying to fix.”

Everett is gone for 5 long years, and in that time he kept in touch with Aiden, but not Cameron, further breaking her heart. Until he gets a letter from Aiden.



The letter encourages him to come home and be there to support Cameron after he dies from cancer. But Everett can’t deal with the fact that he wasn’t there for his best friend while he was suffering and hits rock bottom, unable to face Cameron for another 9 months. But when he finally does, the real story begins.

“I needed you and you weren’t here. I mourned him alone. I buried him alone. I fucking buried our best friend alone!”

Seeing her, Everett knew that none of his feelings had waned in the last 5 years.

Cameron James at twenty-six was a woman who didn’t even know the power of her own beauty. Cameron James at thirty is full of hurt, anger, and piss and vinegar, and the sway of her hips as she walks is determined and the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.

But he couldn’t say anything, because she was still mourning his best friend. And she is not ready to forgive so easily.

“I hate him for thinking he can make everything better with an apology. Words can’t heal the scars that his actions left behind.”

Years of miscommunication and holding back feelings, and they are still playing the same game. For most of the book, they are still both secretly in love with each other, but never admitting it to the other. Fear seems to be the strongest emotion of all.

Trust her to know when she’s giving her heart to the right person. Trust yourself to be worthy of that heart and don’t you ever, ever break it. You hold on to that thing with both hands, you worship it, and you never let it go. And that right there is how you become good enough for her.”

Likes:
I liked how it tied into The Story of Us but totally stood alone.
I love the idea of the camp.
The whole thing about adding color to their world.
I loved the stars and wishes.
I loved Aiden even though he wasn’t alive.
The flashbacks of them as they grew up.
Everett’s brother Jason was awesome. I hope we get his and Amelia’s story.
Some good drama and excitement.
Some of Tara’s humor popped out in places.
I love the cover.
Dislikes:
Ugh…TOO MUCH miscommunication (but then again, without that, there would have been no story).
As someone who loved The Story of Us, I would have liked a little more of the tie-in, but it is great if you haven’t read that.
I kept wondering how the entire staff and all the kids knew to lie about the owner being happily married.
Too many easy stopping points. I’d be totally turning the pages furiously, then it switches to a flashback which made it really easy to take breaks.
The Down & Dirty:
Tara can write the shit out of everything, and Wish You Were Mine is no exception. This was an emotional book, but not at the same level as Fisher’s Light, so you don’t have to psych yourself up to be an emotional wreck. If you like childhood friends-to-lovers stories, and kind-of second chance romances, you will love Wish You Were Mine. It was sometimes a little frustrating that they didn’t just tell each other how they felt, but there were always good enough reasons why they didn’t, that I didn’t get truly annoyed. All in all, while it isn’t a favorite from Tara, I really loved Wish You Were Mine, and not a favorite from her is still better than most other books out there!

Rating: 4.25 Stars, 3 Heat

Wish You Were Mine is definitely an emotional and angsty read and it’s one that will either have readers clamoring to get to the end in order to, hopefully, witness the hero and heroine, who have dealt with excruciating heartbreak and pain, get their happily ever after or it will turn readers off of the story because the chain of events that occurred could have been prevented if the characters would have found a way to communicate…to discuss what was at stake, instead of making assumptions and concealing the truth for several years.

Regrets - that seems to be the norm for the characters in Wish You Were Mine. The story focuses on three friends who have been by one another’s side since they were young. Cameron, Everett, and Aiden share an incredible bond that should have been able to withstand anything, but when hearts and non-plutonic feelings are involved, there’s always going to be one person left out of the equation, and unfortunately for Everett, he was the odd man out, or at least that’s what he thought, which made him runaway and not look back until he was forced to return and face the reality of what happened all those years ago.

The timeframe of the story switches between present-day and flash back, and while it’s important to understand how close these three friends were, there really wasn’t a lot of information that helped me view them differently or provide a significant amount of insight into why and how everything got turned upside down amongst the trio.

One aspect of angsty reads that I struggle with is the lack of communication that destroys even the strongest of friendships. If either Cameron or Everett would have had the courage to admit their true feelings for one another, their future lives would have been drastically different, but because they didn’t speak up, there is a plethora of hurt feelings and anger that has built up, preventing Everett from making any headway with Cameron when he first returns to town. The fact that they become grown adults who still can’t honestly discuss their feelings frustrated the heck out of me and made it difficult to connect with them as their story unfolds.

There’s a lot for Cameron and Everett to work through once Everett returns to his hometown, and while Cameron still loves him with every part of her soul, she feels betrayed by him and won’t make a reconciliation easy on him; he has a lot to answer for, and until Cameron’s satisfied with Everett’s explanation, they’ll never be what they could have been all those years ago.

I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of drama that seemed to resonate off of the pages of this story, and the fact that a significant amount of it was due to miscommunication made it difficult accept it. I guess I just wish that the characters’ internal musings would have translated into key revelations because that would have allowed me to hold on to the fact that a resolution would be found. And, while yes, one is delivered, I’m not sure if it’s presentation truly captured all the guilt and hurt that surrounded the hero and heroine or if it just reached the point where they had to finally give into what they always felt for each other.

It’s not that I completely disliked Wish You Were Mine; it’s just that I never truly formed a connection with the characters that would have allowed me to go through their angst riddled journey with them, fully aware that everything would work out in the end. For the most part, I liked the characters and the premise of the story line…I guess I just felt like the execution of it was a bit problematic, using more telling than showing and keeping the main characters too far in their own heads, making it extremely difficult to verbalize what they’ve wanted and needed since they were young.

3.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

Another emotional book from Tara Sivec. Oh this book, I needed tissues.
Everett and Cameron were long-time friends.
He stayed away for 5 years only to return to sadness.
This book was a slow burn but so worth every single emotion.
There's alot of bumps in the road but don't worry things always work out right?!
I loved this story. Grab some tissues and settle in for an emotional ride.

This is a book that has wonderful characters. It was just a difficult book to get into at the beginning. You jump back and forth between present day and past. The childhood of the three friends. Once you stop jumping back and Everett finally shows up at the camp where Cameron is at the story begins to take off. The two lead characters still have issues to work out that are explained throughout the story, though I would have thought that Everett would have figured things out but I guess that was not to be. It take everyone around him to guide him. Not a bad story but I was hoping for more.

I really liked this book.
Tara Sivec is a very versatile author and has the ability to make us cry a lot or laugh out loud. She goes from drama to comedy very easily and her skill always leaves me amazed.
In this story told in past and present we meet three friends who have known each other since childhood. Cameron, Everett and Aiden formed friends since childhood and as they become teenagers they become inseparable.
But Cameron and Everett develop feelings for each other and it grows day by day, but whenever they go to confess to the other what they feel a misunderstanding arises and they can never. Honestly, I wanted to shake some sense in them and at some point I became desperate.
Everett becomes a doctor and goes to work in war zones, returns 5 years later after hearing a heartbreaking news and also with drinking problems. But he recovers to help Cameron save her farm.
They broke my heart more than once, I wanted to enter the book and hug them more than once, they made me cry a lot and I could not stop sighing. The tension between them is too much, palpable through the pages, it felt like an entity and when they give in to what they feel is too intense, I loved it.
I loved Aiden, always happy and helping others, I cried a lot with his letter, he is a character that won my heart.
And the others were the perfect complement to the story.
If you like the love stories of friends and second chances this is perfect for you.

Man, I really, really wanted to love this book! I was expecting something similar to Fishers Light, but that wasn't really what I got at all. The flash backs were too frequent and I really didn't like the h much at all. I have been trying to finish this story for a while now and I still haven't been able to finish.

Tara is a favorite of mine. Her words are poignant and touching. This story captured me in the painful prologue. I loved every word and could not put it down.

When I started this book, I was thrilled to discover that Cameron is the daughter of Eli and Shelby from The Story of Us and I knew based on my reaction to that book I was going to be experience so many emotions. And Ms. Sivec did not let me down....

In Wish You Were Mine, we're taken on quite an emotional journey between three childhood friends. We learn what true sacrifice is when Everett follows his dreams leaving his two best friends to follow theirs. But things don't always turnout the way they're supposed to and Everett is back home and is going to get his girl.

Their love story is written beautifully by Ms. Sivec and I fell in love with Everett and Cameron as they go on their own journey to love in what is now their second chance. The story moves at exactly the right pace for this couple and the author has done an amazing job at character development allowing me to sink into this story and escape into their world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that's looking for a book that will take them away from their everyday problems and needs to escape into a wonderfully emotional journey of love, life and finding out that getting your forever love is worth every tear cried.

I just love the cover for Wish You Were Mine. This was a beautiful friends to lovers story full of heartache. I have been a huge fan of hers for a long time and this book didn’t’ disappoint.

Cameron, Everett and Aiden are childhood friends that met at a summer campy run by Cameron’s parents. I loved The Story of Us and the characters Eli and Shelby are Cameron’s parents. You don’t have to read it first but it’s a great book you don’t want to miss.

The three of them were the best of friends until Everett left to chase his dreams. Now five years later Aiden is gone and Everett has come back home after being gone for years. He has a hard time when he comes home thinking he could have helped save his friend. He’s been pinning for Cameron for years but he left her so she could have the life she wanted.

Cameron has been through a lot and is now running the family’s camp. She has lost one best friend and now one is back that she has been trying to forget. Seeing him again shakes her to the core. They have a lot to work through and the whole time I was pulling for Everett and Cameron to figure things out.

These two characters have chemistry you can’t deny. This was a beautiful heart felt story that I couldn’t put down.

I freaking loved this story. It’s now one of my favorites of Miss Sivec’s. The angst, the love, the regret, the fear, the friendship, the heartache...all the feels!

Beautifully written and very developed plot, this story had me glued to the pages as I experienced Everett’s and Cameron’s journey. A journey forged out of friendship but sideswiped by fear and regrets.

**If you love something, set it free. Isn’t that what they always say?
Cameron will never come back to me, though, because she was never meant to be mine. She was just a stupid wish on a handful of stupid stars, and as she turns away from me and walks back into the house without another word, I let her go, and watch the dream of her disappear right in front of my eyes.

Childhood friends and second chances, Wishes made upon stars, this story will make you smile, swoon, hurt, and sometimes want to slap the characters. Their self imposed heartache was almost too much to bear. Knowing all it would have taken was a bit more truthful communication and some things could have been avoided. But their journey would have ended. It wouldn’t have developed into that all consuming need, that desire and passion that exploded on the pages. Their story had to take the path it did to get the outcome that was written in the Stars.

Definite worth the journey! I also loved some of the side characters and hope we get to see more of Jason and Amelia!

When the 3 Musketeers are no longer. This book has so many "feels" in it. How do you go back to the life you left, when it took everything in you to leave the first time? You just suck it up and go. Bury your feelings deeply and try to be the "best friend" you can be in a tragic situation. But then things start to unravel... What do you do next?

I love Tara Sivec so much- her Holiday family series is flat-out hilarious and I have thoroughly enjoyed every single installment. But I had not yet read anything serious by her so I was excited for Wish You Were Mine because I always enjoy a bit of angst in my romance novels. The author did an excellent job with this friends to lovers story- I loved the flashback scenes and getting to see the history the characters had with each other. The epilogue though- perfection! Such a great ending!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

I liked the characters and I liked the childhood friends to lovers storyline. Let's keep that in mind as I go through the areas where I think this fell short.

The biggest problem here is with balance. Too much time was given to listening to the dialogue going on in Cam and Everett's heads--especially since the dialogue didn't change much and not enough time watching them interact. Too much time spent on the past and not enough time spent on what was happening with them in the present. The end result was that a resolution was thrown together in the very end and it all seemed a bit too rushed.

There was potential with these characters, especially given that they have such a long history together, but unfortunately it didn't come together as I would have preferred.

I think Cam and Everett are now on my top list of favorite book couples! Holy moly, these two. The love is strong. The angst is thick. The attraction is heavy.

I fell right into this book from the first page. I definitely did not expect all of the angst and sexual frustration. And let me tell you, it had me in knots. I found myself right in the book with these characters. I wanted for them what they were afraid to achieve.

If you are a Tara Sivec fan, please know this isn't one of her funny books. Although, I giggled a few times. This story is heavy. This story is raw and real. Tara was able to tap into not just these characters' minds as adults, but she hit the nail on the head when delving into their teenage selves. She couldn't have written their love, jealousy and angst any better.

Overall, this is book is emotional and steamy. It is definitely one of my top reads of the year. Kudos Tara!

Trying to write this review without spoilers and it is proving to more difficult for than ice skating.

Tara Sivec has gone and done it again. With Wish You Were Mine, she has given us a love story that will break your heart and then glue it all back together, maybe just a little stronger than it was before. This is a book about first and only love, friendship, strength and sacrifice. And wishes. The sweetest of wishes.

I loved this book so much, it is story about a love that is hard-fought between two people who in spite of themselves and circumstances, never let the other out of their hearts. Told in alt-POV and flashbacks, it is testimony to the power of first love.

Everett Southerland will test your patience. He is a good man with a very bruised heart that misses its match. He is the very definition of stubborn and being in his head, you understand the reasons why. In spite of his flaws, he is impossible not to love.

Cameron James is a force of nature. Her wishes are more than just the idle thoughts of a young girl, they are from her heart and her even stronger will to make them so as she grows up.

And together Cameron and Everett are their own brand of magic. Theirs is a love that was maybe dimmed, but never extinguished. Witnessing them together is pure Romance.

Wish You Were Mine put me through my paces, but in the end, it made my heart so happy. Make this book yours.

Happy reading!!!

Laurie’s Rating: 5++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STARS