A love story in the Italian countryside? That was an instant yes for me. Having never read a book by Christy Schillig, I did not know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised with this cute love story with some life-lesson undertones.

The story followed Ava as she travels to Italy to finish a program for her schooling so she can move on to complete all her life goals with her very type-A plan. Unfortunately for her, Italy doesn't play by her rules and neither does the loving family that takes her in. Ava reminds me of myself a bit with her wish to plan things out and then be sad and upset when the world doesn't follow your rules. Everything that could go wrong did and Schillig made me feel her anxiety through every page.

I also really enjoyed James and his entire family. They were the perfect array of supporting characters to make you fall in love with the story. I think the only thing that kept me from giving it a five-star rating was the predictability. I do like a little more surprise in my stories, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters, so knowing they would end up together in the end is okay when the journey to get there is fun. Schillig also incorporated some heavier topics into this story, which I appreciate becuase life is not all happiness and rainbows and sometimes things are hard. Ava had some hard decisions to make and also some hard realizations she had to go through. The character growth was incorporated very well into this romance.

I will pick up a book about people falling in love in Italy any day because... Life goals! Christy Schillig did a great job of developing the characters, building the visuals in this story and keeping me interested throughout. I look forward to reading more from her in the very near future.

This book made me want to visit Italy again and eat some authentic Italian food! Ava is in Italy to finish law school and fulfill a promise she made to her mother. She’s very organized and living in Italy upends all her organization, especially after she meets James who is a friend of her Italian family. Slowly but surely she starts to fall into more Italian habits, but can she embrace them after an unexpected encounter? You’ll enjoy this one if you like Italy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Ava has her life beautifully planned out, that is until her boyfriend unexpectedly calls for a break just as she is about to embark on her dream trip to Italy. Yet, this break might open the door to a future Ava never dared to envision. Wish You Weren't Here is a heartwarming Hallmark movie romance. While it may skim the surface, and the characters hover just above blandness, this cozy read wraps you in a familiar embrace—much like a beloved rerun that brings comfort to the soul.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Wish You Weren’t Here* by Christy Schillig is a charming debut that whisks readers away to the lush landscapes of Italy for a delightful story of self-discovery, unexpected romance, and the beauty of embracing life’s chaos.

Ava Graham is the definition of Type A: meticulous, career-focused, and determined to follow her carefully crafted life plan. But when her long-term boyfriend suggests a "break" rather than a proposal before her summer abroad, her tightly wound world begins to unravel.

Enter James Massini, a carefree, annoyingly confident local who becomes Ava’s unexpected guide to Italian culture—and her reluctant co-worker as her TA assignment pairs her with him. What starts as prickly banter evolves into something deeper as James challenges Ava’s rigid outlook and encourages her to find joy in the unexpected.

The Italian setting is gorgeously immersive, filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food, vivid scenery, and a sense of wanderlust. Ava’s journey is both humorous and heartfelt as she learns to let go of her tightly held plans and open herself to new possibilities. But when the life she thought she left behind comes rushing back, Ava must decide who she truly wants to be.

Perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Tessa Bailey, *Wish You Weren’t Here* delivers a delightful mix of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and the irresistible charm of finding yourself in the most unexpected places. A true escapist read with a heartfelt message about living in the moment.

I grabbed this one after the author contacted me asking if I wanted a copy to read! This was an enemies to lovers set in Italy that took me back to One Italian Summer and immediately made me want to read this. This was a wonderful read! Thanks so much for the copy of this one!

This was a very enjoyable dual POV enemies to lovers debut set in Italy as Ava, an American woman recently given a "hall pass" by her boyfriend back home, has come to study abroad and also to fulfill a promise to her dead mother. While there she meets James, an American expat and aspiring photographer who also turns out to be the professor who she has to work for over the semester abroad she's in Italy for. Sparks fly between the two and the more time they spend together the more feelings grow. This had humor, heart and lots of emotional depth. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is perfect for fans of authors like Rebecca Serle.

a stunning debut. a book that can make me equally laugh and sob is a gold star in my book. cannot wait for everything else christy writes :')

Ava Graham's ducks are in a row as she heads off to Italy to complete her final law school credits and fulfill a promise she made to her late mother five years ago. Ava expects her long-term boyfriend to propose before her trip, but instead of giving her a ring, he suggests they use her time abroad as a “break” before settling down.

When James Massini arrives–late–to the airport to pick up Ava as a favor to his aunt and uncle, he’s surprised to find that she’s not a young co-ed, but a fascinating woman approaching thirty with a serious superiority complex and a habit of underestimating him. When she’s assigned to his class as a TA, he becomes determined to prove to her that there is more to life than plans and lists, no matter how hard she fights with him–or how annoyingly charming he finds their banter.

Despite the sudden disaster of her life, type A Ava might actually enjoy Italy—if only annoyingly carefree James wasn’t there, too. As Ava reluctantly lets James try to show her a different way of life in Italy, she begins to find beauty in the chaos. Of course, it’s when things begin to make sense again that her past comes storming back.

With a humorously relatable protagonist and a rich Italian setting, this debut novel is an escapist treat and a necessary reminder that life doesn’t always care about the plans we’ve made for ourselves.

Ava is rushing through the airport with her politician boyfriend to make her flight to Italy on time and complete her final credits for law school. She is expecting him to propose right before she gets on the plane but instead gives her a pass to “sow her oats” before she comes back home. Completely stunned the entire flight there, she snubs James, the man that was sent to pick her up from the airport in Italy. Come to find out, he is the nephew of the family Ava is staying with and the professor she is working with for the next 4 weeks.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Ava trauma dumped on James thinking that he didn’t speak English and then had to deal with all that awkwardness. I loved the way she and James became friends and let the chemistry between them flow.

I loved the details of the Italian countryside and Villa where Ava stayed. I want to move there! Her found family was a delight. I also loved when she found out how well loved her mother and her paintings were in the Italian town.

This was a beautiful debut and I would definitely read more from Christy Schillig. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this book. Wish You Weren’t Here is out now.

A love letter to Italy, to mothers, to lovers, to found family. This book is absolute perfection!!! I will post an Instagram review shortly.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

🤍 Dislike to Lovers
🤍 Summer Rom-Com
🤍 Italian Setting
🤍 Opposites Attract
🤍 Age Gap

Thoughts:
Absolutely adored this read! It is the perfect summer romance read with its Italian setting and detailed descriptions that transport you into this world 🌎

Ava and James are perfect for each other and their story is so beautiful! The characters and their emotional connection really drive this story and even though there isn’t a lot of spice, you still feel every single moment of romance between these characters ❤️

The banter between these two was perfect and their chemistry will have you rooting for them the entire book. I loved the side plots and the story behind Ava’s mom as well.

Brb while I go book a flight to Italy ✈️

‼️ Triggers: some mild triggers including abandonment and 💀 of a parent.

This is an EXCELLENT romance read for the summer!

A transportive book about finding one’s self

I loved the escapist aspect of this book that I felt I was walking the streets of Urbino myself. The found family was a delight and heartwarming to read (save for that creepy kid, somebody save him). And the food and wine! I suggest that you don’t read this book on an empty stomach.

I just had some issues with the pacing as the middle third of this book went a bit sluggish that I almost DNFed, but this was well-written enough for me to finish.

My thanks to Alcove Press, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

I really liked this book! While there is a romance here (and yay for it being somewhat of an Enemies-to-Lovers tale!), I feel like this book falls more under the General/Contemporary [Women's] Fiction category, which I admittedly don't read too much of. That said, I enjoyed the MCs, their development throughout the novel, and found them both to be easy to relate to and root for. I also thought the story/plot as a whole was well-paced and clearly thought out, with the writing to be strong, immersive, and atmospheric (particularly when it came to the descriptions of Italy, the food, etc— it felt like I was really there!). I would definitely recommend this book out to others, especially for summer, and look forward to seeing what Schillig comes out with next!

Loved the Italy setting but this story just fell flat for me. After weeks of reading I’m only 35% through because I found I wasn’t ever picking it up. This one just isn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an Advanced Reader Copy of Wish you Weren't Here. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this story. I didn't even make it a quarter of the way through, so I don't have much to share other than it didn't resonate with me and I didn't connect with the characters.

I loved this book! I liked that it took place in Italy and that the author did a wonderful job describing place, atmosphere and characters. Great easy read. I look forward to more books from this author. Take this book with you on vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I read what this book was about, I was immediately intrigued! Unfortunately it didn't completely live up to my expectations, but I still enjoyed it!

I really loved this book. She flies to Italy to finish her law degree and she was expecting her boyfriend to propose to her, but instead he breaks up with her. When she goes to Italy she meets this guy and the rest is history.

Author, Christy Schilling hit a walk off home run with this one. I absolutely adored this book. I was grabbed into the whirlwind life of Ava on a Ava goes into a Study abroad school term that finds from the beginning a love/ hate relationship not only with a very handsome lovable professor, James but also with his family, their lifestyle, their friends and the small community of Urbino, Italy. As a whole. The descriptive details of the Urbino countryside, the food and culture. and family made me wish I was there. My words hardly do justice to the author or the book. The beautiful picture her words paint. If you enjoy a perfect romance novel. Get this one to tuck into your beach bag and get swept away. I so highly recommend this book if you enjoy clean romance novels. I give this one two arms up with jazz hands, eight fingers and two thumbs up! Must settle on five stars instead of my recommended ten. Special thanks to the following for an advance unedited copy: This is my own honest opinion.
#NetGalley
#AlcovePress
#ChristySchilling
Publication Date: May 21, 2024

In general aspect, I enjoyed this one. The vacation vibe and the absolute feel about it were making me want to go on a vacation to Italy. Another aspect is the art content, which I find interesting as well.

Anyway, I would also say this also felt underwhelming, especially the last 40% and so.

The romance as well, I feel like the romance didn't really kick that much, when I believe that it could have been so much better if it did considering the chemistry they had.

Another thing, Ava was kind of irritated me, James also weirded me out tbh.

Overall, I think this could have been better.