"Wish You Weren't Here" by Christy Schillig transports readers to the charming streets of Urbino, Italy. While I faced some challenges with the Italian language in the book, I found the main female character Ava Grahamun's likable demeanour from the beginning to be a unique approach. Although the storyline lacked a dynamic flow, the vivid descriptions of the setting were the highlight for me. However, I wished for more depth and development in the story content. Thank you, NetGalley and Christy Schillig for the ARC.

I really like the cover and the blurb, but the book didn't work for me.

The first chapter is basically the blurb, like we know what's going to happen.

Ava seemed so meek in the first chapter. She couldn't even confront or properly talk to Ethan as he self planned a break in their relationship in a ridiculous manner. But in the second chapter when she meets James, she is suddenly carefree, straightforward and outspoken (calling a stranger who has come to receive her an asshole). And, I didn't understand why James presumed Ava was going to be a teenager, and was extremely surprised that she turned out to be in her 30s.
Couldn't connect with the characters. And writing style as the writing seemed too straightforward for a romantic fiction. There are so many unnecessary dialogues. Sadly, this book didn't interest me so I left it unfinished. You might like it if you're a patient reader.

Thank you for the ARC. Not posting the review anywhere else.

Ava Graham is a woman in control. She plans to go 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 she arrives in Italy, she meets James Massini who she believes does not understand a word of English. After she has finished venting her anger, she realises that he did understand her and that he is the nephew of the couple, whose house she will be staying at. When she’s assigned to his art history class as an assistant, they find themselves growing closer and closer.
I was so surprised to find that this was a debut novel, as this romance was so beautifully told, against the amazing backdrop of Urbino. I could feel the history, charm, and atmosphere of the town, falling in love with it as Ava did. I loved the character of James, who despite his past, was able to find such love and comfort in his family and Urbino. I also took great delight in all the secondary characters and how they embraced Ava, as part of their family, making me long for this way of life. This book was a sheer delight to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Christy Schillig for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wish You Weren't Here was charming and heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I read the whole book in one afternoon.
I loved Ava and James, they had great chemistry, and they were charismatic and interesting.

I would definitely like to read more from Christy.
I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This book! Wow I loved it so much. I loved how descriptive the author was about the Italian towns and culture. It truly made me wish I was in Italy eating all the pasta and drinking all the wine.

I loved both Ava and James, their relationship, and Ava’s growth as a character. Tammy was also great and would love to see more about her.

I love the setting of this book. I enjoyed the two main characters for the most part, what I didn’t enjoy was the will they won’t they at the end of the bulk of the chapters. I cannot count how many times one of them walked away from the other right at the end of a chapter. I respect that Ava had an almost fiancé back home but let’s be honest he was a jerk. She should not have needed to see him in photos with another woman to realize that the relationship was probably going nowhere. I feel like overall this book didn’t settle right with me. Something felt off, maybe it was the writing, something about the romance itself, just something didn’t resonate with me like it should have. It could be that I am not into slow burn romances, but I don’t feel like that is the case. Sadly, this book was just a miss for me.
Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I really thought I was going to like this book and was really looking forward to reading.
I found the main character unlikeable from the get go. She was just a rude, privileged, hateful snob who expects everyone to cater to her and is rude if things don't go her way. The chemistry between her and the "driver/professor" is painful to read as she has treated him terribly from the time they met. The banter between them at times is down right mean.
This made it very hard to speed through books as I normally do. I had to keep coming back to it and never really got into it.
The only thing I did like about this book is the location and the family members that are part of the story. Those bits was enjoyable to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the advanced reader copy of this book.

I'm a sucker for books that take place in Italy! I loved the descriptions of the food and the countryside which made me feel like I was there. The characters, James and Ava, were complex and their romance was realistic and made my heart melt. I loved how they connected through their past traumas. It was a refreshing slow burn romance with a litle bit of spice. It's the perfect read to escape with this summer!

Ah Urbina! Ava is spending the summer in Italy, healing from the death of her mom and the "break" her long time boyfriend has proposed for their relationship, Oh, and finishing credits for her law degree (wish my law school had had this sort of deal). James is the love interest she wasn't planning for. This is familiar territory but it's also quite atmospheric. So atmospheric you'll want to hop a plane to Italy. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Wish You Weren't Here by Christy Schillig is a captivating tale of a woman who embarks on a summer adventure in Italy, only to have her life turned upside down. This unexpected twist may just be the catalyst she needs to discover her true identity. Picture a courageous protagonist who is heartbroken just before her Italian getaway, steamy nights, and stunning architecture. This delightful blend sets the stage for a romantic comedy that will keep you hooked from start to finish!

This was a good first novel, it had a lot of potential and a fantastic setting. Unfortunately I had a really hard time connecting to the main character, and overall found it a bit lacking. Would have been great to have some funnier banter or less predictable situations

Well, I’ve never been particularly infatuated with Italy until now! After reading this book, the world so well crafted and descriptive, I want to visit Urbino.
🇮🇹
This was a great debut by Christy Schillig and I loved the slow burn romance as well as all of the secondary characters. My only issue is that it was a bit long. Okay, maybe more than a bit.
🥴
I think if some of the shorter chapters (super short) could have been combined to make this a 40-ish chapter book rather than 60-ish, it wouldn’t have felt like such a commitment of time for me. I’m partial to a quick romance read and this wasn’t exactly that.
🤷🏻‍♀️
Still and easy 4 stars from me and I highly recommend this for romance readers. I look forward to more books from this new author!
🫶🏻
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
💜

This is such a beautiful love letter to Italy - I can smell the oranges, feel the breeze through the olive groves, taste the pasta... it's so evocative, and it feels like the real thing, not a commercialised sanitised version. Italian is threaded through the dialogue and the translations are neatly incorporated - I love that the chapter numbers are in Italian 🇮🇹

I just wish I'd loved Ava more. She's a black cat, very brittle, seemingly entitled and although this unravels and she settles into Urbino and gets to know the family, and James, I just didn't connect with her as much as I wanted to. Ava is grieving for her mother and using a range of ultimately unhelpful coping strategies to help her process. She holds her beliefs and her plans really tightly and this is painful to read, even as she unties them. James is a golden retriever, he pushes back a little but he's all in for Ava - excellent book boyfriend material!

There is a lot going on, we start in the US, move to Urbino, weekend in Venice, return to the US, finish in London. There's family, found family, work colleagues and a new job, an almost fiancé, but somehow it all works together. I loved that they each had to sort out their own stuff and find themselves before getting together - this felt very grownup and balanced against the insta-love, given that Ava was really only in Italy for a month.

This is a debut, and Christy Schillig has put so much of herself into this gorgeous romance. Thank you NetGalley and Christy Schillig for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers summer rom-com set in Italy. The descriptions of the food and beauty of the countryside made me feel like I was there and I want to take a trip right now. I loved the characters of the town, there was a great sense of community. Art was the main background of the story and it was something that I really related to and enjoyed. The FMC and MMC connected emotionally through past traumas and other secrets uncovered throughout the book. There were a few chapters with open-door spice and a few closed-door in the second half of the book. I thought it was paced well until the end when it seemed a little rushed in the predictable ending.

There was a lot of things I really liked about this book, but unfortunately there were some things I didn’t like about it as well.

The romance in this book was my main problem and since I expected a great summer romance from this book, I was really disappointed.
To me it felt too rushed between the main characters. I don’t mind the enemies to lovers trope, but to me it felt like the characters went from not liking each other to being in love with each other really quickly and it felt a bit forced. I kinda needed that deep connection between then happening on page, but to me it just ended up being a bit to0 superficial.
The pacing also shifted too much and it got a bit confusing.

However I really loved the concept of this book and the whole setting of it. The author was very descriptive with everything and at times it almost felt like I was right there next to the characters. I also enjoyed most of the characters, both main and side characters. The writing was very beautiful.
I will definitely still recommend it, since I liked pretty much everything about this book, expect for the romance.

In "Wish You Weren't Here," Christy Schillig delivers a delightful and charming romantic comedy that will transport readers to the vibrant streets of Italy. With a perfect blend of humor, heart, and wanderlust, this novel is a delightful escape that will resonate with anyone who has ever had their well-laid plans disrupted by life's unexpected twists and turns.

From the very first pages, Schillig hooks the reader with her relatable protagonist, Ava Graham. Ava's meticulous nature and obsession with plans make her both endearing and frustrating, but it's her vulnerability and willingness to grow that truly endear her to the reader. Schillig's talent for crafting realistic, flawed characters shines through in Ava's journey of self-discovery.

The introduction of James Massini, Ava's annoyingly charming foil, sets the stage for a delightful opposites-attract dynamic. Their banter is both witty and heartwarming, and their chemistry is undeniable, even as they butt heads over their contrasting approaches to life. Schillig deftly balances the romantic tension with moments of genuine connection, creating a depth of emotion that elevates the story beyond a mere romantic romp.

Schillig's love for Italy is palpable in her vibrant descriptions of the country's sights, sounds, and flavors. The setting becomes a character in its own right, providing a rich backdrop for Ava's personal growth and her budding relationship with James. Readers will find themselves longing to book a trip to Italy themselves, if only to experience the magic that Schillig so vividly captures.

While the plot occasionally veers into predictable territory, Schillig's strong character development and her ability to infuse humor into even the most clichéd situations keep the narrative feeling fresh and engaging. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of levity interspersed with emotional depth, ensuring that the reader remains invested in Ava's journey until the very end.

Overall, "Wish You Weren't Here" is a delightful and heartwarming read that will appeal to fans of romantic comedies and anyone seeking a literary escape. With its charming characters, rich setting, and perfect blend of humor and heart, this novel earns a well-deserved 4-star rating. Christy Schillig's debut is a promising start to what will hopefully be a prolific career in the world of romantic fiction.

Wish You Weren't Here
By: Christy Schillig
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•This book hooked me right from the start!

•I love Ava and James, they have the best chemistry.

•Reading about Italy made me want to hope on a flight ASAP.

•While fun and funny, there are some emotional conversations in this story, I teared up a few times.

•I love how this story ended.

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Wish You Weren't Here was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Alcove Press. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: Out Now!

At surface level, Wish You Weren’t Here sounds like a book about a girl who, much to her shock, is on a break from her long term boyfriend, and finds herself in Italy, acting as TA for a class before she finishes school.

When you dig deeper, though, it is about so much more. It is about love and loss, travel, finding your passion, and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Ava thought she had her entire future planned out, but it was so fun to walk with her as she figured out what she really wanted. Adding a guy in who has amazing chemistry with her (and in such a beautiful place) doesn’t hurt!

I loved this story. I laughed, I cried, I looked up flights to Italy. It is a really good book.


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I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the story trite and could not get on board with Ava. She was spoiled and silly. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you NetGalley, Christy Schillig, and Alcove Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an exquisitely crafted, profoundly emotional, and wonderfully heartwarming <I>debut</I> romance that whisks you away to the charming town of Urbino, Italy!! Embark on a delightful journey as two unlikely people collide in a hilariously unconventional first meeting, transporting their initial disdain into a deep and enduring bond of friendship and ultimately blossoming into love. Set amidst breathtaking landscapes, tantalizing Italian cuisine, beautiful artwork, and a tapestry of culture richness, this slow burn romance unfolds, promises to captivate your heart and soul. Overflowing with palpable sexual tension, uproarious humor, the comforting embrace of found family, undeniable chemistry, unwavering love, heartwarming romance, a dash of spice, poignant heartache, and an alluring array of secondary characters, this story assures an immersive read with dual point of view narrative. I absolutely adored this indulgent escape to Italy!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵

Ava Graham's meticulously planned life takes an unexpected turn as she sets off for Italy to complete her final law school credits and honor a promise made to her late mother. Anticipating a proposal from her long term boyfriend, she instead faces the shocking suggestion of a "break" before settling down. At the airport, James Massini, arriving late to pick her up as a favor to his aunt and uncle, discovers Ava to be a fascinating woman approaching thirty, armed with a serious superiority complex and a tendency to underestimate him.

When Ava is assigned to assist in James's class, he becomes determined to show her that life is more than just plans and lists, despite her resistance and his growing admiration for her spirited banter. Though initially resistant to the sudden upheaval in her life, Ava finds herself reluctantly drawn to the charms of Italy, even as James's carefree nature continues to irk her. As she begins to embrace the chaos, finding unexpected beauty in spontaneity, her past resurfaces, threatening the newfound sense of clarity she's discovered.

Overall, I found this book thoroughly enjoyable and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating summer romance infused with irresistible Italian vibes! The narrative served as a poignant reminder that life frequently unfolds according to its own agenda, regardless of the carefully crafted plans we lay out for ourselves. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

<I>Some of my favorite highlights:
"Bravery is making a choice despite your fear"

"Some point in life, you will know that some people can stay in your heart but no in your life, which means that you should understand more than most not to waste un momento with those who are still here."</I>

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

I Sadly could not get into the story after weeks of trying for this reason it is DNF