I tried really hard to get into this book, but I couldn’t. I’m not sure if it was because I was feeling slump ish, or if I just didn’t vibe with it but I didnt finish. I think I’ll come back to it another time and give it another shot! I’ll be giving it three stars since I didn’t finish, but feel bad punishing the author when it might’ve been right book wrong time.

This just felt a little flat to me. Characters were 2 dimensional and not exciting. The drama was predictable. I wanted more out of this sapphic summer camp rom com!

I really loved this book! Priya and Juliette had a great development of their relationship. I enjoyed the burgeoning friendship and then more that built up over the course of the story. I also liked their other friends from camp that were featured. The camp setting and games there were super fun as well!

I absolutely devoured Wish You Weren't Here by Erin Baldwin! As someone who works in summer camp marketing and has a major soft spot for all things camp-related, this book felt like it was made just for me.

The story follows Juliette, who’s just trying to enjoy her final summer at Fogridge Sleepaway Camp, free from her rival Priya. But of course, Priya shows up as her cabinmate, and everything Juliette hoped for seems to crumble. The whole rivals-to-lovers angle is executed so well here—there’s tension, awkwardness, and lots of sweet moments that make you root for them to get along.

Baldwin nails the summer camp vibe, capturing all the little things that make camp so magical. The way Juliette and Priya’s relationship evolves is super satisfying and, honestly, just plain swoon-worthy.

If you’re into summer camp settings and enjoy a good rivals-to-lovers story, definitely check this one out. It’s got all the charm and feels that make for a perfect summer read!

This sapphic YA rom-com is a love letter to camp 🏕️ my time as a camp counselor was so special, and I loved how Baldwin portrayed camp as a place where everyone can feel like they belong. Wish You Weren’t Here is a fun childhood-rivals-to-lovers romance with forced proximity. It’s also emotional with complicated family dynamics and character growth.

I thought the setting of a summer camp was so fun & liked the friend group & frenemies aspect! For me the romance didn’t work, I think if it would have been focused on the friendship I would have enjoyed it more. What made my rating go so low was Juliette’s personality. She came off as self centered, dislikes everything and whines so much. I felt there could have been more room for her character development and it's unfortunate because this had real potential for a great redemption arc with self-reflecting for Juliette. I feel like Priya deserves better honestly and I would not have shipped them together. The romance did not sell me here, like I previously mentioned, if this was based on the friendship piece alone I would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

Why am I so skeptical all of a sudden. I feel like no book is satisfying me lately. This was an enjoyable sapphic summer camp read and I liked it but I also feel apathetic about it at the same time. I think this is a me problem but whatever.

Also, I don't generally like when one of the characters is famous or social media famous. I feel like it's often exaggerated and in this book it did not fit at all. Like there's mentions of Priya being featured in magazines but then no one knows who she is. I feel like it was an element that threw me off for most of the book and one that my little brain latched on to and couldn't shake.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Wish You Weren't Here" by Erin Baldwin is a delightful summer camp novel that combines the charm of classic camp experiences with the complexities of teenage emotions and relationships, specifically a sapphic relationship between the two main characters. The story centers around Juliette, a somewhat prickly protagonist, and her unexpected cabin mate, Priya, who has long been her perceived rival in their shared real-life circle. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers story with little drama (mainly teenage angst), and it’s a perfect book to read in the summer, especially if you have experience with summer camps. I highly recommend this book to younger YA and even MG readers as it’s a simple but super sweet summer camp romance story.

The book is set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic summer camp where every other scene is an activity, from kayaking to toasting s'mores. The setting itself is contrived in the best way possible, offering a fun escape into a world where teenage angst and camp spirit blend seamlessly. However, the book offers more than just a light-hearted camp story. It focuses on self-discovery, acceptance, and the complexities of teenage relationships. There's a particular focus on the nuances of queerness and the sometimes confusing feelings that come with it, making it a thoughtful read without being overly heavy. While the romance element is present, it's relatively low-key, allowing the story's other elements—like friendship and personal growth—to shine through. If you were expecting a romance-heavy book, then this one may not be the right fit for you. But if you enjoy playful banter/flirting throughout the story along with an overarching plot, then you will love this story, especially due to the characters.

Juliette is a character who initially comes off as grumpy and insufferable, especially with her antagonistic attitude towards Priya. However, as the story progresses, you see a deeper, more vulnerable side of her. Juliette's struggle with her insecurities, her desire for validation, and her attempts at self-improvement are relatable and compelling. She is a middle child with parents who are both physicians, and she has her eyes set on Yale, adding layers to her character as she navigates the pressures and expectations of her life, which makes her quite relatable. Summer camp is like an escape for her, and we can see her grow as a character throughout the story.
Priya, on the other hand, is a warm and giving person, often leaving Juliette questioning the basis of their rivalry. Her kindness and small acts of thoughtfulness make her an endearing character. The dynamic between Juliette and Priya evolves from tense and awkward to sweet and affectionate, with their banter becoming a highlight of the story. I do wish we got to see Priya’s perspective as I think that would have fleshed her out even more, but I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters.

Overall, "Wish You Weren't Here" is a charming, fun read with a lot of heart. Whether you're in it for the summer camp nostalgia (I wish I attended a summer camp like Fodridge!) or the sweet romance, this book has something for everyone.

dnf @30%
unfortunately, i just didn't click with this book. i tried to get into it multiple times and wasn't able to get past 9-10 chapters. it seems like a fun summer read, but i just couldn't connect with the characters at all. this book was blurbed as an enemies-to-lovers, but it just really wasn't? the rivalry was very one sided and honestly made the main character feel insufferable at times. i rarely dnf books but i just couldn't get myself to push through. might attempt this book again in the future, but right now it just wasn't for me.

⟶ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this was such a cute summertime story. I loved the banter between Priya and Juliette as well as the development of their relationships from rivals to friends to lovers. I think the author did a really good job at providing a camp experience through each page. The side characters in this story really helped in benefiting the story progression and I’m really happy with how this story ended.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me.

I just couldn't connect to the overall vibes of the story.

This was such a fun summer read! The perfect amount of feeding my nostalgia for summer camps of years past, and a great sapphic romance with a fun plot and great characters alongside it. It was also a really quick and pretty easy read for me, especially once the characters get to camp, and I’m so glad that I picked it up when I did! There were a lot of nostalgic elements for me (summer camp and theater), and even if there were moments that weren’t exactly realistic I was having too much fun reading to really care. It was also really cool to watch Juliette go from hating/tolerating Priya, to becoming friends, to realising that she likes her romantically. The elements of camp that were included, from the traditions to characters that make it up, were all so fun and made it enjoyable to read about Juliette’s story even before her romance with Priya. I do think that there are some elements of Priya’s character that feel less nuanced and kind of just meant to juxtapose her to Juliette, but it didn’t really affect my reading experience, and I enjoyed the details that were used to flesh out her character and make Juliette realise she might have misjudged her, like her clothing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it’s a great debut YA contemporary romance, and one I definitely recommend if that sounds like your thing. I’m really excited to see what Erin Baldwin will write in the future!

This ended up being a DNF. Couldn’t keep my interest, and gave up around chapter 7/8. I’m surprised because I was really interested in the synopsis, and this being a sapphic coming of age romance.

Ugh I love queer love stories. I haven’t read a lot of wlw romances lately and this was such a nice intro back into lesbian stories. I loved the setting and the tension was absolutely amazing.

Genuinely one of the best summer reads I’ve taken in. The setting is a character unto itself and it truly feels like camp. The characters are lovable and you root for Juliette. With all the pining you could ever want in a romcom and so much heart and love for camp imbued, this is an irresistible and easy read! One of my favorite new YA books!

started and finished this book in one day, i loveeeee palette cleaner books that are fast paced, easy to read, funny, cute, and have that summer vibe

highly recommend this book if you like YA romcom. i genuinely laughed at some of the scenes and i really liked how the two FMC’s relationship built!

Juliette is both ecstatic and heartbroken for her last summer at sleepaway camp, desperate to see her camp friends and be in the place where she truly feels herself. But when popular frenemy Priya shows up, it throws Juliette's carefully planned summer into a tailspin. The one place where she actually comes out of her shell is now Priya's universe and everyone else seems enamored by her, leaving Juliette in the dust. Being forced to share a cabin together is just icing on the cake--how can she possibly escape her? And does she really want to?

This book was adorable! It's the perfect, sapphic, summer read with all the summer camp vibes, found families, and acceptance. It's light but had depth, and plenty of subplots to keep things interesting. The romance wasn't at the forefront, but I honestly didn't mind, as Juliette and Priya's camp antics kept me entertained throughout.

Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Sweet summer camp sapphic coming of age / romance ⛺️☀️🌲

I loved Priya —nicest human ever. I wish Juliette’s character was a bit more fleshed out. I feel like we didn’t really dig into her relationships with her family much and would’ve loved to know more! This definitely felt more like a coming of age with romance on the side—which totally worked for me! Loved the friend group, they all had amazing banter that felt real and funny! The characters being enemies was a bit of a stretch lol. However, I did really enjoy them slowly falling for one another, very endearing, especially their first kiss 🥹 Quick and enjoyable for a summer read, 3/3.5ish stars🧡

3.5⭐️ rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is a simple story but so adorable. The conflict is revolving around such normal things but so well-told that I couldn’t help but get invested in things like yhe main character not being able to do a camp activity.

what an endearing read. I loved it so much. it made me feel all of the emotions.
I wish I could have fun at a place like that. I wish I had a home away from home. I wish I have friends.
man, this really got to me for some reason.

I wish we got more of Juliette’s family. I know they aren’t close, but still.

amazing read. I recommend.

-character growth
-queer
-summer camp
-belonging
-home away from home