Super cute and fun, with just a touch of magical realism and a delightful cast of side characters. I loved Catherine’s quest to figure out her identity - not just to find her paperwork, but also to find herself - and Luca was such a sweet, kind love interest. Just a lovely book.

Serious and scholarly Catherine likes the predictability and stability of her adult life. Raised by her free spirited dad, she has finally landed her dream job of a math professor. But routines aren’t always what they are cracked up to be and she wishes to be someone else. Somehow this wish comes true and Catherine’s records and ID don’t exist. As a result, she is forced to rely on the people who once annoyed her with their fun loving and adventurous ways. Along the way, Catherine learns that there is so much beauty in the chaos.

💫I loved this book so much!!! The found family elements as well as the message of loving ALL of someone (not just the highlights) was so refreshing. I can wait to read more from this author!

This book was fun and at times something to pull the heart strings. I saw myself a lot in Catherine and some of my husband in Luca which made him even more the book boyfriend I needed. Throughout, while Catherine was facing a difficult time with her lost identity, it often gave me hope even in the hardest times she saw.

This book, while not 100% happy-go-lucky, is just what you need to lift your spirits at a low time.

This was a first for me by Melissa Wiesner and certainly not a last.

Read if you like:
✨Opposites Attract
✨Found Family
✨Magical Realism
✨Smart & Particular FMC
✨Fun, Golden Retriever MMC

Wish I Were Here was my first novel by Melissa Wiesner but trust me when I say I immediately added her backlist to my "must soon" tbr list!!

Catherine lives life checklist by checklist, making sure everything is in order and running smoothly... until the university she is about to start teaching for denies her employment orientation paperwork. They say she's a fraud and cannot be found in anyone's system. Luca, the sunshinest doorman, insists on helping her track down her paperwork with his family connections. Throughout the journey, Catherine cannot help but ask herself: what was she made for? Is she truly wishing she were someone else or just coasting along?

This book had me in a bind because once I reached that 30% mark, there was no stopping myself from flipping the pages. Towards the end, I found this book very reminiscent of 17 Again (the Zac Efron movie), which is one of my FAVORITES. I adored Melissa's reverse take on the grumpy sunshine trope and adored Catherine's Dad. This is a book that I need everyone to read as it provides just a little bit of magic that we all need in our lives, especially with upcoming election and other world events.

Wish I Were Here is a fun, opposites-attract romance that follows Catherine and Lucas. Being raised by a free spirit is destined to make your life anything but ordinary. But, now that Catherine is an adult, she demands order in all things. So, when her perfectly planned life gets turned upside down, she gets thrown for one heck of a loop. The only person she can turn to help is her attractive, yet annoying doorman, Luca. As Catherine begins to spend time with Luca to unravel the mystery behind her missing identity, she learns more about herself than she ever expected and that there might be something more to her annoying doorman than meets the eye.

Overall, I thought this book was an okay read. I really liked the unique plot and quirky characters. I loved seeing Catherine's life become unraveled, forcing her to take a breather from the status quo and learn more about herself. I adored Luca and his patience. He was kind of goofy, but I enjoyed his banter with Catherine. You can never go wrong with a found family trope, and this one definitely hits the marks in that department. However, I did find the romance between Catherine and Luca to be lacking. Don't get me wrong, there were some great sweet moments, but I found the overall chemistry to be missing and was left wanting more; more development, more romance, just more.

In the end, I think this will be a hit for some and a miss for others.

“Wish I Were Here” is a charming, uplifting romantic comedy. When Catherine, a definite Type A, shows up to her new job only to find out she’s missing her identity, she must enlist the help of her carefree doorman. This story is definitely for those who have lost sleep at night over thoughts about the whereabouts of their birth certificate (me). Catherine and Luca set out to solve the mystery of Catherine’s lost identity, with lots of adventure along the way. The magical realism came together beautifully to teach Catherine a valuable life lesson on the meaning of community and the value it adds to our life. I really enjoyed all the side characters.

For those who enjoy:
🪪Opposites Attract Romance
🪪Quest
🪪Math Professor + Doorman
🪪Long Lost Parent
🪪Navigating Parent Issues
🪪Magical Realism
🪪Closed Door Romance

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Wish I Were Here tells the story of a woman on the brink of starting her dream (read: stable) job as a professor, only to have her identity mysteriously erased, throwing her life into chaos. Without the ability to prove who she is, Cat’s unable to take her place in the academic world she’s worked so hard for. As she navigates the bureaucratic nightmare of regaining her identity, she forms an unexpected bond with her doorman Luca, a charming and well-connected man. Together, they embark on a quirky, heartwarming journey to recover what she's lost, leading them into surprising and sometimes humorous situations that deepen their connection.

This is a solid read, though not a standout in the romance genre. It’s the kind of middle-of-the-road romance that’s pleasant but not one I’d actively seek out again. What shines in this book is Luca's quiet strength and the way he supports Cat. His actions speak louder than words, offering her a sense of security without grand gestures. I appreciated how he prioritized her needs with subtle, caring actions, which made their connection feel genuine. If you're in the mood for a sweet romance with a whisper of magical realism, this one could be worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I was game the second I heard this was about a mathematician. The premise was cool - a woman suddenly loses all traces of her identity and has to scramble to regain it before her tenure track professor position starts. The fun part of this was (of course) that she finds a new self-identity while she's trying to prove to the university that she actually exists. Luca was as sweet a hero as one could expect, especially against Catherine's uptight attitude. Most of my favorite moments involved the side characters, especially her neighbors and the weird Morelli clan though, but I feel like Catherine didn't really get a chance to shine on her own.

Also the math parts were weird and felt kind of garbled. But that's just my personal pet peeve.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this electronic ARC of "Wish I Were Here" by Melissa Wiesner.

The story follows Catherine as her identity mysteriously disappears and the doorman of her building, Luca, helps her regain it.

I really enjoyed "The Second Chance Year" by this author and this one did not disappoint! The story kept my attention and I managed to finish the story in a couple of days! If you liked the other story you will enjoy this one too.

I loved seeing Catherine grow as a character and her relationship with Luca change throughout the story. Defintely recommend!

Magical realism is becoming a favorite of mine, and this was done SO well! I love Melissa Wiesner books, so this was a no brainer for me to read. This was a super sweet romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc and a chance to read this early. I didn’t love it as much as I did her previous book which was a let down. I enjoyed the self discovery and character growth from Catherine. The romance seemed like a sidebar and I wish it had been more. Luca was very one dimensional so it was hard to root for him. I loved the apartment building/community aspect of it though. Would recommend to others but not as a romance book.

When I picked up “Wish I Were Here” I was expecting a typical romance novel- but it turned out to be SO much more than that. It was a story of self discovery and found family, with some romance, and a tiny bit of magical realism sprinkled in. The story was easy to read, kept me turning the pages, and I got a little teary eyed at the end. Overall, a great reading experience and I would recommend to anyone looking for a feel good, easy read with some substance.

3.75 stars

This was a fun, well-written romance featuring a serial rule follower and laid back/go with the flow type of guy. I do wish the romance and the magical realism aspects were played up just a wee bit more to round out the story, but overall, I enjoyed it

I loved the second chance year, so when I saw another Wiesner book on netgalley, I jumped for it. I really enjoyed Catherine’s story. This book was strongest when dealing with her path of self-discovery. The romance was sweet and added to the story and the magical realism was icing on the cake.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

After reading The Second Chance Year, I jumped at the chance to read another book by Wiesner. Wish I Were Here did NOT disappoint. Catherine finds herself at a dead end when her life falls apart. As Wiesner introduces Luca and weaves their stories together, I LOVED that Catherine did not need Luca to save her. I am a big fan of FMCs finding their way on their own and this story did not disappoint. Luca serves as a guide, there to support her and open her eyes when necessary, but never taking over to save the day.

Tropes: Opposites attract, reverse grumpy sunshine, found family, opposites attract

Wish I Were Here is a charming story filled with a delightful cast of characters, a dash of magical realism and truly showcases the power of community. Catherine is a character who lives for structure but soon comes to realize that what starts out as a mess can actually turn out to be something truly beautiful in the end.

I went into this book not fully knowing what to expect but looking forward to another romance from the brilliant Melissa Wiesner. This story is more a journey of self-discovery with a hint of romance, which wasn’t what I was expecting but still an enjoyable tale nonetheless. Striking a perfect balance between reality and fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The found family aspect was so heartwarming and reminiscent of a sweet Hallmark movie. Luca’s laidback and humorously charismatic personality was a breath of fresh air and exactly what Catherine needed. (somewhat of a reverse grumpy x sunshine)

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wish I Were Here is a witty, heartwarming rom-com that stole my heart and kept me laughing from cover to cover. Catherine Lipton, a meticulous math professor who has every detail of her life calculated to a T, suddenly finds herself in the ultimate identity crisis—she literally doesn’t exist anymore. No ID, no records, no nothing. Enter Luca Morelli, her infuriatingly carefree doorman who’s all wrong for her meticulously organized life… or is he?
The chemistry between Catherine and Luca is off-the-charts charming. Watching Catherine loosen her tight grip on the reins of her perfectly planned life while she and Luca embark on a hilarious, rule-breaking journey is nothing short of delightful. The banter is sharp, the tension is delicious, and Luca’s laid-back attitude is the perfect foil to Catherine’s controlled world. The author balances the emotional stakes with humor in a way that feels effortless.
If you love books that will make you smile, swoon, and remind you that sometimes the best things in life can’t be calculated, this one’s for you. It's perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Josie Silver, with a dash of unexpected adventure. Wish I Were Here is a total win.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa Wiesner for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine is living the life she had dreamed.
She has a home of her own, and a job in the university’s Math department as a tenure -track professor. Stepping off the elevator in her building’s lobby, on the way to meet her new boss, she collides with the doorman, spilling her coffee all over her perfect outfit…and so the tale begins.
Catherine grew up with just her professional Juggling Clown father. Not only were the things he juggled up in the air, but sometimes their living situation and food availability too. It’s only ever been dad, Andrew and her, whenever she ask about her mom, he changes the subject. Since Catherine is the responsible one, she is also a rule follower.
On Catherine’s orientation day at the university, her name is not called, when she asks why, she’s told that she is a fraud. She begs for time to get this mixup straighten out. This is the story of how Catherine and her new friend Luca redeem her and learn a few things along the way.
This tale is a little predictable at times but also keeps you guessing. I rate this book 4⭐️

Let me just tell you this book gave me the chills! It is a charming rom-com with Catherine, who is miss organization. In an unexpected turn of events, she has to rely on mister somewhat irresponsible, Luca, to get her life back on track. They embark on this great, whirlwind of adventures - meeting Mafia figures, breaking into records rooms, and navigating through a smoky bar. Through all of this, Catherine see life and Luca in a different light. These opposites find themselves attract to one another and discovering how perfectly they fit into each other’s lives. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good read with laughs and heart, I highly recommend this book.

3.5⭐️

I am a sucker for magical realism and loved Weisner’s The Second Chance Year, so I could not wait to dive into Wish I Were Here. This really is a beautiful story of community, of building a family who have your back and are willing to accompany you to the Social Security office or lend you their pants in a time of need, of finding magic in every day moments, and of love and friendship.

The cast of characters were a DELIGHT and I love how each of the DeGreco residents brought so much color, joy, and warmth to the page. They were immensely endearing and I love how they embraced each other, became a family, and found love and laughter after loss.

Personally, I wish the story had been a little longer as there were so many characters and storylines that it felt a smidge rushed and unfinished. But this was a very charming, sweet story about the people that come into our lives and a beautiful story of the power of community.