"Wish I Were Here" is an adorable, easy-to-read romance with great side characters and a vivid setting in urban Pittsburgh. I went into this book without reading a synopsis or any of Weisner's previous titles, and was pleasantly surprised how easily I became immersed in the world. The actual prose in this book is descriptive and lovely!

Catherine is an uptight, aspiring mathematics professor and it shows in her personality. I found the description of her mannerisms overly trope-y and a bit hard to get past; of course the "stuck up" girl would also have an exact bed-time and be rude to anyone less organized than she is. In relation to this, I found both of her parents to be insufferable, and their descriptions to be so polarized that they became unrealistic completely. Relatedly, I had trouble finding reason with any of the actions they chose.

However, I loved the "found family" aspects of the book. All of Luca's scattered cousins, the residents of the DeGreco, and the members of the community center all made me smile. Catherine's personal journey was a little silly, but the people that brought her to her realizations were lovely.

Finally, I found the "twist" to be so easily guessed that it ALMOST wasn't fun - but I did tear up when it was revealed. Overall, I think this book is a charming palette cleanser and a good clean romance, just some of the characters didn't do it for me.

I went into this book blindly, having not read any of Melissa Wiesner's previous books before, and I was captivated from the moment I began reading.

After growing up without much stability, Catherine Lipton is on the precipice of the security that she has been dreaming of since childhood:
A tenure-track faculty position in the mathematics department ✅
A revered mentor in her field of study ✅
An apartment that is all hers ✅
Savings to tide her over until her dream job begins ✅

Her whole world comes crashing down, though, when she attends faculty orientation and discovers that HR rejected her paperwork because there is absolutely no record of Dr. Catherine Lipton anywhere. In order for Catherine to prove that she exists, she will need her original birth certificate and begin the process of applying for new a Social Security card....but she does not have her original birth certificate and neither does her father.

Enter Luca Morelli, the doorman of Catherine's building. He never seems to do his job - her lost dry cleaning and the broken elevator are proof of that. He (and his large Italian family) are the only ones willing to help Catherine solve the mystery of her lost identity, and she will accept any help she can get. Their search takes them all over the city - from the senior citizen center to her father's artist community- and leads Catherine to solve the most important equation of them all - who she is at her core.

Read this book if you love:
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Magical realism
-Tall, handsome, tattooed MMCs
-Opposites attract
-Octogenarian side characters
-Closed door romances

As a fan of Rebecca Serle's work, I have been looking for other authors who bring a touch of magical realism to their romances, and I am so glad that I stumbled across Melissa Wiesner. Like Serle, Wiesner incorporates magic to support the characters' growth - whether that be working through grief or going on a journey of self-discovery. The magic is purposeful and carefully entwined in the story so that the character, not the magic, is main stage. I can tell you that after reading Wish I Were Here, I will be reading all of Wiesner's backlist and any future releases.

I have posted this review on Goodreads, and I will post on my Bookstagram @thecozybookgal closer to publishing date.

What a fun and whimsical book! I really loved the dynamic we got to watch grow between Luca and Catherine! I thought that the magical realism was super subtle throughout the book and I really enjoyed that aspect. Although I think it may have been TOO subtle for people who haven't ever read a magical realism book before! And that's kind of my only complaint haha.

This was cute. The twist was noticeable a mile away, but the characters were lovely and keep me reading. I thought it rather simplistic to say if you like math you can't be quirky, but that resolved itself at the end. The love story between the protagonists was sweet. Library patrons should enjoy this one.

Catherine is an uptight math professor who finds her new position in jeopardy when she can’t prove her identity. Overnight all of her documents have disappeared and her dad is no help at all. In fact, the only help she has is from her carefree, attractive doorman Luca. The two work together to resolve Catherine’s problem and connect despite having little in common, but can they make it last?

I have loved Melissa Wiesner’s previous work, and this book might be her very best! I have found that magical realism really adds something special to a rom com, and I loved that about this one. The little extra connections in the story take it to the next level and make it such a heartwarming read. Luca is charming and thoughtful, and truly one of those selfless people who you’d want to be around. Catherine isn’t necessarily likable, but you see her soften and develop as a character once she realizes what she is missing in her life. If you enjoy Ashley Poston and Katherine Center books, you’ll love this one!

Thank you so much to Melissa for my gifted advance reader copy and Forever publishing for the digital copy.

Tropes:
Opposites attract
Found family
Lost identity
Splash of magic
Single POV

Type A math professor Catherine has always prioritized doing what’s right/following the rules, until her identity is magically erased overnight. Her doorman Luca and the entire Morelli clan come to her rescue giving us a new meaning to found family.

While the MCs are lovable, I felt like Luca was more of a supporting/side character. We didn’t get to know his backstory and Catherine just associated him and his whole big Italian family being part of the Italian mafia. (As a first gen Italian, I hate this stereotype. It’s honestly why I can’t even enjoy mafia romance books.)
The chemistry didn’t fly off the page between the two of them. The callback to when they first met seems so out of character for Catherine, it made me feel even more disconnected from the romantic subplot.

This was very plot heavy, with a whisper of character development. I wanted more for Luca. He’s painted as such a HIMBO when he is actually incredibly selfless and invested in his community. Our tatted up golden retriever book boyfriend deserves it all.
Overall, this is a soft and cozy read. No heart-stopping moments or twists and turns that lead to frustration. The spice is light with just a few kisses exchanged, and a protective MMC.

Drawn to this ARC due to the callout for fans of Ashley Poston (hi it’s me - huge fan — and I am reading this alongside her newest book too). I can see why with the touch of mystery and magic.

Overall 3⭐️/.5🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Forever/Hachette Book Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very charming read, it focused on Catherine who loses her identity in the midst of getting hired as a tenured professor, featuring a bit of a romance side plot and self-discovery. I definitely expected this to be more in the realm of romance but was left disappointed on that end by the characters not being fully fleshed out and the romance just kinda teetering on being part of the actual plot.

The concept of Catherine losing her identity and the sweetness with Luca and the building's occupants kept me engaged and interested, however, majority of the book stayed bland for the most part.

Such an excellent book! I became engaged in the story and character as soon as I started reading. The writing was easy to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of Wish I Were Here.

I loved Second Chance Year, so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I DNF at 30%. I couldn't get into the story or care for the FMC. I will give her another chance on her next book, this one just missed the mark for me.

Wiesner is such a great author! I loved this book and thought that the characters were very real and multi-faceted. I enjoyed reading it, although it was slower for me on the back end. One to add to your list!

“Sal was right. Something might seem like a disaster and turn out to be a beautiful, wonderful opportunity.”

Luca and Catherine captured my heart in this read.

What would you do if you woke up one day and didn't exist??

Catherine is type A and focused her main focus is stability and achieving career success. After moving into the DeCreco and obtaining a dream job at a university she feels like nothing will get in her way. So why is the doorman Luca gaining her attention and maybe verifying her from the original carefully planned path.

Luca lives life to help others and doesn't make plans or stick to a schedule while he keeps all his true hopes and dreams to himself. So why is the type A new tenant Catherine suddenly making him want to share his true dreams and passions.

When Catherine experience a mix up at orientation and needs help to prove she exists Luca inlists his family, the Morelli clan and what group of characters. Lucas family, residents of the DeCreco and Catherine's entertainment family all made this book that more enjoyable. This group was along for our journey with Luca and Catherine.

I come from a large Italian family so someone always "knows a guy" and this book had me feeling like I fit right into the story.

My take from this book folks - The best laid plans might not always be the right ones, people may not always be what you think they are and be open to go where life takes you.

Many thanks to Melissa Wiesner and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed The Second Chance Year by the same author, and Wish I Were Here is a lighter hearted romance that also has that tiny bit of magical flair. Catherine is a straight laced mathematician who finds comfort in the stability and predictability of numbers, due to her rather tumultuous childhood. On the cusp of “making it”, Catherine’s identity starts to fall apart, and she is unable to prove that she exists, putting into risk her new position at a university. With the help of her doorman, Luca, she embarks on a journey to re-establish her own identity. The book was cute but the chemistry wasn’t really there for me in the two main characters. Luca seems very lovely there could have been more to his golden retriever character. This is one of those books that can help you realize what really matters in life. I enjoyed most of the dialogue and the rest of Melissa Wiesner’s writing, but thought that there could have been more depth to her character development. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

After loving The Second Chance Year, I was thrilled to receive the ARC of this book. It definitely met my expectations, and I had such a great time reading it! The two main characters have a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, which I always enjoy and their attempts to solve the central problem lead to some hilarious scenes that made me laugh out loud. While the story requires a bit of suspension of disbelief due to its nature, I found it to be a fun and entertaining read with excellent character development. This book was the definition of “getting lost in a book” for me. I adore Wiesner's writing, and she has become an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the ARC of this book.

A sweet, joyful, big-hearted story about a woman learning to value her community when a twist of magic leaves her scrambling to sort out her identity paperwork with the help of her kind, handsome doorman. Readers who’ve been stuck in a cycle of accomplishment-chasing or simply keeping up with daily responsibilities to the detriment of having a little fun or prioritizing interpersonal relationships will relate with Wiesner’s heroine, a rule-following math professor who grew up taking care of her whimsical, unreliable father, and who’s now anxious to prove her value to her new and demanding boss. Thankfully, she befriends not only the charming doorman, but several members of the doorman’s extended family and a number of lively residents her building who all help her see that life is about more than meeting deadlines and being on time. A buoyantly told, uplifting story that celebrates community, with a sweet romance and a gentle sparkle of magic.

𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 by Melissa Wiesner
Publication date: October 15, 2024! 🍁

I loved this book! Catherine is a rule following mathematician checking off life goals, landing her dream job, and pretty constantly being irritated by her building doorman Luca for not living by the rules she values so much. Luca sees each day as an opportunity to help those around him and spread optimism, even if it takes a little more time and veers off course from his original plans.

When Catherine runs into a paperwork nightmare with her new job, she has no choice but to rely on Luca and his big Italian family to help her make things right again. Along the way she uncovers some family secrets, has more than a little fun breaking some rules, and discovers what is truly important in her life.

This story touches on some deeper topics such as birth parents, personal identity, and loss of loved ones. It also has some laugh out loud funny scenes and some completely sweet romantic moments. There is just the right amount of magical realism to keep you guessing while being thoroughly entertained. The community building aspect of this book was so heartwarming and I loved all of the supporting characters.

And can we just go ahead and say Luca is the book boyfriend champion of the year?! Handsome and charming, but also SO thoughtful and kind, without being over the top or unbelievable. The way he brought dignity to those older people’s lives! 🥹 I promise you will love him, along with all of the residents of their building.

****If you love the Only Murders In The Building TV show I’ll just tell you that is the building I pictured the entire time I was reading this book, minus the murders. 🤭

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

First off I want to say a big Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

This is my first time reading anything by Melissa Wiesner. I hate to say it but I found Wish I Were Here, her newest upcoming release to be a bit lackluster. Now don’t get me wrong this book did have some cute moments, however I did feel underwhelmed throughout. The use of magical realism was good, but just skimmed the surface of what it could be. My biggest issue was the main female character. I had a really hard time connecting to her and often times wanted to shake her. The biggest thing that saved this book for me was our main male character and an incredible group of supporting side characters.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite romcom. I’d still recommend this if you are looking for a cute quick read.

This story is first a book about self discovery and second about a romance and it was a very cute and fluff ride. Catherine had a different childhood with a neglectful dad and that gave her a lot of things to work through later in life. She is forced into it when her identity disappeared. Her handsome and kind doorman helps her figure out her mystery while also introducing her to her new found family of elders. It was a sweet story.

3.75 ⭐️
This was so cute! I enjoyed the characters and the plot was so fun! I absolutely loved Luca and the way he cared for everyone. The little bit of magical realism that was sprinkled into the story was so heartwarming! I loved that it connected the two mcs in the end. Heres to enjoying life to the fullest and maybe not always caring about rules and regulations. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Both main characters seemed one dimensional and I didn’t get more of a feel for either of them during my reading (Catherine - type A, unlikable, judgmental. Luca - easygoing, had tattoos - the tattoos are mentioned quite frequently - as a result it’s the only thing I can recall about him).

I found that the romance between the two mains never clicked for me - the chemistry was lacking and the result (for me) was a boring story that I slogged through.

I did enjoy some of the secondary characters but, unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to elevate this story into a “liked it”.

Hopefully other readers will enjoy this one more.



Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC

I devoured this book in one day! —Catherine is a follow-the-rules, organized, workaholic who just landed her dream job — when suddenly her life falls apart when issues arise when processing her paperwork. — When this happened I was immediately invested in this character, her plight and her journey of finding who she is. Full of magical realism, and heartwarming, laugh-out-loud moments from many characters while Catherine is on her journey of self-discovery and finding family not necessarily related by blood. Looking forward to more reads from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for this ARC. This is my honest review.