This is a heartwarming novel about grief, friendship, and self-discovery. It follows DeeDee, a widow approaching her 70th birthday, who feels lonely and uncertain about the future. To mark the milestone, she travels to New York City with her friends Rosie and Gina, reconnecting with her NYC-based circle.

The story explores how friendships can become chosen family, the process of healing after loss, and the courage it takes to embrace change. While DeeDee is portrayed as youthful and adventurous, some aspects—like her fluency in modern slang—feel unrealistic for her age. Additionally, the newer friendship between the three women could have been more developed to feel as authentic as DeeDee’s longstanding New York connections.

Though somewhat predictable, the novel is a fun and uplifting read, capturing the excitement of NYC and the importance of living fully at any stage of life.

Wish You Were Here resonated with me on so many levels, I didn't expect it because our heroine is a lot older than me (sorry Deedee, I'm just jealous of your sparkling life) but we still have a lot in common.

We both are travel agents and a travel agency's owners, we share the same fears for our jobs, besides, we have our big birthdays coming. I'm glad for every year that I spend being healthy and alive, but still, with the big four zero approaching I started thinking about the past and the future.

Deedee used to live her life to the fullest, but since the death of her husband she became more cautious, thoughtful and less carefree. Still, she plans to celebrate her seventy birthday in New York with her old and new friends, trying to not miss her Joe too much and to ruin the experience to everyone.

"We don't move on, we move forward!"

I absolutely adored Deedee as well as her her diverse group of friends.
She felt understandably lost, but she didn't give up and, putting one foot in front of the other, she still keep going toward the future. I'm glad that her friends were there to help with her grief, ricordandole how strong and lively she is.

I loved that this story was well written, relatable, and with unforgettable characters.
It's the first time I've read an Alex Brown work, but it won't be the last.

I've always loved Alex work and this is no exception. A book of friendship and romance which is right up my street. I read this book in a couple of days as I really couldn't put it down.
This would make an ideal film in my eyes

This is a lovely book about the power of friendship in the face of love, loss and again. Thoroughly enjoyed this one

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Deedee’s 70th birthday is approaching and she decides to celebrate it in New York with Rosie and Gina who she originally met in Greece a year before (this all happens in Bring me Sunshine however you don’t have to have read this to enjoy this book although I would recommend it as it’s a great read!). Deedee is concerned about her travel agency business and downturn in customers and is still grieving for her Husband Joe despite his death a few years before. Her birthday week however brings some surprises for her and being with her friends helps her with new ideas for her business.. The book covers grief, new beginnings, friendships and everything in between and I hope when I’m 70 I have half the energy of Deedee! Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for an advance copy of this book however all opinions are my own.

“Wish You Were Here” is by Alex Brown. This book follows DeeDee, who is turning 70. DeeDee’s husband died a number of years ago and as she approaches 70, DeeDee is not only missing him but also feeling lonely. She decides to celebrate turning 70 with her two friends (Rosie and Gina) in NYC, where they will also meet up with her NYC-based friends. This book covers grief, grieving, personal discovery, new directions, and how friends can become the family you’ve always wanted. I don’t think the cover of this book does the insides justice - as the women on the front look to be in their late 30s, maybe early 40s, not in their 50s and 70. And I think that was another issue I had with the book - while DeeDee is young at heart, how realistic is it for 70 year olds - hanging out with younger people and by younger I mean mainly in their late 40s/early 50s - to know modern slang and modern pop songs. I also wish that the beginning of the friendship of the three women had been either longer (more than just one year) or that it had been developed with more background. The relationship DeeDee had with her NY-based friends seemed more solid and realistic - because it had time to grow. I think the idea of this book was interesting - how does a person who is mourning a partner of many years and feeling stagnant “move forward” with life … sometimes it takes looking inside and making conscious changes, sometimes it takes a family of friends and sometimes it takes making huge changes because they feel right. I found this book a bit predictable, but it was fun along the way (oh, how I wish I had an Anthony in my life - he reminded me why NYC can be such a fun place to visit and live). However, this book was a quick read and I can understand why Ms. Brown’s books have a popular reach.

This was a very lovely and heartfelt story full of love, grief, and friendship with a bit of escapism. If you're wanting to get lost in a cute and cozy read, this one is for you!

Wish You Were Here is a heartwarming story exploring love, loss, grief, friendship, aging and the art of moving forward in life. I found Deedee, the main character, relatable and fun, and was an accurate representation of an aging woman navigating the trials and tribulations of life.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful book from Alex Brown. Deedee’s life has changed dramatically since the death of her husband Joe. So , on her up and coming 70th birthday she and her two friends go off to NYC to party with a few interesting conversations and things along the way. A lighthearted romantic book. Thanks to Alex and their publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

This is a fabulous story of 3 friends reunited to celebrate one of their milestone birthdays. It is a follow up and was good to hear how they all kept in touch. Alex’s books are a real treat. This one is a very emotional trip to New York. She describes the situation of losing someone dear so well it touches your soul. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful read and highly recommend it.

Deedee is a soon to be 70 years old woman and the book basically revolves around the week of her big birthday celebration in New York. She finds herself a bit at loss as her business (a travel agency in London) is not doing great and she's facing this big milestone of a birthday without her beloved husband by her side. It's been 4 years since his passing but as everyone who ever faced grief knows, missing someone really never goes away and loneliness can hit at any time.
Deedee decides to celebrate her birthday with her best friends Rosie and Gina in NY, a city that meant so much for her and her late husband, little did she know, this trip would open a new chapter in her life.

I found some elements of this book a tad confusing, at the beginning the friendship between Deedee, Rosie and Gina, blossomed during a summer holiday, makes you think you're reading about Sophie and her friends from Mamma Mia! 50 years later, but that is not the case... they met only a year earlier and there's something that I found hard to believe at times, I'm all about friendship and the power of connection especially between women, but maybe because we get to know so little about them and their bond, this kind of a sudden connection and the length they go to for someone they met not so long ago, somehow didn't sit well with me.

Many parts of the book felt like a missed opportunity to be explored more, there's a lot going on, but even if the book is rather slow paced, not much is explored in depth, except for Deedee’s love for her husband and the sexual drive that still persists at her age (admirable).

It is very clear the author tried her best to put herself in a 70yo woman but the final result is not believable, at least from my point of view. Deedee is nothing like any 70years old women in my life or that I ever knew, doesn't matter how lively they are, and I feel like the reader can clearly tell the whole thing is written by someone that is not 70 (this woman doesn't know the meaning of 'situationship' - as she shouldn't - but then she can recognize Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter's songs playing at the radio).

The parts the reader empathizes more with the MC are definitely when her husband is involved, he was one of my favourite character although we only get a glimpse of him, the grief was very real and very believable, but I struggled with a lot of the rest. The element of surprise, the 2 secrets, were really predictable and unfortunately didn't surprise me much.

Overall a lighthearted read about second chances and finding a purpose in life and a new beginning even at 70, something we should all remember. I loved the setting in NY and the Hamptons, the vibe of the Big Apple was very much there and it made me wanna go back again.

I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

At the cusp of turning 70, Deedee Merriman feels untethered. Having lost the love of her life, she's struggled to move past his death by burying her feelings. The milestone birthday's flickering candles brings to light that she's alone. Looking back at her life, she's traveled the world, has supportive friends and a career she loves but what does that mean without her best friend?

Finding herself drifting, Deedee needs to shaken and stir up her situation. The travel business is floundering and she needs a change of scene to take stock of her life. Planning a girl's trip to NYC, this Londoner is ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple and get to the core or at least plant seeds for her future.

Alex Brown's #WIshYouWereHere pens the power of friendship and that true friends will see you through life's storms. While offering her a lifeline, there's still rocky water ahead... so tread lightly.

I'm probably not the target audience for this book, but I found it very cute and cosy, perfect for a relaxing afternoon. The dialogue in the prologue was a bit too stuffy and pompous for the context but the rest of the book is okay.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Delightful read from Alex Brown, a love story with a difference I really enjoyed it . Very well written with a good , interesting storyline , some humour some romance , set in New York and London what’s not to love . Great characters , loved Anthony particularly, easy to read and not over complicated. Would recommend.

I have read numerous books by Alex Brown, and while I did enjoy this, I did not love it. So my rating reflects this.

The perfect feel good book, comforting, fun, and mostly set in fabulous New York!! Gorgeous escapism from one of my favourite author’s Alex Brown.
Deedee is feeling flat as her big birthday is coming, she is still missing her beloved husband, her travel agency is slowing down and she is starting to think her life needs a change. To be positive she sets up a wonderful break in New York with her new friends Gina and Rosie, planning cocktails, visiting film locations and having fun. Also to catch up with some old friends.
Life’s journey can be hard with love and loss, but being reawakened and realising there is still more to live for is inspiring!!
Sensitive, fabulous characters, reminiscent of Sex and the City with a bit of Hollywood. What a brilliant read!
Loved this book and can recommend highly!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read!!

Deedee and 2 friends travel to New York to celebrate her 70th birthday. The place she feels closer to her late husband, Jo. Still grieving and worried about her travel agency, secrets emerge. Can she find happiness once more? Relatable characters make this an enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed Wish You Were Here, it follows 3 friends to New York to celebrate a big birthday. Secrets and surprises follow, a great story and lovely characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the opportunity to read Wish You Were Here by Alex Brown - a fun story about friendship, love, and second chances.

Deedee is turning 70 and wants to celebrate in New York with her friends, she wasn't counting on discovering secrets about her deceased husband.