Wish I Were Here
Melissa Wiesner
368 pages
Forever
published October 15, 2024
I thought I was reading a rom com and it turned into so much more. I am always a fan of found family. And this one was so well done. They just crept up on you. And Catherine really works at figuring out who she is and what she wants. And while these themes really took center stage when I was reading, there is a romance between Catherine and Luca. And one of my new favorite genres or maybe it’s a trope: magical realism. It plays such a small part to the plot, but it had me tear up at one point. It was like forgetting there was one more cookie left in the bag.
I will say it is only told from Catherine’s POV so Luca’s character is a little less fleshed out until the very end. But seriously with all those beautiful tattoos and scruff, I was intrigued to know more about him from the start.
I loved the opposites attract and grumpy sunshine aspect of the romance. Catherine is so precise in her plans, movements and life, while Luca appears willy nilly in all his choices. But as you can guess, the motives for their actions, slowly become apparent as we get to know the characters better. And while I am not usually a fan of a single POV in a romance, I liked how Catherine discovers more about Luca through all the people around them and how her perception of him changed as her life shifted. They had great chemistry and witty banter and I was rooting for them from the start.
And if you need any more enticement, the supporting characters are so quirky and loveable. A clown, a burlesque troop and a mafia family. They had me in stiches at times, but also had my heart grow with their love and support.
If you are looking for a heartwarming book with a side of swoony romance, this one needs to be on your tbr.
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