Reviews

Wish You Weren't Here by Erin Baldwin

jelkebooks's review against another edition

Oh gods, every single character in this book is just so incredibly insufferable. I just can’t anymore. Yeah, that’s it. That’s the only reason I’m DNF’ing. The story is fine enough. I don’t hate the writing. It’s just characters. I can’t do it.

I received a galley of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

abbybookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

readwithkayy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

ahh this was so cute & made my heart so full! we follow juliette and priya, classmates who can best be described as frenemies, as they get stuck as roommates at the summer camp juliette considers her home away from home. juliette expects the worst from priya, but when priya turns out to be different than she thought, they begin to form a real bond.  

i really enjoyed the setting of this book. the camp was a character in itself, and it felt vibrant, with descriptions of the sense of community that the campers form. you really get to understand juliette's feeling of belonging when she's at fogridge, and because that is so well developed, it ups the stakes for everything to go right during her last year as a camper there. i also liked the way that juliette's feelings about camp pushed 
 her to extend olive branches to priya, and how that progressed their relationship throughout the story. also, the pop culture references felt like they were written for me (hey fellow survivor fans & theatre kids!), so that made it even more fun to read. 

this is a perfect summer read for any YA romance reader!

thank you penguin teen & netgalley for the eARC, and PRH audio for the ALC!

sapphic_library's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

WISH YOU WERE(N'T) HERE is an absolutely delightful sapphic YA romance set at a summer camp and the perfect summer read!! when her quasi-nemesis, priya pendley, shows up at the summer camp juliette has been attending for years, juliette feels like the world is conspiring against her. as if it weren't enough that her friends like priya, she's also assigned to juliette's cabin, so juliette can't escape her. but as the days pass by and juliette spends more time with priya, she can't seem to stop thinking about her...

read if you like:
- summer camp vibes
- rivals(ish) to lovers
- and they were roommates
- oh my god they were roommates

thanks to netgalley and penguin teen for the advanced copy. WISH YOU WERE(N'T) HERE comes out june 4th!

thedragonqueen's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an advanced readers copy! 

I couldn’t put this book down, I read it in one day! I laughed, I cried, and smiled through most of the book. I love a good sapphic romance and Wish You Weren’t Here didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a sapphic, funny, frenemies to lovers summer read, this is the perfect book! 

gracieoneill's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

review to come

burkbooks's review against another edition

5.0

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Thank you penguin teen for the advanced readers copy, I DEVOURED it! This was THE PERFECT summer YA romance. I loved every bit of it. Fri-enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn, sapphic perfection! I related with Juliette so much. Her flaws are my flaws. I also just LOVE a good summer camp book and this delivered that as well! Such a fun read!

nickles1497's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

*Thanks to netgalley and publisher for this e-ARC! I was so excited to be approved!!*

Frenemies turn cabin mates turn lovers… What more could anyone ask for?

The first time I ever had a crush on another girl was at summer camp so this book got me like no other. 

I loooove the dynamic of quiet small town girl and popular has-it-all girl. This whole book was vibes and I’m living for it. I can’t wait for the release so I can have a physical copy on my shelf! 

aelitareads's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"Wish You Weren't Here is a love letter about home-away-from-homes, inner children, and the wonder of summer." Is what author Erin Baldwin says in the acknowledgments of her sapphic teen romance and I couldn't agree more.

WYWH was a beautiful story of summer love and awkward situations. It had me kicking my feet in joy and guessing at when the MC's would finally realized their feelings. Lovable characters, a lighthearted read, corny jokes, and summer nights- what more could you ask for?

Half point taken off just because this felt like something 23 year old me would have loved way more. It just doesn't hit the same when you're a decade out from high school.

thebookmommy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0