New Release+Review: Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino
Published by Atria Source: NetGalley
Blurb:
You know when you’re looking at someone and you can’t help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That’s what was happening to me, and it was making me feel…happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn’t exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.
Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She’s had as many jobs as she’s had bad relationships, and now she’s feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.
Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam’s spontaneity and joy for life. There’s promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam’s tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.
Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte’s still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime’s worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.
Shelly’s Review:
I can’t even write this review without tearing up.
It made me feel.
It made me think.
It made me laugh.
It made me cry.
It gave me hope.
It gave me faith.
This was the first time I’ve read anything by this author and she ripped my heart out and tore it to pieces with her words. It very rare for me to have this reaction to a book and especially for an author that I’m reading for the very first time! Normally I don’t like it when the main characters moved so fast in a full length novel but Carlino was able to make it believable. I felt their connection from the moment they met and that is not something that happens often. This says a lot about her writing and how flawless it was.
As the story progressed I just knew the book was going to go one way and then boom I got my heart ripped out. I honestly wasn’t expecting this and asked myself why did I request this book on NetGalley. As hard as it was for me to go on, I did and I’m happy I made it to the end. I wish things would have worked out differently but I understand why it worked out the way it did. It makes total sense even though my heart is aching. I’m emotionally exhausted after reading and if I had the chance I would do it over and over again. This story may not be for everyone but everyone needs to read this book. You won’t be the same after reading. Trust me, I won’t.
5 Book Corner Stars
*NetGalley*
Buy Here:
http://amzn.to/2w4Clqz
About the Author:
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and the bestselling author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, Before We Were Strangers, and Swear on This Life. She grew up in Southern California and lives in the San Diego area with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. To learn more, visit www.reneecarlino.com.