Wish You Weren’t Here

Last year, Christy Schillig released her debut novel, Wish You Weren’t Here. I love travel romance, and this one brings readers to Urbino, Italy.

Ava has been dating her boyfriend for a few years and is expecting a marriage proposal. Instead, when she’s about to leave for a month-long trip to Italy, he proposes that they take a break and “sow their wild oats” before getting engaged. Um, ouch, no thanks. So Ava isn’t in the greatest mood when she arrives in Rome, and she makes some blunders when James (who she assumes is hired help) arrives to drive her to Urbino. This sets off an unnecessary but fun enemies-to-lovers plot set to the backdrop of Italian art, found family, and finally coming to terms with the loss of a parent.

What I Liked:

• Italian setting. Urbino is a small town east of Florence, and I loved getting a sense of Italy’s culture, food, and people. Ava, typical American that she is, has some learning to do about the customs there, and she makes some unwarranted assumptions (like thinking James can’t speak English). But she learns quickly enough and soon finds that the Italian lifestyle may be more suited to her than she’d realized. Honestly, same for me.
• Misunderstandings, banter, and an enemies-to-lovers romance. Like I said, Ava is quick to judge, and she’s often wrong. But she and James have a fun time arguing about silly things. Their banter aids in transforming their antagonism into a genuine sense of understanding… and, later, romance. I loved how they played off each other and how their relationship gradually started to feel real.
• Ava’s perfectionism and plans. She’s built her life around plans and timelines, and she doesn’t like to be thrown off-track. But that’s exactly what happens in Italy, and exactly what she needs to get out of the autopilot she’s been on.
• Overcoming grief. Six years before the events of this book, Ava’s mother passed away. But she’d made a promise that she would someday visit Urbino, where her mom spent time before meeting Ava’s dad. Ava finds so much of her mom in Italy and the people there. Urbino informed her mother’s art, too, which adds to the connection. Though it’s been so long, Ava finally has the opportunity to find closure and come to terms with her loss.
• Art! Ava’s mom painted; James teaches art history and does photography on the side; Ava herself likes art. I loved falling into this world of visual beauty!
• Found family. James’s Italian family is so welcoming and kind, as are the residents of Urbino. Part of what helps Ava so much is finding this unexpected connection and sense of home.

Audiobook:

Devon Sorvari and Paul Bellantoni narrate as Ava and James, respectively. Both do an amazing job of capturing their characters and infusing them with extra personality. In the case of James, Paul Bellantoni narrates with a laugh in his voice, lending his character a degree of humor and lightness that I may not have imagined if I’d only read the physical book. Wish You Weren’t Here is so enjoyable as an audiobook, so I recommend this format to anyone who wants to read it!

Final Thoughts

Wish You Weren’t Here is a wonderful debut about going after what you really want in life, from romantic relationships to your career. I loved the romance between James and Ava, getting to know more of Italy, and watching both learn to take risks and find what truly brings them joy. I look forward to reading more from Christy Schillig soon!

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

*My sincere apologies for being so late on reviewing this book! Between late 2023 and 2024, I had a series of health issues, a difficult pregnancy, and then a very active baby to care for. I’m only just finally starting to catch up and hope to be through all the late 2024 books before summer is over.

Get the Book

You can buy Wish You Weren’t Here here – it’s available as a hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Christy Schillig
Audiobook Narrator	Devon Sorvari and Paul Bellantoni
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	Italy
Number of Pages	352
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC) & Audiobook
Original Publication Date	May 21, 2024
Publisher	Crooked Lane Books

Official Summary

In this transportive debut, a woman spending a summer in Italy finds her world completely upended–but it may be the kick she’s needed to figure out who she truly wants to be, perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Tessa Bailey.

Ava Graham’s ducks are in a row as she heads off to Italy to complete her final law school credits and fulfill a promise she made to her late mother five years ago. Ava expects her long-term boyfriend to propose before her trip, but instead of giving her a ring, he suggests they use her time abroad as a “break” before settling down. 

When James Massini arrives–late–to the airport to pick up Ava as a favor to his aunt and uncle, he’s surprised to find that she’s not a young co-ed, but a fascinating woman approaching thirty with a serious superiority complex and a habit of underestimating him. When she’s assigned to his class as a TA, he becomes determined to prove to her that there is more to life than plans and lists, no matter how hard she fights with him–or how annoyingly charming he finds their banter. 

Despite the sudden disaster of her life, type A Ava might actually enjoy Italy—if only annoyingly carefree James wasn’t there, too. As Ava reluctantly lets James try to show her a different way of life in Italy, she begins to find beauty in the chaos. Of course, it’s when things begin to make sense again that her past comes storming back.

With a humorously relatable protagonist and a rich Italian setting, this debut novel is an escapist treat and a necessary reminder that life doesn’t always care about the plans we’ve made for ourselves.