Renee Carlino

Wish You Were Here

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“Right now?” He shrugged, revealing his dimples again. “Life’s short.”

“Your art, our memories, the memories people have of us . . . it makes us immortal. When you love someone, it’s like planting a little seedling of yourself inside of their hearts.”

“He couldn’t remember what day of the week it was, or who he had met five minutes before. He painted a lot of women during that time but remembered none of them but you. He tried to find you. He painted the name Charlotte over and over. He wanted to tell you that, for a little while, he believed the story you two had made up.“

This was why I had fallen for him. He was dying in a bed and he was still joyful, buoyant, and charming.

“So how long are you going to stay with him?”

My heart ached for him. I wanted so badly to be strong but when he broke down and sobbed in my arms, I fell apart, too. I felt robbed, victimized because I wouldn’t have more time with him.

While holding my hands and looking into my eyes, Adam smiled and said, “If you told me I could have another life, a longer life, but that I couldn’t have you, I’d say no thanks. I’d take you and my short life over and over again.”

“As long as there is love in this world, we will be a part of it.”

Adam Bramwell never woke up again. He died in my arms that night in a hospital bed in France while I cried over him. I stayed with him until they wouldn’t let me, and when they pulled me away, I felt like Adam’s spirit was inside of me, a part of my soul.

'I’ll make you a deal . . . I’ll save you a spot on this puffy cloud, for when it’s your time, okay? I love you. You were truly my heaven on earth, even if my stint was a bit short.'

A gentle gust of wind caressed my neck, almost willing me forward, but I stayed where I was. “You’re here,” I said, under my breath. “I can feel you.“

“Nothing, I just wish . . . I wish he were here.”

Renée Carlino

"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."--

A Novel

it was the right person—wrong timing for adam, but the other way around for seth

Stopped reading at 56%. Tried to give this a chance, but I just got bored. I liked where it was heading, but was just bored.

Rocy Roque

I felt like the plot of this book was too predictable, I’ve read 2 other books by this author and they were muchhhh better than this one

Amanda aguirre

Mariam Mohsen

It was awesome. I really couldn't find words to say about it

Aundreya Rich

If Me Before You and A Walk to Remember had a baby it would be this book.


I really loved this read. 
It made me cry, laugh and hug my iPad all in one day. 

A must read for romance lovers

Brittany Harper

Solid three. Not bad, not great though. The main character is not super lovable, and does not do/say super lovable things. Super self-centered and selfish. That being said, the storyline was good, but there was not a lot of depth/meaning to it. Might have enjoyed the storyline more if the main character was easier to like...

Tiffany Engler

This book made me SAD. This book is as beautiful on this inside like it is on the outside. This book is going to hold a special place in my heart. I really freaking love it so much. I cried into my spaghetti last night. This book just hit me in the FEELS.

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

4.5 stars!

Oh, Renee Carlino, how you continue to wreck me with your stories. I've been a fan of Renee's books for quite a while now. I didn't even read the synopsis before going into Wish You Were Here. I went in completely blind and was immediately captivated by this story. Wish You Were Here is the type of story that will leave you thinking long and hard about your own life once you finish it. I loved how much this story affected me, while entertaining me at the same time.

This story is a gut-wrencher, that's for sure. I wasn't expecting to feel so many different emotions all in one story. I also enjoyed how I wasn't really sure which way the story would go, and was left wondering quiet a few times. Though not completely unpredictable, it did have an slight quality that I really enjoyed. And these characters... they were so relatable, so easy to love, and just so perfect for this story.

I'm so excited for my fellow Renee Carlino fans to give this story a read. And if you're new to her writing, I urge you to check it out. So much love for this talented lady!

(Thank you to Atria Books and Renee Carlino for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Wish You Were Here

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