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A review by beate251
Wish You Were Here by Alex Brown
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
REVIEW IN PROGRESS
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
This is the second book in the Come Away With Me series after "Bring me Sunshine" where the three gals met and formed a friendship last year during a holiday in Greece.
Deedee is a travel agent approaching her 70th year. She is still grieving the death of her husband Joe, but would like to have a birthday party in New York, so she invites Gina and Rosie, both around 50, to accompany her. There she reconnects with Yannis, an old flame who is now a good friend. But even from the grave, Joe has a surprise or three for her, resulting in a trip to the posh Hamptons.
The settings of New York and the Hamptons are described well, with a mouthwatering dose of Greek food added. I had to laugh at the old-fashioned way they tried to find a restaurant though. Just take a picture of the logo and put it through Google Lens! I also didn't like how everyone tried to push Deedee and Yannis together, that felt too forced.
If you feature older characters, there will be topics of aging and grief, but it is handled sensitively here. Rosie has had her story already so she barely featured - I would have liked at least a short update or flashback to the first book! I'm hoping Gina will be the main character of the next book.
This is a feel-good, easy to read escapist romance and an uplifting beach read about female friendship and second chances. The brightly-coloured cover is gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
This is the second book in the Come Away With Me series after "Bring me Sunshine" where the three gals met and formed a friendship last year during a holiday in Greece.
Deedee is a travel agent approaching her 70th year. She is still grieving the death of her husband Joe, but would like to have a birthday party in New York, so she invites Gina and Rosie, both around 50, to accompany her. There she reconnects with Yannis, an old flame who is now a good friend. But even from the grave, Joe has a surprise or three for her, resulting in a trip to the posh Hamptons.
The settings of New York and the Hamptons are described well, with a mouthwatering dose of Greek food added. I had to laugh at the old-fashioned way they tried to find a restaurant though. Just take a picture of the logo and put it through Google Lens! I also didn't like how everyone tried to push Deedee and Yannis together, that felt too forced.
If you feature older characters, there will be topics of aging and grief, but it is handled sensitively here. Rosie has had her story already so she barely featured - I would have liked at least a short update or flashback to the first book! I'm hoping Gina will be the main character of the next book.
This is a feel-good, easy to read escapist romance and an uplifting beach read about female friendship and second chances. The brightly-coloured cover is gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Dementia, and Grief