Review: Wish I Was Here by Ilsa Rey

+JMJ+ Wish I Was Here ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wish I Was Here is a delightful blend of sci-fi, young adult, romance, and teen drama (recommended for ages 13 and up) that somehow manages to be heartfelt, hilarious, and emotionally intense all at once.

The story follows Ana, a high school senior who has spent most of her life feeling invisible except to her brilliant best friend, Isaac. But when Isaac’s genius lands them both in serious trouble (as genius sometimes does), he gets kidnapped, and Ana literally becomes invisible and must track him down to find the antidote. Along the way, she discovers not only how to be seen again, but what it truly means to be known.

There’s so much packed into this novel: chaos, intrigue, humor, messy-but-real family dynamics, unexpected revelations of long-hidden love, and moments that felt uncomfortably true to teenage life. I genuinely cared about these characters (well… the nice ones), and I was so hooked that I even skipped my usual snacks. I’m postpartum which says everything.

Despite being fiction, so many scenes rang with real emotional truth. I was fully invested from beginning to end and was devastated when I reached the last page because I wanted the story to keep going! Yet I was deeply impressed that the author could leave me wanting more. Not every series has that gift.

Side note for parents: This isn’t a Christian story, but it could be considered “clean.” There’s no foul language or smut, though there is a plot point involving IVF (a character discovers that a relative isn’t biologically related to her). Depending on how open you’ve been with your teen about such topics, this might warrant a conversation.

I would definitely recommend this for older teens (high school and up). Some relationship dynamics are complex, and there are moments of bullying and emotional tension that are better suited for mature teen readers.

I cannot wait for the official release in December and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series. Thank you, Ms. Ilsa Rey, for crafting a story that is clever, exciting, touching, and absolutely unforgettable.

Also, this is one of those books that begs to be made into a movie series. Truly.

At this point, you’re probably wondering where you can get a copy. Here’s the link on Amazon.

Official release date: December 23.

I was lucky enough to preorder a copy directly from the author. She’s so nice that she even signed it for me! If you’d like to get a signed copy for the voracious readers in your life, I’d suggest reaching out to the author via Facebook (Ilsa Rey) or commenting on my Facebook post under this review with “I want one!”. The author will contact you directly.

Because let’s be honest… what’s a better gift than a book everyone wishes they got first? Snag your signed copy early, get ahead of the crowd, and be the Christmas hero your friends and family didn’t even know they needed—before the rest of the world knows what hit them!