Wish You Were Here

Reviewed for Top 2 Bottom Reviews

This is the first story I’ve read by Asta Idonea, and I loved it.

The first scene set the mood immediately, and pulled me into the story. Although it’s not a long read, I didn’t feel as though it was too short either. The characters still had enough room to grow, and I got invested in them quickly. The ending left me with a bittersweet feeling, as it’s not really a HEA, yet I still felt hope for the characters’ future. Both Oakley and Bobby have a lot to work through, and I liked the way they grew as the story progressed.

I had worked out the plot twist early on, but part of that is because I read a lot of this genre, and it didn’t detract from the story. I thought the POV changes were very cleverly done, so that the secret of who Bobby really is isn’t revealed through his POV. The hints as to what is going on are subtle, and nicely done, with enough for me to guess, but not be sure until the reveal. The setting is a character in its own right, and adds to the feeling of the story. I enjoyed the author’s writing style—it flowed well, and I read the story in one sitting.

I’d recommend 'Wish You Were Here' to readers who enjoy a shorter length story with interesting characters who aren’t always what they seem, a plot twist, and a hint of the paranormal.

Wish You Were Here has one of those amazing endings that leaves you staring at your e-reader. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the book, but it certainly wasn’t that. Unfortunately what makes it so unexpected also limits what I can say in my review without spoilers. I will say that I didn’t realize quite how connected I’d become to the characters until the conclusion twisted my gut.

I picked this book purely for sentimental reasons. After reading that it was set in the Cotswolds, England, I couldn’t resist. We lived in that region for a few years, and I was hoping to get transported back within the pages of this story. In some ways the author delivered that, but there wasn’t as much concentration on the surroundings as on the characters and their emotions. I found the characters likable. The way they were shrouded in mystery, yet vulnerable, intrigued me. I enjoyed seeing their connection through this pure, youthful love and found the entire romance endearing. The pacing was steady and the writing reflected the same. It wasn’t overly descriptive, but kept a relaxed tone which flowed and made it an enjoyable read. I did think at times it wasn’t as developed as I wanted. Then the ending came along and it had me replaying events to see where I missed the signs. I suddenly understood the author keeping the reader a bit in the dark. I love movies that leave me thinking, and that’s just how this book left me.

*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*

Annie of Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter

In her hauntingly beautiful ‘Wish You Were Here’, Asta Idonea examines the ways grief affects us, and what it takes to return to life. From the first sentence, we’re sucked into the moods and thoughts of her very flawed, but relatable characters.

Read Full Review at Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2lnyUlC

Jay of Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter

In ‘Wish You Were Here’, Asta Idonea gives us a short story packed with sentiment and self-awareness. With a remarkable ending causing one to pause and immediately reflect back upon its message.

Read Full Review at Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2lnRwlc

4 Stars!!!

Oakley's family rents an isolated cottage in the Cotswolds in an attempt to get past the grief of his sister's untimely death. Oakley feels disconnected from them, while he loved his sister and misses her, he's always felt like he lived in her shadow and that he is a disappointment to his parents. He meets local boy Bobby and they strike an easy friendship, that has the potential to turn into more and which makes Oakley's vacation better. However, Bobby has problems of his own.

I really liked Oakley. I felt sorry for him, I can't even imagine how hard it would be to be in his situation and I felt his actions and reactions were perfectly believable. Bobby was a sweetheart and my heart broke for all he had to endure. They were really sweet together and while I was a bit torn regarding the big reveal, it made perfect sense in the end.

The book is well-written, it flowed quite nicely and was quite unexpected in a bittersweet way. Recommendable!