This was an absorbing YA romance about a teenager who found herself rocketed to stardom, and how that chewed up her life. Especially as she is neurodiverse, something she only admits late in the story, though the hints are all there

#ownvoices autism romance

I’ve followed Elle’s writing since A KIND OF SPARK and it’s such a joy to see her grow and develop as a writer. She was already brilliant and she just keeps getting better!

i really liked the representative here. and i thought it was honest in showing how this condition can shower over so much of life. its often others that need to adjust and dont. but this showed how being on the spectrum can impact life. especially the life of this young woman when pushed into such a fish bowl typ pressured environment. its hard to watch anyone fall into the net of fame, not least young people. its becoming increasingly clear how problematic he industry is but nothing seems to be being done.
and that when our character escapes for the summer. and gets to know someone who gets her. but do they. and quite who are they?
a really clever novel with enough deep bits to make it what a good novel should be. real.
i was feeling so heart ached for our character at times. i wanted her to be ok and could see some pitfalls coming her way and new they would impact harder for her.
i loooove the small town bookshop vibe. this would be my dream life.yes please. and the description around that were just perfect.
i also liked how both Allegra and Jonah went through their own journeys and i loved reading both. they complimented each other really well. it didnt feel like we were getting to know one because of the other kind of thing.
ive never read anything by Elle before and i thoroughly enjoyed doing so.

WISH YOU WERE HER was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, Elle McNicoll's second YA romance, and it did not disappoint.

Where SOME LIKE IT COLD is a wintry romance, this one is a summery one. It's warm and bright (and this summery-ness is echoed with a bit more heat in the intimacy of the romance too). The new season also makes the setting - Lake Pristine - feel a bit "new". We're seeing it in a different light, full of tourists and bunting and flowers, which was a really nice way of it feeling distinct while also being familiar again.

The book is centred around a book festival! It's an absolute treat for book lovers. There's all the inside knowledge about book selling and publishing that makes the roles feel authentic. The bookish setting also adds another layer of dream idyl to it all, surrounding the characters with the things readers love: books, books, and more books!

And then of course there is the romance. It's sweet but also has some heat, two people who are so used to masks finally letting it down around others. Allegra being a movie star and all those pressures (and horrible fans) play really nicely with why she's reluctant to trust someone with her love. The world has an idea of her - a fake version of her - and she isn't sure Jonah isn't interested in that fake her rather than the real her.

I loved that both Allegra and Jonah were autistic - and that they aren't the only autistic characters in this world. There are so many neurodivergent people in the world and they don't fit into stereotypes and I just appreciated that this was on the page by not just having the one token autistic.

And yes, two autistic characters in a romance! The relief of being able to completely unmask around someone, know they get it in a way that neurotypicals can't.

Jasper and (to a lesser extent) Arthur from SOME LIKE IT COLD return! It's been a few years and they're nicely settled in their new life. I really liked Jasper taking on that older sister role for Allegra (who's an only child.) She is there to comfort Allegra when things go wrong but also encourage her to do what she wants. Jasper is someone who has been there as an autistic woman and is looking out for a younger girl who needs someone with the same sort of experiences to give advice.

In that way, she's like Keedie from A KIND OF SPARK. I love that Elle McNicoll is exploring the idea of autistic women protecting and helping one another, a sisterhood of understanding and advice. It's something I've found in the neurodivergent community and I love that it gets celebrated here.

This was the first time I haven't ugly-sobbed at an Elle McNicoll book (I definitely teared up several times though.) I think it's because this is the seventh full length novel by Elle McNicoll (plus several short stories in anthologies and the like). That means it's not such a shock to see characters living with the things I do (which led to crying so much you get a headache). It's still super cathartic though (hence the tears). Like knowing there's a spring up ahead in the desert rather than just stumbling across it. And that's special too - and why it's important publishing continues to give book deals to autistic writers. It should be commonplace for everyone to see themselves in print.

I cannot wait for whatever Elle McNicoll writes next.

Elle McNicoll has DONE IT AGAIN 😭💘
This book? This book owns me. "Wish You Were Her" is small-town romcom meets quietly revolutionary autism rep, and I was not prepared to be emotionally devastated and utterly smitten all at once.
___________

🌟 Allegra Brooks is THAT girl 🌟

Let’s get one thing straight: Allegra is NOT your typical leading lady. She’s autistic, she’s a literal movie star, and she’s not here to play nice for anyone’s comfort.

"Girls like her were studied, not admired. They were diagnosed, not loved...They were whispered about. They were sometimes shunned for being too different or ignored for being too good at camouflaging."

From page one, she’s bold, blunt, and completely unbothered by anyone who tries to put her in a box—unless your name is Jonah Thorne, in which case, prepare for the slowest, sweetest emotional unraveling of your life 🫠💌

"Autistic girls were told they were their own worst enemies, but Allegra knew that was a neurotypical lie. She was her own ally. She was her own protector."

Like HELLO?? I want that quote tattooed on my soul. It hits so hard.
___________

📧 Secret emails + enemies to lovers = PERFECTION

So Allegra escapes to her dad’s sleepy bookshop in Lake Pristine, trying to disappear from the chaos of fame—and bam, she runs straight into Jonah. Bookseller. Broody. A bit of a grump. Very hot. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. The chemistry? SCREAMING. But it’s the emails... The secret, flirty, anonymous little love notes back and forth?? I was on the floor.

And when it’s revealed who’s behind the emails? The ANGST. The YEARNING. The “why didn’t you tell me”s and “I’ve been in love with you the whole time”s??? I blacked out. 🫠

"You. I want you. And I want you more than anyone else.
Kiss me."
Spoiler: she kissed him. 😭💘
___________

💔 Jonah is the new book boyfriend standard 💔

Jonah Thorne is IT. The book boy blueprint. He’s prickly and defensive but has the softest, most golden heart underneath. He sees Allegra—like truly sees her—in a way that makes your chest ache.

"I don't want to chase her down. I want to stand still with her."

"How do I convince the girl that the whole world wants a piece of that she's my whole world? And that I want all of her?"

McNicoll didn’t come to play. She came to ruin us beautifully 🫡💔
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👯‍♀️ Allegra + Grace = friendship GOALS

Let me just say it: I would die for Grace. That girl deserves the entire world and a book of her own IMMEDIATELY. Her friendship with Allegra is so real and affirming, full of sass and softness and the kind of radical honesty you rarely see in fiction.

"Can I run something by you and will you tell me if it's too sociopathic?"
"Sure. I'm a great litmus test for monstrous behaviour."

and the classic:

"Friends tell their friends when they're being dicks."

10/10 dialogue. No notes. Just vibes.
___________

😒 Simon + Skye + George = BYE

There always has to be someone to rage at, right? Simon = 🚩 Skye = 🔥 (as in, put her in the fire) and George?? That man acted like he was mentoring Jonah when really he was just being mean for vibes. Like okay, Dad 2.0, maybe try emotional intelligence instead of sabotage next time 😤

The only thing I wanted more of? Some deeper clarity on why George thought being cruel was the answer. That bit didn’t fully land for me.
___________

🌍 Autism rep that’s full of POWER, not pity

As with Some Like It Cold, the autism rep here is phenomenal. Allegra isn’t painted as broken or weird or fragile—she’s complex and confident and learning to love herself, even in a world that constantly misunderstands her.

"You've always said I'm so good at auditions. Ever wonder why? Autism. When every fucking social interaction feels like an audition, you get really good at it."

This line SHATTERED me 😭 McNicoll gets it. Every scene where Allegra masks, spirals, or asserts herself is handled with such care and nuance. And that scene where Jasper calls it an “autistic canonical event”? I YELLED.
___________

🎬 Bonus: Cameos & callbacks

Seeing Jasper and Arthur again?? My heart sang. It’s so special when authors build interconnected worlds like this, and getting a glimpse of their happy ending post-Some Like It Cold just made everything feel richer. The friendship between Jasper and Allegra?? Ugh, so wholesome and affirming. I love this little neurodivergent girl gang SO MUCH 🥹
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📚 Final thoughts: A romantic gem with sharp teeth and a soft heart

"Wish You Were Her" is a sparkling, slow-burn love letter to neurodivergent girls everywhere. It’s about learning to take off the mask, demand more, and fall in love with yourself as fiercely as you fall for someone else. It’s funny, emotional, painfully relatable at times, and full of quotes you’ll want to highlight and cry over.

The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars? A couple redemption arcs (Simon & George) felt undercooked for me and Allegra's reaction to Jonah being revealed as her pen-pal didn't feel true to her character when she became all mean girl, but honestly? I’m still obsessed.

So if you’re looking for a romance with email flirtation, bookstore vibes, autistic rep that slays, and a cinnamon roll grump of a love interest? This book will COMPLETELY wreck you in the best way.

Rating: 4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
Would reread just for the line:
"Not the paperbacks, the jackets will bend."
"Hardbacks it is."
😳🔥

“‘Reject me’, he said. ‘So I can start getting over you.’”

I loved this cutesy, contemporary young adult novel and I absolutely adore Elle McNicoll. . As a huge fan of ‘You’ve Got Mail’ and ‘Notting Hill’, this really hit the spot.

The relationship between Allegra and Jonah was developed wonderfully. Despite times where they were at arguing, they still understood each other and they were able to progress.

The representation of autism here is amazing. It is highlighted, rather than glamourised, and Elle navigated through both the positives and negatives.

Lake Pristine was the perfect setting. I loved the small town vibe, the bookstore and the book festival. It was the perfect escape for Allegra and really helped me to immerse myself into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elle for the ARC!

Eighteen year old Allegra Brooks, world-famous actor, has the summer off and decides to spend it in Lake Pristine where her Dad owns a bookshop, Brooks Books, and organises a festival each year. Allegra and bookseller Jonah Thorne get off to a bad start from their first meeting but as summer goes on things change.

Oh this book is JOYOUS!!! I read it in one go and literally couldn't put it down. Brilliant writing about a fabulous story, fabulous characters and a fabulous setting... perfection! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I've loved all of Elle McNicoll's books and this one is no different. I love reading books where I can relate to characters and just find her books really portray what it is like to be autistic. I just couldn't help but read this super fast and then found myself sad that it was already over. I'm excited to read future books by Elle!

I love, love, love, LOVE this book.

Allegra Brooks, famous movie star, decides to spend the summer in her Dads small town, away from the public eye, working in his book shop. I love how this book commented upon the pressures of fame and what it’s like for people to always have an opinion on you — how you’re not enough, how your too much, how you’re too kind, how you’re too mean…you can just never win.

I really liked Allegra and Jonah. I thought their chemistry was amazing, and their relationship had a great build up. I loved their understanding of each other, even when they were at each other’s throats.

The autism representation in this was beautiful and so amazing and I really enjoyed it. I think it was such a good representation too, without glamourising the struggles that autistic people face. I think it highlighted well both the positives and joys of being autistic while also showing the way people who are neurodivergent can struggle in ways that neurotypical people don’t or often understand.

Loved it.

I hadn't clocked in advance that this book would also be set in Lake Pristine (the setting of Some Like It Cold) and I was THRILLED. I am a sucker for a small town romance series, and re-meeting some previous characters was a treat, although you could certainly read this without having read the previous.

Loved Allegra, loved Jonah, still narrowing my eyes with ill-concealed rage at a couple of the other characters. Hoping I get to visit Lake Pristine again!

i’m a longtime lover of elle mcnicoll and this book was no exception - i loved it, such a charming and fun and engaging read. there were some little mistakes, like typos or characters somehow appearing in places they weren’t previously, but overall i swallowed this book in about 2 days! one thing i personally can’t forgive is the way george treated jonah: i’ve experienced similar situations and i simply don’t feel any sympathy for george. he treated a young adult/employee who hadn’t done anything to him terribly.

I loved Allegra from the first time we are introduced and her and Jonah's story was such a fun and entertaining read, it's just the perfect thing to read this summer

Elle McNicoll you have done it again!! I LOVEEEDD this book.
It had me gripped throughout, even if there was parts I managed to guess the outcome/twist for.
I loved Lake Pristine, I loved Allegra and I loved Jonah. The longing, the angst!! It was so much fun!!
I'm not much of a romance reader but every now and then one is almost perfect and this is certain one of them.

It was so lovely to read about autistic teens, with jobs facing life and falling in love. This is certainly the kind of text I wish a younger me had been able to read.

Thank you Elle McNicoll, Net Galley and Macmillan Children's Books for providing me with an eARC of Wish You Were Her

A fantastic return to Lake Pristine in Elle McNicoll's latest YA offering! Teen celebrity spends the summer trying to be a normal 18 year old in a small town, with a burgeoning email romance, a case of mistaken identity, and all the feels! As always McNicoll puts the autistic experience front and centre, without coming across as preachy. In spite of the whole celebrity aspect of it, I think a lot of teens (and adults!) are going to be able to relate to Allegra and Jonah.

I was really excited to read something from Elle McNicoll, having heard great things about her books! While this one personally wasn't for me (and I think it's important to explain why), I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. It was such a great opportunity to try a new UKYA author I've been hearing lots about, and I hope it finds its readers. I would've DNF'd the book if it wasn't an ARC, but I'm glad I persevered, as it did get better as I continued to read!

'Wish You Were Her' is a YA romcom set, we can assume, in the Scottish countryside, in a small, idyllic town called Lake Pristine. Following Allegra, an autistic actress, we return to Lake Pristine for a summer of lazy days by the lake and book festivals, shifts in her father's bookshop and teenage parties... and falling in love with moody bookseller Jonah, who, unbeknownst to him, Allegra has been communicating with for the entire summer, sharing intimate secrets and details about her private life - and his.

When written like this, I think you can agree that the book's plot sounds rather sweet, endearing, and entirely BookTok-y in nature. It reminded me of something Emily Henry would write, only with an insightful and well-written autistic protagonist, falling for another autistic character, though she doesn't tell him her diagnosis until later in the book. I really enjoyed the aim of the book, which, in my opinion, was to highlight what it must be like to be autistic and in the public eye - and how difficult it must be to form close romantic relationships as an autistic person. Elle McNicoll is definitely a trailblazer in this area, and I'm definitely interested in how her debut YA approaches this topic, as I've heard great things about it.

Unfortunately, the plot of this book got lost in translation, for me. I had a lot of personal issues with the writing style and pacing, and I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of how McNicoll chose to portray Allegra as an actress and public figure. I couldn't quite work out how or why Allegra became to be such a huge, successful name, or what led her to act in the first place... I also had some issues with the portrayal of fame and its privileges, and with some of the choices Allegra made in terms of using said privilege to cheat and help her friends and community - such as creating a social media post that gained a character offers from a number of top universities, which, to me, seemed a lot like nepotism. It all felt fluffy and unrealistic, to me. There are some really great YA books written about those in the public eye, such as Sara Barnard's, but this didn't quite hit the mark.

I think its incredible focus on autism was holding this book together, but letting other themes fall short. A few other reviews comment on the lack of resolution, which I also found disappointing, but also on its poor setting - a personal gripe of mine in lots of books. I despised Lake Pristine, as I often despise small town settings. Cliched, unrealistic, wonderfully hazy and sunny, filled with independent shops and tourism, kids with untapped potential stuck there forever... I much prefer settings that feel heavily situated in specific locations, covering important local issues, the plants, architecture, history, culture, local area, language and more described in detail. So many YA books skimp out on this - but there are plenty of great books which don't. I can't connect to a book that deliberately makes its setting - even the country its set in - so ambiguous.

I also found the lack of diversity startling. I absolutely don't think all books have to be diverse, especially when they're set in small towns or communities which likely aren't extremely multicultural, but this book felt startlingly samey. Please correct me if I'm forgetting any LGBT or POC characters, because I can't recall a single one. Most of the characters felt extremely flat and privileged, possibly because Lake Pristine felt so nothingy - a bit like Dream Harbor in the Laurie Gilmore series. I often find that in books focused on one issue, such as providing disability representation or LGBT rep, they forget to include characters from other minority groups.

There were quite a few other issues I had with the book and its plot, particularly surrounding the concept of the email relationship and how Allegra continued to chat intimately with Jonah online knowing who he was in real life - and that he didn't have a clue that it was her he was talking to - but I don't want to spend another hundred words bashing this book, because I know it'll find an audience somewhere... it just wasn't for me.

I know this likely won't be read by the publisher, but I do think it's important to bring up these issues, which I'm seeing more often in contemporary YA. I don't think it's enough to have a book with good autism representation, if the book has such big issues outside of that. If you did enjoy this book, do let me know why! I'd love to understand more about where this went wrong for me.

The first book I read by Elle McNicoll was Show Us Who You Are. I read it in one sitting and I was absolutely hooked.

I read A Kind of Spark soon after, again in one sitting. I have read everything else she has written in the years since, and I've loved them all.

Wish You Were Her is no different. Set in the same world as Some Like it Cold with the same small town setting of Lake Pristine and some overlapping characters, we follow a new protagonist and her struggles with fame and how her neurodiversity interacts with this world.

I loved the setting and it was great to be back in Lake Pristine - which cleverly could be the kind of small town in either the UK or elsewhere. The fact we're following a book festival and spend a lot of time in a bookshop is obviously appealing, and made for the perfect background to this romance.

Allegra made for a likeable protagonist and I feel her strength and conviction will provide an amazing role model for young teens. The romance definitely had You've Got Mail vibes and I enjoyed seeing Allegra and Jonah navigate all obstacles thrown their way. Their budding romance is heartfelt and charming.

A delightful rom-com that kept me turning the pages and sucked me into Allegra and Jonah's world. Heartfelt, emotional and tender, but punchy and extremely enjoyable at the same time!

Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have been so excited about this book that I was thrilled to receive an early copy.

I loved Allegra. A young Hollywood star could be spoilt and stuck up, but she's just a young kid who wants to be normally and I instantly loved her. Jonah was also a well-rounded, troubled but passionate young man who really shone. The only character I'd have liked a bit more of was Allegra's dad George; there were a few things a bit unfinished with his story.

I read a lot of child/YA books, and as much as I love them, I'm very aware that I'm a 31 year old reading a kids book and I feel I have to justify myself. But with this one, whilst its target aged is 12+, I felt it was equally as wondering as an adult book as there's lots that older people will relate to.

I know it's *just* a fun romcom and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it really shows the downsides of fame, particularly at a young age. We think of it as glamorous and exciting, lots of money and fancy clothes etc. but it can be very difficult, especially at such an impressionable age.

I loved the exploration of neurodiversity in it. I believe Elle is autistic herself, and you can tell she has a personal passion for it. She's not just added an autistic character because she wants to tick a box, it means something to her, and that then gives the characters more depth.

This is a genuine, beautiful romance novel. I haven't read one of them for so long and it was just what I needed. Cosy, warming, funny, hopeful, and joyful. It's so full of love, love for family, friends, in a romantic sense; a love for your home and a job.

It was fully absorbing and addictive and just flew by. It manages to be deep but not bogged down in seriousness.

I didn't realise it was part of a series and it didn't make any difference to the reading of this whatsoever. But I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for the others.

This is a great YA for neurodiverse rep and it comps greatly with You’ve Got Mail.
It was a quick and easy read that made me go through many emotions which makes this a book I will go back to.

i have been thinking over and over how to start this review as this book is beyond amazing I have never cried so much with such raw emotion in a great way not bad . i read some like it cold a few years back and loved it so much , i feel that Elle just did one better .

The plot to this story of a young girl called Allegra who managed to get her dream job on t.v show and one thing she really wanting is love real love and to be seen and feel normal as she is autistic ,i could relate so much to this story as i have a son who lives with autism . this story really hit my heart hard so i could understand what Allegra was feeling I never wanted to give a character a hug so much .

t thought that Elle did a wonderful job writing such a wonderful enemies to lovers story i thing she written this story with such grace and honesty so heart warming , plenty of teen drama and very swoon worthy story .

Elle if you see this review i would just like to say thank you for helping others living with autism feel seen , i honestly got so emotional reading this story you have created i wish i could give this book 10 stars i feel everyone should read this .

thank you to the publisher and elle for asking me to review this wonderful story . 5 stars .

Allegra found herself rocketed to stardom after appearing in a successful TV series. Needing a break from the limelight, she heads to the small town of Lake Pristine to stay with her father for the summer as he organises the annual Lake Pristine book festival. On arrival she bumps - literally - into Jonah, who works at her father's book store and they get off on the wrong foot. Can they overcome their differences?

This is a cute YA romance with the fairly typical will-they-won't-they story line as Allegra and Jonah try to make sense of their feelings for each other. It was interesting to read a romance book through the eyes of autistic characters and the additional challenges that they face trying to navigate social norms.