Wish You Weren't Here: A Novel

Ava Graham arrives in Italy to complete her final law school credits and honor a promise to her late mother. Her long-term boyfriend suggests they take a break rather than get engaged before her departure. When James Massini picks her up at the airport as a favor to his relatives, he discovers she is a woman in her late twenties with exacting standards and a tendency to underestimate others. When Ava becomes a teaching assistant in James's class, he sets out to show her that life extends beyond careful planning and organization. Despite their frequent disagreements, James finds their exchanges charming. As Ava gradually opens herself to a different approach to life in Italy, she discovers unexpected beauty in spontaneity. However, complications from her past eventually resurface. This debut novel follows a relatable protagonist navigating an Italian setting while learning that personal plans do not always determine how life unfolds.