Book Review: "Wish I Were Here" by Melissa Wiesner

Growing up with a father who was happiest when juggling or making people laugh, Catherine was the serious, focused one. She made sure the rent got paid on time (or packed up their things when they got evicted) and she always took care of her dad. But it gets exhausting being the one who always keeps it together.

She’s about to start work as a tenure-track mathematics professor. But all of her careful preparations go awry when the university says they have no record of Catherine existing. Even though she has all of her documentation, no one seems to think it’s real. Her job, her future, her identity are all in jeopardy.

With the assistance of Luca, the handsome doorman of her apartment building, she digs deeper into the whole situation. She discovers she never had her original birth certificate, which apparently her mother has. But she never met her mother, and her father refuses to tell Catherine anything about her.

Luca tries to help Catherine focus on the lighter side of life. As he helps her track her mother down, he also introduces her to a motley crew of the building’s residents, mostly elderly people. And it’s no secret their feelings for one another are much more than tenant-doorman.

This is a sweet love story, with a surprising touch of magical realism thrown in. I really enjoyed many of the characters, and the way the book handled both the lighter and more emotional moments.

I’ve read one of Melissa Wiesner’s previous books, and she’s the type of writer whose stories find their way into your heart and your mind. Definitely a feel-good book!