Angie
Wish You Were Here was a weird one for me. It sounded great, and I was eager to read it and find out what happens when (or if) Diana goes home after spending the start of the pandemic stranded in the Galapagos. While I did enjoy it, I also kind of hated it. I was 100% invested in Diana's story, but ultimately the "message" started to grate on my nerves and totally rubbed me the wrong way.
The first half of Wish You Were Here follows Diana while she navigates the small island she's currently trapped on through no fault but her own. Instead of taking the ferry back to the airport, she decides to stay because...I don't know. But she gets to see the island and meets some great people. I was nervous for the time when she'd finally have to leave. Then the story changes, and I was like WTF is happening?! I was fascinated! I am totally here for this kind of thing. I can't say what because major spoiler.
I loved reading about...this thing...but then Diana started getting more retrospective and philosophical. And it really felt like the author was using the pandemic as some event for people to follow their dreams and examine what they really want out of life and get on the right path! I mean, if two years of chaos did that for you, great. But let's not pretend that COVID had some deeper meaning. It doesn't. Viruses don't care about your hopes and dreams and fears. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Get vaccinated if you can. Then if you want a life change, cool.