Elle McNicoll has always written with a clear purpose: to give voice to characters often overlooked in mainstream fiction. With Wish You Were Her, she turns her attention to romantic comedy—a genre that thrives on misunderstandings, witty banter, and slow-burn tension—yet she doesn’t abandon the depth and authenticity that define her earlier works. The result is a novel that is both playful and thoughtful, layered with charm but also grounded in lived experience.
A Fresh Take on Romcom Tropes
Eighteen-year-old Allegra Brooks is the kind of character readers immediately feel protective of. She is famous, thanks to her breakout role in a hit TV show, but she is also autistic—something the world doesn’t know about her. Craving a summer of peace and anonymity, she escapes to Lake Pristine, a picturesque town that hosts a well-loved book festival.
Her hope for rest is quickly thwarted by Jonah Thorne, the prickly senior bookseller who oversees the festival. From the very start, their personalities clash, sparking a rivalry that becomes increasingly public and messy. Yet in the midst of this chaos, Allegra finds herself drawn to a series of emails with an anonymous bookseller who seems to understand her in ways no one else does. Readers, of course, will suspect where this is heading, but watching the story unfold is where the pleasure lies.
McNicoll uses these familiar tropes in Wish You Were Her—enemies to lovers, mistaken identities, secret communication—to create something both classic and fresh. It’s romcom comfort food with sharper edges.
Allegra as a Protagonist
What makes Allegra stand out isn’t just her witty narration or her resilience in the face of misunderstandings, but the way McNicoll writes her autism as part of her whole self, not an aside. Allegra’s struggles with overstimulation, her sharp observations about social dynamics, and her longing to exist without constantly being scrutinized make her one of the most layered romcom heroines in recent memory.
Her character brings a refreshing realism to the genre. While she is endearing, she is also complex—sometimes defensive, sometimes weary, but always deeply human. Allegra isn’t written to be “inspirational”; she is written to be real.
Jonah Thorne: A Complicated Match
Jonah is the kind of hero who initially frustrates more than he charms. He is brusque, dismissive, and seems to go out of his way to antagonize Allegra. McNicoll makes a risky choice by leaning into his unlikeability at first, and while this sets up some effective tension, it can also feel exhausting.
The payoff comes later, as Jonah is slowly revealed to be more than just a grump. His layers are peeled back, and readers begin to understand the fears and insecurities that shape his behavior. By the time his relationship with Allegra shifts from combative to cooperative, the chemistry feels earned. Still, it is worth noting that some readers may find his initial edge too sharp to enjoy.
The Writing Style
McNicoll’s prose is clean, witty, and highly accessible. The banter between Allegra and Jonah is sharp, while the email exchanges carry a tenderness that contrasts nicely with their public sparring. The descriptions of Lake Pristine, with its book festival and small-town quirks, create an immersive setting that romcom fans will appreciate.
There are moments, however, when the pacing falters. The prolonged conflict between Allegra and Jonah drags in the middle, and the eventual reveal of the email partner’s identity is telegraphed early, which reduces some of the tension. Despite this, the novel’s heart remains strong, carried by Allegra’s voice and perspective.
Themes that Matter
Autism Representation: McNicoll continues to place neurodivergent voices at the center of her stories, challenging stereotypes and offering readers authentic perspectives.
Fame and Its Costs: Allegra’s unease with her sudden stardom feels timely, raising questions about privacy, agency, and how much of oneself can remain private in a culture of constant attention.
The Power of Communication: The novel contrasts miscommunication in person with the honesty of written words, asking us to consider how different contexts reveal different parts of ourselves.
Where the Book Shines
Allegra’s voice: witty, vulnerable, and honest.
The blend of romcom tropes with deeper, socially relevant themes.
A charming setting that enhances the story’s atmosphere.
Tender, funny email exchanges that balance the characters’ real-world conflict.
Where It Stumbles
Predictability: Readers will likely guess the email twist early on.
Jonah’s hostility: His initial harshness risks overshadowing his eventual growth.
Some secondary characters: They serve more as background color than fully fleshed individuals.
Uneven pacing in the middle, where conflict drags longer than necessary.
Readers Who Will Enjoy This
Wish You Were Her will appeal to fans of romantic comedies who want more than just surface-level fluff. Readers who loved You’ve Got Mail, Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, or The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang will find familiar pleasures here. Those who appreciated McNicoll’s earlier books—particularly A Kind of Spark—will see her continuing commitment to telling stories about characters who deserve to be heard.
Conclusion
Wish You Were Her is a romcom with more substance than most. Elle McNicoll proves that stories about falling in love can also be stories about authenticity, self-acceptance, and the courage to be seen as you truly are. Allegra Brooks is a heroine who lingers in the mind long after the last page—sharp, flawed, funny, and unapologetically herself.
Though not without flaws—predictability, pacing issues, and a hero who takes a little too long to warm up—the novel succeeds because it never loses sight of its heart. It’s charming, tender, and genuinely moving, a reminder that the best romances are about more than attraction; they are about finding someone who sees you clearly.
For anyone looking for a romance that combines familiar tropes with fresh perspective and authentic representation, Wish You Were Her is an easy recommendation.