Wish You Were Here: A fresh, funny, and full-of-heart romantic comedy

by Jon Rance

Two people. One mistaken email. Ten thousand complicated miles between them. A heartwarming and hilarious online-friends-to-lovers rom-com, perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mike Gayle, and Mhairi McFarlane.
Ben Armstrong is a twenty-nine-year-old Londoner with a less-than-perfect romantic track record. Fed up with failed relationships, he decides it is time to get serious about finding The One – with a little help from his friends, of course.

Saskia Conway is a singer in Sydney, Australia, but after too many heartbreaks and ill-judged one-night stands, she’s given up on love. Instead, she is dedicating herself to her music and her work at Marrickville Retirement Village.

Then, fate steps in. Ben accidentally sends Saskia an email meant for someone else, sparking an unexpected and irresistible online connection. But with ten thousand miles between them, can their growing feelings be anything more than just virtual?

In this laugh-out-loud across-the-world rom-com, Ben and Saskia are about to discover that love knows no distance – but how far are they willing to go to make it real?

Praise for Jon

‘You’ll want to put aside as many moments as you can to read this…you’ll love it!’ Nick Spalding on 'One Hundred Moments of Us'

‘Thought-provoking yet tender, witty and warm, and with characters you’ll care about and be rooting for until the end.’ Matt Dunn on 'One Hundred Moments of Us'

‘An ambitious novel, covering over two decades and taking in all the moments - big, small, tender, painful, intimate and brutal - that make up a complex relationship and a charming and touching story.’ Andy Jones on 'One Hundred Moments of Us'

‘What a beautiful, beautiful love story. I can’t say enough good things about it!’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Absolutely loved this story and found it near impossible to put down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘I fell in love with the characters in this book and simply could not put the book down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A beautiful tapestry of love, life, and everything in between… both uplifting and heart-wrenching…A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of moments and the enduring nature of true love.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Such a lovely read…highly recommend.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A captivating read that can only be described as unputdownable.’ Reader Review

'I honestly couldn’t stop reading. It had so many beautiful lines that made me stop and think...I laughed out loud....and even got a little teary at times.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

'This is a book I will happily re-read for years to come.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Genres: Contemporary

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Jon Rance is the author of seven novels: the Kindle top ten bestseller, This Thirtysomething Life, Happy Endings (both published by Hodder and Stoughton), This Family Life, Sunday Dinners, Dan And Nat Got Married, About Us, and The Summer Holidays Survival Guide. He's also the author of the Christmas novella, A Notting Hill Christmas.

Jon studied English Literature at Middlesex University, London, before going travelling and meeting his American wife in Australia. Jon loves comedy (especially sitcoms), the films of Richard Curtis, travelling and tea. He just turned forty, which is a terrifying time, so his books might get a bit edgier and possibly angrier as a result.

Jon writes dramatic, romantic, comedy fiction similar to the work of Mike Gayle, Matt Dunn, Nick Spalding and David Nicholls.

You can email him at: jonrance@yahoo.com

Please visit his website: www.jonrance.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @JRance75

Reviews

[Voyage · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might be the first time I read a romance written by a man but it didn't disappoint :)

[Gillian Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow. Faster paced about 45% through. Cute story. Very rom com. No spice.