The Love I Wished For: An emotional and uplifting romance that will capture your heart

by Georgie Capron

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Georgie Capron is a British author of contemporary women's fiction.  She writes stories about real life with themes exploring love, relationships, family, community and friendship.  She lives in South-West London with her husband and three children.  Her fourth novel, The Love I Wished For, is published by Pellerin Books. Her other novels are Just the Two of Us, One Summer in Positano (previously published as It Was Always You) and The Distance Between Us. To find out more find her on Instagram (@georgiecapronauthor), Facebook (Georgie Capron Author), X (@georgiecapron) or www.georgiecapron.com

Reviews

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another new-to-me author, a new favourite book and a heartfelt connection I've never felt from a book before.

Challenging the so called 'perfect life' Helena's story tackled profound themes, bringing them to life while my heart silently wept for her. Her emotions quickly became mine.

It wasn't long before I was fully invested and rooting for her all the way. If anyone deserved a second shot at happiness, she did.

I relished every minute and look forward to seeing where Capron takes us next.

Ps. Trust your instincts.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Love I Wished For absolutely broke my heart in the best way. This one hit me quite personally for reasons I won’t go into, but I related to Helena almost immediately in those first few chapters, which made every emotional moment hit even harder.

There was something deeply unsettling about the whole 1950s housewife vibe from the start — that quiet feeling that something wasn’t quite right beneath it all. I thought the book handled the loss of identity in relationships incredibly well, especially how easy it can be to slowly give up parts of yourself without even realising it.

Noah’s behaviour made my blood boil. The gaslighting and manipulation were written so realistically that at times it was genuinely difficult to read. This absolutely needs trigger warnings for abusive relationships, abandonment, and hoarding behaviour.

What I loved most was Helena’s resilience. Chapter 16 completely shattered me, and by chapter 22 I had to put the book down for a breather because I felt so emotional, but seeing her choose not to let her pain define her was incredibly powerful. The book feels so raw and honest in the way it explores both abuse and loneliness.

I also ended up reading this at the perfect time — all the talk of fetes and typical English weather made parts of it feel oddly comforting despite how emotional it was. That proposal scene had me fully panicking.

This book reminded me exactly why I love contemporary romance. The best ones make you feel everything, even when it’s uncomfortable, and this one definitely did that for me.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Lisa Spofford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am voluntarily leaving this review after reading a gifted ARC via Rachel’s Random Resources. The Love I Wished For is an emotional romance written by Georgie Capron. After the sudden death of her mother, Helena Beale clings to a psychic’s prediction of love and family. But when that dream life materializes, Helena must ultimately decide what kind of life she really wants to live. This is a spicy, open door, third person, single POV, contemporary romance with tropes including psychic prediction, roommates, friends to lovers, love after heartache, loneliness, and small town romance. This was a well paced, emotional read which touches on how loneliness impacts our decisions and how it has become an epidemic in our modern society. After the death of her mother, Helena was very vulnerable and swept away by a man with a young child who seemed to perfectly match a psychic’s prediction. But what might look perfect from the outside isn’t always what it seems. When the bottom falls out of this perfect life, Helena has to rebuild herself from the ground up and reclaim the parts of her that she lost. This novel has trigger warnings I would recommend checking prior to reading this novel if appropriate. I loved the author’s messages of hope and for second chances at love. Helena was such a likable character and her character’s journey from prologue to epilogue was believable and inspiring. The secondary characters in this novel brought so much to the table. I will definitely be looking for this author in the future and am recommending this novel to readers of emotional romance with substance and to fans of Laura Pearson, Dani Atkins, and Paige Toon. (4.5 rounded to 5 stars where necessary.)

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Love I Wished For by Georgie Capron

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

What if everything you ever wished for turned out to be the loneliest place of all?

Helena Beale is desperately lonely. Still grieving her parents, stuck in the city, and watching everyone around her move on with their lives, she begins to fear that love has passed her by.

So when a psychic predicts a dazzling future - a devoted man, a beautiful home, and a child to call her own - Helena clings to the vision like a lifeline.

And then, impossibly, it comes true. Helena finds herself in the countryside with a charismatic partner, a little boy she adores, and the picture-perfect life she was promised. From the outside, she has everything she ever wanted. But inside the relationship, something is very wrong...

As cracks begin to show, Helena must confront a devastating truth: getting what you wished for isn't the same as being truly loved. Can she gather enough courage to break free, and choose herself when everything is telling her not to?

My Opinion

The Love I Wished For was a delightful novel. This was my first book by Georgie Capron and I am sure that I will be back for more in the future. A thought-provoking novel with some relatable characters. A highly enjoyable read.

Rating 4/5

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]


This book really took me by surprise. It started with such a relatable sense of longing and loneliness, then pulled me into something much deeper and more unsettling.

Helena’s journey felt incredibly real to me. The way her situation develops is subtle at first but that slow build makes the emotional impact hit even harder. I could feel the tension creeping in. 

What I appreciated most was how thoughtfully the story handles such a difficult topic. It doesn’t sensationalise anything; instead, it focuses on Helena’s internal struggle- her confusion, her hope, and ultimately her strength. Watching her begin to question her reality and rediscover her self-worth was both heartbreaking and empowering.

The contrast between the “perfect” life on the outside and the truth underneath is done so well. It really makes you think about how easy it is to mistake appearances for happiness, and how important it is to feel safe, valued, and truly loved. By the end, I was completely invested in Helena’s journey. It’s emotional, reflective, and quietly powerful- and a reminder to us all to trust our instincts.

[whatmrsdobbsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 📖✨
The Love I Wished For – Georgie Capron
Publisher: Pellerin Books
Release Date: 5th May 2026
I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC — and it quickly became my vacation read, joining me everywhere… poolside, on the balcony, and even up in the air mid-flight ✈️📖
This is a beautifully written small village romance that wraps around you like a warm hug. From the charming setting to the heartfelt connections between characters, every page felt comforting and full of quiet magic.
It’s the kind of story that reminds you true love really does exist — not always in grand gestures, but in the little moments, the second chances, and the feeling of finally being exactly where you’re meant to be.
There’s something so reassuring about this book… that no matter how life twists and turns, we will always find our way to where we belong.
A gentle, emotional, and uplifting read that stayed with me from takeoff to touchdown 🤍
#BookTok #ARCReview #RomanceReads #SmallTownRomance #VacationReads #BookReview

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever felt so emotionally connected to a book like I have with this one!
We follow the story of Helena who starts off, after losing her mum, finding a psychic to see if she can contact her and if there's anything to come in her future.
As we follow her story she begins dating Noah and from the start I got a bad vibe and didn't think he truly aligned with what the psychic had said to Helena. Every little dig and problem he brought up, I fully resonated with and connected it to my own experiences and felt like shouting into the book for the first half of the story 😂 she just deserved so much better!
Watching Helena grow into herself after Noah left with Raffy was so beautiful and the way this whole book was written made me feel like the author cared about her readers feelings as we went along for the ride!
I did feel like the story took a while to get going but once it did, it was a beautiful story of how we can lose our sense of self in a relationship and how we can slowly grow into ourselves again to find the right person 💕

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I like to differ from my usual genre, this thought provoking story covers some difficult topics, it’s incredibly emotional - I was frustrated, angry, sad, giddy and happy all in the span of 300ish pages, but I am glad to have read it!

Helena has a perfect life, until the cracks start showing in her relationship and she is left trying to pick up the pieces alone

We follow her journey as she struggles through life after breakup, her realisation of and recovery from a toxic relationship, and as as she learns to love herself again by establishing a fulfilled life full of friendship and love

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
🍰 Contemporary romance
🪴 Loneliness and grief
🦋 Reality
🍰 Loss of self
🪴 Internal struggle
🦋 Reflection
🍰 A sense of community
🪴 Character growth
🦋 Self love
🍰 A little miscommunication trope
🪴 Friends to lovers

Thank you to the author and Pellerin Books for this eARC

Check out my post on Instagram 🍰🪴🦋 https://www.instagram.com/p/DYATWQCjT...

[Leanne Friday · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

I absolutely loved this book so much I couldn't put it down! I felt such a connection to Helena and all that she went through to get the happiness she rightly deserved, that at the end I was smiling so much, I had tears in my eyes!
The way she was able to build herself back up after everything Noah had done to her over the years and the way he had put her down, I have never cheered so much for a character in a book before! I did always wonder if Noah would suddenly reappear and use Raffy to get to her so I wasn't surprised when that happened. But I was surprised when he suddenly proposed and I thought he must have a hidden agenda! I was so proud of Helena when she said no and finally spoke to Johnny about how she felt.
I loved the little twist at the end with the wedding as well especially when you think you know who was getting married!
I just loved it so much, it was perfect! 👌

[Ade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

A delightful and emotional book with bits of unsettling parts but eye opening and an appreciation for friendship and companionship.

A psychic had told Helena that she would meet a devoted man, have a beautiful home and child. She did only he is not what he was predicted to be.

This book explores hard topics- loneliness, grief, emotional, psychological and physical ab*se. It exposes the contrast between the picturesque outside and the rottenness inside.

I love how the author catalogued everything Helena went through and how all the emotions were captured successfully. It was heartbreaking to read and there was triumph when she finally found and took her strength back. I enjoyed the village life and the found family Helena found in those who stood by her.

This is a story that will stay with me. Fans of second chance/small town romance, found family, friends to lovers will enjoy this.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished the ARC for The Love I Wished For by Georgie Capron.

Firstly, thank you to @pellerinbooks for the ARC

I really enjoyed this story. I've given it 4⭐️

The first 30% of the book was a frustrating read only because of the situation that Helena, the main character, was in. You quickly get to feel for her and her story. You want the best for her from the off.

This story has themes of found family, lost love, lost family but also DV and emotional/mental abuse. It has community coming together, village life, gardening and pigs!

It was a really good read (I would even say it was a little Jilly Cooper without all the spice and pimms!)

The book is published on 5th May. Go and grab a copy!

[Charlotte Bayly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced copy received from Pellerin books.

I thought the opening was quite strong, although I didn’t in any way expect themes of coercive control or domestic violence.
Once that had passed, I felt more empathy for Helena, however the middle section of the book just felt a bit too “nice” for my liking, and it wasn’t truly followed up in the end section? Otherwise the ending was quite sweet for Helena, Raffy and Margery. It’s a new genre for me, so I did find it a little convenient how things wrapped up, but it was nice to explore something different, and I’d definitely say this was a “pick me up” book.

[Nakitta's Novel Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story for the most part but it was a bit all over the place.

I was abit confused by Raffy's age too?
He was very mature and could hold full on conversations at the age of 4 and then was suddenly 7?

It would have been nice to have had a bit more backstory on Noah, his ex & Raffy too. I felt like the mum was mentioned a lot but not in enough detail.
I sort of expected her to pop back up in places but perhaps that was just very clever writing making me sit at the edge of my seat in anticipation.

[Sana · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and quick read to get through about losing and finding yourself again through self love.

Helena is a woman who finds herself struggling in a long term relationship, when her life suddenly turns upside down and she's left with no choice but to rebuild her life from the ground up. The poorly deals with themes of loss, grief, domestic abuse and self love and resilience. They were woven throughout, but I would have liked some more development of these and to have seen more of Noah's ex wife Kate.

The pace was quick and easy to keep up with and the characters all filled a specific role. I wouldn't say the plot or narrative was anything amazing, it was very predictable and easy to follow. I found the writing a little clunky in places and wasn't particularly blown away by it.

This is definitely a book that you could easily read in one sitting at the airport or by the pool.

Thank you so much to Pellerin for the ebook!

[Rebekah Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

This was such a sweet book about the importance of community and the importance of it especially when you experience curve balls in life. The characters are realistic and I love the cosy setting of a small British village. Particularly love the message of the book about what can be achieved when a community comes together and that we can achieve better and bigger things together than alone.

[Vicki (chaptersofvicki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I felt pretty much every emotion throughout the book.

Helena has what she believes to be the perfect life. I really felt for her, she struggled so much and I just wanted everything to work out for her. I loved Raffy he was so cute.

I found I couldn’t put this down. I really enjoyed the friendship Helena had with Nathalie and village community. It was such a great read.

[Lauren Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Pellerin Books for an advance digital copy in exchange for a review ✨

This book was nothing like I was expecting and I loved it for that. I went in expecting a romance with a touch of angst, and got a beautiful story of self love, domestic abuse awareness, and the importance of community. Highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a bit of faith in humanity restored. 3.5/5 ⭐️

[Rhiann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found ‘The Love I Wished For’ to be a beautiful, emotional and uplifting tale of love, loneliness, and resilience. The emotions of Helena jumped right off the page making me feel everything she felt and experienced for myself. Such a perfect holiday read!

[Marie Yarwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful storyline full of romance, second chance love and eternal happiness for Helena after years of emotional abuse from Noah, an absolute awful specimen of a man.
Having lost his wife and mother to his son Raffy from illness, Noah falls in love with Helena and she moves in to their family unit to bring Raffy up together. Noah literally destroys everything Helena is about- baking, socialising, fashionable clothing and make up among more, by stopping her seeing anybody, preventing Raffy having friends over/going round theirs, she has to prepare freshly cooked calorie controlled meals for every meal and preventing Raffy having a normal childhood.
But one day something in Noah changes and Helena’s life is torn about in every way possible - hasn’t the poor woman been through enough already?

After hitting rock bottom (quite literally) will she ever get her happy ending and more importantly, will her psychic prediction come true…..

[Antonella Gramola-Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender, emotional novel, The Love I Wished For by Georgie Capron follows a woman who is unexpectedly given the chance to live out the life and love she always imagined. As her wishes begin to unfold, what first seems like a relaxed, easygoing romance gradually reveals something far more complex. It’s much deeper than that, with a more psychological edge, as she starts to question whether getting everything she wanted is truly what will make her happy, and if she has exchanged a solitary life for a gilded cage. Thought-provoking and heartfelt, it balances hope with a sense of unease. Thanks to Pellerin Books for the preview ebook.

[Courtney Newman-Broom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in a day! This was so much more than a romance, with domestic abuse, grief, loneliness, strength and growth all being themes which just made the story so un-putdownable.