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Wish You Were Here
A brilliant romantic comedy exploring beach basics for the broken-hearted from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle. Their holiday brochure said 18-30 . . . But they've just turned 35. After ten years together Charlie Mansell has been dumped by his live-in girlfriend, Sarah. All he wants to do is wallow in misery, but mates Andy and Tom have a better a week of sun, sea and souvlaki in Malia, party capital of the Greek islands. But Charlie and his mates aren't eighteen any more. Or even under thirty. And it shows. It isn't the cheap beer, the late nights or even the fast-food that's the problem. It's girls. And life. And most of all . . . each other. WISH YOU WERE HERE is a heart-warming, funny and wise tale about love and friendship and how seven days in the sun can change your life forever.
409 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
30 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Mike Gayle
38 books2,252 followersI was born in the 70s — the 70s were great. I would recommend them to anyone.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 2, 2022
Gayle manages to make an 18-30's package holiday by three men in their mid to late 30s, Charlie whose partner left him for another man after 10 years; Tom a family man and Christian; and Andy whose idea it was, a man looking to escape his life with booze and 'birds'; an interesting read and look at male friendships and the push and pull of having to truly grow up and if possible find ones purpose. 6 out of 12
Looking at the decadence, commercialism and futility of the UK's annual export of youth to the Mediterranean each summer through the primarily through the lens of Charlie, a man in his mid 30s set adrift by his girlfriend leaving him, proves a far more interesting read than if looked at through the eyes of one of the 18-30 year olds. 6 out of 12, a Three Star read :)
2022 read
Looking at the decadence, commercialism and futility of the UK's annual export of youth to the Mediterranean each summer through the primarily through the lens of Charlie, a man in his mid 30s set adrift by his girlfriend leaving him, proves a far more interesting read than if looked at through the eyes of one of the 18-30 year olds. 6 out of 12, a Three Star read :)
2022 read
June 30, 2025
This was pretty much 'as expected' - I have read several Mike Gayle novels, and this fell somewhere around the mid-point of my experiences with his oeuvre.
The book follows a previously visited format of following what happens to a man in this thirties after a relationship goes wrong and ends. The central character and his two friends shoot off to Malia for a lads holiday, and there they discover all kinds of things about themselves and relationships etc. It's in no way the most original plot for a novel, it reminded me massively of (the later) 'The Inbetweeners Movie' with which it shares many aspects, and though the author is on the ball with how he builds his characters and how he comments on people and emotions and experiences of men in their thirties, I couldn't quite escape the sense that the plot relies on a series of slightly obvious problems being solved by a series of slightly clichéd occurrences, and the writing style being a little jarringly simplistic at times. A quick and enjoyable read, if you don't ask for too much literary deconstruction from a book.
The book follows a previously visited format of following what happens to a man in this thirties after a relationship goes wrong and ends. The central character and his two friends shoot off to Malia for a lads holiday, and there they discover all kinds of things about themselves and relationships etc. It's in no way the most original plot for a novel, it reminded me massively of (the later) 'The Inbetweeners Movie' with which it shares many aspects, and though the author is on the ball with how he builds his characters and how he comments on people and emotions and experiences of men in their thirties, I couldn't quite escape the sense that the plot relies on a series of slightly obvious problems being solved by a series of slightly clichéd occurrences, and the writing style being a little jarringly simplistic at times. A quick and enjoyable read, if you don't ask for too much literary deconstruction from a book.
September 27, 2020
A minha opinião em vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Poy-n...
Mais um livro lido do Mike Gayle e que me deixa sempre com um sorriso.
Uma história que começa com uma viagem de férias entre 3 amigos para disfrutarem as praias da Grécia.
Esta viagem acaba por ser uma "road trip" que os faça renovar os votos de amizade e encarar as relações de outra maneira.
Mais um livro lido do Mike Gayle e que me deixa sempre com um sorriso.
Uma história que começa com uma viagem de férias entre 3 amigos para disfrutarem as praias da Grécia.
Esta viagem acaba por ser uma "road trip" que os faça renovar os votos de amizade e encarar as relações de outra maneira.
May 18, 2012
Read all of Mike Gayle's novels! They're funny, well written and you can't drop it once you've started, rather like Pringles!
May 18, 2013
I didn't like it. It just droned on and on :-(
December 12, 2012
It's a reasonably well written book about relationships, loneliness and changes in the life of a 35 year old man. I'm a 23 year old male when reading this by the way, so that may in part explain the next paragraph.
Don't hold your breath for anything exciting to happen, it won't. Apart from a few minor plot twists the author's attempts at surprise fell flat, as most of the story was pretty predictable in my opinion.
Maybe I'll find it more compelling when I get older, but I doubt it.
edit: It does well as a light read, in case that didn't come across.
Don't hold your breath for anything exciting to happen, it won't. Apart from a few minor plot twists the author's attempts at surprise fell flat, as most of the story was pretty predictable in my opinion.
Maybe I'll find it more compelling when I get older, but I doubt it.
edit: It does well as a light read, in case that didn't come across.
March 10, 2021
As someone who went to malia on a lads holiday around the time this book was written I can reminisce and relate to the characters involved. I enjoyed the sense of escapism I got from the current reality of a dark, dreary January lockdown.
July 23, 2022
Mike Gayle books are always a good read so was a perfect book to re-read on holiday (I originally read it on holiday shortly after it was published.
June 16, 2024
Can't go wrong with a Mike gayle read
February 7, 2017
Pretty poor!! This is the first book I've read by this author and I was hoping for a light hearted, easy and fun read but ended up being very underwhelmed. The story started off ok but it built up to nothing and I'm not sure the author even knew where the storyline was going. The characters were fairly unlikeable and at times the script was so cheesy I thought I'd accidently picked up a teen fiction novel. The relationships between some of the characters was extremely tenuous and I lost interest in what happened to them. There was no crescendo or pivotal life changing moment as suggested at the very start and the ending was, in my opinion, pretty lame. I will probably give this author a second chance with another book but won't be holding out much hope.
June 28, 2020
Another great read from Mike Gayle. He's certainly got a skill for writing about the mundane in people's lives and making it fascinating. he must spend so much time observing people and finding out their innermost thoughts.
3 friends go on a 18-30's last minute holiday to Crete. They are all 35 but are not going to let that small details stop them. Will it be the same holiday as last time they visited the resort of Malia?
All 3 friends have their different baggage to take with them and the week doesn't exactly work out as planned. There's touching moments of friendship and melancholy in this book. Its not fast paced, there's not a huge amount of action, but it is very readable and enjoyable.
3 friends go on a 18-30's last minute holiday to Crete. They are all 35 but are not going to let that small details stop them. Will it be the same holiday as last time they visited the resort of Malia?
All 3 friends have their different baggage to take with them and the week doesn't exactly work out as planned. There's touching moments of friendship and melancholy in this book. Its not fast paced, there's not a huge amount of action, but it is very readable and enjoyable.
July 28, 2017
This was such a fantastic light-read! I loved it and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The chapters were short and packed. The characters well developed. The plot twists was (in my opinion) brilliant and original. And the ending was unexpected yet logical. Like when pieces of puzzle comes together, it didn't seem like it could at first but when it did, its all nice an made sense.
June 2, 2012
Male-lit?!? Curioso ver la trama desde la perspectiva masculina.
January 9, 2022
An easy read. I enjoy the authors style, humour and life comments. Only three stars as too predictable.
April 5, 2021
I enjoyed this storyline but the behaviour of some of the characters being excused in the way it did kind of got to me...
May 2, 2024
Typical Mike Gayle observation of. Humanity well observed
March 27, 2021
Fancied a change from my usual thrillers and something easy to read so picked this up from a bunch of books a neighbour had left with me.
Did something I haven't done for a long time - finished it in a day. Easy to read, reasonably predictable but rolls along at a nice steady pace. An enjoyable, easy-to-escape-inside read.
Did something I haven't done for a long time - finished it in a day. Easy to read, reasonably predictable but rolls along at a nice steady pace. An enjoyable, easy-to-escape-inside read.
January 27, 2018
Fun mindless light reading. The storyline is not as predictable as you may think. Three and a half stars, rounded to four, because of originality.
April 21, 2019
I don’t like all Mike Gayles books, but some are superb. Not quite in the league of The man I think I know but I still enjoyed this one. Great recommendation once again from my great reads friend. What’s next ?
August 5, 2021
Sun, sea, sand and…
Ten years ago, Charlie and his mates were on an 18-30s holiday in Malia, Crete when he met Sarah. Yesterday she left him.
A phone call from one of those mates convinced him that what he needed to cheer himself up was a lads holiday in the sun. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out that Andy had lied about their ages and booked the three 35 year-olds on another 18-30s holiday to the same resort…
Mike Gayle really is the king of writing about the human condition, love and relationships. His characters are beautifully three-dimensional with a ‘warts and all’ humanity about them.
This book describes three troubled characters, each coming to terms with difficult transitions in their lives. It’s all about coming to terms with love, losses and their own mortality and whether or not their friendships can survive the betrayals and disappointments along the way.
Such a good ‘holiday’ read even if you can’t get away this year - you’ll find the pages flying past!
Ten years ago, Charlie and his mates were on an 18-30s holiday in Malia, Crete when he met Sarah. Yesterday she left him.
A phone call from one of those mates convinced him that what he needed to cheer himself up was a lads holiday in the sun. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out that Andy had lied about their ages and booked the three 35 year-olds on another 18-30s holiday to the same resort…
Mike Gayle really is the king of writing about the human condition, love and relationships. His characters are beautifully three-dimensional with a ‘warts and all’ humanity about them.
This book describes three troubled characters, each coming to terms with difficult transitions in their lives. It’s all about coming to terms with love, losses and their own mortality and whether or not their friendships can survive the betrayals and disappointments along the way.
Such a good ‘holiday’ read even if you can’t get away this year - you’ll find the pages flying past!
December 23, 2017
I forced myself to finish this one only because I generally enjoy Mike Gayle's books. I kept thinking there was something wrong with me this time around: Why is this story so boring?
Here's what happens when three adult men go to a beach resort:
1. They sleep in
2. They sit on the hotel balcony reading books and smoking cigarettes
3. They have late breakfast at a diner, which includes alcohol
4. They go to the beach
5. They go to a pub for dinner, which includes alcohol
6. They go back to the hotel for a nap
7. They go to a bar, which includes alcohol
8. At around 2:00am, they return to the diner for early breakfast, which includes alcohol
9. They fall asleep, sometimes next to a person they've just had sex with.
That's it. You've read the book. But based on the amount of alcohol consumed, I really was expecting something more. Anything.
Here's what happens when three adult men go to a beach resort:
1. They sleep in
2. They sit on the hotel balcony reading books and smoking cigarettes
3. They have late breakfast at a diner, which includes alcohol
4. They go to the beach
5. They go to a pub for dinner, which includes alcohol
6. They go back to the hotel for a nap
7. They go to a bar, which includes alcohol
8. At around 2:00am, they return to the diner for early breakfast, which includes alcohol
9. They fall asleep, sometimes next to a person they've just had sex with.
That's it. You've read the book. But based on the amount of alcohol consumed, I really was expecting something more. Anything.
May 17, 2019
An enjoyable, if predictable, tale of 3 guys having a “last” lads holiday before they are too old ..... and then realising that they are too old to be in Malia and there is a reason why men of 35 don’t venture to these resorts!
All in all a fun book to enjoy on that quiet beach holiday with a sophisticated cocktail!
All in all a fun book to enjoy on that quiet beach holiday with a sophisticated cocktail!
February 19, 2008
I don't know why I continued reading past the first chapter. It was, as my 3-year-old would say, "not my favorite!" An impulse buy gone horribly wrong. On the positive side, there weren't too many big words or original thoughts, so I didn't have to strain at all.
April 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It was different, a romance written by a bloke from a man's point of view. It was fast paced and took lots of unexpected turns.
February 4, 2021
very dull
June 26, 2025
Mike Gayle writes British dude-lit really well, although I don't know what percentage of his reader base is male. This story covers a week in Charlie's life as he, reeling from the breakup of a ten-year relationship, goes on a holiday with two of his close friends, who don't seem to be that close to each other (or even like each other).
Andy is a 36-year-old who wants to live like he's 23. Charlie is wallowing because this isn't what he thought his life would be like at 36. He doesn't want to go back ten years but he's also not willing to ease into his real age and doesn't know what he wants. Tom is the only one who is sensible but life has thrown him a curveball to tackle.
The book is simultaneously very detailed about the excruciating minutiae of every day of the holiday while also racing back and forth over the lives and fears of the main characters. That makes for an unsettling read but in a good way. I couldn't put the book aside once I started.
The female characters are all uniformly attractive but they are also not written as bimbos or shallow or cold or neurotic or any of the usual cookie cutter types.
Dramatic stuff happens but with very little drama. It's all written in a wry, matter-of-fact style, which I liked. My gripe is with the ending, which felt rushed And wrapped up with a bow on top. Also, I wish that the author had shown us the conversation between Andy and Lisa because what happens there is a bit of a black box. Given how invested I got in everyone's life, I feel like I have a right to know.
On the whole, a fun read.
Andy is a 36-year-old who wants to live like he's 23. Charlie is wallowing because this isn't what he thought his life would be like at 36. He doesn't want to go back ten years but he's also not willing to ease into his real age and doesn't know what he wants. Tom is the only one who is sensible but life has thrown him a curveball to tackle.
The book is simultaneously very detailed about the excruciating minutiae of every day of the holiday while also racing back and forth over the lives and fears of the main characters. That makes for an unsettling read but in a good way. I couldn't put the book aside once I started.
The female characters are all uniformly attractive but they are also not written as bimbos or shallow or cold or neurotic or any of the usual cookie cutter types.
Dramatic stuff happens but with very little drama. It's all written in a wry, matter-of-fact style, which I liked. My gripe is with the ending, which felt rushed And wrapped up with a bow on top. Also, I wish that the author had shown us the conversation between Andy and Lisa because what happens there is a bit of a black box. Given how invested I got in everyone's life, I feel like I have a right to know.
On the whole, a fun read.
August 27, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5) Wish You Were Here by Mike Gayle
Charlie has just been dumped by his long term girlfriend Sarah and she has moved out of their apartment leaving him totally depressed.
To cheer him up his friends Andy and Tom have organised a lads holiday. The night before they leave Andy reveals they are heading to Malia in Greece on an 18-30’s package holiday. Two problems with this are: the three guys are 35 and this is where Charlie and Sarah’s relationship began many years ago.
Charlie wants to come back from this holiday different, a changed man but he doesn’t anticipate how his actions will alter everything, especially his relationship with his two best friends.
You are probably sick of reading about my love for all things Mike Gayle and with each book it just grows and grows. A warm, easy feel good holiday read about love, loss, friendship and new beginnings with short chapters and loveable characters. Unfortunately I read this while the rain poured heavily down from the sky and not whilst lying on a beach under the blazing heat sipping a cocktail.
Charlie has just been dumped by his long term girlfriend Sarah and she has moved out of their apartment leaving him totally depressed.
To cheer him up his friends Andy and Tom have organised a lads holiday. The night before they leave Andy reveals they are heading to Malia in Greece on an 18-30’s package holiday. Two problems with this are: the three guys are 35 and this is where Charlie and Sarah’s relationship began many years ago.
Charlie wants to come back from this holiday different, a changed man but he doesn’t anticipate how his actions will alter everything, especially his relationship with his two best friends.
You are probably sick of reading about my love for all things Mike Gayle and with each book it just grows and grows. A warm, easy feel good holiday read about love, loss, friendship and new beginnings with short chapters and loveable characters. Unfortunately I read this while the rain poured heavily down from the sky and not whilst lying on a beach under the blazing heat sipping a cocktail.
November 4, 2017
Absolutely loved this book, having been working my way through all of Mike Gayle's books this is my favourite so far. I finished it in 3 days and, in fact, went back and read pretty much the whole book again.
It really captures the emotional turmoil of a break-up, the complacency that can creep into a long standing relationship and the fear of moving on.
The pace of the story & the development of the characters and their relationships is totally believable and I would certainly read it again & again
It really captures the emotional turmoil of a break-up, the complacency that can creep into a long standing relationship and the fear of moving on.
The pace of the story & the development of the characters and their relationships is totally believable and I would certainly read it again & again
September 1, 2024
My first Mike Gayle book & set mostly on holiday, thought I’d read at the beach. I’m not sure what I thought this book was going to be BUT it certainly wasn’t that. Maybe I’ve read too many - and then there was a body! Yeah this was more adult relationship break ups. Harmless but not for me, far too neat at the end. Although I did smile a lot at all the early 2000s Malia clubs/bars mentioned as I might have been there too. Cringe. The book is as old as my son now, so holidays now are more about reading on the beach, than getting in at 6am
May 23, 2025
Easy read for a beach holiday. Found the use of the Americanism “college” a bit annoying because it
has different connotations in the UK to saying university, also a bit random because the rest of the book is British English and it says the authors from Birmingham. Some of the plot and characters reactions to events seemed unrealistic though it was a gentle and entertaining read. This is the first book of his I have read, but I will read others.
has different connotations in the UK to saying university, also a bit random because the rest of the book is British English and it says the authors from Birmingham. Some of the plot and characters reactions to events seemed unrealistic though it was a gentle and entertaining read. This is the first book of his I have read, but I will read others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews