Wish You Weren't Here

* UK cover
* U.S. cover

**Wish You Weren't Here** is the eighth book in the Summer Camp Secrets series.

## UK blurb

*"It's so cool being back at summer camp - I always have a blast playing sports and having fun with all my Lakeview friends. The bad news? Abby from my school is here too - she's in my bunk! The great thing about camp is getting away from everything back home... How can I do that when home is following me here?"*

Sarah is super psyched to be back at Camp Lakeview, where she's known as outgoing and athletic. But Sarah's bubbly Lakeview personality couldn't be more different from her quiet, bookish reputation back at school. So when classmate Abby shows up at camp, Sarah stresses. Will Abby expose her as a geek to all her fun-loving friends?

### U.S. blurb

*"I can't believe it!*

*The girls from 3C have been split up! Apparently there was a mix-up, or something. How half us are in 4A, and half are in 4C, like me. The good news is I'm with Alex, Brynn, Grace, Valerie, and Candace. And the bad news? Abby's here! Yes, Abby from back home - and she's in my bunk! Abby's nice and all, but half the reason to go to camp is to get away from everything back home . . . How can I do that when home is following me here?"*

Sarah Peyton is superpsyched to be back at Lakeview for another summer! Sarah loves camp, and she especially loves that while she is at Lakeview she has the chance to be different than she is at home with her school friends. A far cry from her quiet bookishness back at school. But when one of her classmates shows up , Sarah stresses. Will having Abby around mean Sarah loses some of her summertime independence?

## Plot

Sarah is writing a letter to her friend Diane at home, only to be called by Abby to bring her back to the bunk for electives. Sarah is disappointed to discover that all of her bunkmates, except her and Abby, don't have sports. She is annoyed that her whole bunk is discussing the camp social whereas she does not have any interest, and is further annoyed when she and Abby are compared.

The next day during sports, Sarah meets Jenna's brother Adam's friend David. Sarah plays poorly while Abby is the opposite. She accidentally sprains her ankle and is taken to the infirmary. Abby reveals that she was chosen as captain, and picked Sarah and David for her team.The next morning, 4C find bug juice powder in their shower heads and immediately link it to Jenna, who denies it. Gaby suggests to prank 4A.

Gaby reveals her plan to steal all of 4A's toilet roll. That night, Gaby, Grace and Sarah successfully carry out the prank, only for Natalie and Chelsea to take the toilet roll back. David sniffs Sarah's hair and runs away, her figuring out his bunk had pranked 4C. Sarah continues to play badly in sports. After sending 4C a coded note, the bunk meets with Chelsea who explains her plan to get the boys back, with Gaby and Sarah volunteering.

Abby reveals to their bunk that Sarah is quiet at school and not a risk taker, and accuses her of flirting with David instead of concentrating on softball. Later that night, Chelsea, Gaby and Sarah carry out their plan, throwing water balloons inside 4E, but the boys get them back with unbroken balloons. While attempting to run away, David catches Sarah and threatens to take her to his counsellor, but lets her go. He tells her he likes her and invites her to the social, and Jenna tells Sarah she likes David and was planning to ask him to the social but is upset over him choosing Sarah.

David gives Sarah a frog made out of a napkin and she refuses his social invitation. She and Abby have a talk, where Abby explains she was feeling left out and Sarah never let her join in. She promises to join a sports team at home and the two become friends. Brynn gives Sarah a makeover for the social; at the event, Sarah tells Jenna that she still likes David regardless and invites him to dance.

## Characters

In order of appearance:

* Sarah Peyton
* Abby McDougal
* Alex Kim
* Brynn Collins
* Grace Matthews
* Becky
* Valerie Williams
* Jenna Bloom
* Alyssa
* Gaby Parsons
* David Carson
* Keith
* Kimberly
* Nurse Helen
* Candace
* Natalie Goode
* Chelsea
* Tori Ann
* Karen
* Tiernan
* Lisa
* Kelly
* Adam Bloom

## Trivia

* This is the first book featuring a girl receiving a makeover just to impress someone. The second was *Just Friends?*.