Julia Stiles Shares First Look at Her Directorial Debut Wish You Were Here: The Book ‘Broke My Heart’ (Exclusive)

Julia Stiles is going behind the camera.

The actress, 43, makes her directorial debut with the upcoming “brilliantly warm and romantic” Wish You Were Here, based on Renée Carlino‘s 2017 bestselling novel of the same name.

An official synopsis continues, “Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer star in a fascinating movie about leaving the everyday world behind to take a chance on true romance.”

“When the perfect night with a perfect stranger ends suddenly the next morning, Charlotte searches for answers and meaning in her disappointing life until she uncovers a secret that changes everything,” the synopsis adds.

Stiles tells PEOPLE that she was inspired to make Wish You Were Here after the book affected her in a deeply emotional way.

“When I read Wish You Were Here, it broke my heart — but that good cry where you are laughing through tears, and you’re reminded how amazing life can be,” she explains.

Stiles says that Wish You Were Here is “kind of two versions of a love story: the one they actually have and the one they dream about.”

“I’ve been wanting to direct my own movie for a while, and finally found it with this,” adds the 10 Things I Hate About You actress.

Back in February, Fuhrman, 27, told Deadline that she saw Stiles write the script for Wish You Were Here in 2020, while they were filming their horror prequel Orphan: First Kill.

“When she called me to be her lead I was so grateful,” Fuhrman told the outlet. “Watching her create her own romance film — a genre she knows better than anyone else — has really inspired me.”

Carlino expressed her excitement for the project after filming wrapped in February, writing on Instagram, “So incredibly proud!! WISH YOU WERE HERE has wrapped!”

“Thank you to this incredible band of hard-working and talented rockstars. So much love for you all!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎬,” the author added.

Lionsgate will distribute the PG-13 project, which also stars Jimmie Fails and Gabby Kono-Abdy, from a screenplay by Stiles and Carlino.

Wish You Were Here is in theaters Jan. 17.