Como dizer "antes fosse" em inglês

I wish it were (true).

And following another tack:
...perhaps it would have been better. (talvez tivesse sido melhor).

And other ways, let's wait for further comments from the EE members.

I wish it were

I can recall an expression for the other way around, I mean, what's best comes next in the sentence

I was expecting another souvenir, so I'm glad it was chocolate, better yet, fancy truffles.

Also came to mind: you wish! ("só porque você quer")

Maybe so much for sth?
So much for chocolate as a gift; another fridge magnet.

I also thought of "a chocolate box would have been incredibly generous" (light sarcasm or irony intended) What I got for my Kriss cringle was a fridge magnet!

Kriss cringle - is more of a Cristhmas time thing, could be also Secret Santa. Both at the end of the year. Secret Santa more usual at workplaces (offices, etc).

Plus, depending on the 'stingy' coworker getting along with the person, he or she could say "what I got was a fecking fridge magnet!"

In passing I also thought of the notion of "would take comfort/would feel better" with a chocolate box (settle for it, I mean) but none (terse) expression came to mind.

Keeping my eyes peeled for something more on that.

"So much for chocolate as a gift; another fridge magnet." - sounds like "chocolate for a gift" was the target, it was in the wish list, problably a child would have such expectations. Usually people would expect anything, except the said fridge magnet!