oh, how I loved this book so much!! This is one of my favorite books of 2023. It was so magical, I cried so many times and I want to go to clock island immediately !! ohhh I loved it!! The characters were all so fun, the romance was subtle and perfectly written and the love between Lucy and Christopher was incredible!! I have recommended this book to so many people!!

It has been a long time since I've read a book that appeals to generations of readers. Cannot wait to share it with my school friends!! Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #TheWishingGame by Meg Shaffer. I loved it!

This was a wonderful lighter book that I greatly enjoyed. I highly recommend picking this up. It reminded me of a modernized Willy Wonka mixed with A Series of Unfortunate Events with some more adult undertones.

This Wishing Game felt like an adult children's novel when I first picked it up. Whimsy is the best term I can use to describe it.

Lucy Hart is putting her heart and soul into the adoption of Christopher. When she constantly realizes she does not have enough money to do so and is about to give up, a contest is announced by the author of a children's series she read as a child. If a letter is received in the mail, the individual is allowed to be a contestant. Lo and behold, Lucy receives an invitation and is invited to participate with a few other adults.

What comes from this story is a novel of love, second chances and starting over. Found family is also a huge theme throughout and will just warm your heart.

I saved and read this book around the holidays and could not think of a better time to read it. It gave me the warm and squishies that I so needed.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer was one of my favorite reads of 2023. It's a book about found family that evokes feelings of wonder that will fit well on bookshelves alongside classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. The love between Lucy and Christopher is so heartwarming, and it will have readers rooting for them.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

So sweet and charming, fall down a rabbit hole of nostalgia and prepared to have your heart warmed with this one!

This was such a delightful book that masterfully toed the line between adult fiction and children's fare. While reading about the mysterious and magical Clock Island, it transported me back to reading as a child and wishing every night that the worlds I had immersed myself in were real. This book accomplishes the very difficult trick of making adults wish feel as thought they are children again.

The cover of the book drew me in. Such a delicate balance of rooting the protagonist on, and feeling the opposite way of her relationship. Overall enjoyable storyline. I think a sequel would be popular

I have heard so many great things about this book, and it lived up to the hype.

Lucy loved a series of books as a child. She's now sharing them with another child who she would love to foster and adopt. Unfortunately, she can't afford it. Just when she thinks all hope is lost, she gets an opportunity. She is invited to a contest on Clock Island, the home of beloved author, Jack Masterson. The winner will get a manuscript of a newly written book in the series. Lucy is determined to win so she can adopt Christopher.

There's so much more to the book than the contest. There are memories of her own childhood and connection to Clock Island, there are connections with Hugo, the illustrator of the series, and there's Jack, the author.

Ultimately it's book about wishes and hope. It acknowledges the hard parts of life and leans into the hope for better. I really enjoyed it and recommend it.

Sweet read involving a love of books, childhood fantasies, and embracing our inner child. I loved that there were so many elements of play throughout. Not only that, but the layers of longing and love were practically dripping off of the pages. Beautiful!

Magical and heart warming. For any fan of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Perfect way to end the year.

This was fine! It's another book that I think may not have been marketed to the right audience, but ignoring that this is a super fun read. Lots of Wonka comparisons, and I think those are spot on!

An emotionally wrought journey through the creative mind of a children's author will have you simultaneously turning pages as quickly as you can read them and grabbing tissues to mop your eyes! The diversity of the characters backgrounds makes the story so much more believable and enhances the plot by bringing in their personalities and viewpoints. Four adults who were once sad or hurting children and found their way to the author's island, have been now invited back as adults to participate in a game that could change their lives. The central character is Lucy, who's entire goal is to be able to adopt a child who is currently feeling lost and alone, takes on the game with gusto, but will she win and be able to create a home or will she lose thus losing her chance at happiness? While tears will be shed, laughter and smiles will also be brought out so don't shy away from this story! This book definitely goes down as a favorite read in 2023! What a way to end my reading year! Seriously, if you only read a handful of books each year, make sure that this book makes the cut as you will truly enjoy the read and the emotional journey that this book takes you on!

I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. It is heartfelt, sweet, and a book lovers dream- but something just was off for me. It felt a little too sweet and was manipulating me to make me love books and I didn’t love it. I know lots of others did though!

Books can change a life and for Lucy, a special book gave her a reason to go on. The Wishing Game is a story of chosen family, hope, and magic. It brings you nostalgia, a gorgeous setting, and a warmth that only a good book can do.

A five star for me, highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

This book is a cozy, nostalgic delight! I love the magic, mystery and adventure as well as the endearing characters.

Thank you Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! It is one of my favorites of the year. I love the feeling of hope and love that this book portrays. This story is a heartfelt and powerful. I love how it shows that your never too old to wish for something. It is really nice to see a story about adults that is child-like but not immature. If you cannot tell this one was spot on for me

This story is about Lucy Hart a twenty something year old teacher's aide for elementary school. She knows a lot about growing up without parents, even though her parents were in her life they were not present. Lucy often felt forgotten and neglected. She found her escape in a children's series as a kid (The Clock Island series by Jack Masterson). At the school she works at she meets Christopher who's parents died. Lucy has dreams of adopting or fostering Christopher. However, she lacks the funds to do so and the place to live with Christopher. As luck would have it Jack Masterson decides to do a contest and invites children who are now adults to come to his island and compete in a contest filled with riddles and fun. Please read this book!!


Read if you enjoy:
Heartfelt stories
Foster representation
Willy Wonka Vibes but
Realistic Fiction

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer had me at the books on the cover, the title about wishes and games, and the description of a dream and the possibility of making that dream come true. This is a book that makes me want to suspend my disbelief and my logic and completely embody the world of Clock Island where wishes can come true if we keep wishing and keep working to make those wishes come true.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/the-wishing-game.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

“The Wishing Game” got rave reviews so I couldn’t wait to read it. However, I don’t fully understand the hype. There were some realistic, human elements that I related to and was deeply interested. Then, there were some child-like aspects to the book, tied to the game elements that did little for me, As a result, the last half of the book really dragged to me and I lost that investment I had at the start. 2 stars ⭐️ for this one. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

This is a creative warm read. The events are unique and the characters are lovable. I was not surprised it was a nomination 0n Goodreads 2023 list.