This novel is a sweet grown-up take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A group of kids--now adults--who ran away from hard circumstances in their youth now has a chance to win a game that could drastically alter their current circumstances. The game revolves around a series of books they read as children. After several years, the reclusive author has written another book in the series and is willing to give it to the winner of the game.
The novel really hits home the power of books--both the words and illustrations--and the influence that authors have on their young readers.
Clock Island, the setting of the novels and the game, will take all readers back to their childhood when they longed for this "perfect" world.
Recommend to readers who like a bit of drama and intrigue along with a character-driven story. While readers might not find a lot of surprises, they will enjoy the ride.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to take an early peek!

When she was thirteen and lonely, neglected by her parents. Lucy Hart discovered the Clock Island books. They gave her hope, and when the author of the books finally responded to her letter and mentioned needing a sidekick, Lucy ran away to the real life Clock Island. Now, thirteen years after Jack, the author, gently sent her back home, she's been invited back to play a game against other children--also now adults--who once ran away to the setting of their favorite books.
If she wins, Lucy will finally have the money to adopt Christopher, one of the boys in her class who's currently in the foster system.

The Wishing Game is about hope and dreams, and holding onto the magic of those things when you grow up. It's a book for those of us who longed to run away to the worlds of our favorite books as children, and who still look for ways to bring those worlds to life as adults. It's a book that speaks directly to the hearts of lonely children who grew up to be stressed adults, and I am so grateful to have gotten to read it.

I just finished The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. It is a beautifully written book that you will love if you are a fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Narnia series. It is about a young girl, Lucy, who is a teacher’s aide in California. When she was young she read the Clock series by Jack Masterson while her sister was sick in the hospital. Lucy felt abandoned by her parents and her sister and these books gave her an escape from her loneliness. As an adult, she befriends a young boy who is in the foster system and wishes she had the financial means to adopt him. A contest brings her back to Clock Island, where Jack Masterson lives with the illustrator of his books. I will not give more away because I highly recommend you read this book for yourself. Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC for this beautiful book.

The reclusive and very rich children's book author, Jack Masterson, is writing again after a long dry spell. On his private island, Clock Island, named for his book series, he's devised a contest for four adults who once ran away from home to visit him. The prize is the only copy of his new book, valued at six figures. One of these people, Lucy, a teacher's assistant, desperately wants to win the contest, so she can afford to foster a young boy and eventually adopt him.

When Lucy arrives on the island and meets the other contestants, she also meets Masterson's book illustrator with whom she becomes attracted. The contest involves several difficult puzzles. Lucy starts out ahead by solving the first but then falls behind. The only way she can win is to solve the last puzzle.

What I liked about this book was the backstory about the author and illustrator as well as that of Lucy and her young friend. The writing was enchanting with touches of fantasy and whimsy that reflected the best quality of children's books in an adult novel. I recommend this read to those who enjoy a sweet story and a happy but not necessarily obvious ending.

When an author mysteriously releases a contest after years of silence, it's a mad dash to victory for the competitors, all adults who ran away to the island as children. Each has a reason to want to win, a good reason. In this book that feels similar to Willy Wonka, Lucy has to win to guarantee a future for her and a boy she wants to adopt. She must overcome what caused her to run away as a child. I really enjoyed this book, and I really appreciated that there was no real conflict between the competitors. All of them genuinely wanted to win, and they wanted each other to win. The villain was what they had to overcome.

First let me say, I searched for the Clock Island Adventure books, to purchase for my Grands, just in case they did exist. Loved this story! Deeply moving in places, yet light and fun throughout. “When you gotta scream, you gotta scream.”. I sincerely hope all those who truly need a wish, get that wish. Excellently done.

Thank you NetGalley for The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. What a fun, happy, quick read. Loved all the characters. They all made the book feel magical. I never knew what Jack was going to do next which added to the fun. Hugo was every girls dream and Lucy was loving in spite of her upbringing. I highly recommend this book and will look to read other books by this author.

This is such a fun book! The story is great and the writing is good. I loved the characters and had a great time reading this. I would definitely recommend the book to readers who liked the Inheritance Games trilogy.

The Wishing Game is a delightful magical book and one of the best books I have read this year. Full of riddles and games planned to secretly fulfill wishes of children and adults alike, it is a novel that leaves you upbeat and loving reading and authors and their fantastic imaginations. Thanks so much for the ARC.

I received an eARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Wishing Game is about Lucy Hart, a teacher's aide, and a little boy named Christopher who share a love for the Clock Island book series full of adventure and clever riddles, as well as a wish for Lucy to adopt Christopher and become a family. It mostly takes place on an actual "Clock Island," modeled after the books and owned by the series' author, Jack Masterson, where Lucy competes with other contestants for a copy of the latest book in the series. It read like a mystery novel, but instead of one big mystery being solved at the end, it felt like each character had their own surprise ending.

The main characters were all quite interesting, each revealing more about their past as the story went on. Some of the themes were more serious than I expected (substance use, mental health, child neglect), but I felt they were explored in ways that neither minimized the characters' struggles nor let it define their whole existence. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but otherwise felt just right, giving us just enough information to keep us guessing without getting too frustrated.

This book combines nostalgia for the whimsical stories of our childhood with the sometimes heartbreaking realities of the world, while still leaving the reader hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes light mystery novels and believes in the magic of storytelling.

This was a delightful book. Lucy is trying to save up for a house and car so she can foster to adopt a sweet boy, Christopher. She gets the chance to compete for a new book in a children's book series that she loved growing up. I almost wish the book was longer and the games and characters more fleshed out. I loved what I got of them and could have read a lot more. Overall, a very good book.

After reading this novel I really wish I could go to Clock Island. This novel is a blend of childhood longing, adult problems, and a desire for a magical solution. Lucy is a teacher's aide who really wants to foster a young boy named Christopher. The problem is Lucy does not have her own place to live, a car, and she does not make enough money to support a child. Lucy comes from a family who were completely devoted to her older, sick sister. She was an afterthought. She knows what it is like to be unloved and wants more than anything to give Christopher a better childhood than he has had. Both of them have found solace in a series of children's books known as the Clock Island Series. When a new book is written Lucy has a chance to win the one and only copy but only if she can win the game. To do that she will have to solve riddles and face her fears. It will be worth it though because in the end she could finally make her wishes come true if only she can beat out her competition.

As a child who read a lot, I felt like this was a book written for all of us who grew up loving to read. Reading is an escape from all of our problems and this book definitely held true to that. I found this book extremely heart warming and I was definitely rooting for Lucy the entire time. Her young life was heartbreaking and had me wanting to keep reading so I could find out what was going to happen. I really enjoyed this story and loved that it had a little of everything from romance to fantasy to mystery. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for this advance copy.

Hands down this was my favorite book of 2022, and to date I've read 190 books. I was gifted this book to review and didn't know much of what is what about but was quickly drawn in. I stayed up late to get to the next section and unfortunately finished the following day. As I was about halfway through the book I realized the storyline was a lot like Willy Wonka but instead of a chocolate bar the special item was a manuscript. Everything about this book was dreamy and the story so well written. I am literally obsessed. The characters were lovable,the storyline so creative, the descriptions so well explained I could picture myself on the Island. The second I finished I made myself a note to pick this for my book club book in June. Bravo Meg Shaffer, I can't wait to read what you write next.
Lucy Hart had a hard life growing up with parents who didn't want her. Now she has come to love a little boy who is in great need of a family and she won't stop until she can become his mother. What she can provide is unconditional love but unfortunately with no money, no car, and living with roommates, social services explains she's simply not a good placement. Growing up with only her grandparents as family and very few friends Lucy wants to adopt Christopher and give him the childhood she never had, but how?
When Lucy was young and ignored by her parents she started reading the Clock Island books as an escape. She wanted nothing more than to become Astrid and runaway to the Island and have the Mastermind adopt her. These books got her through the hardest times and stayed with her through adulthood. So imagine her surprise when she learns the author Jack Masterson is running a contest and one winner will receive an unpublished copy of Jacks new book. If Lucy can get invited and win the contest she could sell the manuscript and have money to buy a car and a house and then she can become a mom to Christopher!
Well the invite does come and Lucy is headed back to the Island to try and win the contest. She ran away to the Island when she was thirteen hoping she could become the Masterminds sidekick, but of course was sent home. But Jack always remembered Lucy and three other brave children who loved his books and touched his heart with their stories.Now is their chance to have something no one has ever seen. Lucy will do anything she can to win the contest and along the way she will be reunited with people from her past and learn to love, how to truly live, and how to forgive. Will Lucy win the contest and become Christophers mother? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Can a tragedy that defines us ultimately end up being a blessing? That is a question that is answered in this magical, heartwarming story of an old eccentric author who is giving away the only copy of his last book to one of 4 adults who can be the overall winner in his game of riddles and puzzles. Lucy desperately needs to win so she can save a young boy who needs a family, but the other contestants have big needs too. This story and the characters drew me in with mystery and magic. It is a powerful story of love, loss, and finding a new family to call your own. Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for reaching out and giving me this suggested read.

This was BEAUTIFUL! A touching story that is filled with kindness and goodness. It was an absolute breath of fresh air to read a story like this, one that was a bit suspenseful but 99% feel good. I loved every word of it. One of the best books I’ve read all year!

Lucy is about as lovable as protagonists can be. It’s obvious that she has a huge heart and propensity to do the right thing (because she wants to, not because she should). She’s driven by pure motives, not lured by money or distraction. Jack Masterson is also masterfully (ha!) orchestrated. His wit, his imagination, his heart… he’s perfect. And Hugo…. I think I started falling in love with him as I read.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. The ending was more than I could’ve ever imagined. Perfection.

This book is a quick read and while a bit flawed, won my heart over. I would call this YA fantasy that crosses over to adult literature well. The fantasy elements are so vivid, this world continues to exist in my mind. The characters are mostly well fleshed out with a few exceptions. Clock Island feel so real, it’s a tribute to the author.

The issues I had with the book didn’t interfere with my enjoyment. I felt the protagonists relationship with a foster care student was too intense and would raise some red flags. I also found the other island contestants to be flat and diversity tokens. About half way into the book, I felt the plot came close to just stealing aspects of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

However these are pretty minor quibbles compared to the technicolor world building of Clock Island. That really was a master stroke. I’d absolutely read future work from this author.

This book was really, really good! I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, who were built up throughout the book with thought and detail. The story concept was great and it held my attention from beginning to end.
I not only want to visit Clock Island but also want to read all of the fictional stories from it, too!

On the very first page of The Wishing Game I was flown back in time to my being the 8 year old latchkey child who spent her afternoons in the local library reading and escaping into fairy tales. The Wishing Game has that wonderful and rare quality in a book that transports you into a different reality. It's also utterly delightful; so much so that I didn't want to finish reading and invented chores so that I could put the book down to make the experience last longer. Some may say that this is more of a middle-school or young adult novel, but I can assure you that it has no upper age limit.

When Lucy was a small child, her parents sent her away from home so they could focus on their older daughter's serious illness. Lucy lost herself in reading, particularly the novels of Jack which all took place on Clock Island off the coast of Maine. Lucy identified with the characters so strongly that she took a ferry to the very private real Clock Island to offer herself as a companion to the author.

Thirteen years later, Lucy is a Kindergarten teacher's aide, quite underpaid, who has fallen in love with a young boy traumatized by who has been traumatized by the loss of both parents to drug overdoses and has no other family. Enter Jack again with a contest that would provide the winner with his new book. Jack has not written anything for a number of in years). The contes for the prize, filled with riddles and puzzle solving, just like in the Clock Island books, could provide Lucy with the money she needs to be able to adopt Christopher, the boy she has grown to love.

The story may remind you of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, being filled with humor and excitement, but it stands alone as a unique and totally wonderful piece of writing. It overflows with love and wonder. Please let us hear more from you, Meg Shaffer.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the chance to preview this book. I totally loved it.!

THE WISHING GAME is absorbing and compelling from page one. Every bookworm can surely understand the desire to live inside the world of their favorite childhood series.

While written for an adult audience, this novel reignites a love of children's literature and the safe space it can provide.

Lucy is likable and her goals are relatable. I loved Hugo as well.. The side characters are fun additions that keep the plot moving.

The ending is 100% satisfying. I predict this will be a hit with bookclubs.

Not since the Harry Potter series was I so involved in a book. This author is rising star. I savored this book like I was tasting a filet mignon. I did NOT want this book to end.
The story, the characters, the riddles, the hidden love, the hidden twists within the story, I DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO END!

If you only read one book this year, READ THIS BOOK! THis is such a magical, delightful, well thought out story, that I want everyone to read.

I can't praise this book enough. I won't give the story, the plot lines away, but this is a truly a wondrous book that I will probably read it again. IT was so good.