We all have that one series as a kid that we fell in love with. We would have done anything to fully immerse ourselves into those books and to meet the author. Here we have a reclusive author who everyone thought would never publish another novel. But so the author has but, there is only one copy in the world. To get this book you must be one of the four lucky winner to complete for the only edition!

Lucy Hart is 26 years old, a teacher's aid, and so far from where she wanted to be in life. Mostly, she wishes she could make a home for her and Christopher, a former student who is now in the foster care system. But with her debt and low wages, she's far from being eligible as a foster parent, let alone adoption. So she keeps loving Christopher and reading to him to help him cope. Their favorite books are the ones Lucy read when she was young: the Clock Island series, by Jack Masterson. But when Lucy receives a special invitation from Jack to compete and win the only existing copy of his latest book (written after a years-long hiatus), she sees it as the perfect opportunity to gain financial and emotional security for her and Christopher by winning and selling the copy to the highest bidder. But can she seriously compete with her clever opponents while fending off unscrupulous book collectors on top of her growing feelings for book illustrator Hugo Reese? Or will Christopher's childhood be just like hers--one without love or security?

The desperation of wanting to belong and be loved wars with the strong sense of hope that permeates the book. I found it to be a sort of combination of Willy Wonka, Lewis Carroll, and the Wizard of Oz--the perfect book for adults with inner children. There are serious adult themes and some scary stuff (kids don't always get to just be kids), but there is also a sense of wonder and magic and belonging. A strong "found family" rep too. The story felt vivid and alive to me, and I found myself imagining what a great movie it could make. It speaks to the power of reading in children's lives, and the value of time as the most important commodity. I appreciated the mental health rep and the realistic view of the foster care system in the US and how little our country prioritizes child care and education in general. I gobbled it right up and think you may just do the same.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance electronic copy.

4.25

I love a book that can highlight the power of a good read while still giving you a full-fledged journey of its own. So meta, but so perceptive. There are some stories that we live in, some that feel lived in, and some that come to live with us, and this is one of those rare books that gave me a taste of it all. I may have left Clock Island when I turned that last page, but there are lessons I learned & there is magic I found there that I will always carry with me.

The Wishing Game was a cosy, wrenching, whimsical read with some fun banter and a whole lot of heart. I think there was a good balance between "life is crap and crap is hard" but also, we wish & we hope & we dream till we find the silver linings that make it all worth staying the course.

The writing had a very atmospheric quality to it which wasn't something I was expecting going in, but which I ended up noting & enjoying consistently. Lucy and Christopher's bonding won me over from the start, and there are not enough words I know to describe the absolute joy it was getting to know Jack and Hugo. They were profound in their emotion and relatable in their mannerisms in a way that spoke to my soul, and I distinctly remember annotating about my love for Hugo several times so...do with that what you will.

As for things that could've gone a bit better - Theresa was a terrific friend, and I wish that both her & Lucy's sister had gotten more airtime. Those were two important but severely underrated relationships that I would have loved to learn more about. Also, Lucy was mildly annoying on and off, but the supporting cast was SO good that it didn't distract too much from the overall charm of the book.

All in all, this was a wonderful, well-written, quotable gem of a book that I would happily recommend to anyone and everyone that could use a reminder to keep an eye on those silver linings we're all so frustratingly keen on forgetting about.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

In The Wishing Game, Lucy is living with three roommates on the meager salary of a teachers aide. She's estranged from her family but cares deeply about Christopher, a boy who's parents passed away when he was a student in her class. Together they share a love for a 60 volume kids book Lucy read as a kid.

When the author announces he's written one more book, he invites four people to his island to compete for the book. Lucy gets to compete in hopes of making enough money off the book to adopt Christopher.

The story starts off strong enough, I quickly came to care and root for Lucy and Christopher. But I found it strange that Lucy watched Christopher for one week two years ago, and he has since lived in another foster home, so they only see each other a little bit after school. Despite this, Lucy has such strong feelings for him and constantly calls herself his mother. Despite having no money, three roommates, no car, no house...Lucy thinks she's fit to be a mom to this kid. And I couldn't get myself to agree.

The competition itself is marketed as a willy wonka like competition but in reality was so boring. They solve a few dumb riddles and play monopoly. And thats it.

Kind of a let down.

When I requested an ARC of The Wishing Game, all I knew about it was what’s given in the blurb. That was enough to convince me that this book was right up my alley, and boy, was I right.

Meg Shaffer’s debut is up there with The Night Circus and Harry Potter as an all-time favorite. I don’t want to share too much so that others can be surprised by all the amazingness, but this is definitely a winner. It’s funny, charming, sad, and tragic, but it’s so incredibly hopeful—and who can’t use more hope nowadays?—and the ending is unexpected but absolutely lovely. The characters have big dreams and big hearts, and it’s great to see them grow as the story progresses. And the setting of Clock Island is just whimsical enough to make you feel as if you’ve wandered into Narnia.

This is a book lover’s dream book, and I can’t wait to read it again and again. Definitely pick up this one for an amazing story of real world problems mixed with a once-in-a-lifetime chance at pure magic!

(Also, Jack reminds me a bit of the Doctor with all his riddles and cleverness and twisted plans, and I loved it!)

I enjoyed this feel good story. A quick read, I would have liked a bit more depth to push it to five stars, but it was definitely something I will recommend!

This was an incredible story that I feel will be on everyone’s summer reading list. We meet Lucy Hart a school teacher who has one wish and that is to be a mom to an orphan boy. Just when she is told it probably won’t happen something enchanting happens, An author that is famous for writing The Clock Island books, a children’s book, is started to write after 6 years of no new ones. He is giving a lucky few people a chance to win the book and do as they wish with it.
If it sounds a little familiar it’s because the author has given a shout out to Willy Wonka and how she has loved that story. And I really love her story and what characters she has brought forth. Even ones that maybe aren’t the most likable have very redeemable traits. I will definitely have Meg Shaffer on my author list because she is an enjoyable author.

The Wishing Game is the debut novel by Meg Shaffer that follows Lucy, a teacher’s aide who has an incredibly close connection with foster child, Christopher. All Lucy wants is to be able to adopt Christopher and give him the home he deserves but at the rate she is going, it will take years to be able to save the money. When a reclusive children’s author comes forward with a competition to win a new, never before printed book of his, Lucy sees it as a big break. She has a deep connection to the books and an interesting history with the author so she really believes she has a chance of winning.

This book is very whimsical in tone. I would compare the author, Jack, to Willy Wonka. He is very eccentric and lives on an island called Clock Island with his cover artist, Hugo. He speaks in riddles in a way that is very reminiscent of Wonka. I think the interesting thing about this book is how is melds a middle grade feel with very adult problems. The whole book isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and I think that’s very parallel to actual adulthood.

This book is perfect for an adult who grew up really loving books, especially if you ever envisioned yourself as a character from a favorite book series. There is definitely a lot of instances of childlike wonder in this book that I could see some people thinking is cheesy but I loved it. As someone who has been a life long reader, anything that can make me feel like a kid again is welcome. There is also fun game elements in this that I’m always a big fan of.

I do wish we would have spent a little more time exploring the island. It was so cool and interesting. I wanted to know about every nook and cranny. But that was a personal preference.

Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc of this through netgalley. This wasn’t something I had on my radar at all and I probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise!

Jack Masterson is a children's author who stopped writing his largely successful Clock Island series six years ago. No one could figure out why until he announced he would publish one last book. He invites several people to "Clock Island" to compete for a chance to win his final book and do whatever they want with it. One of those contestants is Lucy, who desperately wants to adopt a young boy named Christopher, but she does not have the money to do.

I went into this book thinking it would primarily focus on the contest and the mystery surrounding Clock Island, but the story's primary focus is different. It's more about found family, healing, togetherness, and joy. There is a dash of mystery here and a little dash of romance. I enjoyed learning about the characters and the island, and the Clock Island series reminded me of many stories I read as a child.

My only issue was with the pacing of the story. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and learn more about Clock Island. I think there should have been more time for relationships to develop and storylines to resolve. The ending felt slightly rushed.

This is not in my typical genre, but the title and plot intrigued me and I am so glad I picked it up. I want to visit Clock Island so badly. This book was unlike anything I've ever read, and I am glad I got the chance to read it as an ARC. Will definitely be recommending it to all my friends when it is available to the public. The characters are the best part of this book, and I was rooting for Lucy from page 1. This was a very character driven book, some of which I liked, others, not so much. I can't wait to read other books by this author.

This was such a super fun and super sweet book! It also made me really emotional in certain parts but the plot was so fun and I LOVED the characters!

Throughout the process of reading this lovely novel I kept thinking it's perfect for adults who, like me, adored reading innocently dark mysteries as children. The Wishing Game captures the nostalgia we bibliophiles feel for the stories we loved in childhood and explores what it would be like to find ourselves plopped into a world in which we're suddenly living out a version of those beloved stories. This book is filled with characters coping with incredibly heartbreaking situations. Yet also manages to offer readers a much needed buoyant hopefulness.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is hands down one of the top books of the year, in my opinion. The Wishing Game reads more like Women's Fiction than Sci-Fi/Fantasy to me. It had a nice combination of love, hope and sadness. I was rooting for Lucy the entire story! Her journey was definitely one that had me completely invested. It ended so well, although I felt like I didn't want it to end. I would have loved to see more of Hugo and Lucy towards the end and know what transpired, although leaving it up to the reader to put your imagination to work, you can guess what happens....it just would've been nice to see it wrapped up neatly in a bow. I will definitely be recommending this one to so many people, it was too good to miss!!

The Wishing Game is a cupcake of love, faith, and wishes with a sprinkle of magic on top. Meg Shaffner’s book will make you smile, scream with joy, and believe in all that is good.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC.

Willy Wonka meets Dumbledore in the character of Jack Masterson in Meg Shaffer's The Wishing Game. Masterson writes children's fantasy, and Lucy, among others, retreats into his Clock Island Adventures when life gets unbearable. Lucy even runs away to Clock Island to become Masterson's side kick. As an adult, Lucy's life is still difficult. She wants to adopt Christopher, but hasn't enough money to even be a foster mom.

Then Lucy, along with three others, gets an invitation to come to Clock Island and be part of a contest to win the only copy of a new book in the series. Lucy also gets to know Hugo, the artist who painted the covers to the Clock Island books, To see what becomes of Lucy and Christopher, you'll have to read this delightful book. It does not disappoint. Disclaimer: There are a few four-letter words in the book.

On Clock Island, renowned author Jack Masterson lives in a beautiful house, with his illustrator Hugo residing on the piece of land as well. But for a writer who has inspired and entertained so many children the world over, Jack hasn’t written a new book in nearly six years.

Lucy Hart is a kindergarten teacher’s aide struggling to build a better life for herself and the little boy (Christopher) she desperately wants to adopt. When the world receives notice that Jack Masterson, author of Lucy’s and Christopher’s favorite book series, is publishing another book and having a Wonka-esque contest to determine who will own the rights to it, Lucy reveals a secret about herself: she ran away to Clock Island as a little girl and has met with Jack before and has been selected as a contestant.

Lucy and the other three contenders travel to Clock Island where they are charged with solving puzzles and riddles to earn points. While Jack is setting up challenging games, at the heart of the contest is a man trying to help the kids who clung to his books like a lifeline. Each person on the island has wishes, and with a little luck and a lot of self-exploration they just may have them granted.

This is such a whimsical, fun book full of heart. Each of the main characters has their own tragic pasts, and it’s these experiences that have allowed them to find each other. The characters have been deeply hurt, and I love how the author helps them understand each other’s backgrounds to find healing and hope. The magic of Clock Island shines through in this novel, and it has me wishing the children’s books were real so I could share the joy that the characters so clearly feel towards the series.

THE WISHING GAME is an homage to Willy Wonka for readers whose childhoods were shaped by books and stories. Prepare to fall in love. Prepare to play The Wishing Game.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books and the author Meg Shaffer for sharing an e-arc with me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Wishing Game opens on Lucy (a kindergarten aide) and Christopher (a second grader), giving us a glimpse into their day-to-day life. Christopher is an orphaned child floating through foster care after the death of his parents, and Lucy is the 26-year-old who wants to adopt him but has more love than money. I will admit to you I stopped reading for about 2 weeks after this, unable to find the motivation to return to this part of the story, which sets up the stakes for why it's so crucial our MC wins the day. However, I plowed onward, and I say to you- do the same! Don't stop here! There is a HEA at the end of this book and you want to know it! Besides, you have yet to fall in love with Hugo Reese and that's the best part.

Other people can give you a run-down of plot, but the story is told from two main points of view- Lucy Hart, and Hugo Reese. Lucy carries the bulk of the book, because she is the one on the island, competing in the games, and our heroine. However, my favorite parts were Hugo's. His POV was a little more raw, a little more sardonic, and far more grounded. As the illustrator for the Clock Island books, Hugo lives on the (actual) island with the author, Jack Masterson. The island is quirky, and isolated, but he's not happy living there. Instead, he feels trapped by his need to be present for Jack, who he looks on like a father. And then Lucy comes into the picture.

As everyone's pasts unravel in the narrative, as the game continues on the island, you know how the book is going to end. At least, you think you do. Because you see how all of the pieces fit together and you want them to so badly you wish for it with all your heart. Ultimately, I think that's the charm of this book. It's the charm of threads coming together. The charm of things not ending how you hope they will end, but how they need to end. The charm of fighting for your wish instead of sitting back and hoping.

So plow on past that first chapter, because this book quickly becomes a page-turner. Not only did I finish it in two days, it made me cry. I do not actually cry. Like, ever (except for during Moana and Coco). So there you have it: A heart-felt page-turner with characters that stick to you like they've been attached by a glue-happy kindergartener.

All that to say: Read this book.

What if the favorite book series from childhood could make all of your adult dreams come true? Growing up, Lucy had a hard time. Her sister was always sick and her parents kept Lucy far from her. Her poor sick sister was the only person her parents could focus on. Now as an adult, Lucy is far from all of them and is trying desperately to foster a little boy from her school. But money is an big issue. There is never enough to go around. Until she gets chosen to come back to Clock Island. Could the Mastermind make all of her adult worries go away?
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer was so much better than I ever could have imagined! Part reminiscent of Charlie and Chocolate Factory, part romance, part women's fiction; Shafer weaved this beautiful story all into one. I will definitely be encouraging everyone to read this novel and I will anxiously await additional works by Shaffer. I would love to see the continuation of Lucy's story! Special thanks to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars for me.
#TheWishingGame #NetGalley

Lucy Hart has a love of the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. She discovered the series by accident when she was eight, and found so much comfort in the story that she wrote a letter to Masterson and ended up running away from home to the island where Masterson lived. She never lost her love of the series or in the power of wishes. Lucy desperately wants to foster, then adopt, a boy named Christopher that she met at work. Unfortunately, Lucy is broke and can't even afford to live alone or have a car. She feels as if all hope is lost, and yet she keeps making wishes with Christopher. When it is announced that Jack Masterson, after many years of silence, has written another book in the Clock Island series and that a contest for the only copy is going to take place, Lucy is stunned that she is one of the four people invited to compete. For five days, Lucy and the three others are to go to the island where Masterson lives and complete various tasks in order to win the manuscript. Lucy finds herself drawn back into her childhood dream of living on Clock Island, while also having more adult feelings towards the illustrator Hugo Reese. A sweet story about the power of hope, wishes, and forgiveness.

As a child, Lucy wanted nothing more than to have her dearest wish come true. Instead she could only spend as much time as possible in her favorite fantasy world, Clock Island, an extremely popular children's book series featuring the Mastermind. That world has now come alive with an invitation to compete for the only copy of the latest installment of the series.

Life hasn't gotten much easier for Lucy now that she's an adult, though she is doing her best to make the wishes of a young orphan boy come true. When this opportunity to change their lives comes up, Lucy will need to use all of her knowledge and skills to be the victor and win the prize.

As an adult version of the "Golden Ticket" competition, this book is both a whimsical tale of how books can change a life and a story of how real circumstances can impact a person's ability to create the life they would love to have. All of the main characters were well developed and relatable, and readers will be sure to root for them to get their greatest wishes. This is sure to be a new favorite for many readers and leaves plenty to discuss for book groups.

I received this as a DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.