Wishes! Author Retreats! Twists! What didn't this book have.

The characters were well thought out, the plot was intriguing, and the setting was not what I was expecting.

Lucy Hart, now twenty-six years old, vividly recalls her daring escape from home at thirteen, a quest to meet the renowned children’s book author Jack Masterson, whose beloved Clock Island series had enchanted generations of readers. Although she did manage to meet the author, her initial plans to stay with him didn’t unfold as expected. The Clock Island series has retained its cherished place in her heart, and she now shares this passion with Christopher, her seven-year-old student who recently became an orphan and entered foster care. Lucy, burdened by the scars of an unhappy childhood, cares deeply for Christopher and dreams of becoming his foster parent, with eventual adoption in mind. However, her modest income as a teacher’s aide and less-than-ideal living conditions make her an unlikely candidate for such a role.

When her favourite author extends an invitation to participate in a contest for the only copy of his new manuscript, crafted after a nearly six-year hiatus, Lucy seizes the opportunity to visit Clock Island. This private island in Maine, modelled after the series’ enchanting setting, offers not only the chance to reconnect with her literary hero but also the prospect of improving her precarious financial situation.

On Clock Island, Lucy encounters her fellow contestants—three others who, like her, once escaped troubled homes as children to seek “The Mastermind,” believing he could grant their deepest wishes. Now as adults, they have all returned to Clock Island, each harboring their own motivations for winning the contest.

This is a captivating narrative with intricately drawn characters who are both multi-faceted and endearing. I found myself fully engrossed, unable to put the book down. It elicited a spectrum of emotions from laughter to tears, ultimately leaving my heart uplifted. A truly delightful read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wishing Game was such a fun read! The characters were loveable, the story heartwarming, and the setting unique. As a fan of all things nonsensical, Jack’s tinge of madness and the whimsical elements embedded throughout Clock Island were oh-so-satisfying. Speaking of Jack, I absolutely adored him and his relationship with Hugo. Speaking of Hugo, this punk-professor-painter of a grump stole the show for me. I’ve definitely caught myself thinking about these two even after closing the book. As for our protagonist, I enjoyed Lucy’s relationship with Christopher and the focus on the adoption process since it’s not something I see often in novels. I appreciated the inclusion of the characters’ heavy, personal hardships in order to combat the levity. This story offered multitudes of hope while still keeping its feet on the ground. That said, the novel only started to pick up halfway through, but afterwards, I couldn’t put it down. Although our main characters were fully fleshed out, I wish the other contestants of the game had left more of an impact. Also, I would’ve liked to see more of Lucy’s interactions within her friendships (give Theresa more page time!), as it felt like we were seeing more “Teaching Assistant Lucy” than Lucy. Given that the plot revolved around a love for books and the people behind the books, a very meta concept indeed, I applaud Meg Shaffer’s ability to give the reader in me a feeling of being welcomed home. Overall, this was a cozy, wholesome, lighthearted read, and I’m grateful to have been part of the journey. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

The premise is great but getting into the book was a bit of a challenge. I was about a fourth into it before I started to enjoy it which is a good thing because I was about to DNF it.

Jack Masterson is the author of a famous children's book series. His Clock Island Series is well know and loved however Jack Masterson has not written and published a book in years. Then Jack holds a contest (reminiscent of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and four adults whom visited him as children are invited to compete for the unpublished manuscript of the newest installment. The winner can do as they wish with the book.

The four adults gather on the island and prepare to compete. They will have to solve riddles and score points in order to win. Lucy our main character is a kindergarten teaching aid who wants nothing more than to adopt a student named Christopher. Winning the contest will make it possible for this to come to fruition.

Each character's background story is revealed giving information on why they want to win the contest. The book will tug at your heart but you have to really wait until the contestants are on the island for it to get interesting.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

This month, the #literarylovelies read the Wishing Game by @meg_shaffer. I absolutely loved this book and I think it’s better if you don’t know what it’s 100% about. It was so genuine and heartfelt; the bond between Lucy and Christopher was so pure. They were two people who just needed each other. I loved that the book was imaginative and you really felt like you were on Clock Island yourself. This is my first choice for a book to be made into a movie! 5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is such a sweet, heartwarming story about human perseverance. Lucy wants more than anything to help Christopher, a former student of hers now in the foster care system. When Lucy was a child in a difficult home life, she ran away to Clock Island, home of her favorite author, Jack Masterson. Now as an adult, Lucy is invited back to Clock Island to compete for a copy of a never-before-released Jack Masterson book. Throughout the course of the competition, Lucy has to confront a lot of the events of her childhood and young adult years which she has tried to forget. I thought the story was paced well, the characters were decently developed, and there was a healthy dose of magic-infused-reality which could make anyone believe if you wish hard enough for something, it'll come true.

I only heard good things about the Wishing Game but I was very disappointed. Lucy Hart is way too obsessed with Christopher who she wants to adopt but has no resources to do so. The book was beyond repetitive and I expected a lot more of the games on the island. It also wrapped up too neatly in the end. I would not recommend this book.

Short synopsis: Lucy is given the chance of a lifetime to get the only copy of the next book in the Clock Island series, her childhood favorite. She is desperate to win in order to have enough money to prove to child services that she can adopt Christopher, an orphan from school.

My thoughts: I heard this one was great, and it did not disappoint. It was tender, heartfelt, raw and beautiful. I especially loved the moment at the end when Lucy is talking about motherhood and how hard it is, because motherhood (and parenting in general) is not easy. It’s hard, exhausting, and those little ones can get on your last nerve…. But I would do anything for them and give anything in my power to make sure they are safe and happy.

I loved the magic and whimsy in this, it was a total mashup of Charlie and the Chocolate factory and knives out and just done so well. Also, I’m a huge fan of a book about books and this one painted so many beautiful scenes of this island and the man who wants to make dreams come true.

Be sure to pick this one up, such an enjoyable read that may just have you wiping your tears.

Read if you love:
- Whimsy and magic
- Books about books
- Found family and motherhood
- Forgiveness
- Riddles and puzzles

This was a fun book that I breezed through. I'd definitely recommend and encourage those looking for a lighthearted, but not without intrigue, to read it.

This felt like Willy Wonka meets Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore - its all riddles and delight and it reminds me that there are books written for adults with all the spirit and joy of the fiction I started reading as a child. I highly recommend this one for anyone who wished for their dreams - and chased them as they grew up. 4.5/5

This is a book about books, a reclusive author and the love of reading. Jack Masterson is the author of the bestselling books called the Clock Island series. Children would often write to the author telling him their hopes and dreams. Some even tried to go to the author’s own private Clock Island because they saw it as a refuge. Masterson would encourage children to make a wish and believe in the power of their wishes. His books captivated children and adults alike and yet, at the height of his writing career, he suddenly stopped writing.

A young man named Hugo was chosen to create new illustrations for the already published titles and to design new artwork for subsequent installments. He has lived on the island with the author and became fond of the writer. Since the writing stopped, Hugo has watched and worried.

Lucy Hart was one of the children who sought refuge in the books and with the author. She felt unloved as a child and believed in the power of wishing. Now, many years have passed and she works as a teacher’s aide. One of her students has recently become an orphan and wants desperately to live with Lucy but that can’t happen because Lucy doesn’t own a home or have sufficient funds to care for him.

Lucy and Christopher share in their love for the Clock Island books. They are disappointed that the series didn’t continue. Then to everyone’s amazement, Masterson announces he’s written a new book and will have a contest to give the only existing copy to one lucky winner. A select few get invitations to join the author on his private island and compete for the book. Lucy is one of the lucky invitees. This is her one chance to get the money she needs to qualify as a foster parent for little Christopher. She just needs to win the contest.

The book is filled with charming details. The island and the series of books based upon Clock Island is creative and inventive. Christopher is adorable and Lucy is big-hearted. They both have suffered and deserve to get their wish. But there are other contestants and the game is on.

Despite the strong premise and the heart-tugging characters, there’s just something missing. Perhaps it lies with the motivations behind the actions of some of the characters. None of that overshadows the many positive elements of the book and the author brings her tale to a satisfying conclusion. As a testament to the love of books and reading, it succeeds and will draw in all who find reading an adventure to be savored.

The Wishing Game was such an enjoyable book. From cover to cover it was precious! I read it in a perfect afternoon! I loved all of the puzzles sprinkled throughout the book and the themes of chosen family.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did you love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but also want more book-books in your life? Well, here you go. The characters are a little flat, but the plot is A+—many feel-good moments and adorableness for all ages.

What a wonderful book. If only there were a place like Clock Island and a wonderful person like Jack to fulfill all you wishes. Just a fantastic book.

My favorite book this year! Pure magic!!! Clock Island and all the people who dwell/visit just pull you in and make you want to stay forever!

ucy Hart is a kindergarten teacher’s aide with a heartbreaking past. Her one dream is to adopt her former student, Christopher, who is an orphan. As each day passes, that dream slips further away. The pair have found joy in reading a set of children’s books about the mysterious land of Clock Island.

Then, the reclusive author of the books announces that he has come out of retirement to write another installment. A contest is announced to win the book’s sole copy. Lucy is finally given some hope that her luck may finally change.

What a wonderful book! This was such a whimsical story with a creative concept. My inner-child wanted to dive into the world of the Clock Island books! The characters were very relatable and I was rooting for Lucy’s success. The Wishing Game was an emotional rollercoaster and I so appreciated the author’s writing style. This book is definitely one of my favorites of 2023. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Not my absolute favoeite but the Wishing Game was certainly impressive. I held off reading but eventually my friends assigned it for book club so while I am glad I read it, im not signing up for a re read any time soon.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. Lucy learns that her favorite author, a reclusive author of children's books who had a big impact on her childhood, is having a kind of reality game. Four invited contestants go to his secluded island to compete and hopefully win his last novel. Lucy hopes to win so that she can prove that she is fit to adopt a boy that she has formed a bond with as his teacher. This was a quick read, with good scenery and fun gameplay to follow. #thewishinggame #megshaffer #bookstagram @netgalley #lovetoread #lovetoreadbooks #takeapagefrommybook #readallday #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #booksaremagic

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is many things: an adventure, a mystery, a love story. It’s about an author of children’s books, his illustrator, and his readers, both child and adult, and so it often felt like a children’s book, except many adult themes were introduced throughout. Although this combination was a little strange, I enjoyed the balance of light and dark, happy and sad, in the story. I liked that the central relationship was between Lucy and Christopher, a young woman and a child (found family is a big theme). Overall the book gave me House in the Cerulean Sea vibes. The ending was surprising and satisfying, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, heartwarming read.