I absolutely loved As You wish by Leesa Cross-Smith! When three American au pairs get jobs working for families that are friends in Seoul, new friendships begins. Lydia, Jenny, and Selene all have their own reasons for applying to au pair in Seoul and the book beautifully ties them all together. There is love, mystery, competition, and girls supporting girls. You don't want to miss this one.

This novel made me feel joyful and hopeful. The three young women’s friendship was undoubtedly beautiful! The author made sure that culture was definitely a big part of this book, which I loved. It was cute and cozy! Even though it was cute and cozy, I felt like the writing was hard for me to get used to. The plot was clear and the characters were multilayered. However, I did feel like the characters seemed younger than what they were.

As You Wish is about three different women, whose names are Jenny, Lydia, and Selene. They all come from completely different families. They all make a wish and wonders if it comes true the following day. The next day comes and everything did change! As the story unfolds, you will learn more about each of them individually. I give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Leesa Cross-Smith, and Penguin Group Dutton | Tiny Reparations books for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book is expected to be published on June 24, 2025!

This was such a sweet read. The friendship between Jenny, Selene, and Lydia was just so heartwarming to read about, and each of their individual love stories just gave me warm fuzzies the way that each of them played out. I only wish the epilogue was a little longer it felt a little rushed the way it was added on to the last chapter the way it was. Would definitely recommend for a cozy read 💜

Meh. I'm not sure why this book did not work for me, because I thought the plot sounded great, but it was really hard to get through this book from the opening pages right through to the end. Maybe it was the fact that there were a lot of characters; or maybe it was because I got confused by the wishes and how they materialized at first.

Ultimately, though, I think that this book was just too long for me. It's not that it had too many pages, but I spent a lot of time wanting it to just get to the point for all three girls. I didn't feel like the amount of time spent on the girls was enough and yet, at the same time, I wanted to keep skipping ahead because I was bored of the details and their stories. I also found all three girls selfish and self absorbed in a strange way that made them all unlikeable for most of the book. Yes, there were moments. But not enough to pull this up. I did want to give it a 1 star rating, but I felt that was probably not fair either so bumped it up to 2.

I think I was hoping for more of an Xoxo type of plot and writing style, and this just didn't cut it.

I really liked the characters and setting! Parts of the story lagged, but overall a good solid read!

A Magical and Heartfelt Read! Set in Seoul, Wish You Weren’t Here follows three au pairs whose lives change after a fateful wish on Jeju Island. Romance, self-discovery, and friendship take center stage in this charming, immersive story. Though some twists are predictable, the heartfelt bond between the women makes it a rewarding read.

I was really excited for this book because I absolutely loved This Close to Okay but this book fell kind of flat to me. I’m not really a big fan of multiple pov’s and the number of characters I had to remember was a little challenging. I don’t think the plot really did it for me but I was excited to delve into something new to me. I can tell the author really put thought into the concept, culture and characters story and I really appreciate that aspect. I think the pacing and the characters could have used more consideration. With all the being said I enjoyed the book and it lived up to its expectations.

As You Wish by Leesa Cross-Smith is a wonderful story about three young women who Au-pair in Seoul, South Korea. Each young woman has a personal journey they wish to accomplish while in Seoul: falling out of love with an ex, finding confidence in her art skills, and finding her birth mother. On a trip to Jeju Island, the girls make a wish that reroutes their journeys putting them steps closer to reaching their goals.
This is a wonderful book for all ages, but I feel like it will really resonate with older teens and young adults. The beautiful friendship between the girls is such an important part of the book, as if the power of the wish was always within themselves. Anyone would be lucky to have a friendship like Lydia, Jenny and Selene.
This book does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged with all three girls individual stories as we bounce between them. Cross-Smith also does a beautiful job in describing the beauty and lifestyle of South Korea, from different locations to the food it was very easy to immerse in the story like I was on this journey with the girls.
I loved the story, it read like a K-Drama! With its periods of calm before bigger plot points. I almost wish this story was either longer, or three different books to really get every detail from each individual character.

This was a cute story about three girls that are au pairs and South Korea for the summer and they make a wish’s. This follows them after the wish. I enjoyed the sisterhood threw out the story.

I enjoyed this one. I really loved the friendship between the three women. I also loved the self-discovery all of them went on. I did find some parts to be a little slow, but I overall found it enjoyable.

A very sweet book about friendship and hope. It is cozy, magical, comforting and healing. I thought the story was beautifully written and I felt like I was along the journey with the friends in South Korea.

i really enjoyed reading it, its now of my fav cozy reads filled with sisterhood, travelling and such a rich korean culture.

A cozy warm hug of a novel. Made me want to book a flight to Seoul immediately. A gorgeous setting, characters I rooted for and delicious Korean food descriptions. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for advanced copy.

"As You Wish" is an enjoyable and cute story. Lydia, Jenny, and Selene have come to South Korea to work as au pairs for three families who live in the same apartment complex and who are close friends. In addition to being au pairs, each young woman has something they want to accomplish -- Lydia is a talented young artist (and will be taking an art class while in Korea) who is seeking validation/admiration (but really she needs more self-confidence); Jenny is trying to get over a devastating breakup and is determined not to lose her heart to another guy (so of course her host mother has a handsome younger brother (Haru) who lives with them and quickly becomes a source of attraction and bed-sports); Selene is trying to find her birth mother. The three young women will each find love but not with facing challenges first.

One of the things I really liked about this book was the emphasis on Korean culture. The story is set in Seoul and focuses on Korean families and au pairs who are of Korean descent, so it makes sense that Korean culture, traditions, locations, music, etc. would be featured. However, instead of merely putting a Korean overlay on a romantic comedy, I felt like the author make a conscious effort to really explain and explore Korean culture and show an appreciation for Korean culture and traditions.

This was a fun story about friendship, self discovery, love and culture. I really loved hearing about all of the different Korean foods and wishing I could try each one. I think each character had their own interesting story and I liked learning more about them as the book went on. This one also had a touch of magical realism that I thought was a fun addition to the story. I did find the beginning of this book to be a bit slow and I wish that part had moved a bit faster but overall this was a pretty good read.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Tiny Reparations Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

New sisterhood of the traveling pants, perhaps. Cute and light.

As You Wish follows three American au pairs—Lydia, Jenny, and Selene—who travel to South Korea for a year, each seeking a fresh start. During a trip with their host families, they encounter a mystical waterfall said to grant wishes. While the premise suggests a strong magical element, the story primarily focuses on the personal growth and self-discovery of the three protagonists rather than fully exploring the fantasy aspect.

While I initially expected a more immersive supernatural storyline, the book instead leans into the characters’ emotional journeys as they navigate adulthood and the challenges of their new lives abroad.

At times, the characters’ behavior felt somewhat inconsistent with their ages, and certain moments made them seem younger than they were intended to be. However, by the end of the novel, they do show some growth and maturity.

Overall, As You Wish is a story of self-discovery, friendship, and love, set against the vibrant backdrop of South Korea. While the novel wasn’t quite what I expected in terms of its magical elements (it was of the key points for me to read). Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about personal growth and new beginnings will like this book more than I did.

Leesa Cross-Smith’s *As You Wish* is a magical read that mixes romance, self-discovery, and a bit of enchantment. Set in the vibrant city of Seoul and the stunning Jeju Island, it follows three young women—Lydia, Jenny, and Selene—on a journey about their personal dreams and the bond of friendship.

The plot kicks off with a mystical waterfall that grants wishes, which turns Lydia into the center of attention, Jenny into someone tangled in a complicated romance she’s trying to avoid, and Selene closer to finding her birth mother. But as the story goes on, they realize that getting what they wanted isn’t always what they truly need.

Cross-Smith does a fantastic job creating relatable characters who deal with the ups and downs of young adulthood. The writing is full of sensory details—like the neon lights in Seoul and the salty air of Jeju—making it all feel really immersive.

While romance plays a big role, it’s really the growing friendship between the three women that steals the show, emphasizing that true magic comes from the connections we make and the lessons we learn. *As You Wish* is beautifully written and leaves a lasting impression, perfect for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a sprinkle of magic and themes of friendship and self-acceptance.

A whimsical escape with a heart of gold, this book delivers a charming blend of romance, friendship, and a touch of magic. I loved watching each of these young women's journey of getting their desires in unexpected and often complicated ways. It's a lighthearted and enjoyable read that truly shows the enduring power of friendship and will warm your heart!

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This is a wonderful book about, ultimately, friendship and identity. Three women become au pairs in Seoul, all with a personal goal: Lydia wishes to become the best version of herself, Jenny desires to move on from her ex, and Selene is in search of her biological mother. When the girls make a wish at a special waterfall, suddenly their dreams start to come true. Lydia is transformed, Jenny is in an entanglement with her host mother's brother, and Selene makes serious headway into finding her biological mother. However, things get a bit muddled along the way, and Jenny returns to the waterfall to reverse the wish.

I enjoyed the paths the three women took in this book; each was unique and brought with it character growth that was meaningful. I really enjoyed how each character was strong on her own, but also blended well as a group - it was very obvious that within the group, the women were also amplified. I also thoroughly enjoyed the culture in this book, with South Korea/Seoul not always featuring prominently as settings; the author did a great job of incorporating the city and making it its own character. Add in the dose of magic, and this is a great read for a nice spring or summer weekend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton/Tiny Reparations Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.