The Wishing Game — Books, Beauty, & Buys

By: Meg Shaffer
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 304

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

First Impressions

This book was given to me by a coworker. She said she had LOVED it and handed it off. The cover is cute but I don’t know if I would’ve picked it up off the shelf. She explained the premise as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but if Willie Wonka was a children’s author and I was in.

What I thought

This book was described to me as heart warming and good feels and that is 100% what it is.

Lucy is a teacher’s aid in a kindergarten classroom. She has been working with a young boy, Christopher, for two years now. He lost his parents and Lucy is hoping to foster and then adopt him but she doesn’t have the money, house, or car. When her favorite childhood author starts a contest for one person to win the only copy of his newest book (after no releasing anything for the last 6 years), she gets invited to participate in the contest on his magical Clock Island.

I honestly don’t think there’s any better way to describe this book as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There’s an older man who is rich, famous, and kind of reclusive who invites people to his magical world to participate in a contest. Yet the contest isn’t just what it seems with the different challenges. I am a huge Willie Wonka fan. It was one of my favorite movies growing up, so I was very into this premise. It does have a lot of similarities, so if that is going to bother you, then I wouldn’t recommend this book. I would also say that if you’re looking for something that is an unpredictable story this isn’t for you.

However, if you’re looking for a story that will make you feel good inside, pick this book up. I felt so warm and fuzzy after finishing the book. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I loved Lucy and how she was working through her own trauma to be a mom for Christopher. I loved how Jack, the author, worked his riddles ad magic to create this contest. And I loved Hugo, who even though he was supposed to be a tortured artist was a big teddy bear right from the start.

I guess, thinking on it, the only thing I would change would be some of Lucy’s trauma. It wasn’t until close to the end of the book that I truly understood it. Up until that point it seemed to me like she was making a big something out of nothing and I didn’t understand why it had impacted her as much as it did.