Happy Publication Day to Minnie Darke and With Love from Wish & Co. Thank you to Penguin Random House for sharing a review copy with me.

Marnie Fairchild is building her high-end gift-wrapping and gift-buying business, one elite client at a time. She conducts exhaustive research on the gift recipients to ensure the items she selects perfectly match their interests and tastes. All is well until a moment of personal distraction causes her to mix up the recipients of two important gifts, and chaos ensues.

I'd classify this novel, set in contemporary Australia, as women's fiction; the character relationships are complicated. It includes romance and a bit of comedy, but also issues of fatherhood, integrity, family legacy, and small business ownership. It has one of the warmest adult son/mother relationships I've read. The plot includes a marital affair so be warned if you want to avoid that subject in your reading.

I'm glad I read the ebook so I didn't have to view this cover - I'm usually a fan of illustrated covers, but this one is just ... odd. Was the designer inspired by Elf on the Shelf? I'm happy there's an alternate/improved cover for some versions of this title.

This novel was very compelling, and I'm eager to read Ms. Darke's previous novels Star-Crossed and The Lost Love Song that are waiting for me on my TBR shelves.

This is an interesting book to talk about. The premise gives you the major conflict right up front: Marnie Fairchild is a professional gift buyer. She has a real talent for finding the perfect gift for any occasion and she has a successful business. But Marnie has dreams of buying and restoring her grandfather’s store, a property that’s been in her family for generations.

On a hectic day and distracted by a meeting with a realtor, there’s a mix-up and the wrong gifts for her best client get sent to his wife and mistress, which is disaster. While she’s trying to help her client recover from her mistake, she starts falling for his son, Luke.

The first part of the story is dedicated to the gift mixup which we know is going to happen. We meet many different characters whose lives will intersect. The multiple povs help move the story along and there’s tension created as we get closer to the mix-up.

Many reviews call this light-hearted. I’m not sure I agree. It deals with serious issues, raises moral questions, and has quite a bit to think about.

Luke is my favorite character and his side story is so good. For most of the book I was feeling like this was a 3.5/3.75 territory but the ending pushed it to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. If you’re looking for something like contemporary fiction with romance and character growth, I think you’d enjoy the journey of this book. I actually think this would be a good book club book because of the questions it raises.

With Love from Wish & Co was a real delight! Marnie is great at giving gifts- so she has made a job out of doing it! One little slip leads to a major disaster. While some story lines were predictable, others totally surprised me. I did not want to walk away from Marnie and Luke’s budding relationship. I had to k ow how Luke’s parents worked through a major life moment. And Ivy was icing on the cake. Along the way I learned some valuable tips on choosing a perfect gift. A book you never want to finish.

I was immediately pulled in by the setup for this story. Marnie, a professional gift-buyer, accidentally swaps the gifts intended for the wife and mistress of her best client. As you can imagine, there is a lot of fallout from this mistake. The characters are well-written and certainly have flaws. Along with the characters, the reader has to navigate gray areas. When should mistakes be forgiven? Is infidelity forgivable? Is Marnie engaging in emotional fraud by aiding her clients in buying gifts for mistresses? When do you draw the line? I thought about how I would respond in a similar situation. It don't think I would always make the same choice, but liked to see other points of view.

There were several slang words I was unfamiliar with. Only after looking up the word "ute" did I realize it was set in Australia. Overall it didn't take away from the story, but I would have appreciated a more obvious indication of the place and perhaps a dictionary of the slang.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

With Love from Wish & Co, by Tasmanian/Australian author Minnie Darke, is the story of Marnie Fairchild, entrepreneur, shop owner, gift giving goddess, and daughter of the Fairchild black sheep, Rory. Rory was lost in a surfing accident when Marnie was a toddler and his siblings have done nothing for their late brother’s child. Growing up on the brink of economic despair, Marnie has her late grandfather Archie to thank for her education as well as the life lessons he taught her when she would visit him after school at his Fairchild & Son cobbler shop.

It is because of her grandfather that Marnie has reinvented herself more that once to move forward to be able to buy the old building when it comes on the market. Her business now is a bespoke gift shop and gifting business. With her research Marnie has the knack of choosing the perfect gifts and has a lucrative clientele of many wealthy men with complicated lives.

All was going so well until her best client celebrated his anniversary and his special lady’s birthday on the same date and the property she dreamed of converged. A simple mix up in delivery directions and Marnie’s business and dreams may implode. And if that isn’t enough, Marnie may just be falling for the son of the couple affected by the mix up.

Now the stage is set for a most unusual and mesmerizing plot with multiple twists. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.

With Love from Wish & Co. by Minnie Darke is a thoroughly enjoying story. It was very well-written. The book turned out to be much more substantial than the "chick-lit" I expected. Overall a good read and would recommend!

This is a totally fine, sweet romance. (I'm a sucker for those comfy vibes.) Luke and Marnie's relationship development didn't really make sense to me, especially given her role in his father's affair (which is also downplayed and not interrogated much), so that took me out of the story. Otherwise, though, it's fluffy and doesn't require a ton of thought to digest, so pick this up if you want an easy read.

Omg this book is so cute, I just loved every single word! I highly recommend buying it as it’s got be on your shelf! Be ready to start and not stop until you finish!

ARC REVIEW OF WITH LOVE FROM WISH & CO

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and Minnie Darke for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was actually a really cute story with an interesting concept. The book was written from multiple POVs, which change some times every chapter or changed within each chapter. While it often made it difficult to follow which POV you were reading, it also helped being able to empathize with the characters, which I felt was necessary given the subject matter at times.

The beginning started off slow. The synopsis of the book prepares you for what's to come, in that our FMC Marnie makes a mistake that ruins one of her client's lives. I think the author did an awesome job setting up the scene for that mistake- I think I could imagine very few other instances that would be worse than what actually happened. But the start of the book begins leading up to that event, and while it's necessary to lay the backstory, it was a bit void of excitement.

Let's chat characters. Each were central characters to the story. They all had valid points to their positions, but they also had some serious flaws (except the Mom Suzanne, she was my favorite). The main themes of the story were choice and fear; how the choices people make impact their futures, but also lead to a series of other choices, and whether or not you'd let fear stand in the way. I actually thought it a pretty deep and intrinsic message considering how light-hearted the read was. But maybe I'm also off- this was never my strong suit in school lol.

All that being day, I did quite enjoy this book. It was very casual, sweet story about love, life and family. It came out on 8/16 but if you haven't added it to your TBR and you enjoy light, airy romance/fiction, this is up your alley.

Marnie's mistake leads to an interesting string of events for everyone involved. Marnie is a good character that sometimes I struggled with but also found myself rooting for her along the way. Luke has a good story that intertwines with Marnie because of her blunder. Without giving too much away, reading their story is compelling & worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for a advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Marnie Fairchild hasn't had the easiest life, but the one thing that makes her happy these days is her work and her store, Wish & Co. She is a professional gift buyer, meeting with clients to learn everything they're willing to tell about their family members or significant others. Then it is up to her to take it all into account and find the perfect gift. She prides herself on being perfect, for being detail oriented...until one day she loses focus. Not only that, it happens with presents purchased for Brian Charlesworth, her most prized customer. She wraps the perfect anniversary gift for his wife, Suzanne...and a birthday present for his mistress, Leona. Both are as different as can be...except for the shape of the box used. But Marnie never makes mistakes, right?

In the end I was really quite fond of this story. While it did drag out the conflict a little longer than I would have liked, it ended up with a sweet resolution. I found the cast of characters lovable, and I liked Marnie, for the most part, as the protagonist. I really liked the concept of a woman trying her hardest to make her life the best it could possibly be, she was easy to cheer for (even when she was a little annoying). I was pleasantly surprised by the way the drama of this story unfolded. It could have been a lot messier and more annoying in the sense that you just want the characters to sit down and talk it through. I found the romance felt natural and believable, which isn't always the case. Overall I did enjoy this story and I hope there is a part two, as the ending left that an option. If you like a decent dose of drama but mostly a wholesome story about dreams, work, love and family, this one is definitely for you!

A bit long and paint by numbers in a lot of the plot and romance. It's still pleasant to go through, but nothing remarkable..

Marnie is a professional gift buyer who prides herself in discretion, thoughtful gifts, and beautiful wrapping. When she finds herself in a rush one afternoon and two gifts end up swapped, Marnie finds herself at risk of losing her business and the historical family building she’s had her eye on her entire life. In a heartwarming story about love, loss, and sacrifice, Marnie has to find a way to save her business…and maybe fall in love.

This was such a sweet read that had me thinking about gift giving in a whole new way. Luke and Marnie left me ready to find love in this charming book. If you’re looking for a quick, easy read with lovable characters, add this to your list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I very much enjoyed this women's fiction novel by Minnie Darke. I loved the setup: a young single woman with a gift-buying business becomes obsessed with purchasing a historic building, owned by another family member, to which to move her Wish & Co. shop. The story gets rolling when Marnie makes a big "oopsie" with two gift deliveries. The reader learns about the family and the circumstances of each of the gift recipients. The story has many twists and turns but remains warmhearted despite touching upon some serious subjects. Yet, each character remains realistic and likable. I loved how the author wrote the characters as introspective as they faced their adversities. This was a quick read for me, a perfect book at the perfect time.
Thanks to #RandomHouse #Ballantine via #NetGalley for an early copy on #WithLovefromWishCo in exchange for my review.

This was my second book by Darke and I liked this one more than the last. I enjoyed a cute little romcom type book. I enjoyed both of the main characters and felt both were likable. I also found the secondary characters to be interesting too.

If you are looking for a cute, fun romance book then I recommend this book. Thank you @netgalley @minniedarke and @ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is available now!

3.5 stars
This wasn’t too bad. There were parts that I really liked, parts that the feminist in me did not like at all, and parts that I’m probably a little too young to understand the reasoning behind (Suzanne and Brian). I read The Lost Love Song by Darke and LOVED that. I was surprised to find out that this was written by the same author.

Some really funny parts that I enjoyed. This definitely included lots of complicated relationships that you usually wouldn’t find in a romance.

No explicit scenes, description of the love felt during the act. Check content warnings.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this digital ARC.

My second novel by Minnie Darke, I couldn’t resist the charm of With Love From Wish & Co., but I did have some reservations about this one. I’ve read Darke’s previous novel, The Lost Love Song, which I adored, so I was excited to pick this one up, as well. With Love From Wish & Co. is beautifully written, with layers of storytelling, but this is a story that creeps into those gray areas of what we consider moral and ethical. It’s a novel that will have you thinking about some deeper issues, which isn’t a bad thing. BUT, I’m not sure I agree with some of the character’s ultimate choices. However, It is one I’ll probably be thinking about for a long time!

Marnie is in the business of gift-giving. And several of her clients are wealthy men with both wives and mistresses who don’t know their gifts weren’t chosen by the giver. Desperate to build her business with the hopes of being able to afford the historic storefront that once housed her grandfather’s business, she doesn’t think twice about providing for her client’s needs. She’s only focused on the end goal. But Marnie is sweet and kind and I find it hard to believe that providing this service isn’t an issue that she hasn’t ever considered before. She’s only forced to consider it when her distraction leads to a mishap with her biggest client of five years, Brian Charlesworth. The gift Marnie intended for his 40th anniversary with his wife Suzanne ended up being delivered to Brian’s mistress, while his mistress’s birthday gift ended up being presented to his wife. And Marnie is good at her job. Both gifts were too personal to easily dismiss.

I enjoyed the actual mixup, the missteps Marnie took to get herself into this unfortunate situation, and the fallout because of it. The story is told from multiple points of view, including Brian’s, his wife’s, and his mistress’s (although mostly from Marnie’s). And while that did help me to see the story from their perspective, I didn’t have much sympathy for any of them in the beginning. I did grow to like Suzanne as she seemed to grow more of a backbone.

Marnie has not only been buying gifts for Brian’s wife and mistress, but for his grown children, as well. Because of the mixup, Marnie meets Brian and Suzanne’s son Luke, who she already feels as if she knows. This is another one of those morally gray areas. So Marnie can pick the perfect gifts for people she researches or “stalks” them on social media. And while she doesn’t cross any lines, only looking at what is available to the public, it still kind of creeped me out. It’s only because Marnie’s heart is pure that I know she has only the best intentions. We do get Luke’s point of view, as well, and I couldn’t help sympathizing with him when he had issues with Marnie’s job. Luke also has a side storyline that I adored. I won’t spoil it, but it’s one of my favorite aspects of the book.

Marnie’s backstory is moving and does help explain how she has ended up with the job of gift-giving. The good news is Marnie does grow from her mistakes, but she definitely makes some questionable decisions that seemed selfish in the beginning.

While it’s ultimately a hopeful story, I’m not sure it’s realistic at all. BUT we are often expected to suspend disbelief with romances, so it didn’t bother me too much. I do feel like the ending may have wrapped up too quickly. Overall, I enjoyed With Love From Wish & Co., smiling often and even getting misty-eyed a few times.

Happy publication day!

Wow, I wish I had known that the author was from Tasmania. And that this book was going to be set somewhere in Australia! This knowledge would have helped me with the language of the book. But that is a bit silly of me to assume that a book is going to be set somewhere where I do know the lingo! Or at least my Kindle would have been able to translate some of the slang!

Bad Dianne! Very naughty to assume!

Wow, except for the last 20% or so of the book when Luke (the male protagonist) was making a complete jerk of himself, this was a great romance. This was also just a plain excellent fiction novel about a woman and her dreams.

Marnie is working her butt off to buy the building of her dreams. The building was owned by family members and brought memories of her childhood and her love of her grandfather to the fore. This part of the novel is complicated because Marnie's family (her father) wasn't the best example of a human being.

Marnie has a gift-buying business. She is what we might call a personal shopper. Still, instead of buying for a single person with their knowledge of what they are getting, she is doing the gift buying for those who don't have the time, imagination, or the ability to buy for friends and family. If some of those recipients are 'other women,' what can I say?

The way the story plays out at the beginning is relatively easy to figure out, but it is still devastating. The rest of the novel doesn't follow my expectations, which is a perfect thing. However, be aware that this is a romance novel, and all the tropes will be there.

An interesting meeting.
A slow build to a romance.
A few surprises for everyone.
A terrible downturn.
And a happily-ever-after!

*ARC provided by the publisher Dell/Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

This story is like a warm cup of tea on a chilly day. Warm, cozy and made me smile. Beautiful! Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Happy Pub Day to this ADORABLE!!!! Book. Seriously, no other way to describe this, but SO SO cute! The characters, the storyline, the relationships, are just so cute! I was so happy to pick this book up every day and wanted to be transported directly to this town and the cute shops. I wanted to befriend the characters and even wanted to shake some sense into them at times!

Marnie Fairchild owns a boutique store that offers a gift buying service to wealthy people. Brian Charlesworth is her best client, until she mixes up gifts for his mistress and his wife. When an opportunity arises to buy a historic shop front that was owned by her grandfather, she has to figure out how to help Brian win his wife back. This story becomes even more complicated when she meets Brian’s son, Luke. Will she make choices based on her heart or her head?