After a chance meeting in Anna’s home town, Sam finds himself welcomed into her family. Could this be the start of something special? This novel is full of humour, warmth and great characters and I highly recommend it.

With a thick blanket of snow on the ground outside it is the perfect time to hibernate with a good Christmas book. Mandy Baggot typically publishes two books a year – one set in Greece for the summer holidays and the other is a feel-good festive story. This latest book is a real return to form and that may be because she really is writing from the heart here.

Anna Heath is a divorced single mum to Ruthie. She adores her beautiful daughter but life is not without its challenges because Ruthie is autistic. She sees the world differently to other people and this in turn affects the way that she allows other people to interact with her. You get the feeling that ex husband Ed just couldn’t cope with the added complexity of living with an autistic child. Anna has given up on the idea of dating and just concentrates on giving Ruthie the best life she possibly can and they are surrounded by a bevy of friends in the leafy suburb of Richmond.

Sam Jackman is just about to take the next giant leap in an already stellar American Football career when he receives life changing news. The kind of news that will kill his future prospects stone dead. In a state of shock he packs a bag and heads to the airport. He has no idea where he is going and ends up on a flight to London. A chance encounter with a cab driver sees him wandering the streets of a snow covered pre Christmas Richmond where he literally bumps into Anna and Ruthie. Feeling responsible for his injuries they offer him a couch for the night.

Wishing On A Star is a very poignant book that deals very sensitively with both the response to a serious life changing medical condition and the way that society in general misunderstands the needs of people with autism. Mandy has a teen with autism and a lot of the experiences that Anna and Ruthie have in the story have happened in her own home. Her teen was consulted to ensure that they were happy with the way that Ruthie and her issues were portrayed. All of this makes you think that it might be a desperately sad serious book but it really isn’t. There is a lot of Christmas joy to be found in these pages and the story of Anna, Sam and Ruthie makes your heart sing! It is a perfect Christmas holiday read.

(In the UK it is currently free to read with an Amazon Prime membership or just 99p on Kindle).

Supplied by Net Galley and Embla Books in exchange for an honest review.

UK Publication date: Oct 10 2022. 373 pages.

Wishing on a Star had me swooning and cheering the romance on the entire time. I was very emotionally invested in these characters, their lives and would have been devastated if the ending had been any different. It had plenty of Christmas magic, loveable characters and a great ending.

This was a really lovely book, not overly Christmassy so you could easily read this at any time of year as the focus is on the characters rather than the fact that it’s set at Christmas - even if we do start with Anna and Ruthie wrestling Malcolm (the biggest Christmas tree ever) through their front door.

It was so nice to have a main character who has Autism as it highlights all the amazing qualities that comes with it, Ruthie is such a good character and I loved everything about her and the relationship she has with Anna. It was nice to see that Mandy doesn’t shy away from the tougher emotional sides of this either though and showed the struggles that some parents and children may have. The whole book just felt so lovely, genuine and warmed your heart.

Sam is the other main character and he has landed in the U.K. after being given some news that is potentially life changing for him, how he ends up at a Christmas Fayre I’m not quite sure but it happens - and there really is something good about the hot dog and burger stands at these events!

Again Baggot is able to express the struggle and pain that the characters are going through but give them a support network to hold them up and get through things together. Such an amazing book and it’s really made me want to pay a visit to Richmond one day as I’d never heard of the place before but it sounds like a lovely place - plus I need one of the festive fudge hot chocolates!!!!

This was a long read and it felt like two books in one, I’m still reading and really like the MC separate storylines but couldn’t see how they came together.

Love Mandy Baggot's books and this is no exception. Sam gets devastating news and flies on the spur of the moment to Richmond.. He meets Anna and her daughter Ruthie. through unexpected circumstance. I loved Ruthie and her problems with autism. Mandy related to them wonderfully.

For some reason I just couldn’t get into this story. I found the characters bland and gave up, many apologies!

A fun festive romance. I am a huge fan of the author and have read all of her books. This one however, for me isn't one of her best, as it doesn't have as much depth to it as some of the others.
It is a cute Christmassy story set in London anf if you are looking for a light, easy to read Christmas romance then I would recommend it.

I have admitted before that I'm not generally a fan of romance, so I'm probably the wrong audience for this book. However, romance aside I really, really struggled with this book.

While reading I looked up other reviewers opinions and am utterly convince I was reading a totally difference book or I just didn't get it, the story, in the way others did.

Overall I found the characters irritating, the story bland and the culture references forced.

As I said, maybe I wasn't the audience for this book. I'll stick to other stuff.

Really enjoyed this book, really well written characters, great storyline and even better set in the festive season! Although Sam, Anna and Ruthie have some struggles and the story could have been quite bleak, it’s ultimately very heartwarming. I would love to read more of their stories.

I think this could be the best book the Mandy Baggot has ever written, and I've read the vast majority of them.

I'm gutted that I've reached the end, it was just wonderful and I am already missing Ruthie.

In a book that features and autistic teenager and another character with a degenerative genetic disease diagnosis, you may be thinking this is deep and heavy. But that couldn't be further from the reality. Yes the bits with the diagnosis will make you think but from my knowledge of the disease which has mainly come from Neighbours, feels as accurate as I believe it to be which adds to the authenticity.

Ruthie is easily my favourite character, she is a wonder, a joyous ray of light, and knows what she is and isn't comfortable with. I love the way she sees the world and I would happily read more books with her at the centre.

This also felt like a bit of a ode to Richmond, perhaps Mandy Baggot should be working their tourist board in addition to writing amazing books, as I really felt as though I was in Richmond, and could picture this part of London, that I've only visited once, so clearly.

Actually can I have more of Sam too, I think I might be a tiny bit in love with the guy, and after the first two chapters I was so surprised with how the two main character's stories would cross over, as they seem to be worlds apart.

Add in a couple of mad cap animals, Anna and her friends who are a real tonic too, there is just so much to love in this book.

I couldn't' get enough of this story and found I read it very fast. I thought it was superb and probably one of my favourite festive reads of the season. Just brilliant.

Thank you to Embla Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Seriously good! This book was a fantastic romantic comedy, made even better with the holiday spin. I loved it!

I was so frustrated by this one. As a mom of autistic kids it felt so stereotypical and forced. And some of the other comments rubbed me very wrong. Overall it ruined what could have been a hood story.

Mandys books never fail to put a great big smile on my face and this one is not exception. I loved the characters, the setting, the storyline. If you love chicklit this one is definitely for you.

A great festive read. Very emotional.at times as this book deals with some difficult issues.
Sam and Anna meet when he is running away from.his problems. He can't ignore them for ever, no matter how much he is falling for Anna.

I liked the idea of there being different rep in the book, single parenthood, autism, and a life-limiting condition... But what I really didn't like was some of the cringy references and descriptions. The Black voice saying that due to not having much money growing up, his sister was 'constantly dressed like she harvested sugarcane in her spare time' was just one example. Massive turn off.

I really enjoyed this book, Whilst ultimately being a romance story, Sam and Anna’s journey has some very touching moments as it deals delicately and sympathetically with Ruthie and her needs, whilst helping the reader to learn more about the ups and downs living with autism.Sam is also dealing with his own health and once Anna is aware of it the two share some touching moments. A really enduring and compelling read.

This was a lovely festive read. I thoroughly enjoyed the developing romance between Anna and Sam and I thought all the characters were really interesting in their own characters. I particularly enjoyed Ruthie’s character, her ASD and the way each different character interacted with her was fascinating- and sad too that Sam could read her more than her own father.
The setting of Richmond at Christmas time was delightful and all the talk of hot chocolates and Christmas events made me excited for December. A lovely read.

Absolutely adorable book! Loved the setting and the characters. Fell completely in love with Sam and Anna (and Ruthie!!) Thank you for allowing me to read the book it was beautiful and I look forward to reading more by Mandy in the future

I enjoyed this book, the characters were very well written and it touched on some serious mental issues, it was a lovely start to my christmas reading