The Wishing Game is a book that, to me, seemed like it should be fantasy but wasn’t. Lucy grew up in a tough situation and found solace in a children’s book series set on Clock Island. Clock Island is a real island where the writer of the series lives and is holding a special content for only a select few. Lucy is invited to participate in the once in a life time content that could grant her wish of adopting a little boy named Christopher.

Tbh, I want sure I was feeling this book to start but I kept on and then had tears in my eyes at the end of it. It really felt like it could have been more fantasy than reality because of this other worldly Clock Island setting. Overall, a cute, heartfelt book.

How is this a debut novel?!? It seems impossible.

The reading experience was propulsive. I read it so fast it felt like a short story. The setting is entrancing. Im sure everyone is ready to live on Clock Island after reading this. The characters felt real, and they were all bookish and charming. It’s nice to visit a world where everyone loves books and believes in the transformative power of storytelling. Everyone grew and changed through the book.

If you were a westing game kid, this book is for you. The only problem I have is what to read next? I am worried everything will be disappointing. I only wish it were gayer because everything should be gayer.

I loved this book so much. It was a sweet story with such great characters! I cannot believe this is this authors debut. It was a phenomenal read and I wish I could read this again for the first time!

“The stories write us, you see. We read something that moves us, touches us, speaks to us and it….it changes us.”

I absolutely adored this book. I work in a mental health facility with at-risk teenagers and this book made me think so much of them. I wish they had an author like Jack Masterson to write to that would give them hope. This was such a beautiful story with love and light and magic. Lucy was so relatable and her love of stories and helping those she cares about was so heartwarming. What a unique and engaging read! I also really loved the audiobook!

While I would have tabbed this entire story, here are a few of my favorite quotes!

“Hate is a knife without a handle. You can't cut something with it without cutting yourself.”

“Another thing I learned in therapy?" Angie said. "The kids in dysfunctional families who act out and rebel are the ones who are the healthiest mentally. They're the ones who see that something's wrong. That's why they act out, because they see the house is burning down, and they're screaming for help.

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty, they say, and they aren’t wrong. We only know the right thing to do after we’ve done the wrong one.”

“There is nothing braver than a child asking for help.”

Thank you @netgalley for the early copy and thanks to @prhaudio for the early listening copy!

Willy Wonka for book lovers! How amazing it would be to have first dibs on your favorite author's next book especially when it had been such a long time since the last one. It must be absolute privilege for a reader. In this case, you not only had a chance to get your hands on that book, but also get to visit the island books were placed and play the game with the author.

Kids looked up to Jack Masterson. For some he was the father figure they never had. He meant comfort and belonging to them. Clock Island was their refuge figuratively and literally. Lucy was one of those kids. As a grown up, she still needed Jack Masterson and his books to feel comfort and share it with the little boy she wanted to adopt so bad. When she was presented with the golden ticket to Clock Island, she knew she needed to do her best to win the game, book, and life she dreamt of.

Depending on how you are feeling on the days on you are reading this book, you might find it wholesome and whimsical or bit too happily ever after. But I think it won't stop you from rooting for Jack, Hugo, Lucy and most importantly Christopher. It's definitely a feel-good story.

It took me a looong time to get past the first few chapters of this book but I soon fell in love with Lucy, Hugo, Christopher and Jack. Loved the setting of the clockwork island, the theme and the characters. Even shed a few tears at the end. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a heartwarming feel good story.

Very well done. Nostalgic in a way to the books I loved as a child and the magic they had. Would be interested to see what comes nest from this author

This book has to be an instant bestseller. It's exactly what society needs right now... a little hope to hold onto our wishes. When Lucy Hart is a teenager, she runs away from home to "Clock Island", an "imaginary" place from books that she started reading while she was stuck at the hospital for her sister's medical treatments. On Clock Island is where she meets Jack, the author of the books, but unfortunately he has to call the police on her so her parents can collect her and take her back home. Fast forward 15? years or so, and Lucy is an adult, struggling to make ends meet, and desperate to foster-to-adopt one of the kids at her school, Christopher. But Lucy doesn't even have a car, let alone an apartment all for herself, so she has a lot of obstacles before she's even clearer for fostering. Then there's a contest for one special person to win the only copy of Jack's recently-written final Clock Island book. Lucy and three other adults who also ran away to Clock Island when they were teens, all return again and participate in Jack's game to try to win... and see if their wishes will finally come true.

Love, love, love this book! Read it NOW!!

Great book with a touching ending. A gorgeously written feel goodbook. A magical storytelling journey filled with imagination. Face paced and fun! Loved it!!

The Wishing Game is a charming and heartwarming book that details the life of Lucy, a kindergarten teacher’s aide, Hugo, an illustrator, Jack a reclusive children’s book author, and Christopher a child in foster care. Lucy competes for a chance to win the only copy of the latest book in the series, which allow her the financial security to adopt Christopher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Wow!!! What a magical, heartwarming, feel good book!!!

Years ago, famous author Jack Masterson stopped writing his popular children's books to the shock of the world. Suddenly, he resurfaces with a brand new book and a lchanging competition set on the remote island that he lives on. Lucy is a huge fan of Jack’s work and read his stories to get her through a not so great childhood. Now she is 26 and has dreams of adopting a little boy, Christopher, an orphan who she spends a lot of her time with. Due to financial issues, adoption seems impossible. Lucy is ready to give up hope until she learns she's one of the 4 contestants chosen to participate in Jack's contest.

This was an incredibly beautiful story. I absolutely loved getting lost in this story and couldn’t put it down. This book gives you all the feels! I will forever recommend this book!


📘: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
🗓️: May 30, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Lucy can't believe her luck when she's selected to compete in a contest hosted by her very favorite childhood author. Will she win? Because, as a teacher's aide, she could really use the money... and not just to feed and clothe herself. Oh no. Lucy has an even grander dream to adopt 7 year old Christopher, who was orphaned and living in a foster home.

From the very first page featuring a map of Clock Island, home of author Jack Masterson, I was enchanted by this story of a woman's love for a child that is not her own but whom she desperately loves and wants to make her own! I am always a sucker for anything about an adopted or foster child, and this was no exception. The blurb promised it would absorbing and whimsical, and it sure did deliver!

Was the ending a little too cheesy and saccharine sweet? Probably… but, in this case, the overall story and the feel good ending warmed my heart and soothed my soul.

Location: California and Maine

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book of the Month - June 2023

Books can take the reader to far away places, let our imagination roam and be our family and best friend. The Wishing Game did that for readers by allowing us to be children again while we uncovered why our love for reading began. This book brought back loving memories of days spent reading , trips to the library and daydreams. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Penguin Random House

I really liked this book. It was a really good read and well written. Thank you for the ARC! I really appreciate it!

This book took me by surprise! I knew it was about a young woman trying to win a contest by her favorite children's book author but it is oh so much more! Deeper storylines abound, including the foster care system and problems children face in society. I loved this book!

This was wonderful! A book about books and wishes. Lucy is a teacher. One of her students is Christopher. Her biggest wish is to adopt him one day. She hopes she can if she wins the mysterious contest involving the author of a series they love. The characters were great. And the adventures were even better.

LOVED it!! Such a sweet and easygoing story I loved the premise of a beloved children's author and the children all grown up. I loved the book in the book I mean seriously can someone please write the clock island books now for real?! I loved the simplicity and that so much of this.book was just about the joy of books and the joy of reading. I loved that message that it's okay to ask for help, I loved that Lucy got to realize she had what she needed all along. I just loved it

Lucy Hart wants so badly to adopt Christopher Lamb but her life as a teacher’s aide will not allow it. When she was young she read all of the Clock Island Books by Jack Masterson. Jack decides to have a contest and Lucy gets a chance to go to his home and compete in the games. Everyone is rooting for Lucy but she does not win but Jack gives her so much and she is finally able o adopt Christopher. This book restores the faith in that good people do still exist and want to help others. A great page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for my Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Dedication ~ "This book is dedicated to Charlie and to all of us who are still looking for our golden tickets."

A feel good book about books, where wishes can come true.

The Wishing Game centers around author, Jack Mastermind, best known for his hit selling Clock Island Series. A series beloved by children all over. When Jack suddenly stops writing, people anxiously await any news. Fast forward thirteen years and teachers aide, Lucy, introduces this series to one of her students, Christopher. Lucy loves Christopher and is trying to adopt him, but is getting stopped at every turn.

When Jack Mastermind announces a contest to win the only copy of his new book for the series, Lucy is at a race against time and people to find the answers and win the book.

*This was such an easy book to read and get lost in. While I never was a huge fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I did love the story it told. I loved Jack as weird Wonka's replacement lol. I loved his riddles and his love for the players.

*I enjoyed the fact that romance took a back seat in this one. And while it is hinted upon, the character development was a fresh change.

*Clock Island is actual place and oh man, what a place it is! The book opens with a map and I love love maps! Like Hogwarts and Velaris, it is a fictional place I will always remember.

*There wasn't much about this story that I didn't like. I think it is actually suited for children as well. Or at least a younger audience.

Well done for a debut novel. I would highly recommend this for anyone needing an uplifting story!

I am very thankful to have been able to read an ARC of The Wishing Game, and I'm looking forward to this being released.
This is a really cozy story that made me remember all the books I loved when I was young and the worlds I wanted to run off to.
Okay, to be fair, I still feel that way often, however it was more magical when I was younger and felt more real.
That's the magic of this book.
I would consider this a cozy read. One to read lying in bed or maybe snuggled up by your young kid while they're learning how to find the magic in books.