What a beautiful story of found family. This felt like Willy Wonka fan fiction and was just as magical.

The book focuses on an author, Jack, who really is the Willy Wonka of children's stories and a young woman, Lucy, that desperately wants to adopt a young orphaned boy, Christopher, from foster care. There is a hint of romance with the illustrator of Jack's books, Hugo, but it stays mostly a friendship throughout the book. I thought their relationship was really cute.

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. The story was tied up a little tidy, but I didn't mind at all. It was such a feel-good story.

4.5 stars rounded up for a fabulous debut! I look forward to seeing what Shaffer comes out with next.

I loved this whimsical and sweet book! If you love books like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Midnight Library, you’ll love this one, too!

This was a heartwarming story of Lucy Hart, a lover of the children’s book series, Clock Island. Her life has been one of challenges. She’s a teacher’s aide and wants to adopt a little boy in her class named Christopher, who has also had a challenging life.

She gets invited to a Willy Wonka-esque puzzle competition for a chance to win an exclusive signed copy of reclusive author Jack’s latest book.

What follows is an expertly written tale of the healing power of books, not giving up when odds are stacked against you, and found family. Beautiful book!!!

Thank you to Random House Group, Ballantine, and NetGalley for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review. 💕

Just couldn't get into the too-much-sugar treatment of the foster and adoption story. I realize the author didn't want to get into the warts of it, but this was just too far from reality to be believable at all.

Dear The Wishing Game,
I struggled to connect and buy into your world of whimsy at first. I don't know why, but your first 50 pages were hard for me. But once I got over the hump, and into the meat of your story, I was entranced. I loved your magical realism and your story overall. I knew that you would make me smile, and I did, time after time while reading you. The riddles were a fun addition to the whole story. You reminded me of a grown up version of one of my favorite childhood books, The Westing Game. While you didn't have me full on crying, your ending certainly had me sniffling just a bit. You are sweet and deep and I just enjoyed losing myself on Clock Island.

Jack Masterson is the author behind a best-selling children's series. After book number 65, he mysteriously stopped writing and became somewhat of a recluse. After six years, he sends a message to his fans that he will give his new book to the winner of a one-of-a-kind contest - Willie Wonka style. Each of the contestants are people who have intersected with Jack at some point in the past, are now grown, and are in desperate need of a wish to be granted. True to the style of the books, the contestants compete in solving riddles and eventually facing one of their greatest fears. This is a story of being brave enough to dream big. The characters are endearing. The story is engaging. It just made me happy!

I really enjoyed this book! Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced e-copy and of this book.

This was quite a different book. I enjoyed it. I'm not sure how to describe it. A young woman is given the chance to visit the Clock island where a famous author lives, and to bring her foster child with her. This is a fun fantasy, with a surprising, great ending. Check it out for an entertaining read!

Be very, very careful what you wish for. I just might get it. Not your vocalized wish but your REAL wish.

This book was Willy Wonka meets the Magic Tree House. It will give you nostalgia for whatever your childhood favorite books were. Imagine what it would be like to meet your favorite author, then imagine what it would be like to spend a week with them, on their private island, competing for the only manuscript of what is sure to be their next best seller. There were definite moments when I had to suspend my disbelief a little, but ultimately, Lucy was such a relatable character and hers and Christopher's story tugged on my heart strings. This book is full of magic while being firmly planted in reality. It's the type of magic that really can and does exist in the real world and this book provides a little bit of hope that we can find it the way Lucy has.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I enjoyed reading it but I found it very easy to put down. I loved the premise of the book but I found the main character to be a little immature and unbelievable for a grown woman. There were so many opportunities to really delve into tough topics, but the author just kind of superficially glanced over at them. By the end of it, I found myself thinking, “I really liked this but…” Lots of things I liked and they all came with a but.

Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse for the ARC. All thoughts presented are my own honest opinions.

“The Wishing Game,” by Meg Shaffer, is a heartwarming and enchanting debut novel that centers around Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher’s aide who wants nothing more to adopt Christopher Lamb, a boy in her classroom whose parents died in a car accident. But with unreliable transportation, less-than-ideal living conditions, and a small salary, that wish seems far out of reach — until she is invited to the real-life Clock Island, home of the books she loved as a child and now reads to 7-year-old Christopher. Jack “The Mastermind” Masterson, author-turned-recluse, has written a new novel and has invited a select few to his home on the island for a chance to win the book. Will Lucy be able to outwit the other contestants and The Mastermind to make her wish come true?
Highly inspired by “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” — it is even dedicated to Charlie — Shaffer’s novel is a clever and imaginative read, with a lot of fun word play. The list of Masterson’s Clock Island “books” is a nice extra. At times the pace is slow and the action a little predictable, but set against the mysterious Clock Island, a place that Shaffer makes you want to visit with her descriptions, it balances in the end.
This is an endearing story for people who like to read books about books, magic and adventure. Thank you to Ballantine Press and NetGalley for this advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Contemporary Fiction

This was a masterpiece!

I loved every paragraph of this novel and am gobsmacked that it is a debut novel.

Jack Masterson is the writer of a best selling series of children's books. He experienced some personal tragedy and hasn't written anything in 6 years. He finally writes another novel and decides to host a competition for the rights to the book - think Willy Wonka's golden ticket contest. Four lucky people will get to come to Clock Island and compete. The four people were children that managed to come to his home when they were children.

Lucy Hart is one of those kids. Her life has been difficult. Her older sister was very sick when they were young and their parents left Lucy to be cared for by her grandparents. They acted as if she didn't exist and hurt her deeply. As an adult, all she wants is to adopt a young boy whose parents died tragically. She is only a teacher's aide and has very little money and even less security. Not ideal conditions in which to raise a child. She is hoping this contest will change her circumstances and allow her greatest wish to come true.

Hugo Reese lives on the island with Jack and illustrates the books. He is a painter and came to live on the island when he himself won a contest.

This book is magical. The story is so engaging and the characters are truly special. I cannot wait to read what Shaffer comes up with next! A new favorite!

Though it took me awhile to get into, I really loved The Wishing Game. Meg Shaffer created characters with heart that you couldn't help but fall in love with. The nostalgia is real with this book, and now I want to go back and reread all of my favorite books as a kid.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book seemed so promising, but it wasn’t especially well written and the ending felt a bit like a hallmark movie – everything tied up in a nice bow. If you’re going to write a sweet book with an overly happy ending it must be earned and this just wasn’t.

As other reviewers have written there is something strange about the relationships in this book. The adults do not seem quite like adults – they seem unable to act in mature ways or make anything resembling adult choices. The children are so precocious they seem like caricatures.

I wished I liked the book more because the island where it takes place and the possibility that created location promised and its homage to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with books and not candy seemed so promising.

It’s safe to say my gobs are smacked and my ghasts are flabbered. This book hooked me on chapter one, I was already seated at Lucy’s corner ready to risk it all for her and Christopher. This small cast of characters is just too great, and their struggles and fears are so real I caught myself on the verge of tears several times because I was wishing desperately for all their happy endings.

The romance is soft and just the right amount for a story that happens mostly though the course of a week. All the riddles and challenges were interesting, and no parts of the plot were dragged along. It’s a solid standalone fantasy about love and wishes. As an adult who grew up surrounded by books, this one felt like a warm hug. I really can’t think of anything bad about this book, definitely in my top 5 of the year so far.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this edition in exchange for an honest review.

"The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer is a brilliant novel that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, transporting readers back to their cherished childhood memories and simpler times. This enchanting story weaves together moments of thrilling suspense, heartwarming romance, and an abundance of excitement. As the plot unfolds, Shaffer keeps readers guessing, leading them on an unpredictable journey that culminates in a truly surprising and satisfying ending. Just like a warm cup of tea on a chilly day, "The Wishing Game" provides a comforting and immersive reading experience that will stay with you long after the final page.

I love when a book takes me by surprise when I utterly fall in love with it and this one did. Books of your childhood can help you escape into a world, enrich your world and change your life. That’s what the Clock Island books did for so many readers, especially for Lucy who ran away from home to the real Clock Island in Maine, as did several other children through the years. Suddenly, the famed author stops writing the series. When the reclusive author issues a contest only inviting a select few that he invites back to Clock Island. The winner will receive the one copy of the highly anticipated and secret new book which could fetch millions of dollars at auction and change any of the winners lives.
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Lucy would use that money to finally be able to afford her own place to live, a car, and some stability to try to adopt Christopher who has found a spot in her heart as she worked as his teacher’s aide. She knows what it’s like to be alone in the world and she doesn’t want the same for Christopher.
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There is so much to love about this book. I loved Lucy and her pure heart. I adored Jack the infamous author with a heart of gold and Hugo, the beloved illustrator found a way into my heart.
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This is a story about how books can change your life. I loved this one so much because I loved the feeling as a child of falling in love with a book series and eagerly anticipating the next one. I loved the illustrations of books. I loved a special edition of a book. I loved a book that had collectible stickers in the back and even the ones that had a poster to pull out. This book nails every single detail of what it was like to be a book lover as a child, as a teen and then an adult and never once losing the magic and love of reading.
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Thank you @randomhouse and @prhaudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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A beloved author goes dark for unknown reason and leaves legions of adoring fans befuddled and wanting more. Years later and out of the blue he resurfaces with a potential life altering challenge. We meet Lucy, who had a terrible childhood and is trying her best do let all the pain go and live the best life she can. As a child she found her emotional satiation in books so does all she can to introduce her young students to the joy of reading. She forms a bond with Christopher, as student in her class who lost his family through tragedy and wants nothing more than to make him her family. She knows this is near impossible due to her own financial circumstances, but hope lives in her heart. When her beloved author resurfaces with a contest and she is chosen to participate her hope grows that she can bring Christopher home. Will she win and get what she prays for? I liked this storyline, but found it was more of a YA than adult novel. Think Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Took me a bit to get through, but loved the ending. Very sweet and satisfying. The moral of this story is never give up on your dreams for they just may come true, which is great for every age.

"The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer is a charming and enchanting novel that weaves a tale of magic, self-discovery, and the power of wishes. Set in a whimsical world, the story follows the journey of the protagonist as she stumbles upon a mysterious game that promises to grant her heart's deepest desires.

At its core, "The Wishing Game" is a celebration of hope, resilience, and the importance of embracing one's true self. It imparts valuable messages about the power of gratitude, the strength of friendship, and the beauty of finding contentment in the present.

This delightful novel is a heartwarming and feel-good read that will appeal to readers of all ages. Whether you're a fan of magical realism or simply enjoy heartwarming tales of self-discovery, "The Wishing Game" is sure to leave you with a sense of wonder and a smile on your face. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a charming and uplifting story that will make you believe in the magic of wishes and the beauty of following your heart's desires.

I love when two of my favorite genres come together in one book. This novel felt highly original and immediately caught my attention. I loved the twists and really vibed with the characters. I'd read from this author in the future.

This book is really, really sweet. Meg Shaffers’ debut is a heartwarming novel filled with a book competition, endless riddles, and a magical island. The world-building throughout the story was one of my favorite parts, and I loved how the heavier topics were handled within the whimsy of the book. I’ve seen many people say this book reminded them of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, but for me it felt more in line with Wendy Mass’s The Candymakers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!