This was so magical and I can definitely see the Roald Dahl story comparison. I liked that we had a couple POV and the chapters of the fictional book disperses throughout the story to add the parallel elements to it. It was a bit slow paced but the sweet heart warming ending convinced me to keep this book as a 4 star read.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞
𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 / 𝐏𝐑𝐇 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟓.𝟑𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

Thank you @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook.


When I started listening to this, I felt like there were two very separate storylines. First, there is Jack Masterson, “The Mastermind”, the bestselling author of the children’s book series Clock Island. He had quit writing but suddenly he has dropped a new book with a secret competition - promising to change the winner’s life.

The other is that of Lucy, a young teacher’s assistant who desperately wants to adopt Christopher. Christopher is a young boy who has had a horrible time in life and is living in foster care. But Lucy does not have the money or means to adopt right now.

The thread that wove the storylines together was that Lucy, and Christopher, loved the Clock Island books. They were their place of refuge during very hard childhoods. This thread weaves its magic when Lucy enters Mr. Masterson’s contest, hoping this might be a way to give Christopher something special or earn money for his adoption.

The competition is not for the faint of heart; Masterson throws some punches and makes the contestants face some of their fears, but the reasoning does make sense. The ending is somewhat predictable but doesn’t make it any less emotional. This is certainly a whimsical, sweet, clever book. I believe all of us who escaped into a book as a kid will greatly appreciate this one.

A feel good story about wishes, forgiveness, and redemption, with a little hint of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory thrown in for good measure. As a child, Lucy Hart once traveled to Clock Island to be the Mastermind's sidekick because her parents ignored her in favor of her sick older sister. Years later, Lucy is back on the island in order to win the ultimate prize of the latest unpublished book in the Clock Island series written by a mysterious children's author. Her wish? To foster and ultimately adopt Christopher, a young boy orphaned when his parents died suddenly. In order to win the prize (which will provide her with the financial security she longs for), she will not only have to face her deepest fears, but she will also have to out-match 3 other contestants, all of whom have equally important wishes.

Loved this book. It had a hopeful quality to it and an uplifting voice in the form of the main character, Lucy. As a lifelong lover of books, I remember the influence of series in my life growing up. I thought the book had whimsy and was just positive to read. The characters were likeable. The story was engaging and heart-warming. Sorry it took my so long to put this at the top of my list.

I absolutely loved this! As a fantasy reader, this isn't my typical genre but it was so much fun and really gave me those vibes of Willy Wonka and I flew through it! It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed the main character, I appreciated her motivations, I loved the love interest, and though it was just a great sweet and fun story!

This might take the cake for my favorite read of the year. It's unlike anything you've ever read. It has a little bit of everything. There's a love interest, magic and real life issues like foster-to-adopt. It's like a Willy Wonka for book lovers! I so wish The Clock Island books and this author were real because I would love to compete in this contest. Highly recommend this one.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. Pub Date: May 30, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. Whimsical and childlike, this novel is a little big of childhood magic, the beauty of reading/books and games. A well known author has been living the life of a recluse, but decides to host a game on his private island. The winner gets the manuscript of his next novel. All of the players have a deep connection to this author and his books and have been touched by his stories in some way throughout their lives. The reader is taken on a wild ride to see who wins and what is at stake. This book was intriguing, but ultimately I found it to be lacking in excitement. It was good, but not great. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #thewishinggame #netgalley

The Wishing Game was an absolute delight! I'm a very stingy five-star reviewer, but I knew pretty early on this book would be one of the best I read this year. I loved everything about the book from the characters to the setting to the love story.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into from the description. Honestly, I thought the story was going to be a mix of magical realism and YA. I liked that the author remained grounded in reality, but was still able to bring a whimsical feel to the novel. Who wouldn't want a chance to win in a Willy Wonka-esque competition?
Lucy was a good narrator and I liked the chapters from Hugo's POV too. I think Hugo helped the reader get a better feel for Jack. Unlike Willy Wonka, we come to understand more of what makes Jack create this fantasy land in his books and on the island. Lucy's motivations were pure, but I was happy to find she has a bit of a messy backstory, so she wasn't the typical Mary Sue. I loved her chemistry with Hugo and if I had one complaint it would be I wanted more payoff for their relationship.
The book was so feel good, I plan to recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in a book slump.

I loved this book SO much! It was a sweet, wholesome story that basically puts your faith back into humanity, and makes you think that maybe good things actually can happen to good people. The book has a little bit of everything - tragedy, family, drama, mystery, romance. But none of it over the top or overdone. It was all in just the right doses, with all of it woven together into a feel good, touch your heart bundle that has you rooting for everyone to find happiness. The characters are all so likable and sympathetic, they're all people you wish you knew in real life. I was a little concerned that I might find myself disappointed in the ending, but I was pleased to find that the book wrapped itself up in a neat and tidy bow. Highly recommend if you're looking to lose yourself in a charming, easy-read of a book!

Middle grade novels are one of my favorite things. I love the optimism, the wholesomeness, the knowledge that (more often than not) everything is going to work out in the end. There’s a purity to books written for children that will always resonate with me, no matter how old I get. When I can find an adult novel that delivers those same vibes, I’m beyond excited. And that is exactly what <i>The Wishing Game</i> is, in my opinion: it’s a middle grade novel written for grown-ups.

Our story begins is a fairly hopeless scenario. Our main character, Lucy Hart, has only one true desire in the world; she wants to adopt Christopher, a seven year-old former student of hers who she fell in love with and fostered for a week after his parents died. But Lucy doesn’t have the funds, or the home, or the transportation that would help her even begin to qualify as a foster placement for Christopher, much less prove that she is capable of being his Forever Home. But when Jack Masterson, the author of Lucy’s childhood favorite series of books (that she still absolutely adores), invites her to Clock Island to play a game that could change her life in huge ways, she jumps at the chance. Maybe, just maybe, her wish can come true after all.

Clock Island is a magical place, made more magical by the dozens of books set there. I desperately wish the Clock Island books actually existed. I envision this series being something like Nancy Drew if written by Roald Dahl or Norman Juster, mysterious and whimsical in equal measures. They sound enchanting. And so do their covers. I love how important the cover art is to the Clock Island series, and how much of a role it takes in the story itself.

I found the entire cast a delight, especially Lucy, Christopher, Jack, and Hugo, the artist behind the Clock Island covers. The success of the cast rode on the fact that they were all very well fleshed-out and lovable, as well as the fact that the dialogue was incredibly strong.There was this flow to every conversation that felt realistic to me. The banter is quick and bright and clever. Honestly, the writing all around was very strong.

While I found the first half of this book a bit slow for the overall length, that was my only real complaint. I love the emphasis placed on forgiveness and fresh starts and facing your fears. This book drives home the idea that no wish is too big if you’re willing to work for it, and that it’s never too late to shoot for your dream. There’s a lovely found family element, as well, which I’m always a sucker for. I wish I could visit Clock Island, whether in real life or in the fictional series of books around which this particular book is based. <i>The Wishing Game</i> is a hug of a book, and I found myself utterly charmed by it. It’s a reminder that pain doesn’t last forever, and that families come in all kinds of shape. There’s joy around the corner if you’ll just run out to meet it.

This was such a cute sweet read. My heart felt so bad for sweet Lucy, although she read as younger than 26 to me so I kinda struggled with her desperation to adopt Christopher. Christopher is just the cutest, and I loved Jack. Hugo is nice too but I feel like we didn't go far past surface level with him. I LOVED the competition that Jack came up with and the whole idea that he turned this island into the land from his books. This is where the book really shines. If you were a fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events and/or The Boxcar Children definitely give this a read. It's a new story but filled with nostalgia for the joy of children's books.

In 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 by Meg Shaffer, a famous and reclusive children's book author invites some of his biggest fans to take part in a competition that will change the winner's life. This delightfully bookish spin on 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 has the charm and whimsy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢, and brought back memories of the books I cherished as a kid. I listened to the audiobook which has wonderful narration, and found myself crying in my car at the end. If you're looking for a nostalgic and magical story that will touch your heart, this is the book for you.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

I so adored this book. This was an amazing debut novel. I can’t wait to read more books by Shaffer in the future. I want a whole Clock Island series. Thanks so much for the review copy. I also bought a physical copy for my personal library.

I don't know what I thought I was getting when I got this book (I just found it on one of those top books to get this month blogs) but I was pleasantly surprised at what I got! My typical go-to book is definitely of the mystery genre, so when this one started, I kind of gave that crooked eye brow glaze because it wasn't a mystery book. But, be still my heart, whichever blog mentioned it was the best book of the month, absolutely hit the nail on the head! This book was absolutely spectacular!

Everything about this book was so loveable...from the characters, to the setting, to the actual story itself! It was definitely a pick-me-up and I'm so glad I picked it up! It honestly made me feel better just reading it and brings a smile to my face just thinking back on it!

For her debut novel, Meg Shaffer knocked it out of the park! If this is the type of writing she does, it's safe to say she should have a long, successful writing career! I honestly can't wait to see what else she comes out with, because I loved The Wishing Game so much!

Overall, I loved that the premise of this story was thinking outside of the box and not a typical story that someone would write. I appreciate that the story and character's a flawed but unique, but still people you're rooting for! I am incredibly impressed by this book and Meg Shaffer's writing, and I cannot wait to read her next title!

I would like to offer a huge THANK YOU to Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Wishing Game which in turn allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review.

This one was such a joy to read! It was like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Matilda. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that I think it was actually too short. I didn’t feel totally attached to the characters or compelled by their story to the extent I would have liked. And I think it’s mainly because we didn’t get to spend enough time getting to know them. But seriously, this was great and I can’t wait to see what Meg Shaffer writes next!

I wish in game by Meg Sheffer is such a well written, novel, filled with magic and suspense. Mysteries around every corner and surprises on every page. I absolutely love the characters and the character development. Even the characters I didn’t love- I like the way they were written! The games within a game are compelling to read so I would recommend this to anyone who likes puzzles, mysteries, romance, and just stories about good people.

This book was magical. As a reader for as long as I can remember, the prospect of an author creating this sort of competition- I can't imagine!

The book starts with Lucy Hart, an elementary school assistant, struggling to make ends meet for herself and the 7-year-old orphan she wants to adopt. Everything in the world seems to be against her. A hard life, no family ties, no formal education, and no money to adopt sweet Christopher. One thing she can share with him is her love of the Clock Island series, by young adult writer Jack Masterson. These books provided Lucy with a safe space when she was young, and she hopes they provide the same to Christopher.

When everything seems to really fall apart, Jack Masterson surprisingly comes out of his "retirement" with a new book. Instead of releasing it to his publishing house, Jack announces a contest- with Lucy as a contestant. Putting her reading skills, memory, and perseverance to the test- Lucy must face each challenge for a shot at the manuscript, and all the money she needs to be financially secure for the rest of her life. Lucy knows it won't come easy, but she gives her all to each of the challenges thrown her way.

I'll be honest, I didn't think I'd love this book as much as I did but as I sat in my reading chair with tears in my eyes at the end, I knew it was one I wouldn't forget.

The Wishing Game is a book about the magic of books, especially the magic of children’s books. I was one of those kids who devoured books in series like the Nancy Drew books and my brother’s Hardy Boys books, among others, so I could totally imagine how children would feel about the Clock Island books that are featured in The Wishing Game. I found myself entranced with the story and its characters and had a hard time putting down the book.

Lucy is now in her 20s but when she was 13, she ran away from home, where she was miserable, and found her way to where the author of the Clock Island books lived - on a private island also called Clock Island. She was, of course, returned home, but Jack Masterson (the author) never forgot her or the few other children who managed to find their way to his home over the years. For an unknown reason, Jack stopped writing the Clock Island books several years ago. But now he has written a new one and is running a contest. The winner will get the one and only copy of the new manuscript! But Jack is a major fan of riddles - so the game is not an easy one.

Lucy can barely support herself as a teacher’s aide but she is determined to find a way to first foster and then adopt an orphaned boy named Christopher. Her life circumstances are standing in the way - unless she can win this contest!

Jack is an interesting guy with secrets of his own. Hugo is an artist who has illustrated Jack’s books for several years (after winning a contest himself!) and lives on Clock Island. I loved all their interactions - with each other and with Lucy and the other three contestants as well.

The author took her inspiration from Charle and The Chocolate Factory, but this is a very different book. I absolutely loved it - there was just one thing near the end that almost pulled my rating down from a 5, but as it’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, I kept it at a rare (for me) 5-stars.

Warning: there are some heavy, serious topics covered along the way. Among them are child abandonment, child death, death of parents, and descriptions of the difficulties in the foster care system.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was a bit late to it. All opinions are my own.

The Wishing Game
By Meg Shaffer
Pub Date: 30 May 2023
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books
Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction
Rating: 5/5

If you are a child at heart, you will love The Wishing Game. Its imaginative characters, captivating story, and vivid illustrations make it a must-read. It's a timeless classic that will stay with you long after the last page. It invites you to revisit its magical world inspiring you to believe in the power of wishes.

Lucy grew up in a household where her parents ignored her and only cared about her sister. She found comfort and solace in the fantasy realm of the Clock Island series of books. She ultimately used this escape to guide and empower her journey to her dreams.

Lucy is now an adult, working as a teaching assistant, and disconnected from the family that hurt her. She is struggling financially and desperately wants to adopt one of her former students, Christopher. She believes that with her experience and understanding of the situation, she can provide a better life for the child. Despite being broke, a lack of transportation, and a difficult living situation, Lucy is determined to persist, but for Christopher, who is in foster care, time is running out. Is Lucy willing to risk everything to save him?

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sharing this incredible book with me. I highly recommend this story to others, as I literally could not put it down and devoured it in one sitting.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Wren and Anders are both alone-and heartbroken. Wren found out her fiance was betraying her. Wren meets Anders while visiting family in Indiana and sparks fly. But everyone capable of mature love has baggage of some sort. Being alone does not always mean your heart is free But Anders has a secret he is not quite ready to share. When he does tell it, does it break Wren’s heart all over again, or will it mend it?

I like this novel-a realistic feeling romance with adults acting like grown people with ethics.