4 1/2 stars
This is the book for all those kids who wanted to run away not to the circus but to the land of their favorite stories.
Lucy is a hard working teacher's assistant with an oversized heart and one wish - to officially adopt the little boy in the foster system that she has come to love. There is one catch and that is that Lucy is not financially able to care for Christopher yet and she is saving every cent she can. She and Christopher have gotten through the dark times by reading a children's book series about Master Mastermind and Clock Island where wishes are granted if you prove yourself worthy. The author of the series has become a recluse but he is holding a contest for a select few with a prize so special that it will grant more than a couple of wishes. Lucy is invited and if she wins she will finally be able to have Christopher call her mom. Reminiscent of all those childhood classics complete with a quest, hidden clues, riddles and bravery with the adult bonus of making amends. Kudos to all the unsung heroes who make wishes come true without looking for recognition. Brilliant story writing with emotional ups and downs that will appeal to fans of THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY and THE READING LIST. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you to Ballatine publishers and Net Galley for letting me read The Wishing Game By Meg Shaffer. I was drawn to this title for several reasons, the beautiful cover, the name of the book, and I like to take a chance to read a new author. This book was a willy wonka and the chocolate factory version of a book. A teachers aide who loves to read to read wants to earn the clock island series by competing in riddles to get the only copy that is worth alot of money to succeed.

What an absolutely unexpected gem of a book! I am so glad that the publisher reached out to me to read and review this one because it is not something I had on my radar but I loved it so freaking much. The prologue hooked me immediately and the concept is so unique and fascinating. I read this in like two days because I just couldn’t put it down. The story world is so enchanting, the mysteries and riddles were engrossing, and the characters are so endearing. The plot kept me turning the pages; there is never a dull moment. This book impacted me so profoundly. I felt all the feels and I actually found myself tearing up at times. I’m utterly obsessed with this book and I think everyone needs to read it. It all felt so real! Like seriously… I’m at a loss for words. I felt like I was right there with them the entire time. I cannot even believe that this is a debut; it is just that good. This author is definitely a new favorite for me now and I will be auto-reading anything she writes next. All the stars for this one! I can’t say enough good things about it. This is what reading a book should be like, this is the experience I want to have every time.

Debut author Meg Shaffer has created a beautiful story that touched my heart with The Wishing Game.

Jack Masterson is the successful children's fiction author of the Clock Island series. After taking a unexpected break, Jack has returned to writing his series and the new book comes with a contest. Four contestants will travel to his home on Clock Island, Maine and compete with the winner getting the only copy of the latest book.

For Lucy, this series means everything. The Clock Island series was a constant is a tumultuous upbringing. Now, she is working as a teachers assistant and shares her love of the series with a young boy in foster care named Christopher, who she is trying to adopt When Lucy is chosen to compete for the book, she knows that winning would be life changing, not just for her but also Christopher.

The author has done a nice job of balancing the trauma that some of the characters have experienced in the past with lightness . I liked how the positive impact of books on children's lives is highlighted in this story. It was nice to see it acknowledge and incorporated. I also liked the competition aspect of the book with its challenges and riddles to be solved. It added a bit of fun.
Perhaps my favorite aspect is the hopefulness the story conveys. The friendships and caring that are demonstrated were uplifting and the found family and healing moving.

Thank you Ballantine Books for the advanced readers copy to enjoy.

This was one of the sweetest books I have ever read. I teared up so many times reading it. I almost thought it was going to be too sweet for me and was about to give up on it, but I am SO glad I didnt.

The main character, Lucy, kind of bothered me at first. She seemed very unhappy with her situation and wanted to blame others for it. The way she talked about how unloved she was felt wrong to me for some reason. There are kids who have literally nothing and no one but she had family and that's something. I was glad we got to see her entire story, though, instead of just "this was my life and im forever bitter about it". I hated that her friend, Theresa, kept calling her "baby girl". That's a weird nickname in general for an adult woman, but in the context of this book it was even weirder.

I enjoyed this book! Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

The Wishing Game is the grown-up, behind the scenes version of your favorite childhood book. It’s comforting, mystical, and teaches subtle lessons throughout. The focus on chosen family and the execution of what it means for the main character, Lucy, was wonderfully done.

Hands down an excellent comfort read. Perfect for an easy weekend read or an uplifting novel in-between some heavier reading. I could absolutely see this becoming a classic or possibly a film/limited tv series.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of The Wishing Game! You know how they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover? Well, as soon as I saw this cover I knew I needed to read it and I'm so glad I did. This was such a whimsical, quirky, fun, magical, heartwarming story. As a child (ok, and an adult too) who found comfort in the pages of books, the story really spoke to me. This is an amazing debut for Meg Shaffer and I will be looking out for anything she writes in the future. 5 big stars!

Did Lucy's wish come true? She needs a very big wish to come true.

Lucy had met Jack Masterson, children's author, when she was a young girl.

Lucy and three other contestants are called back to the Clock House for a game to win his latest and last book.


Will a contest on the famous Clock Island with the famous Jack Masterson and with the prize of Jack’s last book worth six figures if you sell it save her so she can have enough money and a suitable life to adopt Christopher?

The house and the game Jack had for them on Clock Island was very clever, and the book was a magical one filled with books, love, hope, and lovable characters.

THE WISHING GAME is a different read that at times was a bit odd, but you will love Lucy and Christopher and their journey to become a family.

In the beginning, I was curious about the plot, but soon enough you will be part of the warm feelings flowing from the characters and will be rooting for Lucy to achieve her life-long dream of winning the contest and becoming a mother.

A sweet, uplifting read that also addresses the difficulties of the child foster program. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

What an enchanting book! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to preview The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. I requested this book based on the stellar reviews, and now I'm here to add one of my own.

I was an avid reader of fantasy as a child, and I would have loved if the Clock Island series was real. Clock Island (in the books) became a refuge for children experiencing issues in their lives. Some of these children, like our protagonist Lucy, ran away to the real Clock Island to escape their problems. There lives a WIlly Wonka-esque author who tries his best to make their wishes come true.

This was an easy read and had me engaged immediately. The characters had issues that felt real and reacted to them (usually) like real people would. This is a great first offering from Meg Shaffer, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

THE WISHING GAME is SO MUCH of fun … it’s joyful like a children’s book, but it’s geared for adults. There’s adventure and magic: the kind that lit you up as a kid when you read Nancy Drew books or a Roald Dahl adventure.

Lucy wants nothing more than to have a stable life so she can adopt a little boy who goes to the school where she works as a teacher’s aide. When she gets the chance to compete in a wild game - sponsored by her childhood idol, author Jack Masterson - Lucy jumps at the chance. She is swept to the mysterious and wonky Clock Island, where Masterson lives and writes his iconic Clock Island series. There she meets illustrator and mega-famous artist Hugo Reese, as well as three others who have been carefully selected to play the game. The winner will receive the only copy in existence of Masterson’s latest novel to keep or sell - making them a pile of cash.

Author Meg Schaffer describes Jack Masterson as “Albus Dumbledore, Willy Wonka, and Jesus Christ all rolled into one … if Dumbledore, Wonka, and Christ had depression and drank too much,” and I think that’s a (hilarious) perfect description. I couldn’t help but compare Lucy to Ms. Honey in Dahl’s Matilda. Little Christopher (the boy Lucy wants to adopt) is as sweet as Charlie Bucket. I adored all the characters and rooted for each of them.

THE WISHING GAME is a nod to the wonder of childhood and to the literature that lights up childrens’ lives. It’s perfect for book lovers and those who enjoy riddles and puzzles. I would also compare it to The Inheritance Games series, but I liked THE WISHING GAME much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eARC of THE WISHING GAME and the opportunity to share my honest opinion.

This review is posted on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5410988054 and will be posted on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/watchskyeread the week of publication (Monday, May 29, 2023).

The Wishing Game
By Meg Shaffer
Pub Date May 30
Ballentine
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Fantasy fiction
Years ago a best selling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand new book and a one of a kind competition. Unique story!
4 stars

A grownup mashup of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Westing Game. This was a pretty fun time, with neat puzzles and good depth. But some gaps made this only a three star for me, that I could see the author improving with future, non-debut novels: too much page space given to internal monologues or repetitive dialogues, some character development jumps/holes, etc.

This book was so sweet and so fun, I absolutely loved it!
The style and story are similar to Willy Wonka, but it also reminded me of Chris Grabestein's Lemoncello books, and Jennifer Chambliss Bertman's Book Scavenger series.
Those books would all be considered YA, but I don't think that book is... it could be, it has all the elements, but it also has a little bit of an older storyline as well.
Our main character Lucy, poor and single in her twenties, wants to adopt orphaned Christopher, a boy at the school where she works, but she can't afford to give them a nice enough place to live, so she is unable to foster or adopt him. Then she receives an invitation to play a game on Clock Island, home to a rich and famous author of children's books. (Lucy had run away to Clock Island when she was young, and had met the author before. It turns out, the four people chosen to play this game had all run away to the island in their youth.) The prize for this game is the rights to the author's new book, which they can sell to make a lot of money. If Lucy wins, she can finally adopt Christopher!
The majority of the book takes place on the island, playing the game, interacting with the author, the other contestants, and Hugo, the artist who paints pictures for all the book covers. Lucy learns and grows, as do most of the other characters.
I won't give away the ending, but I think you can figure it out while you're reading; they all get their happy ever after.
A sweet, sweet story, filled with fun and some adventures.
Great job for a first time author! I hope to see more books by her.

As children, many of us had favorite book series that we read and couldn’t wait until the next book in the series came out. You’d mark it on your calendar.. you’d count down the months,days,minutes,hours until the book was set to be released. Lol… why even restrict this to children, I still do this today! What if you waited years and years and the book never came? And then lo and behold.. finally one day you hear about a contest the author has created for the last book in the series… let the games begin!
Such a fun book from a debut author that will have you flipping the pages until the very end!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review

The Wishing Game was such a lovely and interesting concept! It was like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Westing Game mixed together, but much sweeter and the "eccentric" was much more kind and benevolent. I loved all of the characters and Clock Island was such a well thought out place, and though it was whimsical it was also deep and thought-provoking. While I usually speed through books, I savored this one because I didn't want it to end, and yet I was dying to know what happened. So good!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The Wishing Game is everything you need and more!
Lucy’s connection with her hopefully-soon-to-be-adopted son is the driving force for her entry into a contest hosted by her favorite childhood author.

Told with charm and nuance, this book shares the good (and bad) parts of family relationships as Lucy, Christopher, Hugo, and Jack discover the people they need to create their own family.

This story is sure to warm your heart and wish for your own trip to Clock Island!

The best book I’ve read in a while! The second I finished it, I went to find out what else the author had written. And there’s….NOTHING!? What an amazing and heartwarming first book! I love the way this ended but I would be thrilled to read a sequel! Off to tell my book club all about it!

this book was so beyond charming. the premise of an adult version of willy wonka immediately interested me and i was not let down. it felt like i was reading an elevated version of one of the fantasy books i read as a child. the relationship between lucy and christopher was so heartwarming. i also did tear up at the end. unashamed.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

I LOVED this novel so much, even insisting on some quiet reading time during a girls’ getaway weekend because I couldn’t put it down! It starts a bit slow - Lucy is a broke teacher’s aide at an elementary school who really wants to adopt Christopher, an orphan in foster care, with whom she shares a love of reading. But she’s not allowed to do so because of her finances - so when reclusive children’s author Jack Masterson announces a contest to win the only copy of his first book in years, and Lucy gets a sky blue envelope inviting her to play the puzzle game on his private island, she thinks it might solve all her problems. This book is awesomely described as Willy Wonka for book lovers - and it was such a delightful read once the plot got going! The island was magical and whimsical, the riddles and challenges entertaining, the plot was heartfelt (I teared up a few times), and there was even a little romance to make things interesting. This is definitely going to be a smash hit for 2023 - put it on your TBR list and order now!

Absolutely loved this book. As a life long reader I have spent much time dreaming the what ifs of the places I visit in the books. This book takes us there and then some.