Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun book! The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is an amazing fantasy novel. Even though there wasn't "fantasy" in the strictest sense, it felt like pure wish fulfillment to me, which is why I'm categorizing it as fantasy. The story revolves around Lucy, who enters the competition of her favorite children's book author and ventures to the famous Clock Island of his book. If she wins the competition, she can obtain a life-changing amount of money - enough to adopt Christopher, a foster child living in an unhappy family situation.

Here is a magical excerpt from Chapter 1, when Lucy and Christopher talk about Clock Island:

""Is it really Clock Island?" he asked, scrunching his face at the map. "Is there a train and unicorns there?"
"You mean like in the books?" Lucy asked. "Well, it's pretty amazing there, I hear. Did you know some people think the Mastermind and Jack Masterson are the same person?"
"But you said you met him."
"I did meet Jack Masterson. A long time ago. He, um, signed a book for me."
"He wasn't the Mastermind, right?"
...
"No, he didn't look like the Mastermind when I met him.""

Overall, The Wishing Game is a fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Willy Wonka or Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. One highlight of this book is how it felt like a war hug in book form. The book is truly a love letter to children's books. It will awaken the imagination and childlike wonder of all adult readers. Another highlight of this book is how the ending made me tear up. I basically never cry over books. For all the reasons mentioned above, I can totally see this book becoming the next big bestseller. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in May!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC!

Favorite Quote: Wasting talent like yours is like burning a pile of money in front of a poorhouse. It’s cruel and it stinks.

Synopsis: Lucy works as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant in California. When one of her students, Christopher, tragically ends up in foster care, Lucy becomes determined to adopt him. Just when Lucy thinks her dreams are shattered, her favorite childhood author invites Lucy and three others to his private island on the coast of Maine for a game. The objective: compete against one another and the winner will receive the only copy of the last book of his famous children’s series. The winner can sell the rights, auction it, burn it - whatever he or she wants. But to do win, all the participants must answer riddles, deal with the whims of a writer, and face their fears.

The Wishing Game is a lovely work of contemporary fiction. It’s warm, lighthearted, and whimsical. The characters are complex, but the plot isn’t slowed down by their arcs. I took a chance on requesting The Wishing Game as an ARC and I’m glad I did. Shaffer did a great job with this debut novel!

Rating: 5/5

A gem of a novel, enjoyable from the first chapter. Hard to put down with its wonderful characters and storyline.
A series of children’s books impacts the lives of the children who read them. The author is reclusive on his island in Maine. For four children, the island and the stories represent a way to have their wishes granted and they travel alone to the island. Now as adults, they are called back to the island for a game and a chance to win the first book in six years. The riddles in the books are modeled in the game and each player has the opportunity to win. Each one has current problems that the money from the sale of the book would solve.
The story is really about Lucy and her wish and her deepest desire as an adult. It is just a lovely novel.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own,

This was a fun book that I got from NetGalley and read in one shot last night. I realize that it’s not YA but somehow, it just read immature. Maybe the characters were a little underdeveloped or too simple, maybe the challenges were too easy. I love stories that appeal to a children’s love of books or an innocent sense of wonder but this felt a little off. I also didn’t love that the little center romance felt a little off, as Hugo is a fair bit older than Lucy and met her as a child. That being said, this is heartwarming and sweet and would read other books by this author.

This is a delightfully earnest and incredibly charming novel. While the author cites Willy Wonka as a core influence for the story, it also has a dash of The Westing Game and a sprinkle of Matilda.
There are so many delightful details that it also gave me a little hint of what I loved about my all-time favorite book, The Night Circus. The descriptions are whimsical and magical, and capture the sort of clever ideas that spark joy in the parts of us that love to believe that the well-loved places from our favorite childhood books are somewhere we can really visit.
It’s a book for adults, but the style and content of the story makes it a great read for a wide range of readers.

*Thank you to Ballantine via NetGalley for the ARC recommendation*

The Clock Island book series was a lifeline for young Lucy, whose loneliness and neglect led her to run away to the real life namesake island in search of a purpose: to be the “sidekick” of renowned Clock Island author, Jack Masterson. Years later, as an adult, Lucy is invited back to compete for a chance to win the only copy of the last Clock Island book. Lucy returns to the island with a different purpose in mind: winning that book to sell it for enough money to officially adopt an orphan, Christopher, as her son before he’s placed with a new family.

When I first started The Wishing Game, I thought it was going to be a fun, whimsical read, something I could even possibly read aloud to my kids. There’s snippets of the Clock Island books interspersed throughout the story and pages and pages of descriptions of this magical island, which felt like it was perfect for young readers with big imaginations. But it eventually does deal with heavier topics such as CW: death, mentions of abuse (mental/sexual/medical), child illness, along with depression, which makes me question who the intended audience for this book is. Nevertheless, it was well-written and I actually really enjoyed the Clock Island stories within the story. Shaffer did an incredible job creating another universe, but unfortunately, the current world (aka Lucy’s “real life”) felt repetitive and too juvenile at times. The balance just felt off for me and I struggled to relate to Lucy.
I also didn’t feel as much as I’d hope given so many sentimental moments. The only part that stuck out to me was the dedication Hugo gave to his brother, but everything else that might’ve left others teary-eyed didn’t stir much emotion in me, sorry.
Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars. The Wishing Game publishes in May 2023.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This has to be one of the absolute cutest premises for a book I've read in YEARS. I was pleasantly surprised by this debut, and loved it with every inch of my heart. I loved the story, the pacing was perfect and engaging, and the characters were people that I felt connected with the whole way through. Meg Shaffer is now on my radar, and I can't wait to see what else she publishes! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I adored this book & it was a pure delight!!

Think Willa Wonka, with books instead of candy!!

Lucy is a young Kindergarten teacher's aide & she mentors a little boy in her school who is in foster care. Lucy introduces Christopher to a series of children's books which helped her through her difficult childhood.

This book series plays an important part of this story. The author, Jack, has his own island & has become somewhat of a recluse over the years, but he breaks out with a surprise which tips the children's literary world on its head.

I loved most every character in this book-Lucy & Christopher & of course Jack, but there's Hugo, the cover artist for the books....Just loved this story so much!! I read it in one day as I could not put it down.

I did receive this book as an advance copy, but my opinions are my own -thank you Penguin Random House & Net Galley!

Wow. This book was special. After finishing it I had to sit with it to really feel the full weight this book had on me. It is perfect. The line "Always remember that the only wishes ever granted are the wishes of brave children who keep on wishing even when it seems no one is listening because someone always is" absolutely broke me. As someone who loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child, this book is the perfect adult version while being aware that it is not trying to be that book but instead give homage to it. The ending of this book was one of my favorite ever. For anyone who has ever felt saved from their love for reading, this book is for them.

The second I read the description for The Wishing Game, I knew I had to request it. A book with a mysterious Willy Wonka-esque male character, riddles, and magic? Sign me up! I'm happy to say that this book lived up to all my expectations. It was unique, well- written, and clever. I adored the way Meg Shaffer described the island and the riddles in this book in a way that made the book feel so magical. Additionally, the characters were all well fleshed out and felt like real, authentic people. All in all, this was a perfect low-stakes magical fantasy book that feels like a warm hug and begs to be turned into a movie. One of my favorite reads of the year!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Meg Shaffer’s debut novel “The Wishing Game”. It was upbeat, easy to read and quite entertaining. Well Done Ms. Shaffer. I look forward to reading your future books.,

An author I have not read before with a whimsical story incorporating serious life lessons about strength, wishes, dreams and possibilities. I wasn’t immediately sure the genre was something I would enjoy. As the concept became clearer I couldn’t wait to see how it played out.
A story to remind us what it’s like to be a child, the power of reading books, the magic of being transported from hurtful situations and cruel adults. The wonder and innocence of a child’s belief in magic, happy endings, fantastical places and possibilities.
Jack Masterson is the famous author of children’s Clock Island books. His residence in Maine is meticulously elaborate and magical. Hugo is his talented illustrator also living on the island. The story follows the central character Lucy and the lifelong effects of reading the series. It leads up to the grand finale devised by Jack, a new book and a life altering final game. The contestants include Melanie, Andre, Dustin and Lucy. They must solve riddles and bizarre puzzles to win a priceless prize. All have backstories with emotional reasons for not just wanting but needing to win. I wished for them all to win the contest.
I’m so happy I ignored my initial misgivings and completed reading the story, it was very memorable. I recommend to anyone and everyone who believes in the power of books to change your life.
I received a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley of “The Wishing Game” by Meg Shaffer, published by Random House, Ballantine Books. It is expected to be on sale May 30, 2023. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Review for Amazon

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is a phenomenal read with many thought-provoking and humorous moments. Lucy is a teacher’s aide who wants nothing more in the world than to adopt a little boy named Christopher. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the financial stability to be able to do so. While she scrimps and saves every penny, she and Christopher make use of the time they do get to spend together by reading the Clock Island books that Lucy has loved since she was a child.

One especially rough day, Lucy faces the bitter reality that she will never be able to afford Christopher’s adoption. It is right as she is letting go of this dream, this wish, that she receives an invitation to participate in a contest being put on by Jack Masterson, the author of the Clock Island books they so dearly love. Winning this contest would change Lucy’s and Christopher’s lives forever, so she jumps at the chance.

I loved this book so much. Shaffer took me down a path of whimsy and hope, while facing the harsh realities that many children face. She masterfully explored the ways that people cope with difficulty and how your past affects you as an adult. I appreciated Shaffer’s willingness to face how our own lives and perspectives change how we perceive others. The depth of the characters shined on every page, and the riddles and the games were clever, yet simple. Truly phenomenal read.

Such a unique story! Great writing but not my usual genre. I’ll give it three stars and I would read it again. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy for the purpose of this review.

What a great book! So well written with a truly original story. The characters are very likeable and have interesting backstories. This is a book about dreams, redemption and forgiveness. I would absolutely read more books by this author!

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer has a fantastic premise: children's book author invites four fans to his private island to compete to be the first to win the first Clock Island book in years. That's interesting enough, but the author also came up with emotionally charged stakes: Lucy wants to read the book, but what she really wants is to sell the book so she can afford to adopt a recently orphaned seven-year-old boy, I loved everything about it—highly recommend!!

Oh my goodness but this was such a sweet and lovely tale... It was full of magic and heart and people who love books, and it was written in an engaging and easygoing style that had me flipping pages from start to finish. While I was fairly confident that everything would wrap up tidily, and - this isn't really a spoiler given the genre - it did, it did so in a way that felt authentic and like the kind of plausible that exists in the world you WANT to live in even if it doesn't exactly resemble the real world in very many regards.. I fell in love with the characters and the magic, both of which will totally send me in search of more by Meg Shaffer...

Meg Shaffer's 'The Wishing Game' is perfection! The story is engrossing and whimsical, the words are lyrical and the message of love and redemption is life-altering. I will not soon forget the emotions and lessons I learned from this brilliant story. I sincerely hope that Meg Shaffer has more to share with the world.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

When Lucy was 13 she ran away from home, and went to Clock Island, where her favorite author, Mastermind Jack lived, and he was looking for a sidekick. She believed he granted wishes. She didn't get to stay, and now she is all grown up, and she met a seven-year-old boy. Christopher, who lost his parents and was in foster care. He was struggling, and she shared her collection of the Mastermind's book. She tutored him in reading, and she wanted so bad to be his Mom, but, money was stopping that from happening. She learned that Mastermind Jack had written a new book and there was only one copy/ He was going to have a contest for the young children who ran away from home when they were young, and came to Clock Island.
Lucy receives her invitation to go back to Clock Island. She and Christopher have been playing what they called the Wishing Game, and they had both wished that they would get enough money for Lucy to adopt him. When she arrived at the island, she meets the other three contestants. As the contest is taking place, we see the people in the story begin to change. Clock Island is a small island but filled with so many unique things. The four contestants, were there as a child, when they were invited back as an adult, each time they learned many things,
Sometimes, instead of I Win, We Win, works out so much better. You will have to read the book, to discover why that is. I received an ARC from Ballantine Books through NetGalley.

The Wishing Game
Meg Shaffer
Ballantine Books
May 2023

“The only wishes ever granted are the wishes of brave children who keep on wishing even though it seems no one is listening because someone always is.” - Jack Masterson in a letter to Lucy when she was a child. He lives on Clock Island where he pens his Clock Island books for children.

Lucy ran away from home when she was 13 and ran to Clock Island because she believed her wish would be granted if she could only talk to the shadowy, mysterious, mystical, and magical Master Mastermind. You see, Mastermind granted wishes to brave children who earned their wishes.
There she discovered the answer to a question that he posed to her. The question is, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

If you knew the answer to this Wishing Game question, you might win a new Clock Island book, the first in six years, and the only copy! The competition is-by invitation only-to “Mastermind Jack’s” Clock Island home.

Lucy is desperately trying to adopt Christopher, a 7-year-old boy she met at the school where she works. She tutors him after school. But, she is single with little money and lives in an apartment she shares with three others. How they wish they could be mother and son. Lucy decides if she wins the competition, they will read the book once and then sell it for a lot of money so she could adopt Christopher.

Lucy and Christopher are at a computer station when a blue envelope is delivered to Lucy. It’s an invitation to the Wishing Game! Perhaps their wish will come true!

Lucy arrives at the island and meets her competition. There are only three other contestants. But, Mastermind has made the game difficult by extending the game over several days with strange puzzles to solve for points. Will Lucy win the game and have her wish fulfilled? You’ll have to read The Wishing Game to find out.

Shaffer has created an almost surreal setting for her characters to interact with each other: An isolated island, filled with twelve magical locations named after the hours of the clock, and fully realized characters to inhabit the space.

I love the character Mastermind. He is a delightful eccentric writer who devises the most bizarre riddles. Of course everyone will love Lucy and Christopher and their love for each other. Another favorite is the illustrator of the books: Hugo. I recommend The Wishing Game if you love love stories and riddles! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️