Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

All Lucy wants in the world is to have enough money to adopt Christopher. She works her heart out, but isn't making much progress when one day she receives a letter that might just make all her dreams come true. She's been invited to Clock Island, the setting for a series of children's books written by the author Jack Masterson. He's invited her to the island to participate in a game with three other people. Only one can win.

What I loved about this book is that it had such heart. It felt fresh and new to me, There was something almost magical about the tone and voice of the book that it left me wanting to stay wrapped up in it.

I found Lucy, Christopher, Hugo, and Jack to all be well-defined characters. Even the side characters felt substantial and weighty. I knew these people and they all felt distinct. Clock Island is beautifully described and vibrant, a character unto itself.

The book deals with deep issues of why these kids escaped to Clock Island in a way that is both childlike in its innocence but still captures the deeply painful wounds left by what happened to them. It's very clever writing. I initially had this rated at a four, but I think it's more of a 4.5. There's something about it that makes me think I'll revisit this one again.

I loved how this book tied the characters together even though there was no real connection at first. I loved the flow and ease of reading this. It combined whimsy with real societal problems. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

Honestly, I didn't think I would really like this book. The synopsis sounded okay and it was the cover that drew me in. However, I'm pleasantly surprised. It was a little hard to get into, a little slow, the story was a little weird but the more I read the more I had to keep going. I liked the characters well enough and the plot was unique (to me.)

I was lucky and was granted permission to read this book early by the publisher and NetGalley. I'm so glad that they did. This book was simply wonderful. I think there's alot of us out there as children escape into books and fictional worked to help avoid reality so this hit home. Now throw in what happens if we follow that book and author that helped us escape and you have this book. 5 stars isn't enough. I will definitely read more from this author.
I just reviewed The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. #TheWishingGame #NetGalley
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This was incredible. I cannot emphasize how much I loved this. Maybe it's because I love riddles or puzzles, or maybe I've been wishing a scavenger hunt like this would happen to me my whole life, but this was magical. I was sobbing on the airplane as I read the last bit, and I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about how sweet the mother-son dynamic was in this book. Meg Shaffer, you have both my respect and my gratitude for writing this: it was sweet, poignant, and full of magic. I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book!

It's not often I come across a fun read about a game this is well written with adults in mind. This is one of those rare books.

When a writer doesn't write it's easy to fade away. That's not what happened to Jack Masterson aka Mastermind. His many children's books are still being read by children and talked about by adults. When he announces he has written a new book and will give it to the winner of a game he has devised, excitement is everywhere. The four contestants he invites must solve riddles and gain points in order to win the book and their long held desires.

A twist comes when what they think they want may not be what they're playing for. Twists, turns, cheating, and an unexpected ending make this book one that should be read.

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was heartwarming and the characters were all lovable. The story is just so magical! Great job!!! I can’t wait to read more from this author!!
Thanks so much for the ARC! 😃

[Disclaimer: I received an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]

Although not a conventional fantasy -- no magic, no fae, no dragons -- this novel still felt more like fantasy than mainstream to me. And that's a very good thing, in this increasingly bleak
world.

The wishing game itself involves a young elementary classroom aide, Lucy Hart, and the little boy she's hoping to foster / adopt. She has no real chance of qualifying to do this. He has no real chance of becoming her son -- yet both, inspired by a magical children's book series about Clock Island, continue to wish. And, most importantly, to be brave.

The game quickly threatens to become reality. Lucy gets a chance to compete for the first-in-years new Clock Island book. The self-exiled writer of the books finally emerges. His devoted friend and cover artist sees a chance of getting on with his life. Three other players, all with their own compelling back stories, join the competition -- and the plot speeds on, sometimes feeling slightly removed from reality, but mostly delivering exactly what the reader is hoping for, thought seldom as expected.

Admittedly, there's also a sizable helping of darkness in this novel. Child abuse, neglect, and family tragedy figure prominently in all the characters' lives, but so does the comfort and wisdom only beloved books can provide.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of The Wishing Game in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own.

WOW!!!! What a spectacular read!!! I know it is extremely early in the year, but this will likely go down as one of my TOP reads of the year!!!

A reclusive author invites 4 lucky fans to compete for the ONE copy of their new book. I know as a book lover, I LIVE for the next book in a series or the new book by an author I love. This takes it to a whole other level!! This totally makes me thing of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

This is a very endearing story and a page-turner. I was easily invested in the characters and stayed up way too late to finish the amazing read.

PLEASE do yourself a favor and pick this 5 Star book up ASAP!!!

I enjoyed this book of wishes granted to adults grown up from less than stellar childhoods. I loved to see Lucy get her most precious wish granted. It was the best wish of all. The storyline might have been fairly predictable, but who doesn't love a happy ending?

I'm of two minds about this book. There is charm and storytelling, but I can't bring myself to get beyond the creepiness of a teacher's assistant's relationship with and young child and who tells him to keep secrets.

Imagine your favourite children's author invited you to an Island to take part in a fierce competition of games and riddles, just like the books you so loved as a child. The prize? The latest, unpublished book!

I loved the idea behind this story, and it started to get pretty good around the end. Unfortunately,I found the plot dragged a little up until then and it was a challenge just pushing through. I enjoyed the book eventually,but it was hard work getting to that point.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book for review.

This book is going to be enjoyed by so many readers! It's a heart-warming story that ends in a happily-ever-after way and centers on a competition with four contestants. The competition is organized by their favorite children's book author and the prize is a new book. I had to rate this book a bit lower because it was too predictable, but for many that won't matter. I'm very impressed with what Meg Shaffer did with this book and will certainly be keeping an eye out for her next one.

This already has lots of high ratings and reviews, so I'll just recommend it to those seeking an engaging, imaginative tale. This one will sell well.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

This book was an adorable story filled with whimsey and heart.

Lucy Hart is having a tough time. As a teacher's aide, she makes very little money, but dreams of having enough to adopt her favorite student. Those dreams may be answered when Lucy enters into a contest designed by a reclusive best selling children's author set on Clock Island, the very place Lucy ran away to as a little girl.

The book is filled with adorable and engaging characters and fun puzzles as well as fabulous descriptions of a picturesque island brimming with delights.

I found the book a quick, engaging read and loved the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for the e-Arc.

The Wishing Game is a very sweet concept. We have two parties mainly narrating the novel; Hugo and Jack, a reclusive team of illustrator and author of incredibly popular children's book and Lucy Hart a Kindergarten teacher's aide whose heart is set on adopting a former student who has had a very rough childhood.

It's been years since Jack has released a new Clock Island book due to personal trauma, but he has now announced a mysterious competition starting with a riddle. Lucy has always been an avid Clock Island reader and has use those books to find her way out of personal trauma and help her student Christopher find his way out too. As we weave our way through the story we discover that all the main characters have deep seated emotional trauma.

This book is very whimsical, but a few things really kept me from being fully invested. The first was the romantic storyline. The main character met her love interest when she was 13 and he was 21ish. While there wasn't anything inappropriate at the time it still gives me the ick. There's also a few places where the author reiterates the same turn of phrase when listing things either in the same sentence or paragraph. I also thought there was too much going on with the Lucy, like everything was always going wrong and there was no happiness in her life. It was incredibly bleak.

I did enjoy the overall story and found it to be sweet, but this wasn't something I would pick up again.

This book really spoke to the Kid Reader in me! I only wish the Clock Island series was real.
The book is the story of a famous children's writer, his illustrator and some of the grown up children who were strongly influenced by his prolific series of children's books. They are called back to Clock Island to participate in a contest because the author has added a new book after many years of silence. We come to learn the stories behind each of the characters especially Lucy who had her own childhood trauma and is now hoping to foster and adopt her own child.
I loved the fantastical elements of the story. It seems to mirror what would happen in the books in Jack Masterson's series beautifully. The reader feels the wonder of their childhood reading with the added bonus of a more mature story line. The idea seems to me to be rather brilliant!.
There is a lot of emotion in this story and the characters are easy to root for. It did feel that Jack "the mastermind" Masterson was a bit manipulating but the ending was wonderful!
I think that all readers who followed any generational series as a child will love this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy Hart knows what it’s like to grow up without love and that’s why she is trying to adopt Christopher, a 7 year old in foster care after the death of his parents. In order to fill the void in her life, Lucy was an avid reader. One of her favorite series was the Clock Island Series by Jack Masterson. Lucy knows Jack Masterson as she wanted nothing more than to be Astrid and have the Mastermind adopt her so that she too could live on the island. Lucy is surprised when word gets out that Jack Masterson is holding a contest and a winner will receive a copy of his new book. Lucy gets an invitation to participate. This may be just the thing that she needs so that she can move ahead with adopting Christopher, as she has been limited on funds due to her salary as teacher’s aide. Many avid readers will be able to empathize with Lucy, as reading is an escape from the realities of daily life. This book was highly enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is like Willy Wonka for book lovers!! When Lucy Hart grew up lonely and neglected, her only comfort was her favorite Clock Island book series. Now 26, she receives a mysterious invitation to the reclusive author's private island for a contest where the prize is the manuscript of his next book.
I can't say enough great things about this book! It was whimsical, fun, and every book lovers' dream. It was a little slow in the beginning as she set up the premise of the book, but once I got into it, I seriously couldn't put it down!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sweet adventure story. Seems more YA than adult. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.