Such a sweet read!! Learning that wishes and dreams really do matter and can come true if you are brave enough.

Lucy is down on her luck but really wants to adopt a former student. She is selected for a contest by one of her favorite authors to win a copy of an unpublished book that everyone has been waiting years for. If she wins the contest, she might finally have the money to adopt Christopher. During the contest, she is pushed not only intellectually but also emotionally and is forced to face some horrible things that she had dealt with in the past.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion

THis was. a whimsical book tht took me back to my younger days. It was a sute book but di have some slow places, however i wanted to see what happened so I continued to read. In the end it made me happy.

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability. But be careful what you wish for. . . . Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy. For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.. . . You might just get it.

This was such a wholesome book. It was giving me Willy Wonka vibes had it not been creepy and instead of terrorized children it was willing adults. This book has a little bit of something for everyone. Lots of family drama, a little romance subplot and a big mystery game on who will win the rights to the next and final book in the popular children's series. I ended up listening to the audio and really enjoyed it. The story itself was a little slow, so I felt the audio helped bring it along.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was swept away by this book!! It made me dream about how I would have felt meeting my favorite writer as a kid and the magic that surrounds our favorite books and the mystery behind it all.

This book will easily become one I will want to read again and again!!

When I was first given this preview copy to read I did so with some trepidation.

As someone who grew up in a home the complete opposite of Lucy's, I could understand her pain. I am also a reader that can devour multiple books/week.

This story is captivating and for me a bit magical. It highlights the role that books play in the lives of people and for some the refuge they provide. For me books have been a constant companion in good and bad times and are like an old friend you treasure.

A friend of mine once told me that books like this, you read with your heart. And I must say, my heart is full.

I wanted so so badly to like this book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. As a former teacher, I just couldn’t get past Lucy and Christopher’s relationship. I didn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters or the storyline. Overall, this story was just not for me.

Lucy is a young woman with a difficult past, but she loves her job as a teacher’s aide. When a seven-year-old student loses his parents, they grow close and she would like to adopt him but doesn’t feel her life is stable enough. She is thrilled when her favorite childhood author emerges from seclusion with a new novel. Then he announces that four select readers–including Lucy–will join him on his private island to compete for the only copy. This would be her chance to sell the book and get the stability she needs to adopt Christopher–if she can beat out the other determined competitors, and outsmart the gamemaster.

Shaffer freely admits to being inspired by Willy Wonka, and the magical feeling of that book is here–minus the creepy candyman, Oompa Loompas, and sadism. This is a love letter to books and the ways they save us, as both adults and children. You’ll definitely need to suspend your disbelief a bit, but once you do, the whimsy here is irresistible.

This book has all the feels. All the good feels.

At the end of the story I felt uber content, centered and happy. It gave major TJ Klune vibes, wrapped in a warm cuddly blanket vibes, cuddly puppy vibes, sitting by a fireplace and eating cookies with milk- vibes.

While this book is classified as adult fiction; I feel that a middle grade or YA reader would enjoy it just as much. If not possibly more. In fact I'm questioning why this isn't pushed as more a middle grade or YA; however, maybe because of the feel good nature the publisher thinks younger readers would not dive in. The writing is very light and accessible. There's a map, riddles, and overall the material is pretty clean and straight forward. In fact most YA literature has wayyy more controversial content then this.

Our lovely main character is estranged from her family, barely making ends meet and is invited out to play a mysterious game on Clock Island. Her main goal is to win and get enough money to be able to foster/adopt a little boy (Christopher). There is some romance, found family, new friendships and fixing old relationships.

And while the cover gave me strong fall vibes (due to color); it is certainly more of a summer read. My only compliant is the cover. It seems dark and cozy where I wish it had gone more whimsical. Instead of bookshelves hiding the stars/moon/tower. A side set stack of books with the moon, blue starry sky, and a castle shown more predominantly would have been lovely. Maybe even a cat/dog sailing a boat. A strong illusion to the artistry and fun aspect of the story may have gotten me to pick this up sooner.

Overall this was a wonderful read. Delightful and I hope the author writes more so much more.

"Sometimes when you gotta scream, you gotta scream!"

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballentine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Took a bit to get me pulled into the storyline as how Lucy as a teacher’s aide treated a student with affection in the classroom seemed inappropriate as he wasn’t her ward or child yet. Once the contest on Clock Island began the story got really interesting. Would have liked to see more puzzles as part of the contest. The slow burn romance was well done and the ending was a great surprise. The setting was well described and you felt you were on the island. 3.5 stars

Jack Masterson is the author behind the Clock Island series, a series of beloved children's books. Now, years after he was thought to be retired, he has written a new book. There is only one copy of the book that will go to the winner of a contest held on Clock Island.

For Lucy Hart, winning the contest will mean everything to her. It will mean she can finally have the means to adopt Christopher, the little boy that she has grown to love.

I absolutely loved this book that felt like an adult fairy tale. If you are looking for books about puzzles, this uplifting, feel-good book is the perfect choice. #gifted

This is an adorable and fun magical realism novel that is perfect for the book lover in your life. It has all the best of several genres, including a found family, romance, and intrigue. Reading this was fun and made me want to escape into the world within the book multiple times. It is a bit predictable, but that isn't a bad thing for me! What I loved about it was knowing that things would be good in the end, which propelled me to keep reading. Far too often are books filled with pointless swerves or twists, so it was nice to read something that I found comforting.

#outsidethepagelimits Showcase Series: THE WISHING GAME by: Meg Shaffer

If you ask readers what were the books that they loved to read when they were younger and spurred them as kids to become lifelong readers, many call to mind a famous book series or memorable fantasy novels of magical worlds or delightfully quirky people. Whether stepping into the worlds of Narnia, Oz, Hogwarts, or The Chocolate Factory or falling in love with Mary Poppins, Paddington Bear, Pippi Longstocking, or Peter Pan, children are transported to another place where their imaginations run wild and there are no limits to their wishes and dreams. Smiles, laughes, and exclamations of awe ensue along with stretches of the mind and heart. That’s why I thought the illustration below from Three Under The Rain was just perfect to represent THE WISHING GAME and really captured its essence.

Although the traditional elements are there in Shaffer’s novel (a magical place - clock island, a mysterious quirky character - the Mastermind/Jack Masterson), it veers off course with an adult protagonist filling the pages in Lucy Hart. Yes, there is also a hopeful child needing to escape harsh realities in Christopher, who Lucy desperately wants to adopt out of foster care, but she was the one who fell in love with and travelled to Clock Island first as a child. The generation before when she was struggling amidst her own family chaos and struggles and feeling unwanted, lost, and forgettable, she found the Clock Island book series to escape to. Now with a new contest and long awaited new book unveiled by Clock Island’s famous author, she can see her and Christopher’s dream of being a family realized with her adult wishes finally coming true whereas her childhood wish did not. But Lucy is reentering this journey as an adult this time, just as Shaffer intended this novel’s audience to be - adults but with their past as those childhood readers still inside them. Thus, there will be new love and old relationships, mentions of death and abuse, as well as the shortcomings and broken system of foster care on display. Yet, Shaffer instills and affirms the optimism, light, and Good that is searched for and needed by both the characters and readers of these books.

In turn, this former bookseller turned author has been rewarded in gratitude, raves, and love from scores of readers, earning her a spot on many published lists lauding the book as one of the best books of the year. I think this emphasizes that at no matter what age, we still need those kind of novels of magic and fantasy, as well as thirst for what they provide and embody - an escape, an acknowledgement of dreams, and an unwavering hope. We remember that feeling of belief in Santa and magic when we were kids. We remember poring over pages and pages of beautiful illustrations and Caldecott award-winning artful designs, instead of books for adults now of endless words absent of drawings. We yearn and wish to feel again the innocence and faith of a child before the cruel and hard world transformed them into a jaded, weary, or bitter adult. I think we will continue to see this book pop up all over social media on reader’s pages and in book club selections. For those who have already read THE WISHING GAME and were delighted, Meg disclosed on her Insta in early August she had just completed the draft of another manuscript! Stay tuned there for more updates on her second book. To tide you over until then, check out the link below of a book club kit created by Penguin Random House for fun recipes inspired by Maine of whoopie pies and a blueberry tea cocktail, as well as a book-inspired Spotify playlist.

https://www.randomhousebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Wishing-Game_Book-Club-Kit.pdf

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

I've heard a lot of great reviews about The Wishing Game, so I was excited to read it.

There were some good things about this book.

Maine is my favorite place ever, so I was happy to see this story set in that location. It brought me a sense of nostalgia. The writing was atmospheric at times and had a fairytale element that I did enjoy. It was whimsical and definitely gave off Willy Wonka and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory vibes. To me, it reads more like a middle grade novel.

So, it should come as no surprise the issues that I had with this book.

About 20% in, I started to feel really uncomfortable about the relationship between the main character (who is a teaching assistant) and her 7 year student. There were things that I found grossly inappropriate (as a criminal defense attorney, mind you) that I just couldn't get past. I don't feel the relationship was well written and crossed many ethical and professional boundaries.

I will say that I spoke to one of my friends who is an elementary school counselor and she did not find the relationship inappropriate. I certainly acknowledge that my own professional experience probably has an effect on my thoughts, but I stand by my opinion.

It also doesn't help that I found the romantic relationship with the same main character and another key player to be cringe-worthy, probably because they also first connected when she was a minor, albeit did not become romantically involved until she was older. It just didn't work for me.

Originally, I gave this book ⭐⭐⭐, but as I'm writing this review, I'm thinking ⭐⭐ is more appropriate.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing House - Ballentine for the ARC.

Available now.

What avid reader hasn't wished they could visit one of the magical realms from their favorite book? That's exactly what Lucy gets to do when her favorite author from childhood, Jack Masterson, invites her to compete to win the only copy of his newest manuscript. Lucy travels to Clock Island — Masterson's home and the setting for his renowned series — with the hopes of winning the competition and securing a better future for herself and the boy she hopes to adopt, Christopher. The story is at times heartwarming, suspenseful, romantic, mystical, and beautifully poignant. I won't reveal the twists and turns here, but I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with a bit of nostalgia for their favorite childhood stories or anyone with a soft spot for a well-deserved happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the eGalley to review!

This was and wasn't what I expected when I picked up this title. It was exciting, though, that's for sure! On one hand it was whimsical, wholesome, and inspiring, while on the other it was dark, sad, and serious. This book covers a LOT about the abuse, abandonment, and death of children, including physical, mental/emotional, and sexual abuse. None of it is actually depicted, but simply talked about as the characters reveal their pasts. This can still be triggering to people, so I want to warn you about it! There is also talk of a miscarriage and partner abuse (in this case, it was verbal and arguably financial abuse), as well as drugs and overdosing.

Lucy Hart, our main character, is trying to adopt a little boy, Christopher, from her class. Christopher is in the foster system following the death of both his parents from fatal overdoses. With her teacher's aide salary and a lot of credit card debt, she can't afford to adopt him and is told to give up by the case worker. That's when Jack Masterson, the writer of her favorite children's books that got her through her awful childhood (the Clock Island books), sends her the invitation to join his game on the real Clock Island where he lives. Lucy once ran away to Clock Island and wanted Jack to be her father. Now she's going back to Clock Island to win the final Clock Island book and sell it for the money needed for a stable home and transportation for her and Christopher to be a real family. Along the way she learns more about Hugo Reese--the Clock Island books illustrator--and Jack himself, and learns to face her fears and reconcile with her own childhood.

That's the main focus of the book, too--to face your fears, to be brave enough to make your wishes come true. Even Jack has to face his. The other main focus is family and how that family can be found instead of one you're born into (which is one of my favorite tropes, personally).

There is much diversity among the characters too, which I appreciate. Jack is gay; Lucy's sister Angie is immuno-compromised; two of the other contestants are a Black man and an Asian woman; Hugo's brother has Down syndrome. These are very realistic people are who we're reading about. Every one of them has something distinctly human about them and every one of them has had a difficult life in some way that is so very reflective of our real society. It's what made the Clock Island books (which are AMAZING and I wish they were real!!) a bastion for them.

If you were expecting Willy Wonka but with books, that is indeed the inspiration, but it is so much more than that. It is a serious discussion about traumatic childhoods and an open heart for foster kids especially. The ending we got was the ending I was hoping for and I couldn't have felt more satisfied when I finally finished the book. I'm also going to have riddles for days to use on people. It's definitely worth the read and I definitely wish we lived in the universe where the Clock Island books are the most popular children's books!

Wishes! Author Retreats! Twists! What didn't this book have.

The characters were well thought out, the plot was intriguing, and the setting was not what I was expecting.

Lucy Hart, now twenty-six years old, vividly recalls her daring escape from home at thirteen, a quest to meet the renowned children’s book author Jack Masterson, whose beloved Clock Island series had enchanted generations of readers. Although she did manage to meet the author, her initial plans to stay with him didn’t unfold as expected. The Clock Island series has retained its cherished place in her heart, and she now shares this passion with Christopher, her seven-year-old student who recently became an orphan and entered foster care. Lucy, burdened by the scars of an unhappy childhood, cares deeply for Christopher and dreams of becoming his foster parent, with eventual adoption in mind. However, her modest income as a teacher’s aide and less-than-ideal living conditions make her an unlikely candidate for such a role.

When her favourite author extends an invitation to participate in a contest for the only copy of his new manuscript, crafted after a nearly six-year hiatus, Lucy seizes the opportunity to visit Clock Island. This private island in Maine, modelled after the series’ enchanting setting, offers not only the chance to reconnect with her literary hero but also the prospect of improving her precarious financial situation.

On Clock Island, Lucy encounters her fellow contestants—three others who, like her, once escaped troubled homes as children to seek “The Mastermind,” believing he could grant their deepest wishes. Now as adults, they have all returned to Clock Island, each harboring their own motivations for winning the contest.

This is a captivating narrative with intricately drawn characters who are both multi-faceted and endearing. I found myself fully engrossed, unable to put the book down. It elicited a spectrum of emotions from laughter to tears, ultimately leaving my heart uplifted. A truly delightful read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wishing Game was such a fun read! The characters were loveable, the story heartwarming, and the setting unique. As a fan of all things nonsensical, Jack’s tinge of madness and the whimsical elements embedded throughout Clock Island were oh-so-satisfying. Speaking of Jack, I absolutely adored him and his relationship with Hugo. Speaking of Hugo, this punk-professor-painter of a grump stole the show for me. I’ve definitely caught myself thinking about these two even after closing the book. As for our protagonist, I enjoyed Lucy’s relationship with Christopher and the focus on the adoption process since it’s not something I see often in novels. I appreciated the inclusion of the characters’ heavy, personal hardships in order to combat the levity. This story offered multitudes of hope while still keeping its feet on the ground. That said, the novel only started to pick up halfway through, but afterwards, I couldn’t put it down. Although our main characters were fully fleshed out, I wish the other contestants of the game had left more of an impact. Also, I would’ve liked to see more of Lucy’s interactions within her friendships (give Theresa more page time!), as it felt like we were seeing more “Teaching Assistant Lucy” than Lucy. Given that the plot revolved around a love for books and the people behind the books, a very meta concept indeed, I applaud Meg Shaffer’s ability to give the reader in me a feeling of being welcomed home. Overall, this was a cozy, wholesome, lighthearted read, and I’m grateful to have been part of the journey. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

The premise is great but getting into the book was a bit of a challenge. I was about a fourth into it before I started to enjoy it which is a good thing because I was about to DNF it.

Jack Masterson is the author of a famous children's book series. His Clock Island Series is well know and loved however Jack Masterson has not written and published a book in years. Then Jack holds a contest (reminiscent of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and four adults whom visited him as children are invited to compete for the unpublished manuscript of the newest installment. The winner can do as they wish with the book.

The four adults gather on the island and prepare to compete. They will have to solve riddles and score points in order to win. Lucy our main character is a kindergarten teaching aid who wants nothing more than to adopt a student named Christopher. Winning the contest will make it possible for this to come to fruition.

Each character's background story is revealed giving information on why they want to win the contest. The book will tug at your heart but you have to really wait until the contestants are on the island for it to get interesting.