Member Reviews
The concept was interesting. I did not see the storyline heading that way when I read it.
Definitely recommend reading it , if you're going for something unexpected
I received an electronic Digital Reader Copy of this debut novel from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
First, you do not have to have read Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to enjoy this novel. The author does a great job of weaving how the characters compare and contrast to those in Pride and Prejudice throughout this novel. I did think Every Wish Way was a cute novel at first, however, it did become too long winded, and repetitive for my taste. I do believe that readers who enjoyed the novels by Jodi Picoult, and her daughter, Samantha Van Leer will like this one as well.
DNF at 7%…. Not enjoying the writing and especially not enjoying the way the MCs speak and act. MMC acts like a total frat bro… don’t think it’s worth it for me to continue.
On paper "Every Wish Way", should be the type of story I would eat up. The premises of the story sounded amazing. While, for the most part, I did enjoy the story, it did take me a while to get into it. It reminded me too much of my own personal hang-ups with family dynamics (so that's entirely on me, lol). I love the banter between Iza and Beckett and the paranormal and supernatural elements of the story. It was cute and emotional at times. Although I wish there was more interaction and romantic developments with Iza and Beckett. 3/5
I received this book for free for an honest review from Netgalley
Sweet and cute. Just what I needed. Thank you
In Shannon Bright's Every Wish Way, Iza is going through a tough time until she finds a genie-like wish fulfillment person named Beckett. She wishes for Mr. Darcy in hope to have the perfect guy and make her mother proud of her.
The world building was actually cool with Beckett not exactly being a genie and that there are rules and consequences, like things have to come from a different universe. Wishes don't just appear out of thin air.
I thought it had quite a few funny moments. Although, I didn't like that Iza could be super oblivious to things, like what happens in a certain book. There was also a part near the end that I thought was a bit boring just because it's not a trope I care for, but it'd be a spoiler if I said.
I liked it and how it ended. For a second I thought it was not going to be an HEA, but do not fear there is one!
Thank you @netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love Pride & Prejudice.
This had such a cute premise! Beckett's character was pretty fun. This was like Aladdin meets Pride & Prejudice, and it delivered. It had excellent banter as well. Overall, this was a very cute, wholesome, lighthearted read!
Do you love Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice? If so, this MMC is for you! Add that with the element of a genie...think Aladin. This book was so whimsical and unique.
It was so different from other supernatural type books I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wit, charm, and angst all included. A cozy rom com to add to your fall tbr! The audiobook is fantastic as well.
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media
@shannonbwrites & @alcovepress for the ARC & ALC for me to review honestly.
“Relationships aren’t made of two people who never have problems. (…) It’s about two flawed people choosing and promising to be the best versions of themselves they can be for each other.”
Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Talks about parental death and a curse. Discusses cheating and an attempted sexual assault. Contains sexual content.
This book is for the “Pride and Prejudice” girlies, the ones who’ve watched the 2005 movie starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen over and over through the years. This book is for the people-pleasing girlies with dysfunctional families and overbearing mothers. This book is for the helpless romantics. This book literally altered my brain chemistry.
“Every Wish Way” follows Iza, an architect that isn’t quite happy with how her life is turning out, as she summons a wish-granting genie of sorts? I mean, not really. He’s just Beckett, a man who wished for unlimited wishes and ended up cursed to be the genie on other people’s stories—as soon as they get their 3 wishes, he’s off to a new vessel for however much time it takes to be summoned again, let that be months or years. Iza wishes nothing more than her happily ever after with the only man her mom has ever admired: Mr. Darcy, from “Pride and Prejudice”. But Mr. Darcy isn’t the Mr. Perfect she had envisioned now, is he? What if she’s gotten Mr. Right wrong all along?
It had been months since I had read banter as witty as Beckett’s and Iza’s. This book made me cry, this book made me laugh. I legit can’t comprehend how this is Shannon Bright’s debut novel. I cannot recommend this book enough. For real.
If you like your romance books with huge character development, second chances, and improbable fates, then “Every Wish Way” is for you.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: September 19, 2023
“So forgive and forget?”
“Not forget. Learn.”
I just finished Every Wish Way By Shannon Bright and here is my review.
Iza was raised by a woman who felt men were a waste of time and Iza only ever wanted someone to love her, especially as her mother missed the mark. Making a plan to find the one, Iza accidentally summons a wish granting man out of thin air.
Beckett isn’t just a wish granter… He is a handful! His partying and attitude rubs Iza up the wrong way. Doesn’t help that he has no problems calling Iza on her own flaws. Deciding to use one of her wishes into creating the most perfect man for her, she chooses Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Bringing him to life in the modern day era was an easy task for Beckett but making him organically fall in love with Iza… Well she didn’t anticipate the complexities of a man like Darcy in real life. His harsh personality is a stark contrast to the light, warm and kind Beckett making it harder for Iza to see herself with anyone but Beckett.
The title won me over originally and it really was a winner for me. It was a cute and funny light hearted read with a toxic parent just to keep things interesting!
I loved the character development and the way Beckett softened and showed who he really was and made this book stand out for me. He was definitely redeemed and I adore when that happens. Iza really came into herself too. I wasn’t a fan of hers in the beginning. She seemed a little one dimensional and boring but Beckett really changed all that. She found her voice and her whole persona really shone in the second half of the book.
It was an interesting twist on the idea of a genie and wish giving. Beckett had a lot of leeway with the use of the magic and not just while she was making wishes. I liked that he could, if he felt like it, make a mockery of the wishes! I am not sure I would trust a genie not to twist my words haha.
I had a few chuckles and I loved the romance. It was a really sweet, non spicy romance book. For a debut, this book blew me away! Definitely excited to see what the author comes up with next!
4 stars!
Thank you @netgalley and @alcovepress for my gifted copy
I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.
Shannon Bright's EVERY WISH WAY is a delightful romp starring the hard-working, forever-stressed Iza is given three wishes by the fascinating Beckett, a man cursed to fulfill wishes for eternity. The romp begins with the lively banter between them and Ina's harrowing mother and diehard best friend Lola. One thing I appreciated was an accurate depiction of an ambitious woman's workplace as well as the everlasting balancing of love and work, of choosing a life and pursuing a dream no matter the cost. I enjoyed the fantastic elements of wishes, parallel worlds, and the rules of magic and the wonderful writing. Smart, fun, and luscious like the best kind of summer day. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.
This is quite an interesting book with a very unique plot. It is a fun mashup of Aladdin and Pride and Prejudice with a twist. Iza's struggle to find the perfect man and get off the dating treadmill is so identifiable, and Beckett is the manliest most crushable genie ever with the kindest heart. You'll never look at genies the same again once you read this book.
Fed up with not finding the "right man" for herself, the heroine encounters the hero, a genie who'll give her three wishes. When the heroine wished for Mr. Darcy to be a real person, thus begins the self-discovery of the heroine in this book. Along the way, the heroine will also find out that the "right man" is really not out-of-reach.
This book has a nice colorful book cover. I did like the supernatural twist to the story, and how a major character from a classic literary work can be interpreted to fit said story. Given this twist, it does make said character not look good, so be forewarned that the certain character has a personality that may not appeal to a lot of readers. Also, there's a toxic parental character that does create some tension in the story. As for the main characters, they did show some growth in the story. It would also be nice to have more details in the story, especially in the hero's case to give more balance to the growth the main characters went through in the book. Overall, it's a nice book with a good premise.
** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **
This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, held my interest and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
Iza want to find the perfect man to make her mother happy and prove that she can have it all. Enter Beckett, her genie in a nail polish bottle. Iza tells Beckett that she wants to meet Mr. Darcy only to find out that Mr. Darcy isn’t what she really wanted. Iza and Beckett are fun to watch as they fall for each other and Iza learns that sometimes what we want isn’t what we actually want.
A fun and light Pride and Prejudice re-telling. I loved the banter and dry humor. This is the perfect book to make you laugh out loud and put a smile on your face.
This book was not quite what I expected. It’s very cute and amusing, and the concept is really quirky and different. I really liked the central idea of the book; it had some really fun ideas. Beckett also made a really sweet love interest – he was very cute.
As a whole, though, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I never really warmed to Eliza’s character and, whilst I liked the concept involving Mr. Darcy, the execution of it seemed like a shame. I didn’t really like the demonisation of his character. I also thought the ending could have been worked through better – I found it confusing.
Despite these issues I do think that the book had a really fun premise and the writing was good. The tone of it just wasn’t for me. I would still recommend it to people looking for a light fantasy-ish romance with a Pride and Prejudice twist. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.
Content Notes: Difficult relationship with a parent, death of a parent, references to attempted date rape and sexual assault of a minor, on-page sexual content.
My thanks goes to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC. All opinions are my own, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Genre: Romcom, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantasy
Spice Level: High (Innuendo and one scene)
Language: Med-High (F-bombs + crude at times)
EVERY WISH WAY plays with Pride and Prejudice in a new way. It's not precisely a retelling, even though Iza wants to be Elizabeth—if I say more, it might ruin the discovery for you. . .
BUT I laughed at least three times in the first chapter. Shannon Bright is one clever author.
Eliza or Iza struggles with her mom and their relationship—this didn't hit home for me because it made the mom seem selfish, but it works for the book. Iza is a character I rooted for from the beginning.
Beckett is flippant and grated a bit—but I'm all for giving a character a chance. Then, we discover he's more than the figure he cuts and it's a little tragic. I ended up being a fan of Beckett.
Subplot: What the heck is going on with Kaylan (a man) with the practical jokes? I couldn't figure out if he was like the boy in fifth grade with a crush. It wove into the story, and I didn't hate him. . . just questioned his sanity.
I loved the workplace being in an architectural firm—it was a lot of fun for me with my love of architecture. And the crazy client! I was laughing because this is just how clients can be.
Seeing P&P in a new way was fun too. I liked the growing relationships and the ending worked in a spinning, funny, twisty way. The down part for me was the swearing and crude comments (but I get the purpose. . . sort of). I also liked seeing how Iza's relationship with her mom worked out (think secret revelations).
I recommend this book because it's so funny for spicy readers (but you'll have some delay to satisfy your need for spice).
Happy (magical) reading!
I was so excited, SO EXCITED, to read this one then...*sigh*
First a couple of things I really liked about this book. I appreciated that it jumped right into the plot pretty quickly. I like a book that doesn't mess around. It gave me about time in Iza's normal life to understand her and appreciate her development as the book progressed.
I also liked how funny this book was. We get a frat boy genie who only wants to party and have a good time before being sucked back into his vessel.
Now, onto the rest. Iza was super perceptive of Beckett, the genie, and his personality for having just met him. It was too much. She shouldn't have noticed the act he was putting on or how he was hurt by things she would say. It was too soon for all of that.
Lastly, the book was just kind of boring. I found myself skimming before finally giving up and skipping to the end. I don't know what happened in the part that I skipped but what a trip. Not at all the direction I thought this book was headed.
Overall, I can't say I'd recommend this one. The concept is so fun and the humor is there, but it's not quite right.