*An advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This book drew me in with its slice-of-life charm and found-family vibes. As a former expat in South Korea, I was especially excited to dive into this story, hoping it would capture the culture and experience authentically.

The story follows Lydia, Jenny, and Selene, three women who move to Seoul to work as au pairs. Each woman has her reasons for being in Korea, but they quickly form a strong bond. On a trip to Jeju Island, they make wishes under a full moon at a waterfall, only to discover their wishes have unexpected consequences. Lydia longs to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, Jenny vows never to fall in love again, and Selene hopes to reconnect with her birth mother. As their wishes unfold, Jenny finds herself falling for her host mother’s younger brother, raising questions about whether the wishes are blessings or curses.

The idea of the story is very promising and intriguing to read. I felt that the trope of "careful what you wish for" was very entertaining to read, and really makes us as the reader question if what's happening is magic or not. Watching the characters’ wishes manifest was satisfying, but the pacing felt rushed, and I would have loved more time to explore each character’s journey. The trio’s dynamic was heartwarming, and the split perspectives gave depth to their backstories and individual growth.

The writing style is very detailed. I loved how the author would walk us through each scene and give us very detailed adjectives about what was happening. It felt super immersive and made me feel like a participant in the story.

One of the biggest reasons that I have for giving this book a 3 star rating is the writing style. It is a story about women that are in their mid twenties and I felt that a lot of the dialog and actions were juvenile and out of place. I personally wish the characters came across as more mature. Another factor that took me out of the story was when various Korean words were randomly included in the writing. The story would progress and the character would think of how to say something in Korean - where the author would then write it out. With some of the writing I also felt that it was romanticizing Korea a bit too much from the perspective of someone outside of the Korean culture. I myself am Korean, but I felt there were a few moments in the book that were a bit cringey to read.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read with an intriguing premise, strong found-family dynamics, and relatable characters. While it didn’t fully resonate with me, readers looking for a slice-of-life story with a touch of magic will likely find it worthwhile.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Really interesting look into the lives of au pairs and Korean culture. The author struck a great balance between explaining the different foods, traditions, etc. but without over explaining. It just flowed and definitely made me hungry, lol. The girls friendship seemed real and I liked the idea that what they wished for evolved in different ways. I received this as an ARC from Penguin Group Dutton via Netgalley.

This book was such a fun and interesting read!!! I loved learning more about the culture in Seoul and then being introduced to more k-pop songs/groups. Although a bit whimsical in areas, the story was lighthearted and still touched on some serious topics. Would love follow up story about the three girls to see where life leads them a year or so after the story ended!

This book was a great read. It is filled with love not only romantically but also platonically. Being able to see each characters point of view truly helped bring everything together.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advanced copy of this book! I looooved this one. It takes the "be careful what you wish for" game where wishes don't always work out how you want them to and adds in a really fun setting and group of characters. This one was definitely a fun, cozy read and I could see this being a very cute tv series like XO, Kitty. I love the Korean culture and K-Pop references, and enjoyed seeing some character development with the au pairs.

Selene, Lydia, and Jenny have their reasons for becoming au pairs in Seoul. The story follows the them as they discover more about the culture of South Korea, themselves and love. As You Wish is a sweet story of friendship and love. I found myself wanting to learn more about South Korea, K-Pop, and the FOOD. The Author includes playlists throughout the book, which, while I didn't indulge, was a fun way to bring audio into the story. Overall a great read, it took several chapters for me to get invested.

I really enjoyed reading this story! I know almost nothing about K-Pop and Korean culture, so it was really interesting for me to learn about it and see it in this novel. I also very much enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, and seeing how their relationship evolves.

this is perfect for a book club function because it was so cozy and cute! 4 stars!!!

I’m so thankful I got an ARC of this book. This is my first book I’ve read by Leesa Cross-Smith and I fell in love with how descriptive her writing is.
It’s a sweet and flirty read.
This story was so fun. I honestly would love to see it as a TV series.
I felt like I was in South Korean living my life along with Jenny, Serene and Lydia. It was so fun to follow their journey. All three girls are au pairs in Seoul. They go on a trip with the families and each make a wish - then something magical happens to all three. All three girls went to South Korea looking for something and that wish is just the starting point.
This book has so much drama and some twists I didn’t see coming. Especially with Serene’s story.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book!! It had me hooked from page one! I couldn’t put this down. I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a first for me by this author but it will not be my last!!

Grateful for an advanced copy from Penguin group. The story was beautifully written, I really enjoyed this read. If you're looking for a "feel good, happy ending" read, this one is for you. I love how the author really got the reader to understand and feel from each main character. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and although it did feel a bit rushed at the end, the beautiful history of Seoul was really evident in all of the pages. The author almost had me submitting an au-pair application lol all jokes aside, I would most definitely be reading more books from this author.

This is a phenomenal story! I loved the cast of characters and the setting and culture explored. It was interesting and exciting. I will be reading this again and think book clubs will adore it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.