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notbrhymes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What a beautiful, beautiful story brimming with love and whimsy and so much humanity. My heart was broken and repaired multiple times throughout this novel and I think it is such a feat when an author can accomplish that while also having an otherwise interesting story.
I read this in one sitting and I couldn’t be happier that I decided to ignore the other books that I had due back to the library much sooner & I picked this one up instead.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Child death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, Child death, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer
yarnarh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- The way Lucy was so obsessed with Christopher. It doesn’t scream I love you, more like I’m obsessed and I can’t live without you.
- The age gap between Lucy and Hugo. 8 years age gap is quite a lot. I mean it make sense that Hugo have to be 21 to make his own decision and live on an island with an old man. But 13 and 21 feels like a huge gap.
- luring kids to his clock island. He is an adult. He should know how gullible and naive little kids are. And if a Hogwarts letter come to my house as a kid I would have do whatever I can to get there.
Other than that, I love the book. Heartwarming, and magical
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness
Minor: Incest
karapillar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Violence, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Drug use, Child death, Chronic illness, Addiction, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder
mdavis26's review
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Grief, Rape, Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse
eriinmaureenn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I experienced a ton of emotions while reading this and cried both happy and sad tears near the end. Absolutely loved this book!
Graphic: Death of parent and Addiction
Moderate: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Abandonment, and Child abuse
elise_is_writing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Medical content, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, and Abandonment
sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Grief, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Author: Meg Shaffer
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Comforting • Whimsical • Hopeful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
When Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. he decides to hold 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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
There are times when the perfect book falls into your hands at exactly the right time, and that is exactly what happened to me with The Wishing Game. I was in need of a feel-good, warmhearted, and fun book, and that is exactly what I got! I picked this book up while my nieces and nephews were here for the week, yet I instantly knew it was the type of book that needed my undivided attention. So, I set it aside until I could do just that, and then devoured it.
From very early on this story gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes. There is sufficient character development in order for each unique one to worm their way into my heart, especially the ever-grumpy Hugo. The special bond between Lucy and Christopher made me smile.
Yes, aspects of their relationship were unrealistic when you take into consideration legal aspects of teacher/student relationships, yet I was unable to suspend my belief on this manner. I love Jack was an author and the concept of the puzzles and riddles was just so much fun. Clock Island was such a magical place and I cannot blame Lucy for wanting to escape real life to live there.
Jack and Hugo
The Wishing Game is a beautiful reminder of the healing power of books. With themes of courage and found family, it's one of those book I'll remember for years to come. I wouldn't say fantasy is a genre I gravitate towards, and despite being fairly predictable, this novel had just the right fantastical elements to capture my heart. Perfect for all ages, it's highly likely it will be making an appearance on my 2023 Favourites list comes years end.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• T.J. Klune enthusiasts
• fans of the found family trope
• readers in need of a feel-good story
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The stories write us, you see. We read something that moves us, touches us, speaks to us, and it…it changes us."
"Sometimes the thing we want most in the world is the thing we’re most afraid of. And the thing we’re most afraid of is often the thing we most want."
"When you gotta scream, you gotta scream."
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Terminal illness, Child death, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Cancer
foster care, adoptionmamawantsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol
alastaire's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Child death, Child abuse, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Incest, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness