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A review by brebeingwell
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐
If you are looking for a heartfelt read, this should be at the top of your list. This follows Lucy, a woman who made the same poor decisions we all do in our young adulthood, who now wants to foster and adopt a child that she has bonded with, but is unable to due to financial instability. Through a contest held by her favorite childhood author, she attempts to win a prize that would be the key to all of her dreams.
For me, this felt like right book at the right time. As someone who has dealt with infertility and the struggled with the desire to be a mother, this book hit harder than it might for most people. The Wishing Game explores hard topics with a gentle hand. It created a safe space to explore the concepts and feelings regarding feeling like a failure, making mistakes in life, financial instability, infertility, grief, fostering children, abusive romantic and familial relationships, and so much more.
Although the story was powerful, I do think that there were a few things that kept it from being a full 5 ⭐ for me. The game portion felt a bit slow compared to the beginning of the book. I also thought the conclusion to the game, while complete and there were no plot holes, left me wishing for something more dynamic. That's not to say it was not enjoyable, I fully enjoyed almost every moment of my journey through The Wishing Game and can see myself suggesting it to many readers in the future.
If you are looking for a heartfelt read, this should be at the top of your list. This follows Lucy, a woman who made the same poor decisions we all do in our young adulthood, who now wants to foster and adopt a child that she has bonded with, but is unable to due to financial instability. Through a contest held by her favorite childhood author, she attempts to win a prize that would be the key to all of her dreams.
For me, this felt like right book at the right time. As someone who has dealt with infertility and the struggled with the desire to be a mother, this book hit harder than it might for most people. The Wishing Game explores hard topics with a gentle hand. It created a safe space to explore the concepts and feelings regarding feeling like a failure, making mistakes in life, financial instability, infertility, grief, fostering children, abusive romantic and familial relationships, and so much more.
Although the story was powerful, I do think that there were a few things that kept it from being a full 5 ⭐ for me. The game portion felt a bit slow compared to the beginning of the book. I also thought the conclusion to the game, while complete and there were no plot holes, left me wishing for something more dynamic. That's not to say it was not enjoyable, I fully enjoyed almost every moment of my journey through The Wishing Game and can see myself suggesting it to many readers in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Child death