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The Wishing Game

"Part Willy Wonka, part magical realism, and wholly moving" Jodi Picoult
4.03 goodreads logo

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( 180,831 ratings, 27,461 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is a heartwarming fantasy that follows a young woman caught in a magical competition to fulfil her greatest wish. In a whimsical world filled with intrigue and wonder, she encounters challenges that test her perseverance, courage, and understanding of what truly matters. As she navigates this enchanting journey, unexpected friendships and revelations unfold.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This delightful fantasy may appeal to you if you enjoy whimsical adventures with a touch of magic. It's perfect for readers who love stories about dreams, hope, and the power of determination in the face of challenges. Additionally, if you appreciate enchanting narratives with heartwarming character journeys, you'll likely find this tale captivating.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The cult-hit feel-good novel of the year! It's Willy Wonka for booklovers of all ages.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Clever, dark, and hopeful... a love letter to reading and the power childhood stories have over us long after we've grown up — V.E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

A dreamy, inventive novel about how books can not only change lives but save them too — Sarah Addison Allen, author of Other Birds

One of the Washington Post's top ten feel-good novels of the year: a perfect gift for book lovers everywhere!

During her lonely childhood, Lucy Hart found solace in Jack Masterson's Clock Island books. Now a teacher's aide, she shares her love of reading with Christopher, a former student she'd give anything to adopt — if only she could afford it.

Just when Lucy is about to give up, the famously reclusive writer announces that he's finally written a new book, and he's holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island to win the only copy.

Winning the most sought-after book in the world could change Lucy and Christopher's lives. But with wily opponents, the book's distractingly handsome illustrator, and Jack Masterson himself to contend with, that won't be as easy as she wishes...

Readers LOVE The Wishing Game!

'Do yourself a favour and read this immediately! It will make your heart so happy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It's books like this that remind me why I fell in love with reading in the first place' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'One of the best books I've ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Beautiful, heartbreaking, magical, and hope-instilling' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'No words to describe this fantastic book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Imaginative, moving and so life-affirming!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What storytelling should be all about' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'My cheeks hurt from smiling by the end' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Love The Wishing Game? Discover Meg Shaffer's gorgeously moving The Lost Story, available to pre-order now!

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer receives praise for its heartwarming and whimsical nature, compared to a blend of Willy Wonka and magical realism. Critics highlight its exploration of found family and the transformative power of books, celebrating its clever, hopeful storytelling and its ability to evoke the child within us. The novel is deemed both a love letter to reading and a meditation on hope, with Shaffer's debut considered inventive and inspiring.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529436266

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Arcadia Books

Illustration: 1 b&w full-page map

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 162.0mm

Height: 238.0mm

Weight: 500g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Meg Shaffer is the author of the bestselling novel The Wishing Game. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer, and their two cats. The cats are not writers.

Also by Meg Shaffer

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  • The Wishing Game
    The Wishing Game 'Clever, dark, and hopeful . . . a love letter to reading and the power childhood stories have over us long after we've grown up' — V.E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue 'A dreamy, inventive novel about how books can not only change lives but save them too' — Sarah Addison Allen, author...
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  • The Lost Story
    This wildly imaginative book speaks to every reader who yearns for a more magical world - THAO THAI, author of Banyan Moon If you'd like to dream instead of a parallel world where love and loyalty and friendship are the magic that transforms the least of us into genuine heroes, then Meg Shaffer's The Lost Story is the book you've...
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  • The Wishing Game
    NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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. "Clever, dark, and hopeful . . . a love letter to reading and the power that childhood stories have...
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  • The Lost Story
    This wildly imaginative book speaks to every reader who yearns for a more magical world - THAO THAI, author of Banyan Moon If you'd like to dream instead of a parallel world where love and loyalty and friendship are the magic that transforms the least of us into genuine heroes, then Meg Shaffer's The Lost Story is the book you've...
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