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A review by shamelesslyintroverted
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
emotional
hopeful
5.0
One of the easiest five star ratings I've ever given, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer has become an all-time favorite of mine. I borrowed it from the library, but after finishing the acknowledgements, I immediately ran to purchase myself a copy for my Kindle. I will be re-reading it and I wanted to keep my annotations I made.
This book is beyond quotable. There are so many beautiful phrases and drops of wisdom in these pages. Along with the plot being irresistible, I couldn't help but fall in love with the writing itself. I've tried writing a description for this book that doesn't underplay its impact, but I'm failing here. Just know that this book is everything and if you're looking for a story that will break your heart, put it back together again... this is it.
I did have two problems with this book, but they're tiny.
The first: the marketing. The Wishing Game was inspired by Willy Wonka and his factory, which I can definitely see the influences of. It's described as whimsical and romantic. While it is both of those things, it's not only those things. There are touches of whimsy and the romance is nice, but don't go into it for those reasons. I feel as though you'll get disappointed. The romance is definitely a subplot, even though it's adorable, and the whimsy is a curtain for much deeper and darker things.
The second: the narration for Hugo. I didn't love the narrator's voice for him, even though he's my favorite character. That's all.
Told in third person omnipresent, we get multiple view points from different character perspectives, which I adored. I feel as though this deepened the story since not all characters knew what was going on, but it gave us a fun bird's eye view as readers.
We have a book about books, but not in the way that you’d think. This isn’t a cute romance between a bookseller and a reader, like many in this trope. This is a heartfelt story about the power of stories, what a work of fiction can mean to someone as they age. How a book can act as a shield, a therapist, and a mentor all at once. Specifically, how a book can form a personality when read young and bring comfort to dark situations, giving you tools to face the world.
Despite being a book about a children’s series and a game on an island, The Wishing Game is dark. Bring a flashlight.
If you liked this, read: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (and vise versa). Similar vibes with a gay older gentlemen who wants to help children. The whimsy is there, the deeper meanings are there, the romance is there (but in the background). Definitely check it out.
This book is beyond quotable. There are so many beautiful phrases and drops of wisdom in these pages. Along with the plot being irresistible, I couldn't help but fall in love with the writing itself. I've tried writing a description for this book that doesn't underplay its impact, but I'm failing here. Just know that this book is everything and if you're looking for a story that will break your heart, put it back together again... this is it.
I did have two problems with this book, but they're tiny.
The first: the marketing. The Wishing Game was inspired by Willy Wonka and his factory, which I can definitely see the influences of. It's described as whimsical and romantic. While it is both of those things, it's not only those things. There are touches of whimsy and the romance is nice, but don't go into it for those reasons. I feel as though you'll get disappointed. The romance is definitely a subplot, even though it's adorable, and the whimsy is a curtain for much deeper and darker things.
The second: the narration for Hugo. I didn't love the narrator's voice for him, even though he's my favorite character. That's all.
Told in third person omnipresent, we get multiple view points from different character perspectives, which I adored. I feel as though this deepened the story since not all characters knew what was going on, but it gave us a fun bird's eye view as readers.
We have a book about books, but not in the way that you’d think. This isn’t a cute romance between a bookseller and a reader, like many in this trope. This is a heartfelt story about the power of stories, what a work of fiction can mean to someone as they age. How a book can act as a shield, a therapist, and a mentor all at once. Specifically, how a book can form a personality when read young and bring comfort to dark situations, giving you tools to face the world.
Despite being a book about a children’s series and a game on an island, The Wishing Game is dark. Bring a flashlight.
If you liked this, read: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (and vise versa). Similar vibes with a gay older gentlemen who wants to help children. The whimsy is there, the deeper meanings are there, the romance is there (but in the background). Definitely check it out.