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Sign up todayThe Wishing Game
A Novel
Length
10 hours 37 minutes
Language
English
Narrators
Rachel L. Jacobs & Paul Boehmer
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“Lucy was rejected by her family as a child and now wants to make an orphan's life better by adopting him. Her one chance to make that happen is by playing children’s author Jack Masterson’s game. Recluse Jack lives on an island off the coast of Maine that he has fashioned into a real-life version of his book series - Clock Island. A lover of riddles and puzzles, he puts four super-fans, including Lucy, to the test just like he does to his child characters. This was like an adult version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. These visitors to Clock Island have to face their biggest fears in order to make their wish come true. Rachel L. Jacobs adds a lot of empathy with her reading. ”
— Karrie • Vroman's Bookstore
Bookseller recommendation
“Takes the “story inside of a story” genre to a whole new level. Heroine Lucy’s lovability is matched by mysterious character Jack Masterson, aka The Mastermind and author of the fictional Clock Island children’s books. Characters are rich and memorable. The plot holds wonderful imagery and wit and is multi-layered and full of mystery. An incredibly fun read! ”
— Patience • Underground Books
Bookseller recommendation
“The most magical book I've read in years! A masterful blend of light and dark, and a heartwarming homage to the power of children's books. ”
— Chelsea • Bromley's Books
Bookseller recommendation
“A beautiful story about a woman who would do anything for the family she has always wanted. It left me in tears (while at work).”
— Shannon • Paperbacks and Pieces
Summary
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 over us long after we’ve grown up.”—V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Washington Post, She Reads, Bookreporter
Make a wish. . . .
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. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.
But be careful what you wish for. . . .
Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding 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. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.
. . . You might just get it.
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Reviews
“Meg Shaffer’s beautiful novel is part Willy Wonka, part magical realism, and wholly moving. It broke my heart and patched it over and reminded me that even as an adult, if you look hard enough, you can find the child still inside you.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey“Our list of must-read fiction books wouldn’t be complete without a novel that reminds readers of the power books hold between their pages. Meg Shaffer’s The Wishing Game may not contain any magic—this is a whimsical tale, but it’s grounded in reality—yet there’s something magical about the book.”—Reader’s Digest, in “Best Fiction Books of 2023”
“A heartwarming, page-turning story of found family, love triumphing over indifference, and the world-changing power of a good book.”—Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood
“A dreamy, inventive novel about how books can not only change lives but save them too. Full of the power of imagination, it’s one of my favorite books of the year.”—Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds
“A magical ode to storytelling, imagination, and the mystery of the creative life . . . Wildly imaginative, clever, and inspiring, The Wishing Game is for anyone who has found light in a story just when they need it.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
“Meg Shaffer’s debut establishes her as one of the best. The Wishing Game sees the secret child hidden inside all of us, and it takes us on the thrilling, magical journey we all long for—where we might end up with everything we want but only if we risk it all.”—Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds
“A work by turns clever, dark, and hopeful, Shaffer’s debut is a love letter to reading and the power childhood stories have over us long after we’ve grown up.”—V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
“Shaffer blends tragedy and triumph in a whimsical and gratifying debut about what makes a family. This is wish fulfillment in the best way.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A meditation on the power of hope when all else seems lost.”—Kirkus Reviews Expand reviews
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