4.0
The Wishing Game
ByPublisher Description
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.
“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.
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Wishing Game Reviews
4.0
“The Wishing Game is the kind of book that feels like it was written for anyone who used stories as an escape hatch growing up. It blends whimsical, almost fairy-tale elements with very real emotional struggles, landing somewhere between a comfort read and a quiet character study. That said, I don’t think it’ll work for everyone, especially if you lean toward darker, grittier, or more realistic stories.
It follows Lucy Hart, a woman shaped by a lonely childhood who found solace in a magical book series set on Clock Island. As an adult, her life is way less enchanted, financially unstable, emotionally guarded, and kind of held together by one fragile dream: building a family of her own. That dream really becomes the emotional core, and it’s hard not to root for her because of it.
The premise leans into nostalgia in a really satisfying way. When the reclusive author behind Lucy’s favorite books resurfaces with a mysterious contest, inviting a small group of devoted readers to compete for a life-changing prize, the story takes on this puzzle-like, storybook feel. The riddles, the eccentric author, the island setting, it all just works.
There’s warmth, humor, and that cozy sense of wonder, but also grief, loneliness, and the lasting impact of childhood neglect. It doesn’t ignore the heavier parts, it just softens them with hope instead of letting them take over, which I really appreciated. The pacing is steady and more focused on relationships and emotional payoff than big, high-stakes moments. Honestly, the “game” itself kind of fades into the background.
For me, the strongest part was the found family theme. Pretty much every character is searching for connection or trying to heal from something, and those relationships feel like the heart of the book. There’s also such a clear love for storytelling woven throughout, especially in the way it shows how books can shape you and stay with you long after childhood.
Circling back to that earlier point, the same softness that makes this book comforting can also be its biggest drawback. The plot is fairly predictable, and a lot of the emotional beats wrap up in neat, hopeful ways. But if you like cozy, heartfelt reads with a touch of magic, that predictability feels more reassuring than limiting. It kind of has a Hallmark vibe, in a good way, if that’s your thing.
Overall, it’s a tender, imaginative story about second chances, chosen family, and the courage it takes to keep hoping when life hasn’t been kind. It’s less about whether wishes come true and more about what it means to believe they can.”
About Meg Shaffer
Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats. The cats are not writers.
Other books by Meg Shaffer
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
