Welcome to Litsy!

My brain cannot handle challenging reads at the moment so this book was exactly what I needed. At a time in her life when she desperately needs a win, a woman is called to participate in a series of challenges on the island owned by the children‘s book author she has loved her entire life. The books I loved as child still hold a magical place in my heart so I really enjoyed this warm and sweet read.

Delightful

i‘m having a good time w/ this, but the “grown up” conversations between the adults are childish.
the way serious literary themes are handled might not resonate with the intended adult audience.
I don‘t know how to feel yet 🤷
#softpick #hopeful #fiction #adventure #magicrealism #romance

love a whimsy childlike book but in my opinion it should be labeled YA literary fiction

Cute light hearted story of a woman striving to adopt a boy. A reclusive author gives her the chance to win a contest for his long awaited book, but she has to beat some other specially invited contestants first. A fun listen, well narrated.

Low pick because while this was fun and feel good it did have some flaws. Most notably, slightly inappropriate relationship with minors. The characters have the best of intentions but definitely boundary issues.

Fast, fun, warm, whimsical read! It‘s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mr. Lemoncello‘s Library but the kids are now adults. 😅

This was such a cute book. Makes me wish this was a real island and real contest. Lovely writing with even lovelier characters. I highly recommend!

I got to see the author (used to write as Tiffany Reisz) & her husband Andrew Shaffer (author of books like Secret Santa & the Biden/Obama mysteries) last Nov at Ky book fair. I‘ve met them before, & Meg told me Andrew would draw a pic on the map for me.
I really enjoyed this story about a Willy Wonka-esque island presided over by Jack, the author of a children‘s book series. He invites some long-time fans for a game, & Lucy is one of them. 👇

This book is for everyone who felt carried away by reading as a child and wanted to live in the land portrayed by a book. It‘s got magical realism elements that require suspending disbelief, but it will warm your heart to do so. ❤️

This was a cute story about Lucy, who gets a chance to relive her childhood dream when she enters into a competition by her favorite author, Jack Masterson, on Clock Island.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons #WGWordsearch @LiseWorks #WinterClearDown #SeasonalMonsterSmash @PuddleJumper #AVeryMerryBingo #AVeryScaryChristmas @Jadams89
#WickedWords #ArtGallery @AsYouWish #SnickerdoodleSpirit @Bookwormjillk

More of my Santa collection and a book I read last night.
I enjoyed this- and the end was very heartwarming which is good this time of year- but I had to overlook some things in order to do so. A soft pick.

Oh I loved this “book that feels like a hug” story about a children‘s book author who writes magical books about kids brave enough to make wishes. Fast forward he writes another book and turns its release into a contest that might be able to grant the wishes of grown up kids who loved his books ❤️❤️❤️

It‘s been a Monday and a half

This very much written for me, a former child who was saved by books. It goes over the edge into too syrupy at times, but still satisfies-- and it's a nice change from the cliche of “you met your life-saving artist and he's a real dick.“ This author isn't perfect, but does not let us down.

And my first full bingo card for #HauntedShelf! I love cards like this because they're subjective. It's really fun coming up with meaningful associations.

Johan wishes everyone happy reading! 😻

#aboutabook #debutauthor #catsoflitsy

This is a fun mix of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & Ready Player One.
#DogsOfLitsy

Oh how I loved this one! It's been a long time since I read a book in a day because I couldn't put it down. It was just so charming. It deals with some dark issues like addiction & parental neglect, but does so gently without making them the main focus. I loved the world created on the island & the unexpected sweet romance. The whole book just made me smile. I have a feeling you'd need to be in the right mood to for it, but it hit the spot for me.

August 1 #AboutABook @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This is a feel-good fairy tale for adults. It isn't at all realistic. Boundaries are crossed that Child Protective Services would never allow these days. You can't scrutinize it too carefully, but you can enjoy the idealistic warm fuzzies if you suspend disbelief. This is a book for adults who remember being captivated and maybe even saved by books as children. Adults deserve fairy tales, too.

#wonderouswednesday @Eggs

1. Friends
2. Uno
3. Done

@Mommamanzi @KateReadsYA @Pageturner1

Thanks @dabbe

1) Gilmore Girls, The Office, Schitt's Creek, The Big Bang Theory, Pitch Perfect

2) Checkers and Dominoes - both with my grandma

3)The Wishing Game

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

Want to join in @LiseWorks @Librarybelle

Help me decide!! Which book should I read next? I'm super interested in both of these.

People have compared this book to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I understand why, but it gave me more of The Westing Game vibe. I enjoyed it, although it was a slow start for me. Some things weren‘t that realistic, but the story does show the power of hope (and buckets of money).

This read more like YA but it was still fun and sweet.

Delightfully cozy (except for one surprising serious moment about 85% in).

The Wishing Game is a book inspired by Willie Wonka and it gave me those vibes when I was reading this book. It was so much fun playing a game for a grand prize. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I enjoyed how the story took place on an island. I suggest anybody who just wants a fun read to pick this up!!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Ballantine books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just okay for me. I liked the concept, but I felt like it was all over the place. It felt a little disjointed in spots for me. It definitely reminded me of Ready Player One in some ways. The game and the references to current pop culture were similar to that vibe. It was fun, but it wasn‘t as good as I had expected.

This one goes out to all the adults who were once kids obsessed with reading and who found salvation in books. I simply couldn‘t help but root for Lucy, and I especially loved how the final outcome was forecasted throughout by little references to the Clock Island series (the books within this book).

So wonderful! Enjoyed this one so much! The riddles, love, and heart that flows through this story are heartwarming and comforting. I was smiling from ear to ear through the whole book. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Why did I wait so long to read this book??!! It was so good and now I know why it‘s up for book of the year with BOTM!!😍😍

4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 #wishing #writing

Light pick (3.5 ⭐️) The premise is perfection (reclusive author of an extremely popular children‘s book series comes out of hiding to hold a Wonka-esque competition for his most rabid fans to win the only copy of his next book), but the boring Mary Sue main character with the predictably traumatic backstory (that isn‘t even that traumatic) really brought down the vibe for me. Overall I liked it, but totally understand the mixed reviews.

What a wonderful, charming story. Meg (“short for Megladon”) Shaffer gives us a book that shows us the power of hope, and how wishes can come true.

Jack Masterson is the author of the Clock Island book series. Four adult‘s, all with childhood connections to the author, have been invited to compete for the rights to his latest book. Lucy Hart MUST win to make her dream of adopting Christopher come true. Thoroughly enjoyed this read!

A great day of reading even an #audiowalk
With this sight to behold. 😂

✨ july ✨

i had three five-star reads in july this year:

-the wishing game
-when twilight breaks
-my dear miss dupré

and the wishing game was my favorite of the three.

#12booksof2023

Definitely agree with the others saying it had a Willy Wonka feel. It was fun, tender, tricky and clever. A fast enjoyable read for me!

This is a sweet, touching story, although I don't like that the main character promised a young child that she would adopt him and be his mother when it was very unlikely that would be possible.

12-6-23: My November Book Wrap Up! How sad only 4 books. Now that I am working a full time job here in Philadelphia I don‘t have nearly enough time to read! These were fine with the exception of The Wishing Game being 5 stars. It was a lovely story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖💗

#Rushathon

3 books to go to finish my #BOTM challenge! 🎉 This is one of those “hug in a book” stories, sweet & touching while still exploring some deeper issues like grief & childhood traumas. It gave me all the feels& made me root for Lucy, as well as the other characters. I only wish it had been a little longer so the characters were drawn a bit deeper. Still, a great book when you need a little comfort read.💫🖤⭐️

#HumbleHarvest

What‘s better than wishing on a star? 💫 The cover of one of my current reads & the bookmark I‘m using with it are full of #Stars ✨⭐️✨

11-13-23: My 95th finished book of 2023! Lucy, a kindergarten teacher‘s aide, is a fan of the Clock Island book series. Jack Masterson is the author who actually lives on Clock Island in Maine. Remember Willy Wonka? Well, Jack hosts a game for fans of his series and 4 lucky contestants are brought to the island in the hopes that they will win his newest book, the only copy! This was a heart warming story. I loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣9️⃣5️⃣

11-9-23: Very excited to start this one! 🎫

Looking forward to both of these.#BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo