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The Wish List
Maggie...will never forget the day that her best friend, Celia, told her she was in love with another woman. Shocked and confused, Maggie fled from their friendship, married Celia's castoff fiance, bore his child, and buried herself in a model suburban life.
Celia...always a rebel and a bridge burner, left everything she knew to live openly as a lesbian. Content, but never truly happy, she's watched a string of relationships evolve from serial monogamy to serious monotony. Now running a lesbian art colony in Arizona, she's involved in a passionate, but empty, relationship with a beautiful - and very jealous - younger woman.
For twenty years, Maggie has kept her true feelings for Celia a secret - even from herself. Newly widowed, she is finally free to acknowledge the unspoken wishes of her heart. The lesbian apprentices on Celia's ranch are more than willing to play matchmaker, but finishing what was never begun may take more trust and courage than either Maggie or Celia can give.
Celia...always a rebel and a bridge burner, left everything she knew to live openly as a lesbian. Content, but never truly happy, she's watched a string of relationships evolve from serial monogamy to serious monotony. Now running a lesbian art colony in Arizona, she's involved in a passionate, but empty, relationship with a beautiful - and very jealous - younger woman.
For twenty years, Maggie has kept her true feelings for Celia a secret - even from herself. Newly widowed, she is finally free to acknowledge the unspoken wishes of her heart. The lesbian apprentices on Celia's ranch are more than willing to play matchmaker, but finishing what was never begun may take more trust and courage than either Maggie or Celia can give.
234 pages, Nook
First published April 1, 1996
23 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Saxon Bennett
53 books180 followersSaxon Bennett is an admitted bibliophile and has the bookcases to prove it. Her favorite book is Harriet the Spy. She grew up among the pine trees of Washington where she learned to be a Keeper of Odd Knowledge with a special liking for new words - the queerer the better. She has a penchant for inspirational quotes - the more motivational the better. A serious aficionado of pie, she also drinks a lot of coffee and tea - especially when she’s writing, which she does every day. Saxon is a parent and a wife—two things she never thought she’d be - and she writes blogs about her family in the style of Erma Bombeck. In her next life she wants to be a professional snowboarder. She likes to grow flowers and tend to her pond. Jelly beans, gummy bears and licorice are her favorite candies. An avid walker with a goal to walk every street in her small town, she hits the pavement each morning. To keep herself limber, she does beginner yoga. She’d like to learn to meditate but her mind is as restless as a squirrel trapped in a box. As an amateur seamstress, she is endlessly trying to create the perfect butch purse. Her favorite quote is “Man plans, God laughs.” Saxon is the author of fifteen novels. Her book Family Affair won the Goldie for General Fiction in 2009. She won the Alice B. Reader Award for her body of work in 2012. Her second book in the Family Affair trilogy entitled Marching to a Different Accordion won a Golden Crown Literary Award for general fiction in 2012. Her book In the Unlikely Event is the final book in the Family Affair trilogy. All her books are available at Amazon and Bella Books in both print and electronic format. She has also written two books with her partner Layce Gardner and they are More than a Kiss and Crazy Little thing. Check them out on Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 3, 2018
The Wish List was an entertaining read but not a high flyer. This was something Saxon Bennett wrote in the 90ies and she has honed her craft since then. Oh, and before you ask, this is not a comedy.
It’s basically how widow Maggie flies to Arizona to visit her estranged best friend Celia, discovers a few truths about herself along the way and gets her lesbian groove on in the desert.
f/f
Themes: the daughter is a right git, making pottery, Maggie tries to fight it, Celia tries to fight it, there is some dyke drama but in the end they are just meant to be, at the end of the story the daughter is still a nasty little git.
3.4 stars
It’s basically how widow Maggie flies to Arizona to visit her estranged best friend Celia, discovers a few truths about herself along the way and gets her lesbian groove on in the desert.
f/f
Themes: the daughter is a right git, making pottery, Maggie tries to fight it, Celia tries to fight it, there is some dyke drama but in the end they are just meant to be, at the end of the story the daughter is still a nasty little git.
3.4 stars
November 18, 2017
I thought it was gonna be teh funny.... Nope serious novel done very well. Loved it. Later in life, family drama, etc. And it's KU 😃
March 16, 2018
LOVED it!!
This book definitely rates a well deserved five stars. I loved that Maggie found what she didn't know would be her completion in life to make her know what true happiness is. It's just sad that there always (Amanda) someone that could hold you back and that's if you're weak enough to allow them to control you. Celia too has found her complete happiness. I loved loved loved this book. Like seriously loved this book. I will keep it close to my heart because of the significance of its meaning. LOVED it!!
This book definitely rates a well deserved five stars. I loved that Maggie found what she didn't know would be her completion in life to make her know what true happiness is. It's just sad that there always (Amanda) someone that could hold you back and that's if you're weak enough to allow them to control you. Celia too has found her complete happiness. I loved loved loved this book. Like seriously loved this book. I will keep it close to my heart because of the significance of its meaning. LOVED it!!
March 1, 2019
Funny, romantic, realistic!
This is a worthy 5 star rating. I laughed so many times, I was afraid people around me will think me mad🤣. This was just so deeply satisfying... In a I am craving my tea so much and I finally have it feeling. It was realistic because I imagined the scenarios and felt them quite applicable. And the romance, very mature and soothing. Great read!
This is a worthy 5 star rating. I laughed so many times, I was afraid people around me will think me mad🤣. This was just so deeply satisfying... In a I am craving my tea so much and I finally have it feeling. It was realistic because I imagined the scenarios and felt them quite applicable. And the romance, very mature and soothing. Great read!
August 31, 2018
This book gave me some things to think about. For obvious reasons, I understand Maggie coming to terms with her sexuality, but I also sympathize with Amanda. Given the time in which the author wrote The Wish List, it seems Amanda did not have a reference point to cope with her mother's sudden lifestyle change. Yeah, Amanda may be like her father, and no she didn't need to do a Connie Corleone by throwing sh!@#t around; however, it's like what Gram Josephine said, Amanda needs time. It took Maggie time to realize the truth. The same can be said about Amanda needing time to accept/adjust to her mom's new lifestyle.
The title also caught my attention. Based on Merriam-Webster's definition, a wish list is something a person wants that's sometimes "realistically unobtainable." Maggie whished she had more confidence when she was younger, wasn't a coward, and most importantly wanted a life with Celia. These wishes are by no means "realistically unobtainable." I wonder if the same can said about her daughter's acceptance?
The title also caught my attention. Based on Merriam-Webster's definition, a wish list is something a person wants that's sometimes "realistically unobtainable." Maggie whished she had more confidence when she was younger, wasn't a coward, and most importantly wanted a life with Celia. These wishes are by no means "realistically unobtainable." I wonder if the same can said about her daughter's acceptance?
December 10, 2018
An Enjoyable Story
**********************
** SPOILER ALERT **
**********************
—“We finished what never got started.”
A good book about the discovery, uncertainty & passion of a relationship between two women— both bearing the scars & fears from their history's personal emotions, prior devastations & painful memories, as they attempt to find love & family in each other that can overcome their damages & heal the souls!
Its NEVER too late for your true self & there's nothing like finally finding the love you've wanted, waited & weeped for thru so many years battered by rogue waves of patience, pain & possibilities!
—“She was drowning in love. She prayed that their love wouldn’t end, that both of them could make it work, and that all the things they hadn’t found in others could be found in each other.”
**********************
** SPOILER ALERT **
**********************
—“We finished what never got started.”
A good book about the discovery, uncertainty & passion of a relationship between two women— both bearing the scars & fears from their history's personal emotions, prior devastations & painful memories, as they attempt to find love & family in each other that can overcome their damages & heal the souls!
Its NEVER too late for your true self & there's nothing like finally finding the love you've wanted, waited & weeped for thru so many years battered by rogue waves of patience, pain & possibilities!
—“She was drowning in love. She prayed that their love wouldn’t end, that both of them could make it work, and that all the things they hadn’t found in others could be found in each other.”
September 12, 2019
Love Always Finds Its Level
When I started this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was a love story that started as teens and then resumed as adult lovers much later in life. One husband, two female lovers and adult children make for a lot of water under the bridge but love wins out in the end. I found the joy of the writing to make me smile and long for a happy ending for Celia and Maggie who find it under the desert sky. One can hope that Amanda and Libby find it eventually as well. Looking forward to more books by these authors.
When I started this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was a love story that started as teens and then resumed as adult lovers much later in life. One husband, two female lovers and adult children make for a lot of water under the bridge but love wins out in the end. I found the joy of the writing to make me smile and long for a happy ending for Celia and Maggie who find it under the desert sky. One can hope that Amanda and Libby find it eventually as well. Looking forward to more books by these authors.
March 9, 2018
A widow, Maggie, accepts an invitation to visit a long lost friend, Celia, in the Arizona desert. Old feelings, new feelings, and most of all a true awakening is what she finds that summer. What a beautiful story. I think, because I am their age, I was very much in tune with the doubts and fears and yet, also the excitement Maggie felt at finally being at home in her own skin. I was also a late bloomer, almost 40, so I couldn't help but laugh and cheer as Maggie happily stumbled her way into her new life. Very good book.
April 25, 2018
Never give up on love
This was a great story of lives lived, loves lost and love found. Loved the storyline. The characters are wonderful and the story is how life changes.
This was a great story of lives lived, loves lost and love found. Loved the storyline. The characters are wonderful and the story is how life changes.
February 5, 2019
Deep, lovely
Deep, lovely, angst in all of the right places and none of the wrong places. An intriguing set of minor characters, as well.
Deep, lovely, angst in all of the right places and none of the wrong places. An intriguing set of minor characters, as well.
September 2, 2023
I think the Amanda situation could’ve been handled with a lot more care, but I loved this book. Incredibly validating of the experience of coming out and finding identity.
March 11, 2016
Good book
I enjoyed this book a lot. The story development was poignant and Maggie and Celia were very believable. Maggie's daughter Amanda was spot on demonstrating selfishness and her lack of awareness of her mother's needs. All in all, it was a very good book.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The story development was poignant and Maggie and Celia were very believable. Maggie's daughter Amanda was spot on demonstrating selfishness and her lack of awareness of her mother's needs. All in all, it was a very good book.
March 28, 2016
Loved this book.
I really enjoyed "The Wish List". Beautifully written. Nice to read a book that includes looking @ family members feelings, when two women enter into a relationship. Especially when that romance comes later in life.
I really enjoyed "The Wish List". Beautifully written. Nice to read a book that includes looking @ family members feelings, when two women enter into a relationship. Especially when that romance comes later in life.
March 6, 2017
loved it of course . less humor more serious but fantastic none the less .
September 10, 2016
DNF at 10%. Writing style not for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews