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The Wish List
There are six months left of Emma Reiss's twenties. . . and she has some unfinished business.
Emma and her friends are about to turn thirty, and for Emma it's a defining moment. Defined, that is, by her having achieved none of the things she'd imagined she would.
Her career is all wrong, her love life is a desert and that penthouse apartment she pictured herself in simply never materialised. Moreover, she's never jumped out of a plane, hasn't met the man she's going to marry, has never slept under the stars, or snogged anyone famous - just some of the aspirations on a list she and her friends compiled fifteen years ago.
As an endless round of birthday parties sees Emma hurtle towards her own thirtieth, she sets about addressing these issues. But, as she discovers with hilarious consequences, some of them are trickier to tick off than she'd thought…
Emma and her friends are about to turn thirty, and for Emma it's a defining moment. Defined, that is, by her having achieved none of the things she'd imagined she would.
Her career is all wrong, her love life is a desert and that penthouse apartment she pictured herself in simply never materialised. Moreover, she's never jumped out of a plane, hasn't met the man she's going to marry, has never slept under the stars, or snogged anyone famous - just some of the aspirations on a list she and her friends compiled fifteen years ago.
As an endless round of birthday parties sees Emma hurtle towards her own thirtieth, she sets about addressing these issues. But, as she discovers with hilarious consequences, some of them are trickier to tick off than she'd thought…
481 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
133 people are currently reading
3787 people want to read
About the author
Jane Costello
18 books1,100 followersI’m the internationally bestselling author of 15 novels, five of which have been published under the name ‘Catherine Isaac’.
The latest of my ‘heartwarming and hilarious’ romantic comedies is ‘IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE’, the first book I’ve written that has a 40-something main character. My novels have been translated into 26 languages, selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club and I’ve been honoured to win a Romantic Novelists’ Award - twice!
I was born in Liverpool, where I still live with my husband and three sons. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me on the tennis court, wishing I’d started to play about 25 years before I did.
The latest of my ‘heartwarming and hilarious’ romantic comedies is ‘IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE’, the first book I’ve written that has a 40-something main character. My novels have been translated into 26 languages, selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club and I’ve been honoured to win a Romantic Novelists’ Award - twice!
I was born in Liverpool, where I still live with my husband and three sons. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me on the tennis court, wishing I’d started to play about 25 years before I did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
February 6, 2017
Another fantastic Jane Costello novel!
I have found all of Jane's books to have lots of laugh-out-loud moments and feel-good endings that have me sitting there with a smile on my face as I read the last few pages. Light hearted, fun and guaranteed to warm the heart! One of my favourite authors :)
I have found all of Jane's books to have lots of laugh-out-loud moments and feel-good endings that have me sitting there with a smile on my face as I read the last few pages. Light hearted, fun and guaranteed to warm the heart! One of my favourite authors :)
August 9, 2018
Update 09/08/18: Came across this review that I wrote about 5 years ago... decided to update it, due to the lack of importance I clearly placed on grammar back then and now feeling slightly depressed. I was 20 when I read this and Emma’s predicament seemed a million years away... in the blink of an eye, I’m suddenly just about to turn 26 and I’m empathising a whole lot more!
Original review 01/11/13: Emma is about to turn 30. Like many people, she is having difficulty dealing with this fact. Amongst a box of her old things, she finds a list that she, her sister and their two best friends wrote when Emma was 15 years old; A list of things to do before turning 30. It contains 12 items, out of which she has achieved exactly 0. So naturally, she sets about attempting to complete as much of the list as she can in the 6 months before her birthday. Items on the list vary from things like “Gain your dream job” and “Find the man you'll marry”, to things like “Sleep under the stars” and “See the northern lights”, and then to things like “Snog a famous person” and “Have a one night stand”!
This was a fun, light hearted and entertaining book. I usually read books that are a fair bit darker but sometimes I just need something happy and light, and this definitely fits the bill. There's humour, romance, some genuinely touching moments and a very relateable plot - haven't most of us achieved a lot less than we thought we would have by now? That being said, had I misplaced this book I probably could have just forgotten about it, and it is just a bit predictable. But it's a feel good book, you're in for a good time and I came away feeling happy at the end of it.
Original review 01/11/13: Emma is about to turn 30. Like many people, she is having difficulty dealing with this fact. Amongst a box of her old things, she finds a list that she, her sister and their two best friends wrote when Emma was 15 years old; A list of things to do before turning 30. It contains 12 items, out of which she has achieved exactly 0. So naturally, she sets about attempting to complete as much of the list as she can in the 6 months before her birthday. Items on the list vary from things like “Gain your dream job” and “Find the man you'll marry”, to things like “Sleep under the stars” and “See the northern lights”, and then to things like “Snog a famous person” and “Have a one night stand”!
This was a fun, light hearted and entertaining book. I usually read books that are a fair bit darker but sometimes I just need something happy and light, and this definitely fits the bill. There's humour, romance, some genuinely touching moments and a very relateable plot - haven't most of us achieved a lot less than we thought we would have by now? That being said, had I misplaced this book I probably could have just forgotten about it, and it is just a bit predictable. But it's a feel good book, you're in for a good time and I came away feeling happy at the end of it.
December 24, 2020
After not liking The Love Shack by this author, I was not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. It took me a few chapters to get into this book but once I got into it, it made for a enjoyable, funny, quick and feel good read.
Emma is about to turn 30 years old and she discovers a wish list that she made with her best friends when she was a teenager. She wants to do those things before her 30th birthday and starts her journey towards that. I didn't love her character but I liked it enough to enjoy her last few months in her twenties. I understood why she was anxious about turning 30, it was because her mother had died after her own 30th birthday. She accomplishes most of her wishes on the list.
I liked her friendship with Cally and Asha. I also liked her relationship with her sister and dad. They were close but also had their own lives. We don't get much depth into any of these characters (which I would have liked more) but it was just enough to support the story.
Matt was a likable character but there wasn't anything special about him. He was a pretty standard male character as far as rom-coms go. He was nice, good looking, funny, supported Emma, believed in her and he was good with kids. Like I said pretty standard but I still liked him. I did like his chemistry with Emma and I also liked that it was developed over few months.
The most I enjoyed was Emma and Giles's conversations. Giles's responses made me laugh out loud.
Another thing that I liked was and relate to is when she applied for the interior designer job because that's what her teenage self wanted and Emma as adult wanted to follow her passion. But the job didn't work out and she came back to what she was doing. We all want some things when we are teenagers but sometimes we grow out of those and want different things. It happened to Emma and it happened to me.
Jane Costello's writing was easy to read and the short chapters made for a quick read.
Leaning towards 4 stars.
Emma is about to turn 30 years old and she discovers a wish list that she made with her best friends when she was a teenager. She wants to do those things before her 30th birthday and starts her journey towards that. I didn't love her character but I liked it enough to enjoy her last few months in her twenties. I understood why she was anxious about turning 30, it was because her mother had died after her own 30th birthday. She accomplishes most of her wishes on the list.
I liked her friendship with Cally and Asha. I also liked her relationship with her sister and dad. They were close but also had their own lives. We don't get much depth into any of these characters (which I would have liked more) but it was just enough to support the story.
Matt was a likable character but there wasn't anything special about him. He was a pretty standard male character as far as rom-coms go. He was nice, good looking, funny, supported Emma, believed in her and he was good with kids. Like I said pretty standard but I still liked him. I did like his chemistry with Emma and I also liked that it was developed over few months.
The most I enjoyed was Emma and Giles's conversations. Giles's responses made me laugh out loud.
Another thing that I liked was and relate to is when she applied for the interior designer job because that's what her teenage self wanted and Emma as adult wanted to follow her passion. But the job didn't work out and she came back to what she was doing. We all want some things when we are teenagers but sometimes we grow out of those and want different things. It happened to Emma and it happened to me.
Jane Costello's writing was easy to read and the short chapters made for a quick read.
Leaning towards 4 stars.
June 23, 2015
There are six months left of Emma Reiss's twenties. . . and she has some unfinished business.
For someone who just turned thirty last year, I understood how Emma felt. I felt like in my twenties I still could make mistakes and have "fun" and when I turned thirty it was time to be a real adult and have my shit together. I thought I was going to take turning thirty hard and lock myself in my apartment and watch Disney movies and cry... here's some advice for the under thirty crowd, no matter what your age is all that matters is how happy you are in your life.
For someone who just turned thirty last year, I understood how Emma felt. I felt like in my twenties I still could make mistakes and have "fun" and when I turned thirty it was time to be a real adult and have my shit together. I thought I was going to take turning thirty hard and lock myself in my apartment and watch Disney movies and cry... here's some advice for the under thirty crowd, no matter what your age is all that matters is how happy you are in your life.
September 23, 2020
I like the story of Emma's list of things to do before she is thirty. Emma however is not the most likeable of lead characters for me. I like Matt much more than her. I seem to always prefer the lead Male character in Jane Costello's books. I was a little disappointed in the Northern Lights part not lasting long. I liked the places mentioned in Liverpool. It's not the worst book I have read but not my favourite either.
October 9, 2015
3.5 stars
August 30, 2013
How has this book been rated so highly it is so poorly written and I am half way through and still waiting for a proper story to start, let alone for the main character to do at least half her so called wish list! The characters are weak and the friends thrown in such as Asha and Cally and the sister drift in and out with no real purpose. Very disappointed in this book.
May 3, 2013
Jane Costello is an author whose books I only started reading last year and I have loved them because they made me laugh out loud. When I heard The Wish List had been released I headed straight out to grab my copy.
Our Heroine in The Wish List is the fun and loveable Emma Reiss. She is fast approaching the dreaded 30ooooohh and when she finds a list containing things to do before they reach 30 that Emma and her friends wrote she starts to think what has she done with her life and decides to try and complete as much as she can on her list.
Emma is such an easy character to warm to she is very down to earth, makes stupid mistakes like most of us do, she is a fun character who I loved. The supporting characters in this book are all great characters especially the lovely Matt who had a very lovable innocent feel to him.
The list is the center point of the storyline but there is a lot more going on. The author creates a friendship between Emma, Asha, Cally and Marianne that was to believable and each of the girls brought their own little storyline that is woven perfectly into the main story.
This is a really enjoyable and entertaining read, although this one didn't make me laugh out loud like the authors previous books it was still a witty read. Jane Costello's writing style is fantastic she manages to grab your interest from the opening chapter and my attention didn't waver the whole way through, her writing just seems so effortless. I love how well she writes humorous and sometimes awkward scenes in her books and this book is no exception, I personally loved the camping disaster in this book, with my luck in camping I can sympathise with Emma!
I have found in both Costello's previous book All The Single Ladies and The Wish List we are starting to see another side to the author writing talents as she has begun to bring some more serious parts to her books and she creates these parts just as well as the light hearted parts which only and s to the enjoyment of reading this book.
Another great read by Jane Costello that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Our Heroine in The Wish List is the fun and loveable Emma Reiss. She is fast approaching the dreaded 30ooooohh and when she finds a list containing things to do before they reach 30 that Emma and her friends wrote she starts to think what has she done with her life and decides to try and complete as much as she can on her list.
Emma is such an easy character to warm to she is very down to earth, makes stupid mistakes like most of us do, she is a fun character who I loved. The supporting characters in this book are all great characters especially the lovely Matt who had a very lovable innocent feel to him.
The list is the center point of the storyline but there is a lot more going on. The author creates a friendship between Emma, Asha, Cally and Marianne that was to believable and each of the girls brought their own little storyline that is woven perfectly into the main story.
This is a really enjoyable and entertaining read, although this one didn't make me laugh out loud like the authors previous books it was still a witty read. Jane Costello's writing style is fantastic she manages to grab your interest from the opening chapter and my attention didn't waver the whole way through, her writing just seems so effortless. I love how well she writes humorous and sometimes awkward scenes in her books and this book is no exception, I personally loved the camping disaster in this book, with my luck in camping I can sympathise with Emma!
I have found in both Costello's previous book All The Single Ladies and The Wish List we are starting to see another side to the author writing talents as she has begun to bring some more serious parts to her books and she creates these parts just as well as the light hearted parts which only and s to the enjoyment of reading this book.
Another great read by Jane Costello that I thoroughly enjoyed.
July 30, 2013
Emma's 30th birthday is approaching when she discovers a list she and her friends created when they were teenagers. Despite all the years that have passed, Emma has yet to achieve any of her goals on the list so, with six months to go before the big Three-Oh, she sets out to cross off at least 75% of the list.
Crossing off the goals will make Emma braver but it will also turn her life upside down with career changes, kisses with celebrities and an overhaul of her love life.
Joining Emma are best friends, Cally and Asha, and older sister, Mariann, who all contributed to the list. Cally is a single mum to 2-year-old Zachary, Asha has found herself as a mistress despite her strong beliefs and Mariann is doing her best to convince her sister she is happy with new boyfriend, Brian and doesn't want to get back together with her gorgeous ex, Johnny.
The Wish List is the first book by Jane Costello that I've read and now I'm wondering why I left it so long. The book is a fun, romantic comedy, with both light and highly amusing parts as well as some emotional scenes towards the end. The chapters are short and snappy and I found myself whizzing through the pages.
There are an array of characters within the book, from Emma and her friends, moaning co-worker, Giles and Emma's eccentric boss, Perry. I liked all of the characters, even if I didn't always agree with their actions, Asha in particular who I felt needed a to be taken by the shoulders and given a good shake at times!
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read, I would highly recommend The Wish List.
Crossing off the goals will make Emma braver but it will also turn her life upside down with career changes, kisses with celebrities and an overhaul of her love life.
Joining Emma are best friends, Cally and Asha, and older sister, Mariann, who all contributed to the list. Cally is a single mum to 2-year-old Zachary, Asha has found herself as a mistress despite her strong beliefs and Mariann is doing her best to convince her sister she is happy with new boyfriend, Brian and doesn't want to get back together with her gorgeous ex, Johnny.
The Wish List is the first book by Jane Costello that I've read and now I'm wondering why I left it so long. The book is a fun, romantic comedy, with both light and highly amusing parts as well as some emotional scenes towards the end. The chapters are short and snappy and I found myself whizzing through the pages.
There are an array of characters within the book, from Emma and her friends, moaning co-worker, Giles and Emma's eccentric boss, Perry. I liked all of the characters, even if I didn't always agree with their actions, Asha in particular who I felt needed a to be taken by the shoulders and given a good shake at times!
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read, I would highly recommend The Wish List.
May 3, 2015
3.5 stars
This was pretty enjoyable. I like the fact that it spans 6 months and in doing so gives the relationship actual time to develop. This is not a common thing in contemporary romance, but really, it should be.
I also genuinely liked all of the characters. They're all human beings, by which I mean that all of them are flawed, and all of them make mistakes. Contrary to most other books in the genre, this isn't a simple and straight-forward romance. Not for the main character and not for her group of friends either, which is something I appreciated.
I like that Emma was struggling in some ways with turning 30 and saying goodbye to her twenties (which is basically still where I am right now, lbh. This is the sole reason my friend Melanie shoved this at me and told me I should read it). It could definitely relate in many ways.
This was pretty enjoyable. I like the fact that it spans 6 months and in doing so gives the relationship actual time to develop. This is not a common thing in contemporary romance, but really, it should be.
I also genuinely liked all of the characters. They're all human beings, by which I mean that all of them are flawed, and all of them make mistakes. Contrary to most other books in the genre, this isn't a simple and straight-forward romance. Not for the main character and not for her group of friends either, which is something I appreciated.
I like that Emma was struggling in some ways with turning 30 and saying goodbye to her twenties (which is basically still where I am right now, lbh. This is the sole reason my friend Melanie shoved this at me and told me I should read it). It could definitely relate in many ways.
May 4, 2019
I've finally found a RomCom for the ladies that are either just about to turn the dreaded three-zero, or have already waved goodbye to their twenties and are embracing their thirties. As someone who have already made my piece with my twenties being behind me, but also realised that in some aspects I like my thirties a hell of a lot better, this is just the pick me up I needed!! The book market (at least the genres I read) are filled with heroines in their early twenties, who are walking around with massive chips on their shoulders, from not living the lifestyle promised in the glamorous TV shows and so called "reality" tv (as if reality has anything to do with it). This is a book for the people who know that's not how life really is. If anything I'd say this book is for the more realistic. For the people who realise that life doesn't owe you anything, and that there's not such a thing as getting everything you ever dreamed of, without putting in a lot of effort.
When Emma finds a list she made with her friends many years ago, consistent of twelve things to do before she turns thirty, she's bummed to realise she can cross a grand total of zero things off the list. With a countdown timer of six months, suddenly every decision she makes is with that list in mind. But while she's busy chasing the dreams and visions her younger self had, there's a point where she has to consider if that will truly make her happy. Is it worth taking a leap of faith and change things, just because she once upon a time thought other things were what she wanted? As Emma shows the list to her friends and sister, they all forced to realise how far they've all strayed from the path they thought they'd find themselves on. The feminist is now someone's mistress, the one who used to revel in one night stands is now a single mother, the glamorous sister has left her model life in London for a guy.
Emma and her friends are like a much needed breath of fresh air!! They're just your everyday normal women, with nothing special or fancy about them. They've known each other forever and stuck together through thick and thin. None of them are achieving their dreams by stepping on others, being mean or vindictive. They're not stuck in a mindset of what life owes them, they're focusing on what they can do to change what they're not happy about - and that's a trait I wish was applied to more heroines. Emma's last six months in her twenties are filled with ups and downs. While she does make mistakes, she learns from them. Most of this book takes place in Liverpool, where I've lived there for about one year. I really like that it's a different setting than the usual NYC or London scene and on top of that, I really felt like I could really follow the girls around town when they're out and about.
While there's a lot of "laugh out moments" I felt like the story was perfectly balanced between funny and the seriousness. There was a few times where I thought the author could have handled the situation differently. Like when one of Emma's friends, the mistress, Facebook friends her lovers wife by accident. Instead of simply cancelling the friend request, it turns into a thing where the lover has to log in to his wife's Facebook and delete the request. Or when there's an incident with her neighbours kid being smacked around by the mums new boyfriend. Emma calls the dad who doesn't pick up. But in 2015 (or 2013 where the book was published), why didn't she just record it on her camera phone? I'm sure most people had those back then!! Those are just things that stood out to me and made me wonder why it was handled that way, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Not even close!!!
When Emma finds a list she made with her friends many years ago, consistent of twelve things to do before she turns thirty, she's bummed to realise she can cross a grand total of zero things off the list. With a countdown timer of six months, suddenly every decision she makes is with that list in mind. But while she's busy chasing the dreams and visions her younger self had, there's a point where she has to consider if that will truly make her happy. Is it worth taking a leap of faith and change things, just because she once upon a time thought other things were what she wanted? As Emma shows the list to her friends and sister, they all forced to realise how far they've all strayed from the path they thought they'd find themselves on. The feminist is now someone's mistress, the one who used to revel in one night stands is now a single mother, the glamorous sister has left her model life in London for a guy.
Emma and her friends are like a much needed breath of fresh air!! They're just your everyday normal women, with nothing special or fancy about them. They've known each other forever and stuck together through thick and thin. None of them are achieving their dreams by stepping on others, being mean or vindictive. They're not stuck in a mindset of what life owes them, they're focusing on what they can do to change what they're not happy about - and that's a trait I wish was applied to more heroines. Emma's last six months in her twenties are filled with ups and downs. While she does make mistakes, she learns from them. Most of this book takes place in Liverpool, where I've lived there for about one year. I really like that it's a different setting than the usual NYC or London scene and on top of that, I really felt like I could really follow the girls around town when they're out and about.
While there's a lot of "laugh out moments" I felt like the story was perfectly balanced between funny and the seriousness. There was a few times where I thought the author could have handled the situation differently. Like when one of Emma's friends, the mistress, Facebook friends her lovers wife by accident. Instead of simply cancelling the friend request, it turns into a thing where the lover has to log in to his wife's Facebook and delete the request. Or when there's an incident with her neighbours kid being smacked around by the mums new boyfriend. Emma calls the dad who doesn't pick up. But in 2015 (or 2013 where the book was published), why didn't she just record it on her camera phone? I'm sure most people had those back then!! Those are just things that stood out to me and made me wonder why it was handled that way, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Not even close!!!
April 7, 2024
Auntie ev was right! I loved it. Cheesy wee rom com 😉 Loved all the characters and could relate!
May 14, 2017
I’ve been shelving a lot of Jane Costello books in my library and decided why not give one of her books a go. I lasted 20 chapters.
Initially I was actually excited to read about a protagonist who works in TV because her job is what I want to be doing. Unfortunately everything else about her bothered me. For one thing, her opinion on casual sex being the sin of sins is so backwards. It’s not for everyone obviously, (I mean, I don’t even do it), but in this day and age, maybe we should learn to be less judgemental, eh?
The other thing that bothered me was her “downside” to the Brian character. Brian wants to break into TV writing like her, but instead of her thinking, ‘oh that’s nice, like me!’ and being encouraging about it, she looks down on him purely on the fact that his “on-the-job experience is limited to operating the jet wash at Gleamers.”
*audible gasp* you mean to tell me…that he works to pay his bills?? Oh the horror!
Little FYI, some of us weren’t born with connections. Shocking, I know.
The final nail in the coffin for me was when Emma is job hunting later on, she states she was surprised by how dispiriting it was. Surprised. About the fact that finding a job is hard.
Wow, how privileged was this character.
Finally, the minor characters weren’t enjoyable. Especially Asha. Despite claiming to say that she knows what she’s doing is wrong, she continues to be that “other woman” anyway. It doesn’t matter if the marriage is in shambles, it’s still a marriage. And you continuing to sleep with someone married makes you a shitty person. Simple as.
It’s a shame this book had terrible characters. The writing was actually entertaining and the jokes were pretty decent, but at the end of the day, it’s the characters that drive a storyline forward, not the other way round.
Initially I was actually excited to read about a protagonist who works in TV because her job is what I want to be doing. Unfortunately everything else about her bothered me. For one thing, her opinion on casual sex being the sin of sins is so backwards. It’s not for everyone obviously, (I mean, I don’t even do it), but in this day and age, maybe we should learn to be less judgemental, eh?
The other thing that bothered me was her “downside” to the Brian character. Brian wants to break into TV writing like her, but instead of her thinking, ‘oh that’s nice, like me!’ and being encouraging about it, she looks down on him purely on the fact that his “on-the-job experience is limited to operating the jet wash at Gleamers.”
*audible gasp* you mean to tell me…that he works to pay his bills?? Oh the horror!
Little FYI, some of us weren’t born with connections. Shocking, I know.
The final nail in the coffin for me was when Emma is job hunting later on, she states she was surprised by how dispiriting it was. Surprised. About the fact that finding a job is hard.
Wow, how privileged was this character.
Finally, the minor characters weren’t enjoyable. Especially Asha. Despite claiming to say that she knows what she’s doing is wrong, she continues to be that “other woman” anyway. It doesn’t matter if the marriage is in shambles, it’s still a marriage. And you continuing to sleep with someone married makes you a shitty person. Simple as.
It’s a shame this book had terrible characters. The writing was actually entertaining and the jokes were pretty decent, but at the end of the day, it’s the characters that drive a storyline forward, not the other way round.
June 12, 2018
Es war ganz ok. Man verpasst aber auch nichts, wenn mans nicht gelesen hat.
April 17, 2013
I have waited for this baby sooo long and when I finally got in this in my hands, I put everything that I was doing away and started to read it.
Actually today I have abandoned my child to finish it:) She got some cookies that she normally doesn't get. Well, well, well...
Back to the book. It was all that I love in a book, a typical Jane Costello. My favourite way of writing: short, sharp chapters, a lot happening, lovely and likeable characters and a lot of fun. Although I must say that this book was somewhat "darker" that all the previous books, I don't know, not so carefree but still funny, witty and warm.
I loved Emma, she was a kind of girl that I could be my friend, she was not perfect but she felt good in her skin and accepted herself like she is. She was not afraid to take risk, she was open and full of enthusiasm.
There are also friends of Emma, Asha and Cally, and each of them has her own story which are also very engaging and not so easy to solve. Rob was soooo "meh", really, such a girl, I wanted to shake him sometimes and told him: Be A Man please. But please show me where Matt is living, I'll take him even with his three sons:)
The story itself is really engaging. One can say, what is so original and new in Wish List and trying to achieve it but it is all about what kind of things are on this list and how Emma is going to achieve them. And she is doing it in a hilarious way, she takes us on a roller coaster ride with all its ups and downs. She is so prone to accidents, almost everything ends in a disaster and I was really laughing out loud reading this page - turner book. Especially when I read about her visit at the gyn. Or about the camping - disaster.
This book is thoroughly enjoyable and actually I liked everything in it. Jane Costello is absolutely in my top - ten favourite writers. All of her books were just jackpots. Already ready for her next book.
Actually today I have abandoned my child to finish it:) She got some cookies that she normally doesn't get. Well, well, well...
Back to the book. It was all that I love in a book, a typical Jane Costello. My favourite way of writing: short, sharp chapters, a lot happening, lovely and likeable characters and a lot of fun. Although I must say that this book was somewhat "darker" that all the previous books, I don't know, not so carefree but still funny, witty and warm.
I loved Emma, she was a kind of girl that I could be my friend, she was not perfect but she felt good in her skin and accepted herself like she is. She was not afraid to take risk, she was open and full of enthusiasm.
There are also friends of Emma, Asha and Cally, and each of them has her own story which are also very engaging and not so easy to solve. Rob was soooo "meh", really, such a girl, I wanted to shake him sometimes and told him: Be A Man please. But please show me where Matt is living, I'll take him even with his three sons:)
The story itself is really engaging. One can say, what is so original and new in Wish List and trying to achieve it but it is all about what kind of things are on this list and how Emma is going to achieve them. And she is doing it in a hilarious way, she takes us on a roller coaster ride with all its ups and downs. She is so prone to accidents, almost everything ends in a disaster and I was really laughing out loud reading this page - turner book. Especially when I read about her visit at the gyn. Or about the camping - disaster.
This book is thoroughly enjoyable and actually I liked everything in it. Jane Costello is absolutely in my top - ten favourite writers. All of her books were just jackpots. Already ready for her next book.
July 22, 2013
The sticker on the cover said "If you like Sophie Kinsella, you'll enjoy Jane Costello" and whoever wrote it was right!
The Wish List is nicely written, with a fair amount of humor and romance and problems which are - of course - solved in the end. What I really like are the interesting storylines of sideline characters - everyone has a line which delevops throughout the book and you fall in love with them as much as you do with Emma - the main character who is struggling to do complete the long-lost wish-lish she made up when she fifteen partially to dare her friends but mainly herself. An enjoyable summer read for young adults and women, recommend!
The Wish List is nicely written, with a fair amount of humor and romance and problems which are - of course - solved in the end. What I really like are the interesting storylines of sideline characters - everyone has a line which delevops throughout the book and you fall in love with them as much as you do with Emma - the main character who is struggling to do complete the long-lost wish-lish she made up when she fifteen partially to dare her friends but mainly herself. An enjoyable summer read for young adults and women, recommend!
September 27, 2022
A delicious surprise. My first novel by the author, and definitely not the last.
The strongest parts of the book were the humour (I love this kind of funny scenes and hilarious metaphors) and the love stories (mature and interesting).
Yet, it lacked some kind of refinement that I see e.g. in Milly Johnson's novels. Also, I always prefer when not all characters are beautiful and successful/rich, etc., as was here. And I am not a fan of using alcohol-induced blackouts as a part of the plot (at least not as a kind of funny plot twist).
Still, I had a great time. Great comfort reading - for sure.
The strongest parts of the book were the humour (I love this kind of funny scenes and hilarious metaphors) and the love stories (mature and interesting).
Yet, it lacked some kind of refinement that I see e.g. in Milly Johnson's novels. Also, I always prefer when not all characters are beautiful and successful/rich, etc., as was here. And I am not a fan of using alcohol-induced blackouts as a part of the plot (at least not as a kind of funny plot twist).
Still, I had a great time. Great comfort reading - for sure.
June 16, 2015
The Wish List.....Emma is 6 months away from her 30th birthday. She finds a list she wrote when she was 15. She decides that before her 30th birthday she will do everything that is on the list. It included things like grow out her hair, skydiving, have a 1 night stand and others. As she completes the list, Emma gets more confident and start to make a few changes in her life which maybe is a result of that list. It's a good novel with likeable supporting characters and a few laughs. Made me smile a lot.
"Be Fearless"- Emma & Marianne's mother.
"Be Fearless"- Emma & Marianne's mother.
November 1, 2017
I just don't understand how this book got so many rave reviews here.
All I got from this book was a bloody headache. I hated Emma pretty much from the first three pages. She is highly unrelatable, arrogant, high maintenance. Really- what's to like about her?
I feel this can be completely missed. Certainly not one of Jane Costello's good work!
Read my full review here My Review
All I got from this book was a bloody headache. I hated Emma pretty much from the first three pages. She is highly unrelatable, arrogant, high maintenance. Really- what's to like about her?
I feel this can be completely missed. Certainly not one of Jane Costello's good work!
Read my full review here My Review
January 18, 2018
Ще патентовам последното си открие , което е - януари месец, месец на забавните книги.
Гарантирано по-лесно преминаване през един от най-подтискащите месеци.
Разбира се ще следва списък с моите забавни предложения.
Жалко , че ми свършват книгите на тази любима авторка.
И тази беше предпоследната, но не и по забава.
Рецептата и е подобна - смях , любов , е и тук таме някое препятствие.
Гарантирано по-лесно преминаване през един от най-подтискащите месеци.
Разбира се ще следва списък с моите забавни предложения.
Жалко , че ми свършват книгите на тази любима авторка.
И тази беше предпоследната, но не и по забава.
Рецептата и е подобна - смях , любов , е и тук таме някое препятствие.
August 17, 2017
I loved Jane Costello books and this was no exception!
Emma was a brilliant character and very likeable and I loved the way the story unfolded.
There was some proper laugh out loud moments too.
Emma was a brilliant character and very likeable and I loved the way the story unfolded.
There was some proper laugh out loud moments too.
October 1, 2017
Very laugh-out loud and just what I needed between reading two intense books!
April 2, 2021
Trebala mi je Jane. Volim njene knjige, potpuno me opuste. Pravo feel good štivo. Nije ovo knjiga s iznenađujućim twistovima, prepametnim likovima ili ozbiljnom radnjom. Ali je zabavna i ako volite chick-lit romane, Jane će vam se svidjeti.
August 26, 2020
What a brilliant book. This book made me laugh out loud. Definitely recommend
March 9, 2024
Fabulous wee romance about Emma who is turning thirty and finds a list of ‘things to do before I turn thirty’ list she made when she was fifteen. What ensues is some crazy adventures where she tries to fulfill the items before her birthday in six months. Great characters, good plot and a will it or won’t it work out romance. Great wee read 😊
August 25, 2025
3.5⭐️
July 13, 2020
Absolutely loved this! Laughed out loud the whole way through. I love Jane Costello one of my favourite authors and this has to be my favourite book of hers. Highly recommend!
June 5, 2013
Emma finds wish list of things she wanted to do before she turned 30- six months before the big birthday. She wanted to be an interior designer but currently works as a script writer for a childrens tv series. Her friends have relationship issues and her sister split from her 'perfect' boyfriend. She attempts to complete the items on her wish list even though she can't believe some of the things they wanted to achieve as teenagers.
June 1, 2013
A very funny book. Characters were written with such warmth and humour. The story was very touching and sad at times. Emma is 6 months away from her 30th birthday she finds a list that her and her friends wrote when they were 15 of things they would like to do before they reach the age of 30. Emma is dismayed to learn that she hasn't achieved any. She sets about achieving gals that were written down on the list some with very funny consequences. Loved it!
December 20, 2015
I really loved this book. It's definitely a good read for summer, enjoyed with a glass of wine and sitting outside on your hammock.
This is about a 29 year old named Emma and a list she and her friends made when they were younger of what to do before they are 30. This book is chick lit mixed with a romantic feel and lessons to learn.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the meanings behind it all about not taking life for granted, just go for it.
This is about a 29 year old named Emma and a list she and her friends made when they were younger of what to do before they are 30. This book is chick lit mixed with a romantic feel and lessons to learn.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the meanings behind it all about not taking life for granted, just go for it.
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