As You Wish

by Nashae Jones

A girl learns the hard way to be careful what she wishes for in this sweet and funny middle grade rom-com featuring a chaos-loving West African trickster god.

Birdie has big plans for eighth grade. This is the year that she gets a boyfriend, and since she and her best friend, Deve, do everything together, it makes sense that Deve will get a girlfriend. This is the kind of math Birdie doesn’t find intimidating—it’s Eighth Grade 101. (Birdie + Boyfriend) + (Deve + Girlfriend) = Normal Eighth Grade Experience. And normal is something Birdie craves, especially with a mom as overprotective as hers.

She doesn’t expect Deve to be so against her plan, or for their fight to blow up in her face. So when the West African god Anansi appears to her, claiming to be able to make everything right again, Birdie pushes past her skepticism and makes a wish for the whole mess to go away. But with a trickster god, your wish is bound to come true in a way you never imagined.

Before long, Birdie regrets her rash words…especially when she realizes what’s really going on with her and Deve. With her reality upended, can Birdie figure out how to undo her wish?

Genres: Romance, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Magical Realism, Friendship

272 pages, Hardcover

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Nashae Jones is a freelance writer and an educator. Her pieces have appeared in publications such as HuffPost, McSweeney’s, Yahoo Voices among others. Currently she lives in Virginia with her husband, two kids, two cats, and one dog. She is passionate about diversity initiatives, especially in children’s literature.

Reviews

[Ellie Schaben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Aladdin, LibroFM, and Nashae Jones for the ALC!

Be careful what you wish for!!!

Or the grass isn’t always greener on the other side!!

This middle grade book was such a fun listen! We see Birdie live out several of her wishes, and she quickly realizes that life may have been better before she tried to make any changes. I loved seeing Birdie realize her feelings for Deve in “real time” and thought it was such a cute idea! I enjoyed the cultural integration of Anansi, and Birdie’s mom having to be vulnerable with her.

I didn’t love the flashbacks of Anansi working with the other generations? On audio, this got confusing!

[Caleb Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birdie excitedly begins her first day of 8th grade, however things quickly fall apart as the day fails to live up to her expectations. Luckily, she has the support of a god and 3 wishes to help her sort her life out and make everyone happy! Or is it really luck when there’s a West African trickster god involved?

Nashae Jones puts together a fantastic and hilariously entertaining story that not only teaches to be careful what you wish for, but also to look around sometimes, and realize what you should be grateful for in life. This book only became more addicting as I got deeper into it, and Jones’ writing style only enhances the readability of this text. I would absolutely host and recommend it within my classroom as a tale for those of a similar age who struggle with determining who they want to be. I was definitely all in on this one.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun coming of age story that reinforces be careful of what you wish for.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. This author's writing style is just so fun and perfect for this Middle Grade experience. I instantly connect with so many of the characters even though it's been so long since I was a MG myself. The drama, the hopes, the dreams, the banter, all just spot on and so easy and delightful to read. I was completely captivated by this story and all the twist. I was smiling the entire time and love love love Birdie (and Deve of course) and all the magic interwoven in this story.

note: I listened to the audiobook and it was fabulous!

Thanks to the publisher for a free audiobook copy; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Morgan Gayles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute and magical ride! I love a YA story that mixes romance, a sprinkle of Black girl magic, and characters learning to trust their gut (and their heart). The wish-granting concept was so fun, but it also had depth that reminding us to be careful what we ask for… because you just might get it! It was really interesting to see how dynamics between characters shifted based on personal wants because sometimes when people start choosing themselves, everything around them changes. It also reminded me that the “perfect” reality doesn’t exist, and we really should be thankful for both the family and friends we’ve been blessed with.

[Mickayla Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was the tiniest bit annoyed at the blatantly obliviousness of Birdie. But the book did a wonderful job of showing how her different wishes changed so much about her life and who she ultimately was in those realities as well as her relationships with others in them. Nancy for Anansi was a neat way to portray that character. I knew when her bonnet was on what that meant for the story and I was so happy to hear it! Did enjoy!

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Thank you to Libro.fm for the educator ALC. This was cuuuuute. I can see lots of my students eating this up. Upper middle grade romance perfection. We need more like this.

[Jessica Di Salvio · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice light read. I liked the story and the morals, but I didn’t feel an attachment to the characters. I wish the whole magic thing had more depth but it’s a middle schooler book, so 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my freaking seat!!! An extremely fun, magical realism, middle grade romcom

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

13 Going on Thirty meets It’s A Wonderful Life with this MG time loop romance.
🕯️
Birdie believes 8th grade is her year to get a boyfriend and finally be seen as “normal”. She and her best friend and neighbor, Deve, do everything together so of course she wants to get boyfriends and girlfriends together. She doesn’t get it when Deve gets upset with her. When West African god, Anansi appears to her in the form of a tween named Nancy, Birdie learns she gets three wishes. As she goes through each wish she learns more about herself and how great her life is already.
🧞‍♂️
I just adored this MG romance book. Nashae Jones is quickly becoming a top author in this genre. I loved the crossover from Courtesy of Cupid and the West African culture included. I believe this is such a unique title for this age group they’re going to be obsessed when it releases January 14!

CW: OCD, bullying, divorce, cyberbullying

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nashae Jones has once again delivered an incredible middle grades novel brimming with magic, tween angst, well-developed characters, and heartwarming, age-appropriate romance. Courtesy of Cupid is already a favorite of mine, and I loved the glimpses of Erin and Trevor a year later (this book stands alone, and you don't need to have read her first book to fully enjoy this one... though you should read it anyway just because it’s wonderful!).

Birdie and Deve have been best friends (crunchy peanut butter level friends…iykyk) since they were little kids. She can’t imagine life without him. On the first day of 8th grade, Birdie is ready to reinvent herself and try to change her status as the weird kid. Her solution: get a boyfriend! Deve doesn’t seem to like this plan…and he’s even unhappier after Birdie suggests she help him get a girlfriend.

After a fight, Deve suggests they take a friend break. Birdie is confused and heartbroken.

Luckily, Birdie has a unique family history: Anansi, the trickster god, owes each generation a favor if/when they reach a crucial crossroads. And so, Anansi offers her a wish. The solution seems simple! Birdie wishes that Deve were never mad at her…and then wakes up on the second day of school to find that she and Deve never became friends. After all, someone who doesn’t know you won’t ever be mad at you, right?

Turns out “favors” from a trickster god are not generally simple, and wishes can have some unintended ripple effects. With two more wishes left (one per day), Birdie must find a way to fix this new disaster while still trying to improve her life. She needs to be careful what she wishes for, though, after wish three, she’ll be left in whatever new reality she’s created.

As You Wish captures an authentic, poignant middle grades voice in our narrator Birdie, and it also provides a full cast of complex characters and meaningful relationships. You’ll find yourself invested in much more than Birdie’s relationship with Deve. Her relationships with her family and peers (and their relationships with each other) are affected with each timeline.

This book made me smile (I was reading on a plane and trying to avoid reactions that might concern my neighbor) and made me cry multiple times (…and I failed at that goal).

This is such a perfect book for a middle grades reader, and its length makes it all the more accessible for unsure readers. I will be adding it to my classroom library as soon as the physical book is available.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book, and thank you to Nashae Jones for once again gifting readers another incredible book with a diverse (in every way) cast of lovable, flawed, real characters.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the realm of "be careful what you wish for" comes As You Wish, by Nashae Jones.

Our protagonist, Bernadette "Birdie" Johnson-Nkrumah, at the pivotal age of 13, is faced with the challenges of entering 8th grade. Feeling as though she doesn't fit in anywhere except with her best friend Deve, the next door neighbor boy whom she has known most of her life, she begins to lash out at Deve and her other friends since she is determined to make big changes happen in her life and they don't see a problem, so they become resistant. Birdie has goals for 8th grade and she begins to realize she may have to let go of all that she knows to get what she wants.

Enter the African Trickster God, Anansi, from her Grandmother Amma's stories, offering Birdie a chance (or three) to be able to fix everything for her. Skeptical, Birdie decides that she has nothing to lose, so she gives Anansi her first wish.

Will Anansi "fix" everything just as Birdie wishes, or will Birdie learn that you really do have to "be careful what you wish for"?

This engaging read will have you cheering, wanting to comfort, and possibly even scold Birdie on her journey. It is well worth the read to discover if it all works out for her in the end.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book.

This book is a sweet and wonderful tale reminding readers to be careful what they wish for and that the life they lead isn't all bad and could certainly always be worse.

Birdie is a middle grader who, like many of us, imagines how life could be better if she just had a perfect boyfriend, a less over protective mom, or was socially popular. When a West African god grants her three wishes to make her life exactly how she wants it, Birdie quickly realizes how wonderful her life was already. And the things that weren't "perfect" in her life were the things that made her life hers. Birdie lives out three "alternate" realities where she gains what she thinks she wants most but realizes she looses some of the best parts of her life.

I really enjoyed this story and the flash backs in time to other ancestors of Birdie's when Anansi "helped" them as well with three wishes.

The story had great messaging and was very cute. I don't feel like this was a very original story however the small twists and turns and African culture thrown in kept me very entertained.

[Ivy Gogerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As You Wish" by Nashae Jones is a delightful exploration of friendship, identity, and the complexities of growing up. Birdie's journey through eighth grade is both relatable and engaging, as she navigates her dreams of a "normal" life while grappling with her overprotective mother and the dynamics of her friendship with Deve.
Jones expertly captures the essence of adolescence, complete with its awkward moments and emotional ups and downs. The introduction of Anansi adds a whimsical twist to Birdie's quest, reminding readers that you should be careful what you wish for.
The characters are wonderfully developed, and the dialogue is both authentic and witty. As Birdie learns about the true meaning of friendship and self-acceptance, the story becomes a powerful reflection on the importance of understanding and communication.
This book is a must-read for middle-grade readers and anyone who enjoys a heartfelt story sprinkled with magic. Nashae Jones has crafted a gem that resonates with both laughter and valuable life lessons. Highly recommended!

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

Beware of Gods bearing gifts. Especially when said God is Ananzi the Spider…

As you wish is a light romance between two middle school kids. It’s a sweet book, and a nice twist on the traditional genie, three wishes narrative. While the end is pretty strongly telegraphed by the subject matter (of COURSE Birdie’s going to eventually get things reconciled with Deve…), the twists and turns caused by placing your wishes in the God that inspired Bugs Bunny….well, it goes as well as expected.

For kids who like Percy Jackson and similar mythology based books, and don’t know much about West African mythology, this book may inspire some wonderful rabbit…or spider…trails.

This is a light romance and is appropriate for middle school kids…or, truthfully anyone who enjoys a clean romance with a bit of the supernatural, has been frustrated with their parents, or had a cross-gender best friendship as puberty starts to beckon.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the first day of school and Birdie has decided that this id the year that she will start to take control of her life, which includes a boyfriend for her and a girlfriend for her best friend/neighbor Deve. What she didn’t anticipate was meeting a strange new girl named Nancy, who shows up at the most interesting times. Nancy also informs Birdie that she can assist with making her dreams come true…but at what cost?

This was definitely an interesting story. It made me think if I was ever granted three wishes, what would I wish for and how would I deal with the consequences.

My favorite character would have to be Deve. Not only was he an ideal best friend, but he was also an amazing brother. My least favorite character goes to Nancy, the trickster god. I understand why she was there, but I did not agree with some of her tactics. Overall, I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it as a coming of age read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As You Wish by Nashae Jones is a fun middle-grade book based on the Anansi the spider stories. (Anansi is a trickster in African folklore.) 8th grader Birdie really wants a boyfriend and she thinks her best friend, Deve, should get a girlfriend. Unfortunately, Deve doesn’t agree and their friendship is on the rocks. When a new girl at school, who is really Anansi in human form, gives Birdie three wishes, Birdie is sure she can use them to repair her and Deve’s friendship. However, each time Birdie makes a wish, it just makes things worse for her and Deve. Her wishes even have negative consequences on her family. In the end, Birdie wishes for nothing more than her old life. Is it too late to set things back to the way they used to be?


I listened to this on on audio thanks to LibroFM’s Educator ALC program. Jade Wheeler did a great job narrating it.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eighth grader Birdie gets herself into a bit of trouble when she completely misses that her best friend, Deve, wants to be more than friends. This causes a chain of events that are so normal for middle school, in the way that one bad moment can totally ruin their life. “Nancy” aka Anansi shows up to help Birdie make up for her mistake, which leads to 3 do-overs, ultimately helping Birdie be thankful for what she had before the wishes made a complete mess of things. I loved the inclusion of the Anansi folklore, and I loved the length and speed of the book–absolutely perfect for young YA. I had a few issues with the mom’s germaphobic tendencies–not sure how she can professionally be a nurse when she can’t even let Birdie out of her sight without going through all of the dangers the world has to offer. Rating: 3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖 I have a rising sixth grader, two in sixth, and an eighth grader so those middle grade years and hitting us thick…thank you to the universe (and my favorite book store) for sending As You Wish our way. Nashae Jones’ latest middle grade read delivers a powerful punch, beautifully weaving folklore rooted in Ghana tradition with modern day teenage life in America. When Birdie experiences the normal hiccups of teenage life paired with an overprotective mother, an encounter with a trickster West African god leads her to wish into an alternate universe where life is unrecognizable. This adorably fun read is a refreshing and unique spin on the age old lesson to be careful what you wish for.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a non Christmas version of It's a Wonderful life, then this is the story for you. I've always seen posts/memes asking if you could change something about your past, would you, and sometimes I think yea, I wish I could, but then come to the realization that it could change my future, and not necessarily for the better. But I always live out that fantasy in a book like this. And the fact that it's a Middle Grade mixed with just a bit of Fantasy (which is great for those of us that normally don't enjoy the genre). One of my favorite parts was the snippets of the past in West Africa. The story is so sweet and funny and such a palate cleanser. This was such an enjoyable read

[Jamie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie (8th grade) had her friend group - Summer, Arlo. and Deve (her best friend) and she decides that she wants to be one of the popular kids. The best way to do that is get her a boyfriend and Deve a girlfriend - since Summer and Arlo are an LGBTQUIA+ couple already. Things don't go as planned as this causes the tight friendship she's always had with Deve to splinter and start to break. He's always been supportive of her, helping her deal with her mother's strict policies - she had to wear latex gloves to school, she can't go anywhere by herself, and more rules that lead deep into Bridie's mom's history she never knew anything about. Then there is Nancy, or Anansi the trickster spider god, that owes Birdie three wishes. Birdie thinks she can use the wishes to help fix her relationship with Deve, but each wish changes things even more with unforseen consequences. Though an interesting story with Birdie being a strong character, I felt that Deve didn't shore up to the same level in this rom-com with magic. He felt more like a placehold prop waiting for him to be fleshed out. As the romantic interest, this left a lot to be desired because though there were clear hints he wanted to be in a relationship with Birdie, he just keeps pulling away and each wish makes it worse.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute book gets a 4.5 rating. Birdie, the daughter of an over the top anxious mother has developed enough quirks of her own that she finds herself at the bottom of the popularity food chain. She wishes that things are different and Anansi, the trickster, decides to give her three chances to wish herself into a new life. Interspersed with Birdie's story is the story of her grandmother's experience with this same tricky wish grantor. There is some heartache, some self discovery, some romance. As you wish is a squeaky clean, perfect book for young middle grades on up.

I was given an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Rebecca]

I read the beginning and the end of this, but decided not to read the middle because I get too stressed out with books based on the main character making obviously terrible mistakes while being totally oblivious to things that are crystal clear to the reader. I mean, anyone who has ever read a book about making a wish knows that wishes ALWAYS go wrong, and thus should be avoided at all costs. Kids who like the genre will like it, though, and I did like the representation and the use of Anansi as opposed to Cupid or a genie or something. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Orsayor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

As You Wish by Nashae Jones offers a charming mix of humor, friendship, and a dash of mythology. Birdie’s quest for normalcy takes a wild turn when a wish granted by Anansi, the trickster god, brings more trouble than she expected. The story is engaging, with relatable characters and a creative plot, though some moments feel a bit rushed. Still, it’s an enjoyable read that highlights the importance of understanding and accepting life’s unexpected twists. Perfect for middle-grade readers looking for a light yet thoughtful adventure.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun middle grade book, perfect for a kid that wants to try reading romance. The characters are fun and there is some nice magical elements. It moves quickly enough to keep your attention.
My only complaint is the male love interest Deve pisses me off. He decides to just like ghost his best friend cause she doesn't realize he likes her? Then proceeded to get mad at her for it? Like sir you could have expressed your feelings instead of expecting her to read your mind, then getting mad when she can't.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good: the Midnight Library vibes - you can’t tweak your life for the better, really; the use of Anansi as a trickster
The annoying: not everyone needs a romantic partner and CERTAINLY not in 8th grade. That was not my 8th grade experience and it is *definitely* not what’s happening with today’s tweens; the mother’s concerns were over the top - not healthy & she was only barely dealing with them. It was too much.
I think I am not a great reader of middle grade novels. Time for a break (I write, knowing full well that I have one on hold at the library).

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an adult romcom reader, I could tell in just the 1st 50 pages that Birdie's best friend Deve was in love with her, that she couldn't see it, that she needed to become comfortable in her own skin and that after some Anansi mischievous meddling in her life, it would all work out between them. Aimed at middle schoolers (yay!), this fills a need because they're in 8th grade and everybody seems to be at the beginnings of working out issues of popularity and romance. But I didn't feel the need to finish it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was a charmingly cute middle grade novel about second chances and best friends leaning towards more and sees a young Desi girl, Birdie, getting three wishes to see if she can make her life better, only to realize she might have had it right the first time all along. Filled with a diverse cast of characters and a fun magical twist, this was good on audio and great for fans of the author's previous book.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to the type of book I'd pick up, read the back cover and actually end up reading, this book is close to as far away from something I'd read as I could get. But maybe Middle School Romance novels are my new jam because this book was flat out fun and strangely relatable.

In this mash up of things that have been done before, a la "Groundhog's Day", "11 Birthdays", "7.5 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" you know those time loop kinda things mixed with some genie magic 3 wishes, this book felt familiar but in a good comfortable kind of way.

On top of that it had the absolute perfect amount of romance for a novel revolving around 8th graders. It felt extremely appropriate and believable.

The type of book that 8th grade girls walking around with Colleen Hoover under their arms should be reading.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

This was such a fun MG romance (with a dash of folklore & magical realism)! I personally quite enjoy the “do-over” trope, and Nashae Jones does it really well in this book with a three-wishes twist. I also LOVED the way she wove Anansi the spider into this story. Middle school Michelle would have loved this one. (Adult me loved it, too.) And I will definitely be recommending it to my students.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.