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The Newport Ladies Book Club
Ilana's Wish
On the surface, Ilana Goldstein leads an enviable life: a thriving career and a happy marriage to a handsome doctor. All that's missing is a baby, an emptiness that will surely be filled with time . . .
Then, in an instant, her life falls apart. Now, beneath Ilana's once flawless exterior hides a dark secret that may destroy the woman who seemed to have it all. Following a rapid succession of crushing trials, Ilana turns to prescription medications to take the edge off her agony both the ache of her body and the anguish of her soul. But when her desperation to dull the pain leads to the downward spiral of addiction, her friends in the Newport Ladies Book Club must do whatever it takes to save one of their own. Will Ilana's devastating losses bring about her own self-destruction, or will the loving determination of friends and family lend her the strength to overcome?
Then, in an instant, her life falls apart. Now, beneath Ilana's once flawless exterior hides a dark secret that may destroy the woman who seemed to have it all. Following a rapid succession of crushing trials, Ilana turns to prescription medications to take the edge off her agony both the ache of her body and the anguish of her soul. But when her desperation to dull the pain leads to the downward spiral of addiction, her friends in the Newport Ladies Book Club must do whatever it takes to save one of their own. Will Ilana's devastating losses bring about her own self-destruction, or will the loving determination of friends and family lend her the strength to overcome?
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Annette Lyon
81 books307 followersAnnette Lyon is a USA Today bestselling author, an 9-time recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction (three times for novel-length works and five times for short fiction), and a Whitney Award winner for BAND OF SISTERS. She's the author of over a dozen novels, at least that many novellas, a cookbook, a popular grammar guide, and over a hundred magazine articles.
She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.
Annette is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Her first suspense novel, Just One More, releases 2023 through Scarlet Suspense.
She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.
Annette is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Her first suspense novel, Just One More, releases 2023 through Scarlet Suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 13, 2014
I was worried about this one, that I wouldn't like it, but I did. It was really well written, and I could see how easily, and accidentally prescription drug addiction can happen. Great book.
January 1, 2020
I don't routinely read LDS author's but every once in awhile I like a quick easy read. The Newport Ladies Book Club has been a relatively fun series to read. I have especially enjoyed that the books don't paint the lives of the women in them as simple and uncomplicated. I think I have been drawn to the stories because of this. I think that we often think everyone's life is easier and rosier than our own and these stories show us that the reality is different.
They are not romance stories but stories of a group of women who randomly come together in a book club each with their own difficult trials. I like that their lives are not all peaches and cream and that a group of women who have nothing more in common than a book group can care about each other even though they don't have a lot in common.
They are not romance stories but stories of a group of women who randomly come together in a book club each with their own difficult trials. I like that their lives are not all peaches and cream and that a group of women who have nothing more in common than a book group can care about each other even though they don't have a lot in common.
February 13, 2020
I knew out of all the ones in the series, this would be the hardest to get through. Because I was mentally prepared for it, it helped make it easier. It was an enlightening glimpse into people's mindset and how easy it could be to fall into an addiction of that sort. It was very depressing at the same time, particularly at the middle. It made me admire Shannon and Tori, I don't think I would have had the guts for an intervention. I thought her husband was great.
November 30, 2022
This is probably my least favorite book of this series. It's well written, but the topic is so heavy and not really why I started reading this series. Ilana deals with an addiction to pain killers and the book follows her as she goes through the different stages of addiction. Having watched a friend go through some of this, it was a little triggering for me, but I think it could be helpful for people who haven't been exposed to it to get a little perspective.
June 15, 2017
Because Lyon is one of my favorite authors, I was disappointed that this book was atypical for me when it came to her writing. I was bored at times because things dragged on for too long. The story was line was good, just long. I liked the ending and the relationships that were built through the book club and between Ilana and her husband.
January 1, 2019
I really enjoyed all of the Newport Ladies Book Club books. I liked that each woman had a different story/life situation, and that additional details were revealed in subsequent books. Definitely a fun idea for a series and it was well executed.
February 6, 2018
I enjoy reading about the book club from the various perspectives. This felt a little drawn out and repetitive in places when talking about Ilana's pain but I still enjoyed the story line.
July 13, 2021
Ladies book club to the rescue!
October 31, 2014
There's a lesson that I've been taught all of my life, but I've really been learning it lately--it's impossible to judge someone else; appearances can be deceiving. Ilana's life seems absolutely perfect! She has all anyone could ever want--except for a baby. When that dream falls apart, her life falls apart, too--at least on the inside. Her life seems perfect, even without a baby, yet she's dying inside, which leads me to the lesson: How can you really judge someone? We all have hard times and we all handle them differently, even in fiction. This story was yet another powerful example to me that things aren't always, if ever, as they seem.
Ilana is so lucky in that she has some great new friends! When her life reaches a very critical point, they're there for her. I've enjoyed learning about each member of this book club. They're all so unique and different, yet they have the common bond of reading.
Ilana's story really helped me understand those who struggle with innocent addictions better. I was amazed at the thought processes that she went through and the lengths she went to cover herself. Very realistic, in my opinion.
Content: no language; no violence; very mild romance; talk of drug use and side effects, but it's not recreational. I would consider it clean for an older reader!
Ilana is so lucky in that she has some great new friends! When her life reaches a very critical point, they're there for her. I've enjoyed learning about each member of this book club. They're all so unique and different, yet they have the common bond of reading.
Ilana's story really helped me understand those who struggle with innocent addictions better. I was amazed at the thought processes that she went through and the lengths she went to cover herself. Very realistic, in my opinion.
Content: no language; no violence; very mild romance; talk of drug use and side effects, but it's not recreational. I would consider it clean for an older reader!
August 5, 2016
I'm not rating this 5 stars because Annette Lyon is a good friend of mine, or that I'm a co-author in this series, but because this story really touched me. We all have perceptions of "addicts" and usually it's that they are weak, lazy, rebellious, selfish, etc. But as I read Ilana's Wish and her thought processes as she spiraled into a serious prescription drug addiction, I could totally relate to her thought process and understand her justifications.
Also, Ilana wasn't always justifying, she berated herself for being weak and giving into her pain, but then desperation and (more importantly) fear of feeling the pain would kick in, and the cycle would start all over again. In a desperate attempt to find out if she should give up on God once and for all, she writes an email to her bookclub friend, Paige, who has been through many trials of faith. I love Paige's reply, in part:
"When the storms get heavy and I think I can’t take anymore, when I’m absolutely spent, somehow, I get a reprieve. The storm may not end, but the winds let up, if briefly, to let me catch my breath. Or a friend comes to stand with me in the storm. Or I’m given a little extra strength to hang on a bit longer."
Ilana's Wish is an excellent and poignant addition to The Newport Ladies Book Club series, in which friendship, once again, triumphs and makes life meaningful.
Also, Ilana wasn't always justifying, she berated herself for being weak and giving into her pain, but then desperation and (more importantly) fear of feeling the pain would kick in, and the cycle would start all over again. In a desperate attempt to find out if she should give up on God once and for all, she writes an email to her bookclub friend, Paige, who has been through many trials of faith. I love Paige's reply, in part:
"When the storms get heavy and I think I can’t take anymore, when I’m absolutely spent, somehow, I get a reprieve. The storm may not end, but the winds let up, if briefly, to let me catch my breath. Or a friend comes to stand with me in the storm. Or I’m given a little extra strength to hang on a bit longer."
Ilana's Wish is an excellent and poignant addition to The Newport Ladies Book Club series, in which friendship, once again, triumphs and makes life meaningful.
June 7, 2014
I have loved and supported this series from the first book I read. Every book in the Newport Ladies Book Club Series has been different and unique. Even though we are following the lives of these women in all of the books, we see things from each woman's viewpoint.
Ilana was hard to peg in the other books. She seemed very secretive, unsocial and frankly not very friendly to the other women. In this book we find out why. Ilana after major surgery and an accident a few weeks later, becomes addicted to pain killers. This portrayal of an addict was sad, scary, and so heart breaking. If you have ever been addicted to something you may cry a lot through this novel. This very real and gritty novel shows how hard it is to battle a drug addiction. After reading other peoples reviews of Ilana's Wish, I could see many of them had a hard time reading this book. I say do not miss out on this novel. This is some of the best writing Annette Lyon has done! She gets to the heart and soul of this deeply broken woman. I almost read this book in one sitting. I so wanted to see her get the help she needed. The outcome is one of hope. Readers will feel strengthened by the courage, friendship and love shown in this book. In my opinion, this is another winner in the series.
Ilana was hard to peg in the other books. She seemed very secretive, unsocial and frankly not very friendly to the other women. In this book we find out why. Ilana after major surgery and an accident a few weeks later, becomes addicted to pain killers. This portrayal of an addict was sad, scary, and so heart breaking. If you have ever been addicted to something you may cry a lot through this novel. This very real and gritty novel shows how hard it is to battle a drug addiction. After reading other peoples reviews of Ilana's Wish, I could see many of them had a hard time reading this book. I say do not miss out on this novel. This is some of the best writing Annette Lyon has done! She gets to the heart and soul of this deeply broken woman. I almost read this book in one sitting. I so wanted to see her get the help she needed. The outcome is one of hope. Readers will feel strengthened by the courage, friendship and love shown in this book. In my opinion, this is another winner in the series.
May 7, 2014
Ilana’s Wish
Star 5 Steam 2
Everyone thinks that Ilana Goldstein is living the perfect life, a successful career, a happy marriage to a handsome doctor. Then she learns she can’t have children, and an accident at work occurs leaving Ilana broken and crumbling inside. Unable to handle the agony that threatens to destroy her, Ilana turns to prescription medication to dull the pain in both body and soul. But when her desperation leads to addiction, it will take the help of her friends at the Newport Ladies Book Club to save her if only she will let them and find strength to overcome.
An excellent read and fantastic addition to the “Newport ladies Book Club” series. This book really describes the trials of addiction well, whatever kind it may be, and shows hope for those suffering from it. Ilana is a really relatable, and even when she is spiraling, she grows as a character and the interaction she has with friends shown from her point of view is fantastic regardless of whether you have read the other books or not. Overall, a truly great clean read that everyone who have dealt with an addiction directly or indirectly should read.
Sarah EB
Star 5 Steam 2
Everyone thinks that Ilana Goldstein is living the perfect life, a successful career, a happy marriage to a handsome doctor. Then she learns she can’t have children, and an accident at work occurs leaving Ilana broken and crumbling inside. Unable to handle the agony that threatens to destroy her, Ilana turns to prescription medication to dull the pain in both body and soul. But when her desperation leads to addiction, it will take the help of her friends at the Newport Ladies Book Club to save her if only she will let them and find strength to overcome.
An excellent read and fantastic addition to the “Newport ladies Book Club” series. This book really describes the trials of addiction well, whatever kind it may be, and shows hope for those suffering from it. Ilana is a really relatable, and even when she is spiraling, she grows as a character and the interaction she has with friends shown from her point of view is fantastic regardless of whether you have read the other books or not. Overall, a truly great clean read that everyone who have dealt with an addiction directly or indirectly should read.
Sarah EB
May 20, 2014
Review of Ilana’s Wish by Annette Lyon
Ilana Godstein appears to have everything. A doctor husband, a great job as an event planner and a sparkly bright future. Instead she silently suffers from disappointment and grief following her hysterectomy that now makes it impossible for her to achieve her greatest dream to be a mother. Not completely recovered from her surgery she returns to work and injures her elbow in a fall. One bad choice leads to another until her life has spiraled out of control and she has begun to steal from her friends, rifle through their medicine cabinets, and drive under the influence of prescription medications, all while pretending she is not an addict. This story is gritty, and emotionally raw with many parts that are difficult to read. The simple journey into addiction is not glossed over but laid out in painful steps. You cry for Ilana and her poor decisions and you root for her Newport Ladie’s Book Club friends that do not abandon her. This is a story of caution, because the path to addiction is available to all and a story of hope because the path goes both ways. Nearly everyone will have someone in this book that they can relate too and cheer for.
Ilana Godstein appears to have everything. A doctor husband, a great job as an event planner and a sparkly bright future. Instead she silently suffers from disappointment and grief following her hysterectomy that now makes it impossible for her to achieve her greatest dream to be a mother. Not completely recovered from her surgery she returns to work and injures her elbow in a fall. One bad choice leads to another until her life has spiraled out of control and she has begun to steal from her friends, rifle through their medicine cabinets, and drive under the influence of prescription medications, all while pretending she is not an addict. This story is gritty, and emotionally raw with many parts that are difficult to read. The simple journey into addiction is not glossed over but laid out in painful steps. You cry for Ilana and her poor decisions and you root for her Newport Ladie’s Book Club friends that do not abandon her. This is a story of caution, because the path to addiction is available to all and a story of hope because the path goes both ways. Nearly everyone will have someone in this book that they can relate too and cheer for.
March 6, 2015
If I'd rated this book at the beginning I'd have given it two stars. I really didn't like Ilana and her steady spiral down into self-pity, rationalizations, and addiction. This was a thorny addition to the Newport Ladies Book Club dealing with the social problem of prescription drug addiction. Ilana has just had a hysterectomy after three years of trying to get pregnant, she's in emotional turmoil knowing she'll never have natural children and wondering how it will affect her relationship with her husband, then she has an accident at work damaging her elbow, and ends up losing her job. Her identity and future are unstable and the pain meds she needs to handle the physical pain help put her at one remove from the mental and emotional pain overload. It's uncomfortable reading and far from the more lightweight romance of some of the other stories in the series. Yet it had lots of gritty, real details making you realize anyone could fall victim to addiction if their psychic and physical pain reaches a critical point. How would we react? What are our support systems? How would we help? Would we judge? Would we be willing to intervene?
May 13, 2014
I have read all 8 books of the series now over the last 2-2.5 years and have really enjoyed them! They are all great clean womens fiction books. They can be read alone in different order and still make sense, or read in order of release date like I did.
Ilana is a professional woman who appears to have a great life. She ends up having 2 major surgeries within a month of each other and ends up dealing with alot of emotional and physical pain from them. This book is not a "happy feel good" book, but it DOES have a good ending and is worth reading. Life is hard and alot of people deal with addictions, disappointments and discouragements every day-its a fact of life. How you deal with it is up to you. I like that this book ties into Shannon's and Tori's stories, both of which I read so some of the book scenes were familiar. This book will give you hope.
Ilana is a professional woman who appears to have a great life. She ends up having 2 major surgeries within a month of each other and ends up dealing with alot of emotional and physical pain from them. This book is not a "happy feel good" book, but it DOES have a good ending and is worth reading. Life is hard and alot of people deal with addictions, disappointments and discouragements every day-its a fact of life. How you deal with it is up to you. I like that this book ties into Shannon's and Tori's stories, both of which I read so some of the book scenes were familiar. This book will give you hope.
May 12, 2014
I had planned to give this book three stars right up until the end, but the last few chapters changed my mind. I did grow very weary of Ilana's whining and self-pity, but I suppose it was necessary to the story. I'm thinking this series is about to come to an end - and I'm glad. While I wouldn't dream of giving up on it, I had expected it to be a fun romp through the lives of some book club members, but it's been a rather gloomy struggle to wade through all the disappointment, grief, and poor choices of these often unloveable characters. However, the writing is always good and clean, and that counts for a lot with me these days.
May 19, 2014
Heart-wrenching & fantastic.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. Even when I wasn't reading it, I was still thinking about it - worrying and praying for the characters, hoping that it would all turn it right in the end. It was wonderful. It was intense, spiritual, emotional, and just awesome. I had a hard time reading at a few points because it was so real and the emotion was so raw. It was hard. But it was also beautiful & a fantastic story of hope and change.
That's really all I have to say about it, except encourage you to read it. It is well worth the time & you will not regret it.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. Even when I wasn't reading it, I was still thinking about it - worrying and praying for the characters, hoping that it would all turn it right in the end. It was wonderful. It was intense, spiritual, emotional, and just awesome. I had a hard time reading at a few points because it was so real and the emotion was so raw. It was hard. But it was also beautiful & a fantastic story of hope and change.
That's really all I have to say about it, except encourage you to read it. It is well worth the time & you will not regret it.
May 26, 2016
This was a well-written story but a difficult subject to read about. I thought the author handled well. It was easy to see how the protagonist slipped into addiction. The resolution was a little too easy but I was glad for that. I want a husband like hers. Wow. I don't read to experience all of life's disappoints without a happy outcome so I was glad the resolution was hopeful. I was also relieved to not have to relive the same dialog at the book club meetings that is repeated in each of the first four books. PS These books are overpriced and not loanable on Kindle. If it had been a $5 book I would have given it 5 stars. But it's not an $11. book.
January 24, 2016
I had a hard time with this book because I'd read so much of the story from other angles and I don't relate to the character too well myself. I'm not one that keeps stuff all personal and bottled up inside especially from my husband. However, it did give me a different perspective into how someone can fall into similar problems because of their nature to solve problems by themselves and not involve others. I was giving it 3 stars, but then decided on 4 because I think the author did a good job getting into the line of thinking that lead to the addiction.
August 1, 2014
Good look into Ilana, as she played such a minor role in the other 7 books that I wondered how there could even be a book about her. However, it was well spun and gave great insight (past the little bit we got from Shannon's and Tori's stories). I really didn't connect with Ilana that much, so, while the writing was good, this wasn't one of my favorite of the series. I'm looking forward to the final book that all 4 authors wrote together to see how it all wraps up!!
April 30, 2014
I really enjoyed getting to read this side of the Newport Ladies' Book Club. (you don't have to read them all or in any order, but they will suck you into their lives!) Ilana seemed so distant in the other books & now we know why! I loved the relationship she had with her cute husband. I am so rooting for her and their relationship to end well in the final book!
language:clean, heat level: mild
language:clean, heat level: mild
July 14, 2014
I felt like Ilana's wish was the most anticipated book for the Newport Ladies book society because she was the one with all the serious secrets. I wanted to know the reason behind them. I thought Annette Lyon handled writing about infertility and prescription drug addiction in an amazing way.
Read my full review on the Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
Read my full review on the Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
September 8, 2015
This took me awhile to get into. At first it just seemed like a lady complaining and popping pills. As it went along though it got a little deeper and I enjoyed it more. Didn't have the easiest time relating to this character but I do know that addiction is a real and serious issue. I think it ended a little abruptly for me but I did end up enjoying it though it is not my favorite by this author.
October 2, 2015
Book Eight in the Newport Ladies Book Club series. On the surface, Ilana Goldstein leads an enviable life: a thriving career and a happy marriage to a handsome doctor. All that's missing is a baby, an emptiness that will surely be filled with time. Then, in an instant, her life falls apart. Now, beneath Ilana's once flawless exterior hides a dark secret that may destroy the woman who seemed to have it all.
April 24, 2014
I would give this 3.5 stars. I wasn't looking forward to reading this one, but it was actually well written. After Ilana has two major surgeries, she gets addicted to prescription drugs. Even though her husband is a surgeon, he keeps brushing off all of the signs of the addiction, it takes some brave friends to get Ilana to see how she is ruining her life.
April 30, 2014
I thought this was a very interesting book. I liked the ladies from book club and how they helped support Ilana. I liked Ethan Ilana's husband. I did think the book went a bit long in laying the downward spire of her addiction to pain medication and too short on her recovery. I would recommend this book to my friends to read.
May 7, 2014
Wonderful story! I became very involved in Ilana's character. It helped me realize that addiction to prescription drugs can happen to ANYONE. I also loved how all the ladies of the book club were supportive and loving. It's a great example of the type of friendship that is possible, both to give and receive.
July 25, 2014
Ilana's Wish spoke to me on so many levels. Lyon does an excellent job of portraying this in Ilana’s sotry. She shows how the downward spiral happens—little by little, one small denial and justification layered on top of another. She gets it dead on! I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I recommend it to everyone.
April 22, 2014
My heart broke for Ilana, as you watched fall into the awful trap of addiction. It is so scary, how quickly it can happen, and how people justify it and lose control so fast. I loved how sweet her husband was to her. Great story.
April 29, 2014
This book gives an eye opening view of addiction to prescription drugs. The author did a great job of handling this difficult subject. Even though there was some repetition among the series of books, I liked seeing events through different eyes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews