Genie

by Elizabeth Joy

He Lost his past. She lost her future.
Truth may be their only salvation.

Days before saying “I do,” Jasmine Stone’s life is flipped upside down. With a shattered heart and an empty bank account, her sister Charlie convinces her to take that would-have-been honeymoon to Greece. A career helping those affected by human trafficking has taught Jasmine all about grief and trauma. But dealing with her own heartache? That’s another story.
Will she find peace on the shores of paradise, or something else that makes her question everything?

****

Genie has a past, just one he can’t remember. Stripped of his humanity by the dark force that created him, he only has one job: read his master’s emotions and help guide them to their wishes. Easy, right? His new master makes it anything but simple. Between breaking the few rules he has, her indecisiveness, and an ex-fiancé who refuses to stay out of her life, Jasmine might be the worst master he’s ever had. When enemies begin closing in on all sides, will his power be enough to rescue her, or will he be the one in need of saving?
Book 1 of 2

Genres: Fantasy, Christian, Fairy Tale Retellings

486 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth Joy lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband, two children, and two golden doodles. She is also a photographer and full-time teacher.

Reviews

[Carrie Cotten]

Such an interesting Aladdin retelling! Intriguing debut novel by Elizabeth Joy. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

[blush_and_bookmarks]

This book has officially earned a spot on my favorites shelf. ⭐️ If I could give it more than five stars, I absolutely would.

It had everything I look for in a story. The faith element came first and foremost, and it was handled so beautifully. It never felt forced—it flowed naturally, was woven into the story with purpose, and every spiritual moment felt earned.

I loved watching Genie wrestle with his purpose beyond simply being a genie and slowly discover the one true God. His journey was heartfelt and meaningful. Jasmine was such a wonderful FMC—gentle and kind, yet brave enough to fight for what was good and true. She wanted to protect Genie just as much as he wanted to protect her.

The romance was everything. This is a completely clean romance with zero spice, but the tension, yearning, and chemistry were absolutely top-tier. Proof that you don’t need spice to make readers swoon. The banter was so much fun, and the dynamic between Genie and Jasmine’s ex-fiancé had me laughing more than once.

One of the most powerful parts of this story was how it addressed human trafficking. The parallel between Genie being enslaved and the reality of human trafficking was incredibly thought-provoking. I had never considered that comparison before, and it honestly blew my mind. It was handled with so much care and purpose, adding another meaningful layer to an already incredible story while bringing awareness to such an important issue.

This book was sweet, funny, heartfelt, faith-filled, and utterly charming. I adored every page and will absolutely be recommending it all year long.

[Jodi]

I wanted to like this book. The premise was great and unique! The characters frustrated me and we're inconsistent. Main girl is constantly described as kind and patient, yet she's always slamming doors and refuses to explain anything to any of her friends and family. Her sister is described as having OCD, yet is always late, spontaneous, and going to gross clubs all the time. I didn't understand why after getting a breakup text from her boyfriend/fiance of 4 years, Jasmine didn't call or show up at Chase's house to ask some clarifying questions before hopping on a plane with her sister to go on her booked honeymoon trip... and when she finally allowed him to explain the situation was salvageable, but she acted completely unreasonable.
I would have loved more backstory on the genie a lot sooner in the book. I feel like they fell in love solely from their close proximity to each other. Also, why can't the genie poof himself to wherever he needs to be. And jasmine said she always planned to wish him free, and she didn't want anything for herself. Why didn't she just wish that immediately, instead of waiting weeks, while having a genie around was constantly disrupting her life?
I did like the Christianity slant.

[BookishVibesClub]

This was a fun read. I was hooked from the first sentence, wanting to know what happened next. Finding a genie lamp on a trip that was supposed to be her honeymoon was the perfect redemption for the heartbreak she had experienced. Having a genie that could feel her emotional needs was kind of like a fated mates bond, so that was fun and super Swoony. The tension and yearning was great! The love triangle was a little angsty and I wasn’t convinced the ex was wrong in the calls he made. The FMC did make some irrational decisions and missed some big clues which frustrated me 🤪 There were a few things that weren’t plausible based on what happened previously in the story, but it was still a fun read. I loved the biblical message of faith and prayer in this. It was well written in here and fit nicely within the plot.
The story had a lot of suspense moments so it held my interest. It does end on a cliffhanger.

💗 Magical Realism
💗 Soft FMC
💗 Genie MMC
💗 Love Triangle - angsty
💗 Suspense
💗 Christian Themes

🫑 no spice, closed door. Simple kisses with tension

Check TWs as some of the story contains things that could be bothersome.

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland)]

This is an amazing no spice Christian romantic fantasy. I loved my reread of it just as much as my first time through. With an Aladdin retelling and Christian themes, this book was truly unique. I can’t wait to dive into the conclusion!

When Jasmine is dumped days before her wedding, she and her sister take her honeymoon trip to Santorini in Greece. Jasmine finds an old lamp and, sure enough, she now has a Genie who returns home with her. She is adverse to using her wishes and letting him help her in other ways. Her job is in exposing human trafficking and Genie is a slave. Through their forced proximity and his protector heart, they get closer than ever… even with her pesky ex butting in all the time. I totally didn’t want to put this book down and can’t wait to finish this story. There is so much depth to this story with numerous twists and turns. Truly superb. There is some innuendo in the book. The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 2.5.

Content Notes: Slavery, Torture, Attempted Murder, Death, Drugging, Human Trafficking

[Ariel Yount]

Wow. What a story. I had so much fun reading this book, I did not want it to end. It was exciting, funny, suspenseful, witty, and with all the yearning. I don’t always love stories with a lot of talk about physical attraction (and men without shirts), but the author handled it tastefully and with some entertaining sass.
I loved Jasmine’s selfless attitude, especially towards her wishes from Genie and Genie’s protective anger regarding anything that could harm Jasmine. The idea that he could sense her emotions was a fun addition to the story (and having a cat named Raja in a modern Aladdin retelling was an obvious must). The faith element was weaved in beautifully as well, and I’m so grateful for that!
I loved all of the *spoilers* that are revealed that I won’t discuss, and the cliffhanger ending is awesome and definitely makes you want to read book two. I can’t wait for Master to come out, so I can find out how the characters navigate their new challenges!

[Jenn Grand]

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book!!! I was obsessed with Aladdin growing up so reading a retelling is such a fun time!!

Elizabeth’s writing is FABULOUS, with lots of twists I didn’t see coming! This book held my attention so well and I found myself saying “one more chapter” every time I picked it up to read!!

You’ll love this book if you like books with:

✨ Magical Realism
✨ Genie MMC
✨ Love Triangle (done SO well!!)
✨ Suspense
✨ Christian Themes
🫑 closed-door/no spice. Just kisses (with plenty of tension!!)

You NEED to read this book if you like romantasy. It’ll be your new favorite hands down!!

[K. D. Capener]

Oh my goodness! When I say author Elizabeth Joy made my reading wishes come true with this book, I'm not kidding! Genie was a twisty, modern take on the story of Aladdin and I enjoyed every minute of it. The writing was fantastic, allowing us to feel the emotions and stakes from different points-of-view. The story was fun and exciting and after the cliffhanger, (yes, there is one!) I am eagerly awaiting Joy's next book. The only critique I have is an overabundance of italicized words, but it didn't take the quality of the story down at all. You definitely have to read this book!

[Anna (Crochetsavetheday)]

This was a fantastic read! Elizabeth has a way with words that keeps you involved. I found myself delighted and invested in turning each page.

[Brandi]

This was such a fun read. Loved this modern twist of Aladdin! Loved the action and love story. I cant wait for book two!

[Amanda Meyer]

Review coming soon!....I need to process what I just read...

[Marlene Protzman]

I just finished this literally five minutes ago and my emotions are ALLLLLL over the place. I think this is the most tabs I’ve ever put in a book because there were so many moments that made me gasp, laugh, panic, swoon, or immediately need to highlight a quote.

This book has so many incredible things working in its favor, but first and foremost, the SWOON. Elizabeth Joy absolutely knew what she was doing with the romance in this story because the tension and emotional connection between Jaz and Addin were top tier. Every scene between them had me fully invested. The quiet moments, the awkward moments, the funny banter, the vulnerable conversations, the romantic tension. It all felt so vivid and emotionally charged. Every time his heart went “Thump,” I was DONE. 😭😍

And can we talk about the tether between them for a second? I loved that concept so much. The idea that he physically cannot be too far from her without pain added such a unique emotional intensity to their relationship. It made their connection feel powerful, consuming, and deeply intimate in a way that translated beautifully onto the page. Not that I enjoyed him suffering obviously 😂 but the bond itself was written incredibly well and made their relationship feel believable despite the fantastical premise.

Also, I genuinely panicked multiple times thinking Jaz might go back to Chase. But when he first showed up at her apartment and Genie opened the door I literally wrote in my notes, “I’m dead 💀.” So hilariously awkward.

Now speaking of Chase…sir irritated me for MOST of this book 😅. There were moments where I was like, “Please just go away forever.” And yes, when he got shot I may or may not have thought, “Well…that solves that.” 😂 But to the author’s credit, he did eventually show tiny glimpses of redeeming qualities. Tiny. Minuscule. Barely hanging on by a thread. I think Addin would agree with me there.

And while we’re discussing irritating characters, Jaz’s sister absolutely skyrocketed onto my most annoying characters list. She irritated me in the beginning and somehow only got worse as the story continued. Every appearance from her just…yuck. I have no further notes besides: girl BYE. 😒

Now let me address the very important (and probably stupid) question that plagued me for basically the entire book. HOW ARE WE PRONOUNCING “ADDIN”?! 😂

Is it “Add-in”? “Ah-din”? “Ay-din”? “Uh-seen”? I eventually settled on Aydin because it sounded the least awkward in my brain, but every time I saw his name I had a full internal debate. And from that point forward I could never fully commit to one option lol.

Also, one tiny thing that made me laugh. If they watch Aladdin together at some point…wouldn’t he think it’s suspicious that he ALSO happens to have a pet named Abu? Jaz naming her cat Rajah makes perfect sense because she knows the reference. 😂 Not a huge deal at all, just one of those funny little details my brain got stuck on.

As far as storytelling goes, this book was doing SO many things right for me. The fantasy elements felt immersive while still somehow feeling emotionally grounded and believable. Elizabeth Joy has a way of writing magic and wonder that feels tangible instead of cheesy. She made this impossible concept feel emotionally real, and that’s a huge strength of her writing.

I also really loved learning Addin’s backstory. It added so much emotional depth to his character. His story was tragic, heartbreaking, and layered in a way that made me even more attached to him.

But where this book truly SINGS is in its faith elements. Underneath the fantasy, romance, danger, and emotional turmoil, this story is deeply rooted in redemption. The message that no one is beyond forgiveness, beyond love, or beyond God’s grace is woven beautifully throughout the narrative. Scripture is incorporated naturally and meaningfully. It adds genuine emotional and spiritual depth to the story.

At its core, this book asks what it means to be seen as worthy of love and redemption despite your past, your failures, or your brokenness. And THAT is the part that will stay with me longest. 💜

That said, I do think the story started to feel a bit overloaded in the latter portion. The additional sex trafficking storyline absolutely brings awareness to a serious issue, and the faith themes woven through those moments were meaningful, but narratively it started to feel like there were almost too many heavy conflicts stacked on top of each other.

You already have:
• the man in the tattered robe trying to keep Genie trapped
• men kidnapping Jaz and trying to gain control of the lamp
• Xavier (the sex trafficker) seeking revenge against Chase
• the undercover mission and escalating danger

It eventually became one anxiety-inducing event after another, and I personally felt the story lost a little of the magic and emotional balance that made the first two-thirds so strong for me. By the time Jaz decided to go undercover, I had a sinking feeling I knew where things were headed. Unfortunately… I was right 😅

I don’t necessarily love where the story ended, but I am relieved it was left open-ended enough for the next installment to hopefully bring resolution and healing. Because despite my frustrations, Elizabeth Joy is undeniably a talented storyteller. She completely reeled me into this world and these characters, and I absolutely plan to continue the series because I need to know where things go from here. 🤩❤️‍🔥

[Safari Spell]

I have so many thoughts and feelings about this that are swirling around in my mind, but this was so freaking good! What a solid Aladdin retelling!

Honestly, I just finished it and I’m all kinds of stressed. Can you say cliffhanger?! Truth be told, I didn’t want to give this 5 stars because I’m mad at that ending, but the story is too good that I couldn’t do any less.

Genie (aka - Addin, Aladdin) is absolutely the cutest and I just loved him. He was sweet, protective, and chivalrous. I like how she didn’t have to use her wishes for him to give her things. That was a good twist because otherwise, this story would’ve been a little too quick. He was so likable and relatable, and did I mention sexy? Didn’t mind reading about the way he looked for over 400 pages, lol! Mercy.

Jasmine was a good FMC. Loved that she had a panic disorder, especially considering her job. That was excellent representation for those of us who have such issues.

However, she did act absurdly TSTL a few times. It drives me nuts when these FMCs think they can handle bad guys without telling the MMC they’re going to meet them. It’s so ridiculous and I wish that stupid plot line would just go away, but I’ve seen it in almost every book I’ve read lately.

Why in the world would Jasmine think Aladdin wouldn’t feel her leave in the middle of the night when he literally HAS TO remain within close proximity to her or his insides go up in flames? Where is her brain here? GIRL.

I’m very intrigued with how the brown robes/demon guy factors in. Since this is a Christian fantasy, I’m wondering how he can enslave a believer like Jasmine.

I also had a hard time with Jasmine’s tendency to stop Aladdin from taking down very bad people who literally tried to abduct, rape, and kill her. Like, DUUUUUDE, I get that this has faith woven in, but God is just, and forgiving someone doesn’t mean they don’t have to face consequences for their actions.

It’s a problematic common thread in Christian fiction. I understand stopping Aladdin from killing the young pregnant woman who stabbed her, but ALL THE OTHERS? Come on now.

Those things bothered me, but other than that, I was really into this novel! I love a good forced proximity romance and this was extremely well done!

[Shayla Riley]

GENIE
by: Elizabeth Joy
@authorelizabethjoy

••I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

~He Lost his past. She lost her future.
Truth may be their only salvation...

-First when @jeaninetaniece and @marilee.loves.to.write recommend an unforgettable top read, you put it on your tbrs, stat. They always come through with the best recommendations! Second, I was completely surprised this was a debut novel by @authorelizabethjoy My goodness, she kept me spellbound from the moment I began this epic sitting on the edge of my seat, to the very last page with quite a cliffhanger!

-My friends, GENIE, is such a unique urban fantasy with a fairytale style twist of a story. It completely captivated me from start to finish. Honestly, it’s all I am going to do to be able to wait till book 2 comes out. I need to know more! My best advice is to go blind into this story for quite the epic reading rollercoaster of an adventure. Buckle up and hold on tight because there are so many twists and turns, lurking danger all around, swoony moments, tender heart aching hard moments, enemies closing in on all sides, sparkling chemistry and tension, surprises, and endearing relatable fearless characters who will undoubtably face great loss, challenges, obstacles, and great choices. I could not get enough of the great suspenseful moments, the tender heartwarming scenes of taith and deep reflection, and the beautifully done magical realism, which of course were all blended flawlessly into a unforgettable, captivating, wildly fun read. I also loved the romance that comes along the way and that it’s love at the center, that makes such a beautiful difference. Its rippling effect has no bounds, and leads to such great character growth, and further possibilities. Oh my, I absolutely can’t wait for more to come! GENIE is an unforgettable captivating story worth the read, my friends!✨📚❤️👌

•Content: non-graphic violence, loss, grief, self-doubt, some indecisiveness, death of loved ones (off page/on page-handled with care), kidnapping, drugs, human trafficking, some drinking, kisses only, mild innuendo.

#genie
#authorelizabethjoy
#uniqueurbanfantasy
#allaboutthebestreads

[Susie nospiceandeverythingnice]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️ 5/5 perfection

This book had me doing the “just one more page” situation into the wee hours of the night then immediately in the morning. I couldn’t put it down!!

I’ve never read anything quite like it. I’ve certainly read books with Christian themes but guys, the way she wove this into the story was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. There were times it felt like a long version of a parable. The villian who enslaved the genie, acts in a way that parallels satan’s villainous schemes to play into our selfishness and desires. Genie feels like he is too wretched to be forgiven and Jasmine puts the Gospel on display as she quotes scripture and walks the Roman road with him. We all have fallen short of the glory of God but praise God, He sent His son to redeem us while we were still sinners. When we place our trust in Him, we are forgiven and born anew! Praise God!!

If you enjoy fantasy, read this! If you enjoy fairy tale Retellings, read this! If you enjoy fantasy and you’re a Christian, read this!! If you have a pulse, READ this!!!

✨ What to expect:
• No spice, kisses only
• No strong language but a lot of phrases like “piece of” “son of a” but don’t include the swear word
• Content warnings: death, past loss of parents, violence, human trafficking, drugging, kidnapping, drinking and nightclub settings, whipping

✨ Meet the characters:
• FMC (Jasmine)-indecisive, selfless, martyr mentality
• MMC (Genie) – amnesia about his past, possessive MMC, sweet “Tarzan” moments when he learns things about the current age in time
• MMC (Chase) – federal agent, loves Jasmine deeply but take decisions away from her

✨ Tropes:
• Touch her and 💀
• Forced Proximity
• Banter
• Mysterious past
• Aladdin Retelling
• Love triangle
• Dual POV
• Major cliffhanger
• Villian with satan parallels (good vs evil… it’s done well)
• Christian/Gospel themes (Roman road)
• Set in modern day Greece and Texas

[Brianna | Emerald Book Dragon]

Wow, I feel like I need to process what I just read. This Aladdin retelling is SO GOOD!

I didn't know much about this book going in, and based on the cover (I didn't read the summary beforehand), I wasn't expecting it to be set in modern day. When I realized, I was briefly disappointed and thought about switching to something else, but the story hooked me. I am so glad I kept reading!

I enjoy the forced proximity trope, and the fact that Genie is bound to Jasmine is so interesting. I loved how he had to get used to modern life and technology.

The dual POV is great, and I fell in love with both Genie and Jasmine. She is a fun, relatable character, and he is a hilarious, snarky MMC.

I love the faith elements woven throughout, and look forward to seeing the characters developed their faith in the next book.

My one complaint is a personal preference I guess. I feel like the author used italics a lot more than necessary. I understand trying to emphasize things, but it seemed excessive and took me out of the story a bit.

This story is dark, twisty, swoony, and full of intrigue. No spice, kisses only, with some implied swearing. The plot twist and cliffhanger have left me chomping at the bit for book two.

[Paige Reed]

Enjoyed this fresh, modern spin on the story of Aladdin. Well written and engaging, with plot twists I didn't see coming.

My favorite character was Genie ... something about this powerful alpha male trying to learn and navigate our modern world made me smile. I loved his protectiveness while also hating what had been done to him from chapter 1.

The fact Jasmine worked in anti-human trafficking was a great spin.

I appreciated the faith threads woven throughout, especially toward the end. They felt very relevant to the story and struggle of the characters.

All in all an enjoyable read :-)

[Miteya]

This story completely swept me away. From the opening chapters, I felt Jasmine Stone’s heartbreak and uncertainty as she escapes to Greece after her wedding falls apart. The emotional depth was beautifully layered, especially with her background helping trafficking survivors it added realism to her grief. Genie was such a compelling character; his lost past and struggle with identity made him far more than a magical being. Their chemistry felt authentic, tender, and complicated. The suspense with the looming enemies kept me turning pages. A strong review should mention characters, emotional impact, pacing, themes, and overall takeaway this book delivers on all.

[Sara George]

A fascinating Aladdin retelling with lots of suspense, danger, and romance. There are a couple of fun twists and revelations that had me giggling with delight. It was a little slow at the beginning but once I got into it I zoomed to the end. There are also some underlying Christian themes that were naturally and nicely woven into the story without seeming preachy or forced. Can't wait to see where the story goes in book two!

[Aleena Grosjean]

Beware - you will fall in love with these characters. You will definitely wish you had found the lamp. You will adventure with Jaz and Genie on a roller coaster of a ride and then the ending will leave you undone. I CANNOT wait for the next book. HIGHLY recommend and so glad I found this author.

[Nannette Kreitzman]

An awesome read!

On the surface, Genie is a fraught love story between a genie and his master. At its core, however, is a tale of faith and redemption. The pages turned at a furious pace as I devoured every word, right up to its heartbreaking cliffhanger ending. Joy’s next book, Master, is on my TBR!

[Adiel Ciesielski]

Wow! Just wow!! I devoured this book in a day. Such an incredible Aladdin retelling. I wasn’t sure what to expect and it definitely wasn’t what I expected but was so much more! It makes me want to read more by this author!

** it did have a lot of desire expressed throughout, so be mindful of that if you’re trying to avoid it or are considering it for a teen, but it worked with the story.. I mean, he’s the freaking genie!

[Laura Andersen]

I came to this one a little sceptical I'll admit - I honestly didnt think this could be done without clichés or complete cringe.
Honestly, it was perfection.
I repent 🤣
I loved this book and I've already messaged the author just maybe asking about book 2 😂

[Rach]

Wow this book was wild! Genie is a contemporary fantasy with fairytale and magical elements. I found it to be so fun and unpredictable. As the story continued, I had no idea where it would go next. It was both silly and serious and I found myself really invested. The ending really surprised me and I look forward to the next installment!

[Jessica P.]

This was a really fun fairytale retelling! It was so engaging and had lots of unexpected twists and turns. I thought it was really creative and fun to read!

[Takara]

3.5⭐️

[Chloe Mason]

Such an interesting plot that hasn’t really been done before! I really appreciate the clean, and Christian focused approach to the characters.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead]

📚 Series: Genie (Book 1)
🎭 Genre: Fantasy

🥜 In a Nutshell: A woman that has just been dumped by her fiancee goes on her honeymoon with her sister to blow off steam. While on her trip she discovers an old lamp and releases a genie that wants to serve her and make her wishes come true.

✅ Modern Day Aladdin Retelling
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Love Triangle

I love this twist on Aladdin in a modern day setting! It grabbed me from page one and didn't let up! There were so many sparks between Jazmine and Genie and him being bound to her made it all the more intense. Throw in her ex-fiancee and there was so much tension between them. There were so many different intriguing parts to this story. You had the budding romance, the tension between Jasmine and her ex, the faith thread, the trafficking storyline, the wishes, Genie adjusting to modern life, Genie's past, and multiple villains. This story had a lot to offer and it had me hooked. I felt for all of the characters and it was gut wrenching at a few points. The book does end on a cliffhanger and I didn't realize until then that it was the first book in a series. Luckily the second book comes out next month so I won't have to wait too long to see what happens. All in all, a fantastic modern day retelling that felt like its own story while giving nods to Aladdin throughout. I was thoroughly invested and can't wait to continue the series!

[RomanceAcross Realms]

It was ok. Dialogue grammar was distracting. And the religious reflections kind of pulled you out of the story a bit, but I liked it enough to want to read the next one.

[Alejandra Pilato]

Loved :)

The characters, and plot were well written. Loved that it kept a great pace throughout the story! Excited to read the next!