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I Wish for You
If all your wishes could suddenly come true, what would you do?
A year ago when the love of her life dumped her for no apparent reason, Ally thought she had hit rock bottom. But now that she has seen him with another woman, and one she knows only too well, her life seems to have reached a whole new level of low.
Yet, when she stumbles across an ancient object infused with magical powers and a stranger with a dark past appears out of nowhere promising to grant all her wishes, she finds herself hoping again.
Suddenly Ally’s life is turned upside down; she has a mystery to solve, a rival to beat, a millenarian curse to break, and well, she wants to have some fun playing with her new “gifts”…
But can she wish her way to happily ever after?
A year ago when the love of her life dumped her for no apparent reason, Ally thought she had hit rock bottom. But now that she has seen him with another woman, and one she knows only too well, her life seems to have reached a whole new level of low.
Yet, when she stumbles across an ancient object infused with magical powers and a stranger with a dark past appears out of nowhere promising to grant all her wishes, she finds herself hoping again.
Suddenly Ally’s life is turned upside down; she has a mystery to solve, a rival to beat, a millenarian curse to break, and well, she wants to have some fun playing with her new “gifts”…
But can she wish her way to happily ever after?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2015
335 people are currently reading
9324 people want to read
About the author
Camilla Isley
54 books2,923 followers
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
March 7, 2016
I feel as if I'd sprinkled myself in fairy dust...the ending of this books was just so great!
Ally is at an all time low after she discovers her ex is engaged with her mean girl nemesis. She's dreading going back to work on Monday, but she needn't worry... After going at the flea market (I just love flea markets) she discovers an ancient case and its unusual inhabitant: a gorgeous, mysterious gentleman who promises to grant all her wishes. Arthur, my latest book-boyfriend acquisition. :) He was so fun, when he tries to live in the modern word (he's been in the case for centuries), but he has also so much charm. I loved him.
The book kept me hooked with any unexpected (apart from the lovely ending) twists and turns. The mysterious reasons behind Ally's break up, Arthur's story (never saw that coming), and the way Ally uses her wishes. She was hilarious, the pranks she pulls on Vanessa were the best ever I was laughing so much.
I loved this book head to toe. It starts a bit slow so give it a chapter or two, because after that the pace picks up and it's like reading a Disney movie mixed up with Mean Girls! I loved it!
It's a perfect revisited fairy tale and a romagic comedy to boot!
Ally is at an all time low after she discovers her ex is engaged with her mean girl nemesis. She's dreading going back to work on Monday, but she needn't worry... After going at the flea market (I just love flea markets) she discovers an ancient case and its unusual inhabitant: a gorgeous, mysterious gentleman who promises to grant all her wishes. Arthur, my latest book-boyfriend acquisition. :) He was so fun, when he tries to live in the modern word (he's been in the case for centuries), but he has also so much charm. I loved him.
The book kept me hooked with any unexpected (apart from the lovely ending) twists and turns. The mysterious reasons behind Ally's break up, Arthur's story (never saw that coming), and the way Ally uses her wishes. She was hilarious, the pranks she pulls on Vanessa were the best ever I was laughing so much.
I loved this book head to toe. It starts a bit slow so give it a chapter or two, because after that the pace picks up and it's like reading a Disney movie mixed up with Mean Girls! I loved it!
It's a perfect revisited fairy tale and a romagic comedy to boot!
January 8, 2016
ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review.
OK, so here's the deal. Normally I don't read chick lit but when the author kindly asked me to review her story I said to myself 'Maybe it's time to give this gender another try.' Turns out that was the biggest mistake I made in a while!
I simply couldn't stand Ally. She's the main reason I had to drop the book. She broke up with her boyfriend a freaking year ago and is still pining for him, although he has clearly moved on with his new girlfriend. I should have seen the signs that something was wrong with her when she completely went nuts on her mom for even mentioning (like any good mom would) she moved on with her life as well. It only went downhill from there. Her character is so immature, rude, selfish and has, simply put, no manners!
The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because the plot sounded good, I love cats and because I adored Arthur. He's a real English gentleman, who's been alive for a long time. That's why I found him to be wise and experienced enough to handle Ally. That poor fella, I really felt sorry for him.
That being said, I am thankful for the gifted story and I'm sure I'm in the minority with my opinion BUT I will always write an honest review with an honest opinion!
OK, so here's the deal. Normally I don't read chick lit but when the author kindly asked me to review her story I said to myself 'Maybe it's time to give this gender another try.' Turns out that was the biggest mistake I made in a while!
I simply couldn't stand Ally. She's the main reason I had to drop the book. She broke up with her boyfriend a freaking year ago and is still pining for him, although he has clearly moved on with his new girlfriend. I should have seen the signs that something was wrong with her when she completely went nuts on her mom for even mentioning (like any good mom would) she moved on with her life as well. It only went downhill from there. Her character is so immature, rude, selfish and has, simply put, no manners!
The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because the plot sounded good, I love cats and because I adored Arthur. He's a real English gentleman, who's been alive for a long time. That's why I found him to be wise and experienced enough to handle Ally. That poor fella, I really felt sorry for him.
That being said, I am thankful for the gifted story and I'm sure I'm in the minority with my opinion BUT I will always write an honest review with an honest opinion!
April 19, 2017
Two things first:
- This lost an entire * for being present tense (I do not mind 1st POV).
- This lost another entire * for being endlessly consumerist and label-oriented
It would have got a 3.5* rounded up without these two problems. As it is, it now is a grudging 1.5* rounded up.
I really disliked the heroine. She was shallow, immature and self-centred, and not very credible at the very end. Her preoccupation with looks and clothes grated. The one redeeming factor of this novel was Arthur, the genie, for whom I finished to the end, to discover whether or not he would be set free of his curse.
But let me be clear, I really wished authors would cease to assume others are as label oriented as they or their characters are. I wouldn't be able to discern Jimmy Choos from Prada if someone rubbed my nose in them, I can tell genuine leather is all. And that suffices for me. I'm not consumerist, and I dislike having to spend time and thoughts with people or characters who are. Unchallenged even, that is.
- This lost an entire * for being present tense (I do not mind 1st POV).
- This lost another entire * for being endlessly consumerist and label-oriented
It would have got a 3.5* rounded up without these two problems. As it is, it now is a grudging 1.5* rounded up.
I really disliked the heroine. She was shallow, immature and self-centred, and not very credible at the very end. Her preoccupation with looks and clothes grated. The one redeeming factor of this novel was Arthur, the genie, for whom I finished to the end, to discover whether or not he would be set free of his curse.
But let me be clear, I really wished authors would cease to assume others are as label oriented as they or their characters are. I wouldn't be able to discern Jimmy Choos from Prada if someone rubbed my nose in them, I can tell genuine leather is all. And that suffices for me. I'm not consumerist, and I dislike having to spend time and thoughts with people or characters who are. Unchallenged even, that is.
March 15, 2018
I need to stop buying books on kindle just because the cover is cute. This wasn´t the worst read but it wasn´t really the best either. What annoyed me a bit was the whole magical thing, I just would have preferred for it to be a normal contemporary story. This whole magic thing ruined everything, another thing I didn´t really like is how vengeful main character was. Not really my cup of tea.
April 28, 2020
Reread: I guess my reading tastes have changed because I loved this book when I first read it. Now, I just don't get it. Ally is a terrible person. I can't think of how Arthur could ever love her. Maybe I found this funny before but now Ally's treatment towards Arthur and her vanity makes this a disappointing reread.
Ally isn't having a very good day. She woke up feeling frazzled and remembering the dreadful sight she saw yesterday - her ex (the love of her life who abruptly ended their relationship one year ago) with his girlfriend. Feeling sorry for herself she doesn't lead her mom on that she's having a terrible morning and heads to a flea market with her. There she discovers something that just might get her happily ever after.
Source
This is a story that features one broken hearted girl bent on getting revenge on the snide Vanessa and winning back her mom. And one jinn named Arthur whose wishes will make all the difference. Now Ally might sound maniacal or petty but she so doesn't come off that way. First off Vanessa likes to rub her relationship with James on her all the time. Second she's too funny not to be on her side. I always had a smile on my face with this girl at the helm of I Wish for You. Her personality was her basically saying it like it is, being passionate (she's also a crier like me), and she would always say or do things that made me laugh. She's a special little snowflake and I love her for it. Arthur, the jinn, was very disapproving of Ally's plots especially when it involved him not looking like himself... He is very proper and loves reading especially reading books to learn what is happening in this modern age. He's also very amused by Ally when he's not giving her advice on her wishes.
Source
Those wishes she casts - pure genius! I kind of think everything turned out too easy for her. Although, why not? She did have magic on her side. I really loved the magic, romance, funny revenge, and truth seeking in I Wish for You all so Ally could get the love of her life. Everything about this I enjoyed. I'm thrilled I finally read I Wish for You because I would have seriously missed out on one fantastic read. I totally recommend this especially if you need some laughter in your life.
Ally isn't having a very good day. She woke up feeling frazzled and remembering the dreadful sight she saw yesterday - her ex (the love of her life who abruptly ended their relationship one year ago) with his girlfriend. Feeling sorry for herself she doesn't lead her mom on that she's having a terrible morning and heads to a flea market with her. There she discovers something that just might get her happily ever after.
Source
This is a story that features one broken hearted girl bent on getting revenge on the snide Vanessa and winning back her mom. And one jinn named Arthur whose wishes will make all the difference. Now Ally might sound maniacal or petty but she so doesn't come off that way. First off Vanessa likes to rub her relationship with James on her all the time. Second she's too funny not to be on her side. I always had a smile on my face with this girl at the helm of I Wish for You. Her personality was her basically saying it like it is, being passionate (she's also a crier like me), and she would always say or do things that made me laugh. She's a special little snowflake and I love her for it. Arthur, the jinn, was very disapproving of Ally's plots especially when it involved him not looking like himself... He is very proper and loves reading especially reading books to learn what is happening in this modern age. He's also very amused by Ally when he's not giving her advice on her wishes.
Source
Those wishes she casts - pure genius! I kind of think everything turned out too easy for her. Although, why not? She did have magic on her side. I really loved the magic, romance, funny revenge, and truth seeking in I Wish for You all so Ally could get the love of her life. Everything about this I enjoyed. I'm thrilled I finally read I Wish for You because I would have seriously missed out on one fantastic read. I totally recommend this especially if you need some laughter in your life.
July 23, 2015
Ally is still grieving for her ex-boyfriend James, even though its been a year since James ended the relationship.
Whilst out shopping at a flea market with her mum, Ally comes across a small box that she is drawn to. The little old woman who is running the store tries to give Ally the box, but Ally backs off and leaves without taking it.
When she returns home, she finds the box all wrapped up in her handbag. After a closer inspection of it, she notices a dial which she turns and a puff of smoke fires in her face.
Then comes the shock of her life; There is a man sat in her apartment, who wasn’t there a minute ago. He introduces himself as Arthur and says she has opened the coffer, now he must grant her five wishes.
Join Ally and Arthur on a journey as Ally chooses her wishes, and Arthur gets used to life in the 21st century.
"I Wish for You", is modern version of a fairy tale.
It is pure Chick Lit and although I was initially sceptical about the whole ‘wishes’ plot, I found myself engrossed in the pages and loving the story.
Ally is a woman who is led by her heart. She wants her ex-boyfriend back at all costs, even though he is with someone else now.
She has a heart of gold and wants to help others, but at the same time, wants to destroy James’s new girlfriend.
I loved Ally, she’s warm and easy to connect with, and a very likeable character. I loved her sense of humour. I also felt sorry for her, in the respect that she is still harbouring such emotions for her ex, that she is constantly living in the past, rather than living in the now.
Arthur, or the Genie as Ally calls him, was cursed many hundreds of years ago by a witch. He is wonderful, with his old English vocabulary and mannerisms. He doesn’t understand any modern day technology, from computers to aeroplanes, creating lots of hilarious moments. I found him incredibly witty and funny, especially for someone many hundreds of years old.
There were some corny and predictable moments, and from the off, I had already worked out the end and how the curse would be broken, but that didn’t take anything away from the story, in fact it increased my interest, as I wanted to know every detail of how the plot would build up to the final chapter.
The book is beautifully written and had me hooked right from the start. The plot absorbed me in the pages and I read it within two days as I needed to know what events would happen in each chapter. I read it whenever I had some free time, and sometimes when I was supposed to be doing something else, but that’s between me and you!
This is Camilla Isley’s first novel, and one I think she should be very proud of. I hope she goes on to write many more, and I would love to hear more from Ally and Arthur, as I think their story has so much more to give, especially as I found myself thinking about them, long after I had finished reading.
www.whisperingstories.com
Whilst out shopping at a flea market with her mum, Ally comes across a small box that she is drawn to. The little old woman who is running the store tries to give Ally the box, but Ally backs off and leaves without taking it.
When she returns home, she finds the box all wrapped up in her handbag. After a closer inspection of it, she notices a dial which she turns and a puff of smoke fires in her face.
Then comes the shock of her life; There is a man sat in her apartment, who wasn’t there a minute ago. He introduces himself as Arthur and says she has opened the coffer, now he must grant her five wishes.
Join Ally and Arthur on a journey as Ally chooses her wishes, and Arthur gets used to life in the 21st century.
"I Wish for You", is modern version of a fairy tale.
It is pure Chick Lit and although I was initially sceptical about the whole ‘wishes’ plot, I found myself engrossed in the pages and loving the story.
Ally is a woman who is led by her heart. She wants her ex-boyfriend back at all costs, even though he is with someone else now.
She has a heart of gold and wants to help others, but at the same time, wants to destroy James’s new girlfriend.
I loved Ally, she’s warm and easy to connect with, and a very likeable character. I loved her sense of humour. I also felt sorry for her, in the respect that she is still harbouring such emotions for her ex, that she is constantly living in the past, rather than living in the now.
Arthur, or the Genie as Ally calls him, was cursed many hundreds of years ago by a witch. He is wonderful, with his old English vocabulary and mannerisms. He doesn’t understand any modern day technology, from computers to aeroplanes, creating lots of hilarious moments. I found him incredibly witty and funny, especially for someone many hundreds of years old.
There were some corny and predictable moments, and from the off, I had already worked out the end and how the curse would be broken, but that didn’t take anything away from the story, in fact it increased my interest, as I wanted to know every detail of how the plot would build up to the final chapter.
The book is beautifully written and had me hooked right from the start. The plot absorbed me in the pages and I read it within two days as I needed to know what events would happen in each chapter. I read it whenever I had some free time, and sometimes when I was supposed to be doing something else, but that’s between me and you!
This is Camilla Isley’s first novel, and one I think she should be very proud of. I hope she goes on to write many more, and I would love to hear more from Ally and Arthur, as I think their story has so much more to give, especially as I found myself thinking about them, long after I had finished reading.
www.whisperingstories.com
Read
September 22, 2018This is my debut novel and it will always stay magical for me...
Enjoy my version of a modern-day fairytale...
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
Enjoy my version of a modern-day fairytale...
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
March 10, 2016
This one was nice, and it had some funny moments, but I wish it would have been cuter :( The protagonist spends most of the book stalking trying to get her ex-boyfriend back, and only in the last 10 pages she realises she's actually in love with the genie, even though there's no romantic vibe at all from them until the very end of the book. It was an ok book, just not very memorable.
September 13, 2015
Ally thought her life was over about a year ago, when her boyfriend James dumped her. She was ready for happier ever after and James broke her heart on New Years Day with no explanation except to say they were over. All of Ally's family and friends are so tired of Ally moping about because of James. It has been long enough and Ally needs to just move on. To make matters worse, James has started dating again and guess what? James is dating Ally's spiteful co-worker. Ally has hit a new low and she isn't sure how to go on.
Then the unthinkable happens.
While Ally is out shopping with her mother at the flea market, she is drawn to a vintage style box. The little old woman selling the box tries to give it to Ally but Ally declines. The women proceeds to explain that the box "picked her." Of course, Ally is freaked out and quickly leaves the shop. Once home, Ally finds the box in her things and can't believe that the woman was able to sneak the box into her things.
But wait! We aren't up to the shocking part quite yet.
Ally opens the box and out comes a genie! Arthur is over one hundred years old and because of a curse someone put on him, he is destined to stay in the box until opened in order to grant five wishes. Ally can not believe this is happening and she is very skeptical at first, but Arthur is able to prove his existence and make Ally see that she isn't crazy, in fact she is lucky!
Ally can come off as self absorbed in the beginning of this book. However, reading on, I saw that Ally is just a very passionate person that really believes James was the love of her life. All the schemes she does just show the reader how committed she is to getting James back into her life.
Arthur is a respectable classic gentleman who helps Ally along the way but granting her wishes and offering friendly advice that is probably a bit outdated since he is over one hundred years old. The character of Arthur was funny, sweet and very old school. He really gave this novel that extra something that would have been missing had he not been a big part of the story.
If you want to read a quirky, funny fairy tale story, this is the book for you. I found this so funny and light hearted, the perfect read to make me smile.
I Wish For You is a sweet romance guaranteed to make you smile!
October 12, 2015
The writing in this book feels like a middle-school creative-writing project. Don't get me wrong- it's a fun story, a piece of fluff. But let's not pretend this is GOOD writing. I noticed immediately the author's tendency to insert big words just for their own sake, even when they didn't really fit (words like lugubrious, mellifluous, recondite- SERIOUSLY??). It was as if she sat with a thesaurus at her side, trying to impress the teacher with her SAT- level vocab words. It feels fake- FORCED. It's distracting. I kept wondering if the book was self-published, because a good editor would have told her to tone it down. Anyway... still a fun read... I liked the concept (although, not exactly original- I kept thinking of "Alladin"). Also.... Ally's character just isn't likable. She's ungrateful, rude, demanding. ..inconsiderate of Arthur's feelings. She's always telling him to "stop whining" and then forcing him into situations he doesn't want to be in. It's hard to pull for her because she's so sarcastic and bitchy.
August 5, 2015
Ally is at the bottom of the barrel of life.
She’s determined to get the man back that broke her heart over a year ago. James has moved on and is now dating Ally’s spiteful co-worker (whom she can’t stand). Yet somehow, she just can’t seem to shake the idea of life without him. Every moment is spent with thoughts of how to win him back.
And then the mysterious vintage box appears in her handbag after a day of thrift store shopping with her mom. Arthur, the ‘genie in a bottle’ that appears from the magical box is hundreds of years old, and not quite sure how to survive in the 21st century. His goal is to grant Ally 5 wishes, and in “I Wish For You,” we see how one love-struck/heart broken woman spends those wishes. There are rules she has to follow though - she can’t make anyone fall in love, for example, which just screws up her initial thoughts of how to win James back.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t want to put it down - (I had to know what would happen next!), and with laugh-out-loud funny moments and a few twists and turns, Camilly Isley wrote a great chick-lit debut novel. I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline and loved the back-and-forth banter between Arthur and Ally (she’s quite a little sassy thing at times!). If you’ve ever been dumped and secretly wanted revenge, or if you want a lighthearted fun read, you will enjoy this book.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review through Chick Lit Plus.
My Score: 4
She’s determined to get the man back that broke her heart over a year ago. James has moved on and is now dating Ally’s spiteful co-worker (whom she can’t stand). Yet somehow, she just can’t seem to shake the idea of life without him. Every moment is spent with thoughts of how to win him back.
And then the mysterious vintage box appears in her handbag after a day of thrift store shopping with her mom. Arthur, the ‘genie in a bottle’ that appears from the magical box is hundreds of years old, and not quite sure how to survive in the 21st century. His goal is to grant Ally 5 wishes, and in “I Wish For You,” we see how one love-struck/heart broken woman spends those wishes. There are rules she has to follow though - she can’t make anyone fall in love, for example, which just screws up her initial thoughts of how to win James back.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t want to put it down - (I had to know what would happen next!), and with laugh-out-loud funny moments and a few twists and turns, Camilly Isley wrote a great chick-lit debut novel. I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline and loved the back-and-forth banter between Arthur and Ally (she’s quite a little sassy thing at times!). If you’ve ever been dumped and secretly wanted revenge, or if you want a lighthearted fun read, you will enjoy this book.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review through Chick Lit Plus.
My Score: 4
August 19, 2015
This book is a light-hearted, hilarious read. It’s packed with funny moments and surprises. I couldn’t put my kindle down and I finished it in two days. There are a couple of mysteries that hooked me right from the start and kept me turning the pages. Ally was a relatable character and she was really easy to empathize with, especially if you’ve ever been dumped by a guy you were still totally hung-up with and your friends had given you a lot of grief about it. It was interesting to discover how Ally would use her wishes, and her constant banter with Arthur was the best. Ah, Arthur! I most definitely have a reader crush on him. His story was probably the biggest twist in the plot, and I loved it!
September 28, 2015
This book had everything, it was fun, romantic, there were a couple of mysteries to be solved, there was magic, it was contemporary but also a fairytale, there were more twists than expected... and I have a reader crush so huge that I can't even talk about it! WOW!
I laughed so much in certain points! Hilarious... the ending was SO romantic!
I laughed so much in certain points! Hilarious... the ending was SO romantic!
Want to read
September 7, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/7/2020)! 🎁
April 10, 2017
I loved this modern day fairy tale! It was literally magic, and such an uplifting light read!
July 31, 2015
What a fun fairytale. If you are in the mood for a romantic comedy with a hint of revenge and a big dollop of magic, then give this a read.
I devoured this book in a couple of days. I enjoyed watching Ally mature as well have a lot of fun with her wishes. I found her to be a likable and relatable character. As for Arthur, Mmmmm, I'd like me one of those!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. Camilla Isley has done an amazing job for her debut novel. I think this book achieves exactly what it was supposed to. I'm looking forward to reading more from her. I'm sure Arthur has many interesting tales to tell from his past.
I devoured this book in a couple of days. I enjoyed watching Ally mature as well have a lot of fun with her wishes. I found her to be a likable and relatable character. As for Arthur, Mmmmm, I'd like me one of those!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. Camilla Isley has done an amazing job for her debut novel. I think this book achieves exactly what it was supposed to. I'm looking forward to reading more from her. I'm sure Arthur has many interesting tales to tell from his past.
December 4, 2015
I thought the author did an excellent job with this fun story. It keeps readers interested the whole time and also provides a plot that is full of mystery as well as humor. The main character, Ally, comes to life off of the pages as she has to deal with the many challenging twists and turns happening in her life. This book has plenty of romance, fantasy and will leave you feeling satisfied at the end with memorable characters. I particularly think the story is a fresh and unique tale that will leave readers craving more of Camilla Isley's stories in the future. All in all, an awesome book and story.
T.C.
T.C.
Read
May 22, 2017This is my debut novel and it will always stay magical for me...
Enjoy my version of a modern-day fairytale...
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
Enjoy my version of a modern-day fairytale...
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
March 15, 2016
An adorable romcom splashed with magic, revenge, some mean girl action, and plenty of hilarious moments.
The ending was guessable, but the middle was full of twists.
The ending was guessable, but the middle was full of twists.
August 18, 2015
A modern fairytale, humorous, fast paced, and with many unexpected twists.
I particularly enjoyed "the genie" story, what a surprise, and the many funny moments that accompany the beautiful story.
I particularly enjoyed "the genie" story, what a surprise, and the many funny moments that accompany the beautiful story.
June 13, 2016
I'm in love with the cover and adored the book. It's a fairytale worthy of a Disney movie.
July 26, 2015
This review was first published on .{ ink.eaters }.
"...he's just so out-of-this-world. They don't make them like that anymore."
I can't even put into words just how much love I have for Camilla Isley's début novel - and especially for its magical out-of-this-world male protagonist, Arthur.
In the first half of the book, I oftentimes found myself disliking the female lead, Ally Johnson, which made it a little hard for me to get into the story at first. She seemed self-absorbed, ignorant and rather naïve and pathetic. Hung up on her ex-boyfriend, she is willing to do whatever it takes to get him back, even if that 'whatever' involves using most of the wishes a genie grants her, and accepting the emotional suffering of others - the only thing that matters is getting James, her now engaged ex, back.
At any cost.
My dislike for Ally, however, soon turned into amusement and added to the comedy of the story, making it a lot more entertaining than your average romance. Furthermore, it helped to emphasize the character development she goes through towards the end of the novel; well-rounded, complex characters that evolve throughout a read are something that is very important to me in a story, so that more than makes up for how disagreeable her character seemed to me in the beginning.
Oh, have I mentioned my love for Arthur yet?
Yes? No? Well, either way, let me tell you... he's one fine specimen of a man. He is good looking, charming, well-mannered, intelligent, courteous, gorgeous, passionate, curious, caring, somewhat stubborn, has a great sense of humor, and... the list could go on, and on, and on. Too bad that "They don't make them like that anymore.", because I sure would like one of my own - however ancient and 'used' he might already be. Without wanting to give more about him away than the fact that he is, sort of, a genie (how he finds Ally, and what he is all about, are things you will have to read about for yourself - I wouldn't want to spoil the story for you), Arthur manages to turn Ally's world upside-down, never missing a beat to show her quite plainly what really matters in life. Despite his commitment to Ally, Arthur, however reluctant, never lets us forget that he, too, has a story - one that holds more twists and surprises than you could ever imagine...
And while we're talking men, there is also James.
James, whom Ally believes to be the love of her life, and who is now engaged to her co-worker and sworn enemy, Vanessa. James, whom Ally is trying to get back for most of the novel, more or less ridiculing herself on more than one occasion in the process.
Vanessa, James, Ally, Arthur... while there never is much of a love triangle, or even quadrangle, playing out in front of the reader's eyes, you are bound to prefer one pairing over the other in the matter of pages - and all you can do is hope that your OTP (one true pairing) will get its happily ever after in the end.... an end, that seems to have come much too soon once you've reached it.
I Wish for You is a great light and entertaining read, that you will be able to lose yourself in, forgetting time. I really enjoyed Camilla Isley's début novel, not wanting to put it down, and hope that we will soon be able to read more from her. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies and some magic... imagine Lost in Austen meets Kate & Leopold , with a side of If You Could See Me Now and a lot of love from Camilla Isley.
*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review! ***
"...he's just so out-of-this-world. They don't make them like that anymore."
I can't even put into words just how much love I have for Camilla Isley's début novel - and especially for its magical out-of-this-world male protagonist, Arthur.
In the first half of the book, I oftentimes found myself disliking the female lead, Ally Johnson, which made it a little hard for me to get into the story at first. She seemed self-absorbed, ignorant and rather naïve and pathetic. Hung up on her ex-boyfriend, she is willing to do whatever it takes to get him back, even if that 'whatever' involves using most of the wishes a genie grants her, and accepting the emotional suffering of others - the only thing that matters is getting James, her now engaged ex, back.
At any cost.
My dislike for Ally, however, soon turned into amusement and added to the comedy of the story, making it a lot more entertaining than your average romance. Furthermore, it helped to emphasize the character development she goes through towards the end of the novel; well-rounded, complex characters that evolve throughout a read are something that is very important to me in a story, so that more than makes up for how disagreeable her character seemed to me in the beginning.
Oh, have I mentioned my love for Arthur yet?
Yes? No? Well, either way, let me tell you... he's one fine specimen of a man. He is good looking, charming, well-mannered, intelligent, courteous, gorgeous, passionate, curious, caring, somewhat stubborn, has a great sense of humor, and... the list could go on, and on, and on. Too bad that "They don't make them like that anymore.", because I sure would like one of my own - however ancient and 'used' he might already be. Without wanting to give more about him away than the fact that he is, sort of, a genie (how he finds Ally, and what he is all about, are things you will have to read about for yourself - I wouldn't want to spoil the story for you), Arthur manages to turn Ally's world upside-down, never missing a beat to show her quite plainly what really matters in life. Despite his commitment to Ally, Arthur, however reluctant, never lets us forget that he, too, has a story - one that holds more twists and surprises than you could ever imagine...
And while we're talking men, there is also James.
James, whom Ally believes to be the love of her life, and who is now engaged to her co-worker and sworn enemy, Vanessa. James, whom Ally is trying to get back for most of the novel, more or less ridiculing herself on more than one occasion in the process.
Vanessa, James, Ally, Arthur... while there never is much of a love triangle, or even quadrangle, playing out in front of the reader's eyes, you are bound to prefer one pairing over the other in the matter of pages - and all you can do is hope that your OTP (one true pairing) will get its happily ever after in the end.... an end, that seems to have come much too soon once you've reached it.
I Wish for You is a great light and entertaining read, that you will be able to lose yourself in, forgetting time. I really enjoyed Camilla Isley's début novel, not wanting to put it down, and hope that we will soon be able to read more from her. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies and some magic... imagine Lost in Austen meets Kate & Leopold , with a side of If You Could See Me Now and a lot of love from Camilla Isley.
*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review! ***
August 24, 2015
A light and fun read. I could totally relate to Ally´s situation of still being in love with a guy, that broke up with you two years ago, and suddenly have all the magic in the world to help you win him back. It was exciting, and the situations that Ally put Arthur – the genie – in her pursuit was hilarious. Arthur is a mystery in himself, because how did he come the genie of the coffer?
The negatives – I´m allowing myself to go in detail about why, because the author is asking for the bad feedback too. Please remember I´m saying it with love <3
I had trouble connecting with Ally, the main character. I was totally on vibe with her on reaching her goal, but her personality I didn't really care for.
While I was reading, I thought often that maybe the reason for why James left Ally, was because she´s a commanding, bitching cow. Which is really not a nice feeling to have, because Ally did good with her wishes too.
Let me elaborate on the commanding. She treats Arthur really badly. She keeps saying that they are friends, but the moment it´s not about her getting her way, or he´s trying to give her advice, she completely shuts of to him. They have a love/hate kind of relationship, and while I love a good love/hate romance, there was too much hate for me to see the love. She acted selfish towards everyone.
The bitching part - I love sarcasm. But Ally was too sarcastic. A jab here and there would have been nice, but everything that comes out of Ally´s mouth is sarkastisk, And just end up as being her bitching about everything. She even makes sexist remarks during the book like ”even though she´s fat, she´s really nice”. I know it´s meant in the best possible way when it´s said – but it´s like saying ”for a woman you are pretty smart”. It´s difficult to take that as a compliment, yes?
And unfortunately because of Arthur accepting Ally's behaviour towards him, he comes across as being a bit pathetic, and a brooding teenager sometimes. His english charm, and the funny situations he is put in still wins my heart though. I just didn't feel the building romance between the two.
The ending was perfect, and very sweet, and had me tearing up. I really loved it.
And despite my reservations towards Ally, I really enjoyed reading this story. I could totally see this as a movie one day.
The negatives – I´m allowing myself to go in detail about why, because the author is asking for the bad feedback too. Please remember I´m saying it with love <3
I had trouble connecting with Ally, the main character. I was totally on vibe with her on reaching her goal, but her personality I didn't really care for.
While I was reading, I thought often that maybe the reason for why James left Ally, was because she´s a commanding, bitching cow. Which is really not a nice feeling to have, because Ally did good with her wishes too.
Let me elaborate on the commanding. She treats Arthur really badly. She keeps saying that they are friends, but the moment it´s not about her getting her way, or he´s trying to give her advice, she completely shuts of to him. They have a love/hate kind of relationship, and while I love a good love/hate romance, there was too much hate for me to see the love. She acted selfish towards everyone.
The bitching part - I love sarcasm. But Ally was too sarcastic. A jab here and there would have been nice, but everything that comes out of Ally´s mouth is sarkastisk, And just end up as being her bitching about everything. She even makes sexist remarks during the book like ”even though she´s fat, she´s really nice”. I know it´s meant in the best possible way when it´s said – but it´s like saying ”for a woman you are pretty smart”. It´s difficult to take that as a compliment, yes?
And unfortunately because of Arthur accepting Ally's behaviour towards him, he comes across as being a bit pathetic, and a brooding teenager sometimes. His english charm, and the funny situations he is put in still wins my heart though. I just didn't feel the building romance between the two.
The ending was perfect, and very sweet, and had me tearing up. I really loved it.
And despite my reservations towards Ally, I really enjoyed reading this story. I could totally see this as a movie one day.
December 14, 2015
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review. *
This is the first book by Camilla Isley that I read and it did not disappoint me.I love it. She did well for a debut novel.
*slow claps*
James broke up with Ally for no reason but after a year Ally can't still move on. Especially when he saw him with her co-worker. While she was out shopping with her mother at the flea market, she saw a vintage coffer and out of nowhere an old lady said that she was "chosen" and she can get it for free but instead she ran away. When she arrived home she saw the coffer in her bag. Then she touched something with the coffer that made a man appear. His name is Arthur but Ally calls her "genie" and he can grant 5 wishes.
I like the writing style but I have some problems with it. There were some parts that are explained and narrated so much, that makes the book a bit boring. In other words the writing was not straight to the point.
The characters are easy to like with their attitudes but except for Ally. I have a love/hate with her. Ally is a kind woman but I hate most of her parts. She's a brat and selfish. She doesn't care what others feel with her choices. She's sarcastic and I like it but sometimes he uses it too much that always turns out irritating. Arthur on the other hand is a funny character. Arthur was cursed hundreds of years ago and he doesn't know much with the present time, he doesn't even know what a shower is. I didn't love nor hate the relationship with Ally and Arthur. Sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's not. There's a love-hate relationship going on with them which irritates me. I can't believe that with their love/hate relationship they end up close with each other.
While reading this one, you will know what happens next since the story is cliché, except for the 5 wishes part but I end up loving it. If your looking for some romantic comedy book, pick up this one and read it.
This is the first book by Camilla Isley that I read and it did not disappoint me.I love it. She did well for a debut novel.
*slow claps*
James broke up with Ally for no reason but after a year Ally can't still move on. Especially when he saw him with her co-worker. While she was out shopping with her mother at the flea market, she saw a vintage coffer and out of nowhere an old lady said that she was "chosen" and she can get it for free but instead she ran away. When she arrived home she saw the coffer in her bag. Then she touched something with the coffer that made a man appear. His name is Arthur but Ally calls her "genie" and he can grant 5 wishes.
I like the writing style but I have some problems with it. There were some parts that are explained and narrated so much, that makes the book a bit boring. In other words the writing was not straight to the point.
The characters are easy to like with their attitudes but except for Ally. I have a love/hate with her. Ally is a kind woman but I hate most of her parts. She's a brat and selfish. She doesn't care what others feel with her choices. She's sarcastic and I like it but sometimes he uses it too much that always turns out irritating. Arthur on the other hand is a funny character. Arthur was cursed hundreds of years ago and he doesn't know much with the present time, he doesn't even know what a shower is. I didn't love nor hate the relationship with Ally and Arthur. Sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's not. There's a love-hate relationship going on with them which irritates me. I can't believe that with their love/hate relationship they end up close with each other.
While reading this one, you will know what happens next since the story is cliché, except for the 5 wishes part but I end up loving it. If your looking for some romantic comedy book, pick up this one and read it.
December 3, 2018
2.5 stars
I see a lot of people have shelved this book as a romance. Fair enough. But for me this book barely passes the litmus test of a true romance novel. The heroine ends up HEA with the hero, but she spent the lion's share of the book thinking about, obsessed with, stalking, and loving someone else. Every single thing she does in this book is with the sole purpose of getting back the not-hero guy.
By contrast the hero does not figure in her mind as a romantic being until approx. the last 10% of the book and that isn't til she finally gives up on the other guy. Let's be clear, it isn't her feelings for the hero that prompts her to give up her feelings for the other guy. It is the realization that the other guy is not available to her and she gets closure on her relationship with the other guy that she has an 11th hour epiphany that it is the hero she now wants. A small distinction, but and important one.
So in my head this is pure chick lit with a heaping helping of fantasy/paranormal thrown in. It is first person POV of the heroine who has been dumped by her boyfriend -- the love of her life -- with no warning an no explanation. A year later (when the book opens) she is still desperately pining over him. What makes things even worse is he is now engaged to a co-worker of hers who is an avowed enemy.
Into her life comes a mysterious box that just so happens to house a genie who grants her five wishes. Her genie, named Arthur, is a British nobleman who has been cursed for centuries to this wretched life. After her five wishes have been duly wished and granted, back into the box he goes whereupon the box will mysteriously choose its next target.
After getting over the requisite shock etc. etc. and learning the rules etc. etc. Ally gets to wishing. I will admit I thought the first three wishes themselves, the way they were proposed and executed were clever and worked well within the framework of the story. All of Ally's wishes of course designed to get back with James (the ex) and to stick it to her romantic rival Vanessa.
On the one hand I could see why Ally could not close the book on James. he basically ghosted her and I could understand her need to know why. On the other hand, she was just so pathetic and needy about it. I wish she had used her wishes to -- in the words of Oprah -- lived her best life, without trying to win back James. Also a full star gets taken off the book because there is an air of.... fat shaming about it in places that made me feel uncomfortable.
In the meantime, Arthur, the genie, is a great character. I liked him quite a bit and you knew that he'd end up with Ally. Also his backstory was very engrossing. But most of the book he is simply Ally's magical helper. Thassit. Until of course all of her scheming both works perfectly and not at all and she realizes it is Arthur she really wants. The ending was rushed like almost literally the last chapter is when all this happens plus they magically break the curse to be together.
On a chick lit front it was kinda entertaining. On a romance front it was super disappointing and I just couldn't get past the pining and and stalking of another guy.
I listened on audio and I am not a fan of the narrator.
I see a lot of people have shelved this book as a romance. Fair enough. But for me this book barely passes the litmus test of a true romance novel. The heroine ends up HEA with the hero, but she spent the lion's share of the book thinking about, obsessed with, stalking, and loving someone else. Every single thing she does in this book is with the sole purpose of getting back the not-hero guy.
By contrast the hero does not figure in her mind as a romantic being until approx. the last 10% of the book and that isn't til she finally gives up on the other guy. Let's be clear, it isn't her feelings for the hero that prompts her to give up her feelings for the other guy. It is the realization that the other guy is not available to her and she gets closure on her relationship with the other guy that she has an 11th hour epiphany that it is the hero she now wants. A small distinction, but and important one.
So in my head this is pure chick lit with a heaping helping of fantasy/paranormal thrown in. It is first person POV of the heroine who has been dumped by her boyfriend -- the love of her life -- with no warning an no explanation. A year later (when the book opens) she is still desperately pining over him. What makes things even worse is he is now engaged to a co-worker of hers who is an avowed enemy.
Into her life comes a mysterious box that just so happens to house a genie who grants her five wishes. Her genie, named Arthur, is a British nobleman who has been cursed for centuries to this wretched life. After her five wishes have been duly wished and granted, back into the box he goes whereupon the box will mysteriously choose its next target.
After getting over the requisite shock etc. etc. and learning the rules etc. etc. Ally gets to wishing. I will admit I thought the first three wishes themselves, the way they were proposed and executed were clever and worked well within the framework of the story. All of Ally's wishes of course designed to get back with James (the ex) and to stick it to her romantic rival Vanessa.
On the one hand I could see why Ally could not close the book on James. he basically ghosted her and I could understand her need to know why. On the other hand, she was just so pathetic and needy about it. I wish she had used her wishes to -- in the words of Oprah -- lived her best life, without trying to win back James. Also a full star gets taken off the book because there is an air of.... fat shaming about it in places that made me feel uncomfortable.
In the meantime, Arthur, the genie, is a great character. I liked him quite a bit and you knew that he'd end up with Ally. Also his backstory was very engrossing. But most of the book he is simply Ally's magical helper. Thassit. Until of course all of her scheming both works perfectly and not at all and she realizes it is Arthur she really wants. The ending was rushed like almost literally the last chapter is when all this happens plus they magically break the curse to be together.
On a chick lit front it was kinda entertaining. On a romance front it was super disappointing and I just couldn't get past the pining and and stalking of another guy.
I listened on audio and I am not a fan of the narrator.
February 23, 2018
·“I don’t find it tasteful to rejoice in someone else’s unhappiness.”·
I must confess that when I picked up this book I pictured I would be reading an Aladdin retelling and I was most excited about it.
However, as the story developed, it turned more and more into a Chick-lit story and lost most of its retelling features, which in turn made me lose interest and become a bit dissapointed. All in all, I literally loved 30% of the book and pretty much disliked or felt meh towards the remaining 70%. Why? Read on!
First off, the genre. Chick-lit is just not for me. I love watching movies on this genre and I do think this story would make a killer movie, but I hate reading this kind of stories. I quickly get annoyed at the level of detail on things I find superficial and lacking. When you are magically granted five wishes and waste two on money and looks, you lose all my respect. But…
There are, nevertheless, two things I loved about this book: The cover (let’s face it, it’s just perfect ♥) and Arthur (seriously, why don’t they make them like him anymore?!). Arthur was the one character that kept me reading till the end, the only wise one (among lots of nice adjectives I could use to describe him ^^). But the rest of the characters are just cliché and annoying, specially Ally. At times, she gets so self-centered, conceited and selfish, that it’s hard to feel empathy towards her. I do get that it was kind of the point, but that didn’t made it less frustrating for me.
That being said, the chemistry between her and Arthur is great, their dialogues are witty and full of emotion and I really enjoyed those. I’m really happy that I reached the end of this story, because it got considerably better. In fact, the last 20% of the book sort of lifted my final rating. It left feeling all cozy like this:
[image error]
All in all, I consider the story to be a quick, fun read, so if you enjoy the genre make sure to give it a try!
I must confess that when I picked up this book I pictured I would be reading an Aladdin retelling and I was most excited about it.
However, as the story developed, it turned more and more into a Chick-lit story and lost most of its retelling features, which in turn made me lose interest and become a bit dissapointed. All in all, I literally loved 30% of the book and pretty much disliked or felt meh towards the remaining 70%. Why? Read on!
First off, the genre. Chick-lit is just not for me. I love watching movies on this genre and I do think this story would make a killer movie, but I hate reading this kind of stories. I quickly get annoyed at the level of detail on things I find superficial and lacking. When you are magically granted five wishes and waste two on money and looks, you lose all my respect. But…
There are, nevertheless, two things I loved about this book: The cover (let’s face it, it’s just perfect ♥) and Arthur (seriously, why don’t they make them like him anymore?!). Arthur was the one character that kept me reading till the end, the only wise one (among lots of nice adjectives I could use to describe him ^^). But the rest of the characters are just cliché and annoying, specially Ally. At times, she gets so self-centered, conceited and selfish, that it’s hard to feel empathy towards her. I do get that it was kind of the point, but that didn’t made it less frustrating for me.
That being said, the chemistry between her and Arthur is great, their dialogues are witty and full of emotion and I really enjoyed those. I’m really happy that I reached the end of this story, because it got considerably better. In fact, the last 20% of the book sort of lifted my final rating. It left feeling all cozy like this:
[image error]
All in all, I consider the story to be a quick, fun read, so if you enjoy the genre make sure to give it a try!
February 13, 2020
This is not my usual genre...but I needed something different. I was happy with the book and overall gave it 4 stars taking into consideration of genre. BUT, what got me in the end and has perhaps stopped me from looking at more of this author's books was she used the "r" word to explain the behavior of one of the characters. I don't see why she had to use that word as an adjective for behavior when there are so many other words that would be more precise, exciting, descriptive and not offensive to readers.
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July 25, 2017Free Today!!! 7/24/17 🤓
July 23, 2015
ARC received for an honest review
I started reading this book a little skeptical about the premise and expecting to not like it, however, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. I was even more surprised to find out this is Camilla Isley’s debut novel. For the past few months my reading choices were dark and depressing. I needed a break and took a chance on a new writer I didn’t know anything about and I’m very happy I did.
One of my favorite things was reading fairy tales to my daughters and granddaughters when they were little. It was fun getting lost in the imagination and mentally transport away from real life. I Wish For You took me back and reminded me there is nothing like a good fairy tale and this one has a modern day twist.
The concept behind this story is the genie in a bottle (in this book a box) offering wishes to the person finding and releasing the genie. It is a lot of fun to read and think about what I would wish if I found a genie. Initially I thought the story was a little predictable but I found that it didn’t play out exactly as I anticipated.
Ally Johnson is the heroine in this story. She is still devastated after the sudden breakup with her boyfriend a year past. Adding salt to the wound she finds out her most hated co-worker is now dating the ex, James. How did this happen? Ally is funny, independent and real. She doesn’t always make the right decisions but she learns from her mistakes. It is this diverse character profile that makes her real.
Arthur, the genie, is an eighteenth century aristocrat. He doesn’t share very much of his history with Ally in the beginning and that frustrates her a little. Arthur is a very proper British gentleman and a good complement to Ally’s character. Where she acts or over reacts he is the voice of common sense and reason. We find out that the genie is serving out a curse cast by a spurned lover. He knows about true love and recommends a course of action for Ally. However, Ally being Ally doesn’t always listen.
There are some great scenes between Arthur (Ally gave him this name because he was royalty) and Ally. One where he takes a cab ride with Ally and they have a discussion about the horses in the engine. Another when Ally wants him to go out with her but he has to be a girl. These lighthearted scenes add to the story.
In summary there is a lot going for this book. It has a good romance that grows and changes. There is the mystery Ally is trying to figure out who is Arthur really and is there any way to help him break his curse. Ally’s wishes and how she uses them is often sets up comic situations and as she uses her wishes to win back her true love she learns a lot about herself, her friends and the love of her life. It is all very entertaining. Yes, I like the story. It is a good, light read that is most enjoyable. I have my five wishes ready when my genie appears. Ms. Isley is a good writer and I’m looking forward to her next book.
I started reading this book a little skeptical about the premise and expecting to not like it, however, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. I was even more surprised to find out this is Camilla Isley’s debut novel. For the past few months my reading choices were dark and depressing. I needed a break and took a chance on a new writer I didn’t know anything about and I’m very happy I did.
One of my favorite things was reading fairy tales to my daughters and granddaughters when they were little. It was fun getting lost in the imagination and mentally transport away from real life. I Wish For You took me back and reminded me there is nothing like a good fairy tale and this one has a modern day twist.
The concept behind this story is the genie in a bottle (in this book a box) offering wishes to the person finding and releasing the genie. It is a lot of fun to read and think about what I would wish if I found a genie. Initially I thought the story was a little predictable but I found that it didn’t play out exactly as I anticipated.
Ally Johnson is the heroine in this story. She is still devastated after the sudden breakup with her boyfriend a year past. Adding salt to the wound she finds out her most hated co-worker is now dating the ex, James. How did this happen? Ally is funny, independent and real. She doesn’t always make the right decisions but she learns from her mistakes. It is this diverse character profile that makes her real.
Arthur, the genie, is an eighteenth century aristocrat. He doesn’t share very much of his history with Ally in the beginning and that frustrates her a little. Arthur is a very proper British gentleman and a good complement to Ally’s character. Where she acts or over reacts he is the voice of common sense and reason. We find out that the genie is serving out a curse cast by a spurned lover. He knows about true love and recommends a course of action for Ally. However, Ally being Ally doesn’t always listen.
There are some great scenes between Arthur (Ally gave him this name because he was royalty) and Ally. One where he takes a cab ride with Ally and they have a discussion about the horses in the engine. Another when Ally wants him to go out with her but he has to be a girl. These lighthearted scenes add to the story.
In summary there is a lot going for this book. It has a good romance that grows and changes. There is the mystery Ally is trying to figure out who is Arthur really and is there any way to help him break his curse. Ally’s wishes and how she uses them is often sets up comic situations and as she uses her wishes to win back her true love she learns a lot about herself, her friends and the love of her life. It is all very entertaining. Yes, I like the story. It is a good, light read that is most enjoyable. I have my five wishes ready when my genie appears. Ms. Isley is a good writer and I’m looking forward to her next book.
August 7, 2015
Originally published at Rookie Romance.
I've been deliberating for a wee while what I wanted to say in this review, though I think I finally have my thoughts in order. There are things that I did very much enjoy in the story but there are also a few too many things that I didn't particularly like and held me back from really loving it. Let me explain why.
I really liked the general plot line- who wouldn't want to find themselves with their own genie and 5 wishes at their disposal? Ally is at a rather low point in her life after the love of her life dumps her and she finds out that he's dating her bitchy work nemesis. When Ally mysteriously winds up with a little jewellery box from an antiques market it seems her luck is looking up because this jewellery box is housing a genie. Ally decides to use her wishes to win back her love before it's too late.
I enjoyed some of the antics Ally and Arthur (the 'genie') get up to as Ally works to win back James. Whilst Ally could be quite fun, there were some aspects of her personality that I found really frustrating and stopped me from really connecting to the character. I found her on numerous occasions to be quite selfish, whiny and oblivious about other people's feelings. I wouldn't have minded the self-centered attitude since she's focused on winning James back, but it continues for so much of the story that I just got annoyed.
She also treats Arthur like crap more often than not, which makes the closeness of their relationship as the story progresses a bit unbelievable for me. I couldn't see the emotions develop between them until they're suddenly there at the end.
Saying that, I enjoyed Arthur's character and liked how he was out of place in this modern age. He could also be very sweet and gentlemanly, if a wee bit prudish- a product of his age! I also really liked the end and how everything came to be resolved. All the threads of the story were neatly tied up and didn't leave me with unanswered questions.
Overall, I liked elements of the story and it could be lots of fun but I just didn't click with Ally's character and that's always going to be an issue for me when I'm reading a book. Who knows, maybe it's just me and everyone else will love Ally, so it's not like I wouldn't recommend it. It's a fun and easy read, and might be more your cup of tea than mine.
*I received a review copy from the author for my honest opinion. Thank you!
I've been deliberating for a wee while what I wanted to say in this review, though I think I finally have my thoughts in order. There are things that I did very much enjoy in the story but there are also a few too many things that I didn't particularly like and held me back from really loving it. Let me explain why.
I really liked the general plot line- who wouldn't want to find themselves with their own genie and 5 wishes at their disposal? Ally is at a rather low point in her life after the love of her life dumps her and she finds out that he's dating her bitchy work nemesis. When Ally mysteriously winds up with a little jewellery box from an antiques market it seems her luck is looking up because this jewellery box is housing a genie. Ally decides to use her wishes to win back her love before it's too late.
I enjoyed some of the antics Ally and Arthur (the 'genie') get up to as Ally works to win back James. Whilst Ally could be quite fun, there were some aspects of her personality that I found really frustrating and stopped me from really connecting to the character. I found her on numerous occasions to be quite selfish, whiny and oblivious about other people's feelings. I wouldn't have minded the self-centered attitude since she's focused on winning James back, but it continues for so much of the story that I just got annoyed.
She also treats Arthur like crap more often than not, which makes the closeness of their relationship as the story progresses a bit unbelievable for me. I couldn't see the emotions develop between them until they're suddenly there at the end.
Saying that, I enjoyed Arthur's character and liked how he was out of place in this modern age. He could also be very sweet and gentlemanly, if a wee bit prudish- a product of his age! I also really liked the end and how everything came to be resolved. All the threads of the story were neatly tied up and didn't leave me with unanswered questions.
Overall, I liked elements of the story and it could be lots of fun but I just didn't click with Ally's character and that's always going to be an issue for me when I'm reading a book. Who knows, maybe it's just me and everyone else will love Ally, so it's not like I wouldn't recommend it. It's a fun and easy read, and might be more your cup of tea than mine.
*I received a review copy from the author for my honest opinion. Thank you!
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