Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Wishful #5

Wish I Might

Rate this book
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B01M9I4B5N

An heiress in hiding...
For graphic designer Cecily Dixon, building a successful life on her own terms, independent of her family's name and wealth, has been an all-important goal. That's why she followed her boss to tiny Wishful, Mississippi. While she's fallen in love with the town and the work being done to bring it back to life, her internship is over and it's time to take the next power-house step in her career...somewhere else.

A bookstore in trouble...
Reed Campbell is Wishful born and bred. He loves his small town life, and it suits him just fine. When he needs help breathing life into his struggling bookstore, the brilliant and sexy Cecily is the last person he expects to volunteer. Since one chemistry-fueled summer weekend, she's been giving him the cold shoulder, and he can't figure out how he blew it.

A romance with an expiration date...
Working together will start the thaw, but they both know the clock is ticking and Cecily will be moving on. Or will she? Wishful is just the right size for Reed, but can he convince Cecily that his small town can support her big dreams?

178 pages, ebook

First published November 3, 2016

1671 people are currently reading
968 people want to read

About the author

Kait Nolan

154 books1,363 followers
Kait Nolan is a RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a 'Bless your heart' like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world's most perfect food. When she's not writing, reading, working the evil day job, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off.

Sign up for her newsletter! rebrand.ly/kaitsnewsletter

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
702 (43%)
4 stars
577 (36%)
3 stars
267 (16%)
2 stars
43 (2%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
January 29, 2020
💝FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (7/16/2018)!💝

Blurb:
An heiress in hiding...
For graphic designer Cecily Dixon, building a successful life on her own terms, independent of her family's name and wealth, has been an all-important goal. That's why she followed her boss to tiny Wishful, Mississippi. While she's fallen in love with the town and the work being done to bring it back to life, her internship is over and it's time to take the next power-house step in her career...somewhere else.

A bookstore in trouble...
Reed Campbell is Wishful born and bred. He loves his small town life, and it suits him just fine. When he needs help breathing life into his struggling bookstore, the brilliant and sexy Cecily is the last person he expects to volunteer. Since one chemistry-fueled summer weekend, she's been giving him the cold shoulder, and he can't figure out how he blew it.

A romance with an expiration date...
Working together will start the thaw, but they both know the clock is ticking and Cecily will be moving on. Or will she? Wishful is just the right size for Reed, but can he convince Cecily that his small town can support her big dreams?
Profile Image for Taryn.
185 reviews7 followers
March 25, 2018
I really wanted to love this book, and although it was a good story overall, I was a bit disappointed.

What I liked: Reed. What a great character. Bookstore owner, hot cousin of Cam, what's not to love? I thought his character was awesome and we got to see a lot of sides of him which was really nice. I also, as always, love the small town vibe throughout the book, and how all the characters interweave through this series. It was really cool to get to know Cecily, since she was just a side character in the first book that I didn't really think I would see surface again. Their chemistry was written well and it was fun reading about how they're pulled to each other.

What I didn't like: First, I didn't really know the back story of how they met. It was alluded to, but the whole scene never unfolded. Was there a meet cute of their story that I missed? I felt like that was missing from this book. Next, there were a lot of similarities between this book and Wishful #1 of Norah and Cam, which wasn't a bad thing, and the characters even noted how similar their story was to their friends' story, but it made the book a bit predictable. There were also some big misunderstandings that could have been easily cleared up with good communication, which I've found happens in many of these books, as well as many movies and series, but that kind of bugs me because I feel it's been done so many times, and why aren't any of these adults mature enough to speak to their partner when something goes wrong?
Profile Image for Birgit.
1,332 reviews17 followers
November 3, 2018
Love the Wishful series; despite the plots and dare I say, stereotypical protagonists, this author manages to make the stories fresh and captivate even the jaded reader.
The story here: Cecily, rich girl,wants to prove she can stand on her own feet and follows her former boss Nora (from Book 1), to Wishful. Then we have Reed, born and lived in Wishful all his life, bookstore owner and burned by his ex-fiancèe, another so-called trust fund baby. Can those two overcome their differences, and can Cecily find a career in Wishful?
Questions I surely don't have to answer as, like I said before, it all sounds so familiar. But the tiny plot twist, the protagonists's little quirks, make these stories set in the little town of Wishful so unique and fresh.
Did I mention I love this series? ;=)
Profile Image for Brittany Kollenberg.
343 reviews12 followers
September 12, 2018
This book was so cute! I loved how the author built the characters and how all the books connect with each other. I could relate to Cecily, and I think that's what made this book even better. Although, I was disappointed that the book wasn't more focused on building their relationship.
283 reviews
August 13, 2018
Wish I Might

Am not a Southern person but enjoyed reading about a Southern small town. However, small towns are quite similar in their capacity for gossip!
Profile Image for Kat Ryker.
788 reviews44 followers
August 3, 2022
Before you read this, I have to say something about this series of books. I read for various reasons. If I'm reading romance, I want romance, not an overload of drama. ROMANCE. This book isn't Hemingway but it was all I expected it to be, a romance that is enjoyable to read.

My first question is, Ms. Nolan, have you ever written something I don't like? Oh, never mind. I think the answer is no.

I feel like her next book should be about me and entitled Stuck in Wishful. This was yet another sweet and slightly steamy book about two people who needed to be pushed together in Wishful, Mississippi.

Reed and Cecily get off to a bad start and throughout the book, I was wanting to do a Gibbs to the back of Reed's head. The rest of the book is their romance, which is what I buy the books for. I'm a total pushover for romance. Yes, you can add a little angst, some arguments, family interference, but I'm interested in how the author writes chemistry and characters. Needless to say I'm a fan, since I keep coming back to Wishful (which is where I'm heading once again).

Ms. Nolan, keep on writing, please.
Profile Image for Kimberly #Audiofile.
2,563 reviews29 followers
February 14, 2022
Another adorable (almost) cozy romance
Cams cousin and Nora’s employee.
Hea? Yes
World building over the past 5 books makes it a great small town world.
Smut? Not really at all
It’s cute
Good narration
Profile Image for Jenn.
785 reviews13 followers
August 12, 2018
It was a fun little read - no language, but with the token (in my opinion, unnecessary) sex scene.
823 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2018
Enjoyed the book. Sweet story about a small southern town. Not a cliffhanger and a little sex scenes.
Profile Image for Timothy Hendricks.
477 reviews6 followers
November 17, 2016
This book is another opportunity to visit Wishful and although I have like all of them I have read thus far I really like this one. I enjoyed it so much I was sorry to see it end.

It was book about Reed Campbell who owns a Bookstore and wants it to be more than it is. He wants it to be a focal point for the town of Wishful. He loves books especially graphic novels about superheroes. It is also about Cecily Dixon who was born into a wealthy family that is very much involved in philanthropy. Both of these two individuals have had their hearts hurt in previous relationships. So they approach not only their relationship; but there relationship with other members of their family.

Cecily has guilt over how things were handled with a Veterans Philanthropic Organization that she was involved with previously and feels that she has embarrassed and shamed her family which is not the case. However as a result she feels that she has to prove herself that she has the ability to handle things especially career and other aspects of her life. She also wants to be judged and accepted by who she is as a person and not because of the family she comes from or the wealth that she has.

Reed due to past relationships has been hurt. Sometimes he puts his foot in his mouth. Other times he chooses to do crazy things that often can be misinterpreted because he doesn't like confrontation. I personally don't like confrontation either; but I'm not sure that I would create a "Virtual Girlfriend" on the Internet as he does.

One of the great things is a lot of the likeable characters from Kait Nolan's other Wishful series novels are in this one too. There is Norah with is Cecily's boss. There is Cam which is married to Norah and is cousin to Reed and many others.

There are several lines I like from the book. Such as: "Any good student of literature is an armchair psychologist. Literature is all about exploration of human nature..."

Can't wait for the next visit to "Wishful."
Profile Image for Tammy Moldovan.
1,976 reviews26 followers
September 18, 2024
Love, healing, and finding your path

I loved Cecily and Reed’s small town romance. Reading about Wishful and its couples puts a smile on my face and just makes my heart happy. The story had the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, spice, and missteps and it was beautiful to watch it all unfold. Cecily is an heiress who is working as a marketing guru in small town Wishful. She keeps her wealthy famous family status a secret and is currently looking for employment outside of Wishful. Reed owns the bookstore in Wishful and wants a second chance with Cecily after inadvertently insulting her the first time. So hiring her to help market a signing at his bookstore seems like the perfect way to start his second chance/get her to stay in town plan. What follows the decision to date at least until she leaves town is a wonderful journey of baggage unpacking, leaps of faith, misunderstandings, and life path correction. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline and will have you feeling all the deep emotions along the way - laughing, crying, swooning, cringing, teeth gritting, eye rolling, and cheering. I cannot wait to read more this wonderful series. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Lorie - Bookaholic.
365 reviews19 followers
November 16, 2024
Coming home

I have enjoyed this series. I skipped around reading the Wishful Romance books because some of them were free at one time, but they definitely kept my attention.

Though Cecily came from a wealth family, she was doing thing in her own, they way she wanted to do things even if she fell flat on her face. But, she still worried her family would judge her and want her the move back home.

...and then there is Reed, the guy who is pulling on her heartstrings. But when a misunderstanding makes her take flight, can she fix things and set things right between them?

Cecily realized corporate marketing wasn't going to make her happy, but talking about small business campaigns she'd worked on in Wishful made her happy and she wouldn't have realized that without Reed. She wouldn't have been able to go after her dreams without him.

Home. Cecily called Wishful home. She'd chosen this life, even knowing where they stood. This was what she truly wanted. No more ticking time clocks. No more artificial end to what was between them. Now they can slow down and enjoy the ride.

I am reading 'Second Chance Summer: A Summer Fling Romance' next. It's been in my reading library for six months.

Enjoy and happy reading everyone.
Profile Image for A.M..
Author 7 books58 followers
August 11, 2018
Reed runs the local bookstore and he and Norah’s friend and assistant, Cecily, shared a kiss on a picnic months ago. But nothing went any further. Reed would like it to but he suspects she will be leaving Wishful for the extraordinary life she’s clearly meant to have.
Cecily, meanwhile, is hiding herself. Her family are very well known and very rich. Her determination to do things on her own has always driven her, especially after she messed up her last effort at philanthropy.
***
You know when you’re reading and it’s heading towards the well plotted and obvious story point, and I got so worried about the two of them, that I stopped reading. As if not reading would stop it from happening. [silly, AM]
But it all works out. Of course, it does, it’s romance! ♥
And now I want Selina’s story. That’s not an easy job to have.
4 stars
Profile Image for Bette Stanek.
2,143 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2018
This is book 5 of the Wishful series. In typical Kait Nolan fashion her characters come to life and become part of your set of friends, the ones you want to hang out with on a lazy afternoon or when you need someone to have your back. Wish I Might is probably the sweetest, least complicated book of the series. There was so little conflict that I had to think about it before I could really remember exactly what it was that went wrong. It’s a book that you can easily get through in an afternoon, or at the very most a day.

Wish I Might is a fun, quick, quirky romance from a true Southern small town where everybody knows your business. If you’re looking for some light reading with Southern charm this will satisfy your craving. The entire Wishful series focuses on family, community, and romance.

Profile Image for Ann-Maree.
1,105 reviews10 followers
May 19, 2018
We finely get to read Cecily Dixon’s story, she followed Norah Burke to town in book one “To Get Me To You” and decided to stay for now. These books can be read as stand-alone or as the series from book one, if you read just one you will want to read them all as Kait Nolan makes you feel like you live in this quaint little town called Wishful. Some of the books are very sweet and some have a little bit of spice to them but all full you with joy as you read. . I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review of it. If you have not read a Kait Nolan give this one a try you will not be sorry. This was a nice feel-good romance that makes your heart swell for the characters.
Profile Image for Rellim.
1,676 reviews43 followers
August 17, 2020
Wish I Might is book 5 in the Wishful series. While I feel like it could stand on its own – the main & some secondary characters are introduced in book 1, To Get Me To You. Some of the events are also concurrent to parts of book 2, Be Careful, It’s My Heart. It would probably be best enjoyed after listening to those.

This was another enjoyable addition to the series and a cute second-chance romance. I liked book-store-owner Reed matched with heiress-in-hiding Cicely. While this did hold some similarities to book 1, the unique character backgrounds gave this story a distinct feel. The comic book references and Cicely's aunt were fun additions.

Amy McFadden continues to give all the Wishful residents consistent yet unique voices. It’s been a treat to binge this series with her at the helm.

I admit I’m super excited for Tucker & Corinne’s story in Turn My World around.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,168 reviews7 followers
December 31, 2023
If you're looking for a heartwarming contemporary romance that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon in equal measure, I highly recommend "Wish I Might" by Kait Nolan. This novel tells the story of Bree, a woman who has spent her whole life trying to escape her small town, and Finn, a man who has always felt like he didn't quite belong. When they meet, there's an instant spark between them, but they both have their reasons for not wanting to fall in love. As they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship, they'll have to confront the past and figure out what they want out of life. With well-drawn characters, a charming setting, and plenty of romantic tension, "Wish I Might" is a delightful read that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Happy Reading...enjoy!
Profile Image for K.E. Fraser.
Author 4 books13 followers
January 21, 2017
Heartwarming and soul comforting

Kait Nolan has created a beautiful collection of stories in the Wishful Series.
But it isn't just the way she spins a romance that keeps you reading her books, what she has created with Wishful is a family that you keep wanting to know more about. You read about one couple and want to know about how the others ended up getting together.
Wish I Might has extra appeal in the form of a smattering of geeky references and Reed might have surprises in the bedroom, but there is also a surprise in getting there!
Sweet, easy, short read, I highly recommend it
Profile Image for Margaret Yelton.
2,138 reviews44 followers
October 28, 2018
This was my first trip to Wishful, but certainly not my last. I will have to go back and read the first books in this series. Although I am sure this book could stand alone of its own merits, having the backstories from all the characters in the book I am sure overall would make it even more heart touching. I enjoyed getting to know Cecily, how she is struggling to find her own way outside of the family structure. I found this to be a quick and easy read, a great book to wind down some from all the darker books I tend to read. I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a good clean read.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,610 reviews28 followers
August 9, 2020
Hands down the best book I've read this year! It all started with the author's newsletter email. She wrote about Gloriana's (Kissed You) Good Nightsong/video which she credits as the influence for this book. So I went out and watched the video and knew I had to read the book. The characters in the video became the faces of the characters in the book. Wish I Might (Wishful, #5) my first read/listen from author Kait Nolan. Well-written & enjoyable. a cute romance, the fifth book in this series. I look forward to reading more in this series & from this author, my only question is why did I wait so long to read her. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
1,270 reviews
November 1, 2022
A lovely return to Wishful!

I loved the characters of Cecily, a graphic designer and marketer who worked for the city planner, Norah, from a previous book and bookstore owner, Reed. She was a rich girl pretending to be normal while he was an average guy trying to win her affections. Their communication skills clearly needed to improve by the end of this book, which certainly drove the plot. I love all the secondary characters, the importance of the small town trying to thrive and the romance was cute. Kait Nolan has a wonderful way of writing that just draws you in like you belong to the town as well. I really love this series!
3,542 reviews14 followers
August 15, 2018
Wish I Might is a fantastic contemporary romance by Kait Nolan. Ms. Nolan has provided readers with a well-written book and furnished it with amazing, lovable characters. Cecily followed her boss to Wishful and her position will soon end. Reed owns a bookstore in Wishful. Cecily and Reed's story is packed with drama, humor, spice and a little suspense. I enjoyed reading Wish I Might and look forward to reading more from Kait Nolan in the future. Wish I Might is book 5 of the Wishful Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
723 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2021
Business is hopping in Wishful

Reed and Cecily are prime examples of the importance of communication! In spite of the attraction and love between them, something always seems to cause them to derail. Reed has the habit of speaking before carefully choosing his words. Then he follows advice to set up a virtual girlfriend, but kept the connection going after it had served its purpose until it became the cause for breakup. The lack of self confidence with regards to family and ex boyfriend, undermines her faith in Reed and plans to start her own marketing business.
1,139 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2025
Cecily has been hiding from a previous relationship disaster. She feels she let her family down and must prove her worth. She was Norah’s intern in Chicago. She righted a wrong for Norah and has followed her to Wishful. This is where/how she meets Reed. Reed has also had a previous relationship disaster. When they meet, each realizes “something” in the other, but are not sure they trust their own judgement. As time is spent working together, a deeper feeling grows. A misunderstanding arises. Will they be able to get back what they had?
Profile Image for Diana Reeves.
782 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2018
Sweet

Sweet story from a sweet little town called “Wishful”. A town where everyone knows everyone and they all help each other out.

Reed is the owner of a book store in the small town. Cecily is a smart girl who comes from extremely wealthy ancestors but wants no part of the family name or funds. She simply wants to make it on her own but she’s at a crossroad of where she did in. Close friends and the ever knowledgeable Reed help her to choose.
Profile Image for Debbie Borthwick.
454 reviews6 followers
May 15, 2020
I can’t get enough of Kait Nolan’s books and especially the Wishful Romance series! I loved this story of Cecily & Reed, how they overcame obstacles to find their happily ever after. I definitely recommend this book, and the series. However, you don’t need to read them in order to be able to enjoy the books, they can be read as stand-alones. But once you read one, you’ll want to read them all, trust me!
Profile Image for Patricia Baxes.
3,050 reviews30 followers
December 19, 2023
A pretty darn good read…

How do you not love everything about Wishful??? The more you read about this delightful small town, the more you’re going to love it. This book is just another love story that rises from the ashes. The storyline is great; the characters delightful; the plot twists and turns are pretty interesting; and the HEA is terrific. Grab a copy and lose yourself in Wishful once again!
Profile Image for Thida.
264 reviews34 followers
August 24, 2018
I admit that I only read this because it was free and I needed something to clear my mind after reading an intense book. The story's not bad. I always have a weakness when I see the words 'book store' and 'library' in the description. But I didn't like how the girl left him after seeing texts from a woman, who is actually a virtual girlfriend, without even talking to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,292 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2018
Once burnt, twice shy

Cecily was fooled by a guy while in college and has been extremely wary ever since. Although she is attracted to Reed, she feels her belonging to a very wealthy family will ruin their relationship. They get over the first hurdle but, the second may be a kiss of death.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.