The Wishing Game

The Wishing Game is my August book recommended by a friend. Although this may count as the most I have stretched to count a book as a recommendation?? Laura read this book a while ago, and if my memory serves, her review was not super glowing. BUT she compared it to The Westing Game, which is a book that holds a lot of affection in my heart, so I decided to count it as a recommendation and go from there. THEN, I was talking about books with the lovely Sarah, and she mentioned she owned this book, but could never really get into it and did I want her copy? So, despite a double lukewarm review, here I am, reading this book.

The premise of the book is fun - an eccentric, reclusive, author of an extremely popular series of children's books comes out of retirement and proposes a game to win the only copy of his latest book. Our protagonist is one of a lucky few invited to his private island to solve a series of puzzles/riddles to try to win the prize.

I saw a review of this book that called it “a middle grade book for grown ups,” and that is a really apt description. It reads young and whimsical but is clearly meant for adults? That style sat a bit oddly with me. Also, the lead-up/scene setting took way too long. Once everyone was on the island and the game was being played, I found the book pretty enjoyable and engaging. The ultimate outcome of the book was pretty clear about halfway through the book, but it was fun to read the twists and turns along the path to the ending.