Helpful Score: 1
AS YOU WISH took me by surprise with its sincere charm, lighthearted humor, and the best kind of romance.
The development of Viola and Jinn's from master-genie to romantic love was extraordinarily well done. It was subtle and likable, like a romantic comedy movie unfolding before your eyes, except in words. It is rare nowadays to find a romance that doesn't start off from insta-connection and physical attraction, so Viola and Jinn's relationship stands out to me in the best way.
Perhaps the greatest thing about AS YOU WISH, however, is Jackson Pearce's effortless narration. How many authors can truly tell a charming story out of a concept that rides the fence on being sweet and too saccharine? AS YOU WISH didn't read like a forced novel to me, but more like me experiencing a good friend's story, or living out my favorite romantic comedy. I found myself crying through the ending, so involved was I in Jinn, Viola, and Lawrence's story.
Don't be fooled by its childlike cover and fairy tale premise. AS YOU WISH makes you believe in wish-granters and the fact that love can triumph all. This is magical realism at its best, completely worth the list price, and one of the best love stories I've read all year.
The development of Viola and Jinn's from master-genie to romantic love was extraordinarily well done. It was subtle and likable, like a romantic comedy movie unfolding before your eyes, except in words. It is rare nowadays to find a romance that doesn't start off from insta-connection and physical attraction, so Viola and Jinn's relationship stands out to me in the best way.
Perhaps the greatest thing about AS YOU WISH, however, is Jackson Pearce's effortless narration. How many authors can truly tell a charming story out of a concept that rides the fence on being sweet and too saccharine? AS YOU WISH didn't read like a forced novel to me, but more like me experiencing a good friend's story, or living out my favorite romantic comedy. I found myself crying through the ending, so involved was I in Jinn, Viola, and Lawrence's story.
Don't be fooled by its childlike cover and fairy tale premise. AS YOU WISH makes you believe in wish-granters and the fact that love can triumph all. This is magical realism at its best, completely worth the list price, and one of the best love stories I've read all year.
This would be a good book to read with my daughter when she is in high school. It talks about a girl who's boyfriend broke up with her and she feels lost and broken. I would use it as a 'how NOT to' become a serial dater, how girls who think they have to be with a guy to be 'complete' and 'whole' are wrong. Only when you learn what makes YOU happy can you be whole.
I like this quote from the book: "And it's going to happen again, Viola. You don't love him. You'll split with him, and until you can make yourself happy, no amount of wishing is going to stop you from feeling invisible in the long run."
Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read, but I loved Jackson's other books 'Sisters Red' and 'Sweetly' more.
I like this quote from the book: "And it's going to happen again, Viola. You don't love him. You'll split with him, and until you can make yourself happy, no amount of wishing is going to stop you from feeling invisible in the long run."
Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read, but I loved Jackson's other books 'Sisters Red' and 'Sweetly' more.
Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com
When Viola's boyfriend and long-time close friend, Lawrence, breaks up with her, she's heartbroken. Ever since then, she's been silently wishing for someone to love her again so she can feel like she belongs once more.
One day, all of her wishing summons up a genie named Jinn (well, technically that is not his name, just what he is called). He will stay around Viola until she makes three wishes, and will not leave any sooner than that. It is a Jinn's job to stick around once he has been assigned to a person until that person has made all of their wishes.
At first, Viola is a bit creeped out about Jinn popping up everywhere, trying to get her to make a wish. But soon after Viola makes her first wish, she realizes something..she is in love with Jinn, and if she makes her last two wishes, he will disappear forever and she won't even remember him.
Now, she has to do everything in her power not to make those last two wishes, especially by accident. But if the person doesn't make their three wishes, someone else comes in to push the person to make them so that the Jinn can move on. Pushing can involve anything, and soon Viola may be in danger...
This was a really good book. It was pretty fast-paced and I finished it quickly. The book switches viewpoints from Viola to Jinn from chapter to chapter, so you get to read about them separately. I really liked being able to read about them that way. Throughout the story, I felt bad for Viola for not feeling like she belonged anymore, and then when she fell in love with Jinn I was afraid something bad would happen to her, but I couldn't really figure out what was going to happen in the end.
I really liked the ending, though, and the rest of the book too, of course. Jackson Pearce is a great writer, and I can't wait to read more from her.
When Viola's boyfriend and long-time close friend, Lawrence, breaks up with her, she's heartbroken. Ever since then, she's been silently wishing for someone to love her again so she can feel like she belongs once more.
One day, all of her wishing summons up a genie named Jinn (well, technically that is not his name, just what he is called). He will stay around Viola until she makes three wishes, and will not leave any sooner than that. It is a Jinn's job to stick around once he has been assigned to a person until that person has made all of their wishes.
At first, Viola is a bit creeped out about Jinn popping up everywhere, trying to get her to make a wish. But soon after Viola makes her first wish, she realizes something..she is in love with Jinn, and if she makes her last two wishes, he will disappear forever and she won't even remember him.
Now, she has to do everything in her power not to make those last two wishes, especially by accident. But if the person doesn't make their three wishes, someone else comes in to push the person to make them so that the Jinn can move on. Pushing can involve anything, and soon Viola may be in danger...
This was a really good book. It was pretty fast-paced and I finished it quickly. The book switches viewpoints from Viola to Jinn from chapter to chapter, so you get to read about them separately. I really liked being able to read about them that way. Throughout the story, I felt bad for Viola for not feeling like she belonged anymore, and then when she fell in love with Jinn I was afraid something bad would happen to her, but I couldn't really figure out what was going to happen in the end.
I really liked the ending, though, and the rest of the book too, of course. Jackson Pearce is a great writer, and I can't wait to read more from her.
