Blurb
As You Wish
What if you could ask for anything- and get it?
In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.
Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream? Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself.
Stats
Page Length: 432
Publication Year:2nd January 2018
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Characters: Eldon
Thoughts
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Story/ Characters
This story took me by surprise, there is a lot more to it than wishing. This is a story about growing up. It was a little slow going in the beginning and I wasn’t certain where the story was going to go, but then halfway through it got good.
This story is told in the first person, entirely from Eldon’s perspective. The writing was really clear and easy to follow. The descriptions of the scenery and what it was like living in a desert town were really well done. It was really easy to build a picture in my mind about Eldon’s surroundings.
I really liked Eldon’s character, his conflicting feelings about deciding on his wish was an interesting read, but what made him human for me was his grief. This I felt was the underlying theme of this story and is what motivates him throughout the story.
I really enjoyed the wishing stories that were scattered throughout, these were little stories of what other people in the town wished for which I thought was fascinating.
The only negative I can think of is that I did work out what Eldon’s wish was going to be before he did but this didn’t really hinder my enjoyment.
Favorite Quote:
“Anyone who says grief fades over time is a fucking liar. It never goes away. It just gets better at hiding. You never know when it’s going to spring out of the shadows and sucker punch you in the gut”
Conclusion:
This was an entertaining read, I really enjoyed it. It was a bit different to what I’ve been reading recently and would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys YA.
My Rating: 3/5 🌟 🌟 🌟
About the Author
Chelsea Sedoti fell in love with writing at a young age after discovering that making up stories was more fun than doing her school work (her teachers didn’t always appreciate this.) In an effort to avoid getting a “real” job, Chelsea explored careers as a balloon twister, filmmaker, and paranormal investigator. Eventually, she realized that her true passion is writing about flawed teenagers who are also afraid of growing up. When she’s not at the computer, Chelsea spends her time exploring abandoned buildings, eating junk food at roadside diners, and trying to befriend every animal in the world. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where she avoids casinos, but loves roaming the Mojave Desert.
Books & Other Pursuits 