The Wish

The Wish, Nicholas Sparks, 01/26/23 Nicholas Sparks is one of my absolute favorite authors. He always delivers, with each book better than the last. The Wish was thought-provoking and pulled on my heart strings. From the beginning, I felt like I was right there with each character, feeling their emotions and rooting for their happiness and successes. Like Jodi Picoult, Sparks addresses societal concerns of the day. In this complex novel, he addresses teen pregnancy, coming of age, first loves, wartime heartache, as well as death and dying. In his way, he is educating us and encouraging us to become part of the answers in the world around us. It’s 1996. Maggie was a fifteen-year-old pregnant teenager. Her parents were old school Catholics and were of the mind to send her away to deal with the pregnancy. She was sent to live with an aunt she barely knew in an isolated location in North Carolina. An adoption was arranged, and since Maggie was Catholic, abortion was not an option. To avoid any socially related stigma, Maggie was to remain in isolation until “it was taken care of.” Maggie was depressed as she no longer had contact with her friends or family. She also felt unloved by her parents. Maggie’s depression lifted after meeting Bryce Trickett, one of the few teenagers on the island. As she was to be home-schooled, Bryce became her tutor. Bryce also introduced Maggie to photography. She was a natural and this new love would become the building block to her future. As Bryce and Maggie spent time together, they fell deeply in love. She felt safe with Bryce as he had proven to be a handsome, gentle, compassionate, non-judgmental young man. He was well-read and on his way to West Point in the fall. Could they realistically share a life together? Accepting the possible roadblocks, they made a vow to return on Maggie’s 24th birthday to the beach where they first met. They also promised to send yearly Christmas cards to one another. 2019. Maggie has become a well-known photographer. She traveled the world to capture pictures of the most diverse and beautiful wonders that nature had to offer. Additionally, she opened a gallery with another artist in New York. The gallery was wildly successful, attracting artesian collectors from all over the world. This year, Maggie had to slow down due to a life-threatening illness. She relied heavily on her staff in her absences, especially a new young man that she had recently hired. Mark quickly became a very good friend, and they spent the Christmas holiday together. At Mark’s insistence, Maggie shared her memories of Ocracoke, the place that taught her how to love and find her dream. The characters were so well defined that they become part of your heart. The reason that Nicholas Sparks books continually get made into movies is because they appeal to everyone as real and compelling stories. I have read every one of his books, at least once. I enjoyed reading “The Wish,” and look forward to his next novel. I wholeheartedly recommend his books to anyone who likes to read a relatable story that touches the heart while also taking you on a journey to explore the social issues around you. Put together, his books can change the way look at the world and how you treat those around you. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

This book was sad and emotional, but it was also such a beautiful story! There was a bittersweet happy ending. I go into my books blind (I don’t read the blurb telling what the book is about) and it’s probably a good thing I didn’t know what this book was about. If I would have known how much I was going to cry, I doubt I would have read it and that would have been a shame because it’s one of my favorite books ever! I read this book in one day because I had to know how it ended. This book is told in 2 different timelines. There is the current day of Maggie’s life and then there is the story of her past. It goes back and forth between the 2 timelines and it was very easy to follow. There was no spice so it would be okay for teens and adults to read.

I found this book phenomenal! Had everything I was looking for in a good winter read. Adventure, love, life, etc. (I won't spoil it) It made me smile and cry because it was completely relatable. A must-read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 stars) The Wish is an engaging and easy-to-read novel—emotional and heartfelt without being a deep or heavy read. The plot itself is very creative and interesting, unfolding in a way that keeps you invested from the beginning. This was my first Nicholas Sparks book, and it did not disappoint. I will definitely be adding more of his books to my library. I chose the audiobook format, and the production truly deserves special praise. The female narrator, Mela Lee, is absolutely phenomenal. She brings the story to life by performing multiple distinct voices—young Maggie, present-day Maggie, the aunt, and even several male characters—each with its own tone, personality, and emotional depth. It’s honestly impressive how seamlessly she shifts between them. The male narration by Will Collyer is equally strong, and together they elevate the entire listening experience. I genuinely don’t know how narrators do what they do—how they manage to capture emotion, vulnerability, and personality so beautifully—but this audiobook made the characters feel alive and deeply human. The reason I gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that the pacing felt just a little slow in the middle, and I was able to predict the final plot twist fairly early on. I’m not sure if that was intentional—perhaps meant to create anticipation—or if I simply caught on quickly. Even so, this story stayed with me. It’s warm, touching, and full of heart, reminding us how love, timing, and life choices shape who we become. A truly enjoyable listening experience and a book I would absolutely recommend.

If you like romance and wholesome love stories you cannot go wrong with anything written by Nicholas Sparks! His books are always a special treat that warm the heart!

One of my top 3 books. Fantastic. Im more of a thriller person but this melts your heart at the end. 🧸

I loved the book!

I read this book during a sad time in my life. My husband of over fifty years was in hospice care, slowly slipping away from me. This book had very sad moments, but still reminded me of enduring love and remembering happy, joyful moments in our life. We grieve deeply because we loved so deeply.