Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

11 reviews

someryarns's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Death, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Cancer, and Child abuse

vidotson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

lavenderlikings's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked the book but it was a little too unserious for me. I wanted a little more depth to the characters and to the story. There were some really serious topics being discussed throughout the book and we only ever went surface level and so when everything wrapped up I never quite felt like I could empathize with the characters but I did speed through it with it being such a light read - very Peter Panesque. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

katydid_karaoke's review

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 Once I picked it up I didn't put it down, except long enough to do some of the things I needed to do around the house, but it was difficult. The Wishing Game is strongly inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and it doesn't shy away from that fact, referencing it a few times. The characters are all likable, even the "grumpy" one and the plot moves along at a nice pace. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

mdavis26's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Grief, Rape, Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

caseylovett's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Abandonment, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage

kelly_e's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Title: The Wishing Game
Author: Meg Shaffer
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: May 30, 2023

T H R E E • W O R D S

Comforting • Whimsical • Hopeful

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents.

When Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. he decides to hold a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy. For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher.

💭 T H O U G H T S

There are times when the perfect book falls into your hands at exactly the right time, and that is exactly what happened to me with The Wishing Game. I was in need of a feel-good, warmhearted, and fun book, and that is exactly what I got! I picked this book up while my nieces and nephews were here for the week, yet I instantly knew it was the type of book that needed my undivided attention. So, I set it aside until I could do just that, and then devoured it.

From very early on this story gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes. There is sufficient character development in order for each unique one to worm their way into my heart, especially the ever-grumpy Hugo. The special bond between Lucy and Christopher made me smile.
Yes, aspects of their relationship were unrealistic when you take into consideration legal aspects of teacher/student relationships, yet I was unable to suspend my belief on this manner. I love Jack was an author and the concept of the puzzles and riddles was just so much fun. Clock Island was such a magical place and I cannot blame Lucy for wanting to escape real life to live there.

Jack and Hugo

The Wishing Game is a beautiful reminder of the healing power of books. With themes of courage and found family, it's one of those book I'll remember for years to come. I wouldn't say fantasy is a genre I gravitate towards, and despite being fairly predictable, this novel had just the right fantastical elements to capture my heart. Perfect for all ages, it's highly likely it will be making an appearance on my 2023 Favourites list comes years end.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• T.J. Klune enthusiasts
• fans of the found family trope
• readers in need of a feel-good story

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The stories write us, you see. We read something that moves us, touches us, speaks to us, and it…it changes us."

"Sometimes the thing we want most in the world is the thing we’re most afraid of. And the thing we’re most afraid of is often the thing we most want."

"When you gotta scream, you gotta scream." 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Terminal illness, Child death, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Cancer

foster care, adoption

sydoodle's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

This is one of my favorite books of all time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Medical content

kitausu's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book had me crying by page 16 and kept me emotional throughout the entire thing. What an absolute lovely gut punch of a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, and Medical content

kwaterlander's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Overall this was a super fun read. It was heart-warming and a nice change of pace for me. I enjoyed the slight mystery and never felt like anyone was in serious danger. It touches on some heavy topics. I think it could have benefited from being a little bit longer to flesh out the main plot and some of the side characters. 
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be following this author for more.

The main characters aren’t very diverse, in my opinion. There are some minor side characters mentioned that add to the diversity, but not much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Death

Minor: Child death, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts