Book Review: Wish by Alexandra Bullen

WISH BY ALEXANDRA BULLEN

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Point (January 12, 2010)
Language: English

For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.

In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, WISH asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

WISH is about a young girl named Olivia who receives a magical gown with the power to grant her one wish. For Olivia, choosing a wish is easy- she wants her dead twin sister Violet back. With Violet at her side, Olivia feels as if she has a second chance at life again. But getting what you wish for doesn’t always solve all your problems and magic can only take you so far.

With a fun mix of romance, friendship and magic, WISH will appeal to younger teens and fans of modern fairy tales with a twist. I was drawn to the idea of a timid girl given a new chance at life and in that aspect WISH did not disappoint. I loved how the book went beyond the fairytale premise by exploring relationships and delving into honest depictions of love and loss.

While very slow to start, once I got into the novel, I found myself enjoying it and rooting for Olivia as if she was my own friend. In the beginning her overwhelming insecurities and grief made her character somewhat bland to me, but as the novel unfolded I found her growth genuine and thought provoking. I also enjoyed the contrast between Violet’s personality and Olivia’s. The way the two girls interacted and played off one another was touching and endeared their characters even more to me.

Overall, WISH is a heart warming story with a unique premise. What girl wouldn’t love the idea of magical dresses with wish granting abilities? When you read this novel, you can’t help but wonder – what would you wish for?

Purchase Wish HERE.


Wish Official Website

Alexandra Bullen has been a playwright, waitress, barista, gardener, script reader, yoga instructor, and personal assistant. She grew up in Massachusetts, went to college in New York City, and lives most of the year on Martha's Vineyard (except when she's visiting San Francisco). WISH is her first novel.

Alexandra Bullen's blog.