As You Wish

I pretty much adore everything about this novel - so much more than I ever expected. I'm sure there are other books out there about genies but I felt Pearce built a world completely new and original to the YA world. I really enjoyed hearing about the jinn world and all of the complicated rules related to the wishes. The charcters were amazing. Each had their own detailed personality and the emotions were heartfelt. Even the supporting characters were important - there were no filler characters. The relationships between the characters were also so true. I loved reading about Lawrence and Violia's previous history and Viola and Jinn's new relationship. Lawrence and Jinn have to be two of my all-time favorite characters. They added so much to the story and without their personalities, the story would have been nothing. It was told from two POVs - Viola and Jinn - which I normally don't like but it added so much to the story. It gave an insight on how each of them were feeling and thinking about it each, plus Jinn's struggle. Overall, I can't recommend this one enough. Go out and pick up a copy ASAP. I know I'll be buying one. This was reviewed as part of a Traveling to Teens tour.

If you think this book looks cute, you're right--As You Wish is all kinds of adorable. On top of that, it's also funny, insightful, thrilling, and incredibly un-putdownable. Seriously. I finished it in just over a day and I already want to whirl through it again. As You Wish is told in alternating first person narration between Viola and Jinn. While the two viewpoints add more dimension to the story, I couldn't distinguish the two voices from one another. The plot, however, sucked me in so absolutely that I quickly got over this complaint and sat back to enjoy the story. The resulting single voice of Viola's and Jinn's near identical narration is appealing and enjoyable. At the opening of As You Wish, it's been just over seven months since Viola's childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Lawrence, informed Viola that he was gay and broke up with her. While Viola and Lawrence are still close, Viola feels that she's become an "Invisible Girl" since the breakup--with Lawrence, she was special and felt like she belonged. Now, however, Lawrence is invited to parties and Viola gets to hear about them. She feels ignored and out of place and is obsessed with the idea of belonging--how do other people do it? How can she belong again? And then Jinn, a genie, walks into her life, offers her three wishes, and suggests she make them quickly. Jackson Pearce's cast of characters is irresistable--except for a few bad apples, I liked them all instantly. I had fun watching Viola and Jinn fall in love. I was happy when they were happy, and breathless with suspense when they encountered obstacles--I was so invested in the story I was practically biting my fingernails, and I don't usually do that. The ending is satisfying, but not exactly what I expected. As You Wish surprised me to the end. Beyond the plot, the depth of Viola's longing to be a part of the social tapestry around her and her blindness to what she already has adds an emotional angle to the novel that I believe many people, teenagers or not, can identify with. As You Wish is a little book with a lot to say. As far as PG-13 content, I can count the incidents of offensive language on one hand, and while alcohol and promiscuity make a few appearances, there's nothing even close to an R-rated scene, and nothing happens that the average teenager hasn't already read about or seen on TV--As You Wish is refreshingly clean without being unrealistic. As You Wish is a roller coaster ride of laughter, love, and suspense. It's a feel-good novel I couldn't put down, and I highly recommend it.

I REALLY liked this book! A great read that is easy without being simple. Clever and very well written. Can't wait to get read more from this talented author.

Jackson Pearce is a lightning-fast genius, funny, slick, who puts very real teen characters in the midst of a rollicking magical adventure. That's hard to do. When you're reading, the book itself is the jinn, serving up so much wish fulfillment that it rightly earns the AS YOU WISH title. Don't be fooled into thinking that the lightness of the tone or the likeably comic beats of the story imply in any way that Jackson Pearce is a lightweight;JP is nothing if not clever. She's a structural craftsman, she's blazingly good at what she does, and she's here to stay.

Jackson Pearce's first book, As You Wish, has set the bar high! In alternating viewpoints, this book details the story of a teenage girl, Viola, who accidentally summons a genie, Jinn. Jinn must remain on Earth until Viola makes three wishes, and it's only after the first wish when they discover they have feelings for one another. Viola and Jinn are forced to make a choice- if she doesn't make all three wishes, the guardian of the genies will push her to wish by hurting the people she loves. But if she makes her three wishes, Jinn will leave her life forever. This book is full of beautiful details and scenes that will delight even the most reluctant reader. Jackson's vivid imagery makes the characters come alive. The book is great for middle-school age kids and the young at heart. I couldn't put this book down!