When You Wish by Barbara Venkataraman
Five Fortunes Book 2
Publisher: Next Chapter
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), LGBTQ, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeWhen Megan, Rihanna, Abby, Alison and Lori wish on a shooting star, they learn that what you want isn’t always what you need. The close-knit group of friends must each navigate their own journey of self-discovery, joy and sadness, mishaps and misunderstandings. With the help of good friends and a pinch of moxie, will they find their way?
Rihanna has a new set of problems to solve when her aunt moves in, while Lori must convince her parents to fulfill her heart’s desire. Megan fights for independence from a life that is stifling her and Abby struggles through a grueling year that promises a rewarding summer. Meanwhile, Alison is keeping a secret from the people she loves.
Rescue puppies, secret romance, teenage fashion influencers and helicopter parents make Barbara Venkataraman’s WHEN YOU WISH a fun story you won’t soon forget.
Life is full of surprises.
The romantic subplot blended in perfectly to everything else that was going on. If Ms. Venkataraman writes more about these characters someday, I would be thrilled to see where this romance goes. That is something I’m saying as a reader who only occasionally visits that genre but who absolutely adored the sweet and charming young ladies involved in this particular relationship. Bravo!
As I mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, I once again found myself wishing that there were either fewer protagonists or that this could be expanded into a full-length novel so that I could have more time to get to know all five main characters. There simply wasn’t enough space here for the character development I was hoping to see, and this is something I’m saying as someone who loved what I did get to see of Megan, Rihanna, Abby, Alison, and Lori’s lives. With that being said, I was a little more satisfied this time around, so fingers crossed that will continue in the future.
Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that captured the emotional highs and lows of being a teenage girl ranging from how quickly friendships can change when someone is this age to the serious family matters some teens quietly deal with and don’t necessarily share with their friends. Reading this honestly made me feel like I was back in high school again!
This is something I’d recommend reading in chronological order for plot and development reasons.
When You Wish was a heartwarming and engaging read.
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