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The Art of Wishing (The Art of Wishing #1)

by Lindsay Ribar (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 432 ratings · 125 reviews

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Olive...more

Hardcover, 314 pages

Published March 21st 2013 by Dial Books For Young Readers

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2013 Debut Authors of Young Adult & Middle Grade

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2013 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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Apr 01, 2013 Ginny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-da-challenge, 2013-debut-author, arc, e-book, nook, secret-shock-tag, genie

What is my Favorite Book of 2013 so far? Oh just this one! And you can find the full on review here

Why did The Art of Wishing grab my attention so quickly? One word: GENIE. Seriously, I cannot think of a YA book in which a genie is the lead. (If there is another, please share it with me!) And it doesn't hurt that the genie is a boy! Needless to say, I was quite excited to begin this book.

And I started reading...

And kept reading....

And suddenly I realized I needed some sleep. So I slept for 3 ho...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2013 Pixie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-releases, hotdamn-cover-love, netgalley, arc, firstreads-giveaways

The Art of Wishing could very well be one of my favorites so far this year. And possibly, one of the most memorable books I’ve read in some time.

To say that it was flawless would be a lie, because it did have its minor flaws--like a bit of an insta-love romance which on this rare occasion I found myself glossing over, and just genuinely enjoying this entertaining and refreshing story beyond that. The characters set this one a part from many of the reads I’ve picked up the last few months…its qu...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

As often happens, I really didn't have any expectations going into this book. Based on the cover, it looks like a sweet contemporary with a little magic and music. That seems awesome enough to give the book a chance, so when Steph offered to loan me her ARC, I went for it. Ladies and gentlemen, I made a very good choice. The Art of Wishing gave me so much joy.

At the beginning, we meet Margo as she auditions for the school musical, Sweeney Todd, which is freaking awesome by the way. She dreams of...more As often happens, I really didn't have any expectations going into this book. Based on the cover, it looks like a sweet contemporary with a little magic and music. That seems awesome enough to give the book a chance, so when Steph offered to loan me her ARC, I went for it. Ladies and gentlemen, I made a very good choice. The Art of Wishing gave me so much joy.

At the beginning, we meet Margo as she auditions for the school musical, Sweeney Todd, which is freaking awesome by the way. She dreams of being Mrs. Lovett, and she knows she has the talent for it. This play and part have always been amongst her favorites, and, finally, she's a senior and deserving of a starring role. Imagine her frustrated surprise when some sophomore gets cast as Mrs. Lovett instead, leaving her to play Toby.

Margo does not take this well, but who would, really? Vicky Willoughbee, part-stealer, isn't even any good, though everyone else sure seems to think that she is the next coming of Patti LuPone. Margo has this wonderfully bratty sense of entitlement that totally fits with how I know I felt as a teen. I just deserved certain things and was not well-pleased when I didn't get them. Though Margo throws herself into her own part, and does masterfully, everyone can still sense her displeasure, much as she tries to hide it. Oh, theater drama, how I love reading about you.

I just loved Margo. She has such wonderfully snarky narration, at least in her head. Like me and Julia from Meant to Be, she doesn't necessarily do well with the quips in pressure situations, such as when her crush speaks to her. I especially loved that when Simon, a hot, Asian, theatrical bit of deliciousness that she was crushing on, talked to her, her nervousness came out as disinterest rather than awkward flirting. That's not something I've really seen happen in a book before, but that is totally how I roll.

Anyway, the tenacious Margo certainly will not just give up. She finds out what's going on, namely that Vicky got a wish from Oliver, heretofore a largely ignored annoyance, only averagely cute, taking an abundance of photos for the yearbook. Wait, what? Oh yeah, turns out Oliver is a genie. We're all surprised to find they're not blue with the vocal stylings of Robin Williams.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about the whole genie thing initially, but Ribar did an amazing job of coming up with her own lore and really convincing me. I really don't have a single criticism about this part, and I really appreciated that, for the most part, it didn't feel heavily paranormal, but more like a contemporary novel in a world with a little more magic. Also, I love that the cover completely conveys this book, though, let me warn you, the book is not as fluffy as the cover suggests. There are a few disturbing scenes.

Most of the characters do take a back seat characterization-wise, because they're just not in the book much. Margo, Oliver, and to a lesser degree, Margo's best friend Naomi, are well-developed though. I want to talk about Naomi just a little bit. Naomi, as happens in a lot of YA novels, is the braver, more popular friend. Unlike what usually is the case though, Margo does not begrudge her for that or envy Naomi for her popularity in the slightest. She likes taking the backseat and not having as many friends. She's not an especially social person and she has no problem with that about herself. An introvert who acts like an introvert! Yay! Also, even better, Naomi, unlike some of the shinier friends, always has Margo's best interests at heart. Though I don't get to see as much of Naomi as I would have liked, I got the sense that they had a true friendship.

As with the best friend, with Oliver Ribar did a good job consciously avoiding some YA tropes. First off, I loved that initially, she hardly noticed him and that he wasn't the kind of guy that attracted tons of female attention. He is also younger than she is (at least right now), which I haven't seen happen much. Once they really meet, though, they develop this delightful banter, which just made my heart happy. They established a real connection, which made their instalove, which, yes, sadly does appear, less annoying than it otherwise might have been. However, what I really love their relationship is that Margo made pretty much all of the first moves and was sort of leading the relationship, that she definitely was bothered by some things (a logical reaction) rather than just accepting everything like it was easy, and that she never got jealous that Oliver had a past. Margo avoided so many of the heroine pitfalls and I wanted to fistbump Lindsay Ribar every time.

Unfortunately, I do feel that a whole lot of plot threads got dropped along the way. As I mentioned, I loved that the book was set around a production of the high school musical, so I really wish that the actual performance had been included. The same goes for Naomi. Margo and Naomi were having a fight, and that never got resolved. Vicky never gets any sort of resolution either. I just feel like these things could all have been tied up a bit better, though it would be tricky with the ending as is. Speaking of which, I'm not a huge fan with the direction the book went in; I'd had a couple different theories for how the book might conclude, and, sadly, I liked them better than how Ribar did choose to close the novel.

While The Art of Wishing may not be quite a perfect book, I want everyone to know that if I only factored how much I enjoyed the book into my rating, then it would be a 5, no question. As it is, I will still be telling everybody that they should read this book, since it is adorable and a half, with a bonus of pop culture references, including The Princess Bride. I know I'll need to be getting my own copy when it comes out in March.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Nov 14, 2012 Jessica-Robyn marked it as to-read

Shelves: debut, young-adult, series-book-1, fantasy, standalone-novels, pov-female

Premeditating: It has been so long since I've seen a story about genies. I remember a time back in the days of Aladdin where they would just randomly pop up in various cartoons and picture books! It'll definitely be interesting to see what can be done with them in YA.

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fantasy, read-in-2013

The Art of Wishing will have you believing in magic, and cheering for love.

Aw, this was such a charming story! I don't remember reading a book with a genie before, but I'm so happy this is my first. The story really managed to capture my attention right away. It doesn't hurt that the cover is beyond gorgeous, and the whimsy truly fits the story. The story flowed at such a nice, brisk pace that I found myself flying through the pages. There were so many questions: What would Margo wish for? Woul...more The Art of Wishing will have you believing in magic, and cheering for love.

Aw, this was such a charming story! I don't remember reading a book with a genie before, but I'm so happy this is my first. The story really managed to capture my attention right away. It doesn't hurt that the cover is beyond gorgeous, and the whimsy truly fits the story. The story flowed at such a nice, brisk pace that I found myself flying through the pages. There were so many questions: What would Margo wish for? Would getting her wishes granted truly make her happy? What happens when a human girl falls for a genie? And who the heck is this madman after Oliver? I had fun discovering the answers one by one. I think that is why I enjoyed The Art of Wishing so much, it was a truly fun, charming fantasy.

Margo and Oliver were the sweetest leading characters. Margo is a high school senior who is feeling left out in her own family, but finds happiness in singing, performing in the school play, and hanging out with her best friend. She had such a sweet air about her that really endeared her to me. She wasn't saccharine sweet, but you can just tell that Margo is a great kid. Oh, Oliver....what is it with book boys named Oliver being so great? Oliver is a genie, with the appearance of a high school boy, who has gone from master to master for centuries, granting wishes and moving on. He was such a charming guy, who was genuine and caring towards Margo. Being a genie would seem to be fun, but Oliver has carried on an existence bound to the whims of his masters. They've made him grant trivial wishes, fun wishes, cruel wishes, murderous wishes. He's gotten involved with a few of his masters, but none like Margo. I loved the banter between the two, and have to say, that was my favorite aspect to The Art of Wishing.

The only part of the story that didn't completely win me over was the end. I actually really liked the end. Things did not go the way I had expected, and it was a pleasant surprise. The issue was What Happens Next? It sort of just ended at a pivotal moment, and I was left hanging. It wasn't until I read the Acknowledgements that I learned this book was the start of a trilogy. That helped me feel content, for now. I can't wait to see what happens next!
(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 J.J. Howard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Such an enjoyable read! This book is also my book's twin because of Neko Case and waffles. In all seriousness, I loved these characters, and I did not expect that ending (in a good way). The acknowledgements said something about a sequel: I'm in.

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2012 Carmen marked it as to-read

Shelves: dying-to-read

OH. MY. GOD. THE. COVER. I LOVE IT. EEEEEKKK, now that just makes me want this book more than EVER. (Come faster 2013.)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWANTTHISBOOK. I. WANT. IT. NOW.

It reminds me of As You Wish by Jackson Pearce with a dark twist- I WANT IT NOW.

*sniffs*

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Jun 06, 2013 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ok, honestly I first picked up this book because I saw that this was a paranormal romance with a genie and I have honestly never seen anything like that before. I thought it would be among the thousands of sappy young adult paranormal romance books that don't really have a plot and make me want to slap the main characters. I was wrong.

This book was fantastic! Lindsay Ribar did so many amazing things with that once I picked it up I could not put it down. I finished it in less than a day.

So a litt...more Ok, honestly I first picked up this book because I saw that this was a paranormal romance with a genie and I have honestly never seen anything like that before. I thought it would be among the thousands of sappy young adult paranormal romance books that don't really have a plot and make me want to slap the main characters. I was wrong.

This book was fantastic! Lindsay Ribar did so many amazing things with that once I picked it up I could not put it down. I finished it in less than a day.

So a little about the book. The book revolves around Margo, a senior who is trying out for her school musical. She is a sure in for the lead, but the role goes to someone else. Margo is furious and can't understand why this other girl (Vicky) was given the role. Suddenly Margo finds herself in possession of a magical ring that makes her the master of a genie (who turns out to be a boy in her school: Oliver). She has three wishes to make, but she will have to make them fast. Oliver itching to leave town, someone is after him, and they want him dead.

So why do I love this book, first of all I loved Margo as a character, she was really likable, but also had her flaws. She was very upset with not getting the lead role, but I felt like she acted like a teenager would. In other words, I felt like she was a real person. I also really liked Oliver. I was a little skeptical about how Ribar was going to pull off the whole genie thing, but she did it really well. Her mythology surrounding the world of genies is one of the things I loved most about this book. I thought it was generally unique and had a really interesting spin. So much so that I found myself dying for Oliver to reveal more information about his past and the history of genies. However, the rate that Ribar had Oliver deliver information worked really well. She kept giving us just a little at a time, enough to keep the reader interested, but not too much so they feel they know all there is to know in the beginning. (view spoiler)

Other things I loved about the book included the villain, who was a really interesting character. I loved that his reasons for being a bad guy were not just something black and white, that there was some layers to it. I also liked that he did not think himself evil, but that he was generally doing the right thing.

I would definitely recommend this book, the ending did not end the way I wanted it to, but it was an interesting twist that left the book just open enough for a possible sequel. Great book, great idea, this is a definite read.(less)

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May 27, 2013 Suzanne Musin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, hermes

Sigh. I really wanted to like this. It was enjoyable until about two-thirds of the way, and then a plot twist with the antagonist made everything we'd been pacing ourselves and hoping for ruined. I don't need a book to be predictable but don't make me care about plot points that soon become irrelevant.

Even worse was the ending, so abrupt and vague. Um, what about her parents? What about everyone else in her world? Seriously, this is the end, with no explanation of what comes next, and we're supp...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 27, 2013 Shoshana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, young-adult, netgalley

3.5 rounded up because no love triangle, and GENIES! Which is new! For now. Until they become The New Paranormal Hottie.

Margo's narrative voice in The Art of Wishing made the book so terrific, in my opinion. She's a great heroine: straight-talking, funny, not stupid or wishy-washy in the least. She's on an even playing ground with everyone else: the characters come off as believable people, and not cardboard stand-ins. Sure, there are some I would have liked to see more of - Naomi's a bit of a...more

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Apr 19, 2013 kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya

I picked this up and didn't look it up on GR before reading. I had intended to give this book a five, solid five . . . until I read the afterword in which the author says special thanks to someone for "that one Inccredibly Frustrating Comment, which instantly turned this story from a stand-alone into a trilogy."
So, I am left disappointed.
I liked this book from the start. Tight writing, fast-moving plot, lots of action, super-natural rules make sense. All in all a fun read.
Except it should have...more I picked this up and didn't look it up on GR before reading. I had intended to give this book a five, solid five . . . until I read the afterword in which the author says special thanks to someone for "that one Inccredibly Frustrating Comment, which instantly turned this story from a stand-alone into a trilogy."
So, I am left disappointed.
I liked this book from the start. Tight writing, fast-moving plot, lots of action, super-natural rules make sense. All in all a fun read.
Except it should have been wrapped up in one book. When there were only ten pages to go I started to wonder how she was going to pull all the threads together, but I held out hope that it would happen.
So, again, I'm disappointed.
The character of Margo is intelligent, level-headed and not one to take chances or break out of her careful existence. Then, along come Oliver, a genie, and within a short time, everything is changing. I liked how she changed and the development of their friendship/relationship. This isn't insta-love which is refreshing.
This is a page-turner that hooks you in and the pace picks up as the story goes along. It is very well-done.
Still, I'm disappointed.
I wanted to enjoy this one book, get the full story of these two and in the future see what else this author might have to offer as I very much enjoyed her writing. Instead there will be more of these two. If it follows what seems to be the YA paranormal arc these days, then Margo and Oliver will for whatever reason be separated in the next book,(view spoiler) bringing in some stand-in love interest, and the third book will be their reunion and final resolution. I hope I'm wrong, but that seems to be the basic formula and from this ending I can't see any way that this won't be happening.
Not that I won't (hopefully) enjoy reading them, but gosh, I'm tired of every story now being a series. There is one series (not YA)that I've been awaiting the rest of the story now for more than twenty years and what will soon be the eighth book. Enough already with the series.
So, was this one great book, it would definitely be five stars, but since it is only the first of a series, sorry, but it gets a four.
If the entire series ends up showing me something new and different and I can see why it needed to be stretched out to three books instead of one, then I will gladly return later and update this review.(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Not your typical tale of a genie in a bottle. A contemporary tale of magic, music, and wishes.

Opening Sentence: The plan was this: I’d get up on that stage, blow them away with the best damn audition they’d ever seen, and walk out knowing the part I wanted was mine.

The Review:

Genies and kissing. That’s what was said to me when I first heard about Lindsay Ribar’s The Art of Wishing. In this wonderful story mixed with equal parts fantasy and...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, fantasy

Though I love to read, I find my mind often wanders. I usually take frequent short breaks to play around on the internet, talk to people or even see what's on television. It's like I have literary ADD. Once in a while, however, I find myself reading a book straight through. This was one of those times.

Both Margo and Oliver, the two main characters, are likable and engaging. While Margo had some minor flaws, she is essentially a good person trying to do her best in life. Oliver could be accused...more Though I love to read, I find my mind often wanders. I usually take frequent short breaks to play around on the internet, talk to people or even see what's on television. It's like I have literary ADD. Once in a while, however, I find myself reading a book straight through. This was one of those times.

Both Margo and Oliver, the two main characters, are likable and engaging. While Margo had some minor flaws, she is essentially a good person trying to do her best in life. Oliver could be accused of being too-perfect but, as a genie, he doesn't really have the freedom to be entirely himself while in the service of another. He has found that life is more pleasant if he shapes himself into a person that will be liked by and will like his master. In a way, like Margo, he's trying to make the best out of his situation. I appreciated that he wasn't a tortured soul, woe-is-me-ing all over the place. He's just living his life, trying to do his job well, enjoying his gifts and the joy they can bring others. That's not to say there hasn't been dark points in his life. However, ups and downs come with living a full life. I like that he refuses to wallow in pain, always looking forward to the next "master" as an opportunity or adventure.

The plot was a nice balance of light and fun while having enough tension to keep the reader turning pages to see what comes next. The budding romance was sweet and innocent, never moving into the realm all-encompassing obsession and destiny. Margo is stressed by the seriousness of Oliver's situation and, at times, secretly wishes the mess (including Oliver) had never entered her life. And Oliver, having plenty of experience reading people's wishes, understands that people are complicated and can want two completely different things at the same time. I thought that was lovely.

Less lovely is Oliver's nemesis from the past, Xavier. I have mixed feelings here. Ribar was definitely going for a baddie that was appropriately menacing while also having some depth. I appreciate this but think that it took too long to introduce Xavier and his motives. There was too much telling and not enough showing. Too much of what we know about the villain comes from monologues and exposition. I found Xavier's very last interaction with Oliver to be compelling but, unfortunately, it came too late in the story. Overall, Xavier is more confusing than compelling and that's a shame because I really liked what she was trying to do with him.

My only other complaint is one the whole immortal man falls for teenage girl thing. Ribar sort of addresses this, even having Margo freak-out when she discovers that Oliver is actually a couple hundred years old. Margo mocks this trope rather humorously, horrified to be one of "those girls." I feel like you can't have it both ways. Either it's gross or it isn't. Margo is eighteen and technically an adult. However, she often acts much younger and is clearly not an experienced independent woman. She's got issues because her mom recently got remarried (to Margo's own father) and doesn't give her enough attention anymore. So why would a two hundred year old man fall in love with an immature teenager? Thank goodness the answer isn't "destiny." It's apparently because Margo is just a really great girl. Okay. I still think it's a little odd, but not flat out disgusting so I'll give it a pass. I'm sure it won't bother the intended audience at all.

Aside from some minor issues, The Art of Wishing is a fresh, fun read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes their supernatural romances light and charming. I look forward to more from Ribar.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who are sick of Twilight-esque "Twu Wuv" stories

I got a chance to read The Art of Wishing ahead of time, in the form of a galley. You had my attention at 'genie', but I ended up loving this book because it inverts everything I've come to expect from YA paranormal romance.

In the vaguest terms possible, to avoid spoilers:

Margo isn't defined by her relationship with Oliver-- or her relationship with any guy, for that matter. She's got her own life, her own interests, her own problems, all of which are so much at the forefront of her mind that th...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

What immediately came to mind as I was reading this was The Catastrophic History of You and Me. Don’t ask me why, but that’s was the first read’s like impression that I had. Like the latter, this was funny without trying too hard. And it never lost that funny feel either.

Now, from the get, we’ve a girl who knows what she wants and does what she has to. Later reveals have that that’s not quite the case, because there’s a sad bit to her, a sadness that’s reluctantly shared. But what’s good about...more What immediately came to mind as I was reading this was The Catastrophic History of You and Me. Don’t ask me why, but that’s was the first read’s like impression that I had. Like the latter, this was funny without trying too hard. And it never lost that funny feel either.

Now, from the get, we’ve a girl who knows what she wants and does what she has to. Later reveals have that that’s not quite the case, because there’s a sad bit to her, a sadness that’s reluctantly shared. But what’s good about this story is how that sad bit doesn’t drown the fun out. Of course there’s the magical aspect and how it comes into her life: that was funny. I like the doubt she expressed over certain things, and how she had to talk herself through and out of things. Then that bit about her not getting what she wanted, it’s not easy all the time in this one. I liked more, the earnest way Oliver came across. The boy felt like a boy; not an older dude, all suave and worldly-wise.

Sure, there’s the inevitable love thing and how it developed, but it’s a sweet development here. Now, the thing I loved about this is how it’s not too serious. I mean, genies and wishes, then best friends and goals and crushes and kissing, right? It’s sweet fluffy fun.

Anyway, the characters. See, I love how she compares herself to all those other YA leads, how she doesn’t want to be that girl going all swoony and weak kneed for the age old dude in a lot of YA’s. And like her, he’s not a standard YA character either… not broody, nor mysterious because he lays everything out there for her. And while the love development is not unexpected, it’s a sweet one… because it makes sense. They fit, she plans things, sets goals and lays things out things; and he tries to get things done and is upfront about what can and cannot be done.

Then complications of the magical sort arise and I liked that bit too if only because it offered some more about who Oliver is and what he could do.

Fun!
(less)

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Mar 21, 2013 Audrey Wilkerson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: takecontroltbr13, 2013-books-read, books-reviewed

Rating: 3

The Low Down: Margo McKenna is super pumped. The tryouts for the school musical are today, and she knows that she’s going to kill it. After her audition, everyone is so happy with her performance. She knows she will get to play the part of Mrs. Lovett, the female lead in Sweeney Todd. When the results are posted, however, she’s in for a shock: some sophomore that she’s never heard of gets Mrs. Lovett, and she is stuck in the part of Tobias Rigg, a character who only has two songs and is...more

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May 29, 2013 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-favorites, awesome, best-characters, made-me-smile, so-fluffy-am-gonna-die, unique

This book was really, really good.
At first, I hesitated before buying this book. I was afraid that it'll contain a lot of teenage angst, drama, and cheese, lots and lots of cheese. And I do not have a high tolerance for that stuff.
Turns out, I was wrong.
This book was light and truly awesome, so awesome that I finished it in a day. The plot was unpredictable and I enjoyed every second of it immensely.
Another reason liked this book was because the MC was real. I mean, she behaved like a real huma...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Wendy C rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Art of Wishing was a wonderful YA read. Margo is a Senior in High School and she is trying out for the lead in her school play. Margo is really good so she thinks she has it in the bag. Well, you find out that the lead in the play goes to a sophomore, Vicky Willoughbe. Vicky does not get the lead because she can sing or act well, but because she makes a wish. It ends up that a fellow classmate, Oliver, is a Genie. Vicky gets mad at Oliver because she feels he messed up her wish so she leaves...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Britt☮ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal, ya, kindle, read-2013, awaiting-sequel

"You mean I'm not blue and I don't sound like Robin Williams?"

I absolutely ADORED this book. The Art of Wishing is a refreshingly creative take on the YA paranormal genre — not vampires or werewolves or witches or even ghosts, but genies! Seriously, GENIES! I was immediately intrigued by the premise, but I almost put off reading it when I realized it was the first book of a trilogy. I didn't want to fall in love with it and then have it end on some crazy cliffhanger and have to wait years for th...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

The Art of Wishing is unlike anything i've read before. The only thing genie-related that I have experienced would be Aladdin as a child, and Oliver is definitely unlike any other genie i've ever heard of before. He dosen't live in a bottle, and dosen't ride a magic carpet, instead he appears to be a completely normal 16 year old boy.

Margo finds a ring in the bathroom during play rehersal, that ultimately turns her world upside down. She's told she can make three wishes, by a fellow student Oli...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dft, contemporary, fantasy, fiction, read-2013, young-adult

Posted on Dark Faerie Tales.

Genies and kissing. That’s what was said to me when I first heard about Lindsay Ribar’s The Art of Wishing. In this wonderful story mixed with equal parts fantasy and contemporary, I was first lured to the cover. The font used was whimsical enough to draw me in, allowing me to stay with the sweet images used everywhere else. I really gravitated towards the byline “He can grant all her wishes. But only she can save his life.” I detected swoon instantaneously. And let m...more Posted on Dark Faerie Tales.

Genies and kissing. That’s what was said to me when I first heard about Lindsay Ribar’s The Art of Wishing. In this wonderful story mixed with equal parts fantasy and contemporary, I was first lured to the cover. The font used was whimsical enough to draw me in, allowing me to stay with the sweet images used everywhere else. I really gravitated towards the byline “He can grant all her wishes. But only she can save his life.” I detected swoon instantaneously. And let me tell you, Ribar did not disappoint.

Margo McKenna has dreams and plans. First off she plans to have an amazing audition to get the star lead that she wanted. But nothing goes as planned and finds herself with a genie’s ring. With all the wishes in the world, Margo now has the tool to fulfill her dreams and carry out her plans. But Oliver isn’t an ordinary genie. The relationship that forms is close and tight-knit, enough so that he reveals he’s on the run from someone who will harm him. As Margo and Oliver’s relationship grows, she realizes that there aren’t enough wishes to save him.

Margo is not your average teenager. She has plans and is serious about carrying them out. Margo is musically talented and writes songs behind her closed bedroom door. Her parents were together, then not, and just recently remarried. She misses her mom and how things were be. Margo is a normal girl who tries to plan her life so she isn’t disappointed. And what’s surprising about her? She loves music. The thing that could be different from her organized preferences, music is emotional and deep, flowing lyrically without real structure.

Oliver has a special place in my heart. An unconventional genie, he has an old soul. Sure, he has history and years of experience, but when I first met him he seemed young. Young enough to be a high school sophomore. He was written well, along with the lore that he belongs to. I liked who Oliver represented and what he could be, but also for what he wasn’t. He wasn’t a brooding love interest. Nor was he this obstacle for Margo. Oliver complimented her and I appreciated that.

I really enjoyed The Art of Wishing.The story felt easy to read, but had enough depth to keep me interested throughout the whole story. I loved the characters, and there was enough diversity to make it interesting, but not too much where it seemed like I had to take notes on who they were. I wanted to live in Ribar’s world. I wanted to live in this world where genie’s were modern and a part of the 21st century. I wanted to be a part of this world where it was okay to believe in magic and still look things up on the internet.

I thought that the story moved beautifully, never lingering on one moment but also not too quickly where I had to look back. I really appreciated that there wasn’t an easy romance but also that there wasn’t this huge obstacle where the story was filled with angst. It was realistic, even if there were fantasy elements. I loved how there was a twist and a surprise ending. To be honest, I didn’t see it coming, but only because I was happily living in the moment of Margo and Oliver. I read each page and each word, taking in the moments where an old soul and a young teen enjoyed each other.

I didn't expect to love The Art of Wishing so much. The characters were well-rounded and their personalities were fun and easy to connect with. The plot had substance, and it was clear where Ribar wanted to go. And lastly, the ending. Oh my the ending! I suggest you pick it up and wish for something yourself.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Casey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-reads, reviewed

I feel fortunate that I was able to read this book so early, and so I'll give a really brief review noting some of my favorite abstract-ish things about it, so that you too can be really excited to pick it up when it comes out.

First, particularly in YA and urban fantasy in which we see so many vampires and werewolves and fairies (not that I don't LIKE these things, but we have seen a lot of them), I am really appreciative of more original or rare mythologies. Having a genie as the "monster boyfr...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Purcheria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-on-my-e-reader, netgalley-arc, djinn, paranormal, romance

2.5 - 3 stars

Let me start off by saying that this was an Uncorrected Proof ARC provided by Netgalley. And as such I don't know if there will be any changes.

Okay, on to the review. Honestly speaking, this book was okay. The premise was a good one but story failed to grab me. And truth be told I was bored at times. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't bad per se, it's just that there were certain aspects of the story that felt a bit forced. Like the romance. For me, it did not seem believable. I do...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Rachmi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

3.5 stars

Be careful of what you wish for, that was what I learnt after spending my childhood reading Goosebumps series by R.L Stine. Having a genie whose can make my wish come true sounds great, awesome and powerful. If there is such a thing like genie, I bet everyone would love to have their own genie. But, as I learnt from Goosebumps and I dream of Genie TV series wishes never as simple as what we thought first. That's what Margo learnt after she has her own genie, Oliver Parish. She is a stra...more

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May 27, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever dreamed of having a genie grant you three wishes? Do you know what those wishes might be? When Margo McKenna does not get the lead in the school play, she can’t believe it. The lead went to Vicky! A talentless sophomore! Margo is given a small part and is not happy. When she finds a ring in the girls bathroom, things begin to change. When she picks up the ring, a genie appears. Oliver looks nothing like the genies we may imagine. He looks like a regular kid. But he tells her that V...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Kelly Sierra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2013, crime, forbidden-love, magic, romance, super-human

The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar is a play on the old time genie myths. Not only is the myth touched upon but also dealing with high school, wishes that have come true (but you’d rather they hadn’t) and love. Margo McKenna is a junior in high school. She is hoping to get the lead in the school production of Sweeny Todd (excellent choice; however, I see this unlikely to happen in any high school I’ve worked/went/ been into), and she is also dealing with her parents reunion (after being divorce...more The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar is a play on the old time genie myths. Not only is the myth touched upon but also dealing with high school, wishes that have come true (but you’d rather they hadn’t) and love. Margo McKenna is a junior in high school. She is hoping to get the lead in the school production of Sweeny Todd (excellent choice; however, I see this unlikely to happen in any high school I’ve worked/went/ been into), and she is also dealing with her parents reunion (after being divorced for 10 years, see: wishes that have come true…) Margo is not in a bad spot, well that is until some quite sophomore, Vicky, gets the role of Margo’s dreams (Junior dreams).

Enter Oliver. At first Oliver is introduced as a sophomore photographer for the yearbook. He enters the story about the same time that Vicky does, suspicious… I think so. “Right from day one, Oliver Parish came to almost every single rehearsal. Whether we were learning songs, blocking scenes, or just talking things through, there he was.” At some point Vicky realizes that wishing is an art (I know!) and that all wishes do not turn out the way we hoped. Wishes turn out the way we imagine them to, except that we never think of the complexity and intricacies that we overlook in the bigger picture. We don’t think about how we will feel in that moment, just how we feel wishing for it. When Vicky turns her back on Oliver and the ring of wishes, Margo is there and she picks the ring up resulting in an adventure Margo didn’t realize she needed.

The rest of the story is witty, romantic, surprisingly deep and dangerous. Margo must find a way to help Oliver, even if he believes he’s a lost cause. In turn, Oliver will help Margo in ways she did not realize she needed help. My favorite part of the book where Oliver and Margo interact is as follows: ““...Oh God. I'm one of those girls." "What girls?" he asked, perplexed. "Those girls. The ones in all those books and TV shows. Some dumb high school girl falls in love with some supernatural guy, and he's all, 'Behold, I am five million years old!' and she's all, 'Oh my god, how can you ever love pathetic little me!' and he's like, 'Because of destiny!' or whatever. It's just so...ew. You know?” I definitely enjoyed that Margo occasionally pointed it out things of this nature in the book.

I give this book a 4/5 based on humor and originality. Thanks Net Galley!
(less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Max rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG!! GENIES?? YES!! hahaha... That is pretty rare. This sounds AWESOME!

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Jul 25, 2012 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books, ya-zomg-awesome

This book had me at "genies." Seriously -- genies! There's a glut of vampires, werewolves, etc. in the realm of "monster boyfriend" in paranormal romance, but genies isn't something I've seen before. I liked that not only was it an original hook, but as a reader I could latch onto the WHAT WILL SHE WISH FOR/WHAT WOULD I WISH FOR? 'wish fulfillment' aspect.

The Art of Wishing was a quick, engaging read -- I had "can't-put-it-down-itis" and finished it in less than two days (with pesky breaks for...more This book had me at "genies." Seriously -- genies! There's a glut of vampires, werewolves, etc. in the realm of "monster boyfriend" in paranormal romance, but genies isn't something I've seen before. I liked that not only was it an original hook, but as a reader I could latch onto the WHAT WILL SHE WISH FOR/WHAT WOULD I WISH FOR? 'wish fulfillment' aspect.

The Art of Wishing was a quick, engaging read -- I had "can't-put-it-down-itis" and finished it in less than two days (with pesky breaks for "work" and "eating" inbetween!). I love Lindsay's writing style -- she's very funny, and also is able to create vivid imagery and characterization that pops. Some things I loved, without being too spoilery:

-- that we get very little physical description of Margo, beyond what is necessary for the story (ie: we know she's kind of tomboyish, in relation to a plot point). She didn't have "Ridiculously Gorgeous Main Character" syndrome.
-- that the potential high school antagonist isn't one dimensional. She makes life a little difficult for our main character, but as the book progresses, she is fully fleshed out into a dynamic, sympathetic character.
-- that the MC's crush object is Chinese-American. Yay diversity!
-- that a major character (won't say who to avoid spoilers) is bisexual. And it's totally not a big deal.
-- that Lindsay isn't afraid to torture her characters. In a good way! I had several "OMG I WOULD DIE IF THAT HAPPENED TO ME" moments. I thought there was fantastic narrative tension -- it didn't feel like bog-standard "mid-book teen drama" stuff.
-- that the book isn't afraid to go dark. Being a genie is not all sunshine and daisies, and there are hints that book two could go to some pretty creepy places (which I like).

There's more, but it's hard to discuss without spoilers! I definitely recommend this if you like paranormal romance but perhaps are a bit petered out on vampires, etc. Or, if you *don't* like paranormal romance, but like funny contemporary YA... and are intrigued by genies.(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Briana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Source: ARC

Review:

[This review contains slight spoilers. It discusses some of the questions Margo raises about her relationship with Oliver.]

The Art of Wishing is a fun story that explores the age-old questions of: What would you do if you had a genie? What would you ask for? The answers here, of course, are not entirely straightforward, which is what makes following Margo’s struggle with them so entertaining. She goes a little deeper than most people world, first questioning genies’ attitudes t...more Source: ARC

Review:

[This review contains slight spoilers. It discusses some of the questions Margo raises about her relationship with Oliver.]

The Art of Wishing is a fun story that explores the age-old questions of: What would you do if you had a genie? What would you ask for? The answers here, of course, are not entirely straightforward, which is what makes following Margo’s struggle with them so entertaining. She goes a little deeper than most people world, first questioning genies’ attitudes towards granting wishes. Is it slavery or something they enjoy? Then she has the problem of deciding what to ask for. Ribar weaves a delicate system of “genie rules” to background her story, and discovering them along with Margo keeps reading interesting.

The writing itself is also engaging. Margo has a fantastically realistic voice, as well as a realistic outlook on life. Through Margo, Ribar manages to poke a bit of fun at the paranormal romance genre in which she has set her debut, as well as fictional romances in general. Are you skeptical that Margo can love a boy she met a week ago? Well, so is Margo.

Although I do find most of Margo’s comments on these subjects both clever and amusing, I hold some reservations. Authors of paranormal romance are noticing some of what many readers see as the major issues of the genre. One, for example, being the huge age difference between the teen girl protagonist and her supernatural love interest. Why would he of so much life experience be interested in her? Margo asks this, too. But—there is not much of an answer. For me, the fact that authors are beginning to raise these issues, imply it is true they are issues, and laugh at them a bit, is not enough. There is a difference between mentioning a problem, saying, “Yeah, you are freakishly older than I am. How weird!” and managing to write a plot or explanation that actually fixes the problem. The Art of Wishing is certainly not alone in this technique, but I would love to see YA authors strive further and actually work some issues out.

Romantic issues aside, the plot is a lot of fun. It is combination fantasy, action, romance, and serious teen issues. Tense moments are followed by touching ones, which are followed by funny ones. I laughed out loud more than once while reading this book. I was also seriously surprised and horrified by some of the plot twists. No obvious foreshadowing or cookie cutter plot here!

Overall, The Art of Wishing is a cute and fun read that takes itself just seriously enough. It is entertaining, but it has a bit of substance to it, as well. A great debut from someone who obviously knows YA writing.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads

4 stars - Fun magic and kissing, what could be better?

Genies? Really. Love that idea. Love the idea of how they come into being. Love how it fits so nicely into a modern and normal life - like they could be there hanging around and I'd never know. The premise is fun and different. The mind reading thing makes things interesting. The bad genie dude is interesting. Just loved the story.

Oliver. Loved him. I can't tell you the things about him that I want to for fear of spoiling things but I love ho...more

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About Lindsay Ribar

Lindsay Ribar grew up in New Jersey, where the only logical thing to do after high school was to move to New York. She majored in drama and English literature at NYU, and now works in book publishing, where she reads other people’s novels by day and writes her own by night. She owns approximately twelve bazillion CD’s, attends far too many concerts, and mainlines nerdy television shows like it’s g...more

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Quotes from The Art of Wishing

“Are you seriously telling me the truth about all this?" I asked.
"I seriously am," he replied. "I was also serious about stealing a fry.” — 7 people liked it

“...Oh God. I'm one of those girls."
"What girls?" he asked, perplexed.
"Those girls. The ones in all those books and TV shows. Some dumb high school girl falls in love with some supernatural guy, and he's all, 'Behold, I am five million years old!' and she's all, 'Oh my god, how can you ever love pathetic little me!' and he's like, 'Because of destiny!' or whatever. It's just so...ew. You know?” — 7 people liked it

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