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Wish (Wish #1)

3.45 of 5 stars 3.45 · rating details · 2,040 ratings · 349 reviews

If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

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...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by Point

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Feb 18, 2013 Brodie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: failed-ya, guilty-pleasures

OK, so the only reason I bought this book because I found a free legitimate ebook of it and decided to try it. Otherwise, the cover would've driven me away from it and its tacky, girly, glitteryness. The actual book didn't dissapoint. That being said, I didnt have high expectations so...

I mean, it was cute. But that was it. Nothing special, life changing, nothing I'll remember in months to come. Just cute. But if you're a tween looking for something fun and light to read it will be perfect for y...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who don't mind shallow characters and shallow stories

Shelves: covers-i-love, disappointing-books, should-have-loved-it-but-didn-t, 2011-reads, dropped-series

Let it be known that I tried. I really, really, really tried to like this book -- but, alas, it wasn't for me. ~~Confession: I didn't even make it one hundred pages.~~

It's a shame since Wish has such an interesting premise: a girl has lost her sister and is still wading through grief when, miraculously, she is given three wishes through three dresses. I mean, sure, you have to wonder, "Why dresses?" -- but it's still an interesting premise! ~~Yeah, maybe for a fashionista.~~ At the very least, I expecte...more Let it be known that I tried. I really, really, really tried to like this book -- but, alas, it wasn't for me. ~~Confession: I didn't even make it one hundred pages.~~

It's a shame since Wish has such an interesting premise: a girl has lost her sister and is still wading through grief when, miraculously, she is given three wishes through three dresses. I mean, sure, you have to wonder, "Why dresses?" -- but it's still an interesting premise! ~~Yeah, maybe for a fashionista.~~ At the very least, I expected to latch onto the heroine and root for her.

But that didn't happen. Sadly, there was just no spark.

What made the book irksome to me to begin with was the detached way in which the loss and grief were treated. Was I supposed to have Evermore flashbacks because of the way heroine Olivia curled into herself and became a social pariah once her sister died? I understand the kind of grief that works that way, but it gets old fast if there isn't some proper outlet for the reader to understand and empathize with the heroine's grief. Perhaps there should have been flashbacks with Olivia and her sister Violet? That may have worked well since, instead, there was nada.

That's why the wish catalyst -- Olivia's first wish that ends up catapulting her sister back into her life through magical means -- didn't work for me. It seemed forced and formulaic to me, so much a plot device that it was just the end for which the whole beginning of the book was the means. When a book builds up on shallow tendencies and scenes, I just don't have much hope in me that it will rise above the bad habits it set for itself.

I might have trudged through it if the writing had been poetic or meaningful -- but, again, the prose was just okay. Nothing great, nothing stellar, nothing noteworthy. Kinda like an episode of Gossip Girl. Funny, really, since I kept imagining Olivia and her twin sister as Blake Lively. I honestly won't be surprised if this book becomes a movie at some point. Disney would love to work it for the t(w)eenagers.

Wish could gave glittered like gold and shined like the stars -- but, for me, it was just a dull penny. Maybe it will be a penny for somebody else's thoughts, but I think I'd rather just toss it back into the wishing well and hope for better luck next time, thanks.
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Feb 13, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this story and the characters.... but there was nothing that really grabbed me, or made me 'have' to continue reading. The novel started out slow, and usually that's a big enough deterrent for me to set the book down, but there was something about Olivia that kept me reading. Although I did find her naivety annoying at times, she did have her share of personal growth by the end of the novel.

I think perhaps that this novel would appeal more to younger teens. As an "experienced" reader I f...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Robyn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Wish started off pretty good, it was interesting and captured my attention fairly quickly... too bad it didn't hold it for very long. It got to the point where I couldn't stand reading about Olivia any longer. She was whiny, needy, and annoying. She didn't know how to stand up for herself, how to voice her opinions, or how to freakin' speak. When she even bothered speaking her voice was boring and pointless. What Soren even saw in her remains a mystery for me to this day.

I couldn't even finish t...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Saviourofmusic rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: meh

When I first saw this book I thought, "Wow, looks good." The second time I saw it I decided I wanted to read it, so I ordered it along with the sequel, "Wishful Thinking" (that one is actually pretty good). But this book was not good. The first time I read it I was angry because I had expected such a beautiful story but NO. I read it again; maybe I would like it now. NOPE! Why? Well first of all, Olivia. She's the main character who has recently suffered a major tragedy: her twin sister Violet d...more When I first saw this book I thought, "Wow, looks good." The second time I saw it I decided I wanted to read it, so I ordered it along with the sequel, "Wishful Thinking" (that one is actually pretty good). But this book was not good. The first time I read it I was angry because I had expected such a beautiful story but NO. I read it again; maybe I would like it now. NOPE! Why? Well first of all, Olivia. She's the main character who has recently suffered a major tragedy: her twin sister Violet died. But honestly the more I read, the less sympathy I felt for her. She was so whiny and fake. She was passive and annoying. She had no friends. But then, BAM her twin sister Violet comes back as a ghost thanks to a magic dress, and Violet (who is fun and ironically full of life) decides to help Olivia make friends and be popular. She shows her what to wear, and how to have attitude. Cool right? But unrealistic. Like seriously. In class, Violet encourages Olivia to speak "cool" and back talk to her teacher and she makes some lame comment about a character from a story being a lesbian. Everyone laughs and them BOOM Calla and her popular crew decide to make her their new BFF and give her the nickname Madonna (Hard to explain). One comment and a new outfit can make you cool? What? Before no one even talked to her and them suddenly she's popular? That makes no sense. And then Olivia falls in love with Calla's skaterboy BF, Soren. They hang out once and BAM he's madly in love with Olivia instead. Calla finds out and is brokenhearted. Olivia feels "bad" but never apologizes yet Calla forgives her and invites her to a party or something. Like WHAT?! Throughout the story Olivia is made to be the "sad and smart but perfect and desirable" girl, especially when that guy Miles confesses he likes her. And so does Soren. Seriously?! And the moral- I think it was, "Don't take the ones you love for advantage" because Olivia really regrets sending Violet back. But what it really felt like was, "Don't be yourself, be popular and you'll have cool friends and a hot boyfriend." Bad moral, bad! There was a lot that needed work in this story but I think it earns 2 stars for a. Being in San Francisco: the description was amazing and the city was described so beautifully. 2. Magical dresses- oh yeah! Although I would have liked to hear about a bit more magic. That is all.(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Gina (My Precious) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, fantasy

Full review on the blog: My Precious www.thecallawayfam.blogspot.com

Summary: Olivia has suffered a huge loss, she's not only lost her sister, but her twin! After the death of their daughter, Violet, Olivia's parents, Mac and Bridgette relocate the family to a run down house in San Fransisco, California. Once there, Mac busies himself with home remodeling projects and Bridgette burries herself at work. Olivia is left to pick up the piecies. Alone and without anyone to talk to, she struggles to fi...more Full review on the blog: My Precious www.thecallawayfam.blogspot.com

Summary: Olivia has suffered a huge loss, she's not only lost her sister, but her twin! After the death of their daughter, Violet, Olivia's parents, Mac and Bridgette relocate the family to a run down house in San Fransisco, California. Once there, Mac busies himself with home remodeling projects and Bridgette burries herself at work. Olivia is left to pick up the piecies. Alone and without anyone to talk to, she struggles to find her place in a new crowd which is proving to be extremely difficult, since her twin sister, Violet was the outgoing one. One starry night, after a dismal failed attempt at socializing, Olivia finds herself riding in the back of a cab, in a fancy dress. Suddenly over come with sadness, she wishes aloud Violet was still alive. Imagine her surprise when her wish comes true and her dead sister returns as a ghost no one can see but Olivia!

Ramblings: Set in the beautiful bay area city of San Fransisco, the tale of Wish unfolds. In the beginning we find, Olivia who has somehow managed to resurrect her twin sister, Violet, from the dead on a wish granted by a magical dress. Now, with Violet back at her side (even though she's a ghost) Olivia has renewed self confidence. Violet assists her introverted sister with fashion decisions, making friends and even a kindling a new flame with the skate-boarding, hottie, Soren. There is only one small problem, Soren is dating the most popular girl in the school, Calla, a girl Olivia is beginning to become great friends with. So, when Soren suddenly calls it quits with Calla and starts having feelings for Olivia, how in the world are they going to be able to keep it a secret? But, alas, Olivia still has two wishes to make! Bullen has the afinity to pull the reader into the story with her descriptive and playful writing style. The premise, though familiar, has its own uniquness which makes this story special in its own rights. Wish blends together a story about real life teen issues and learning to cope with a death in the family. Its about love, laughter, healing and finally letting go.

Recommendation:

I just adored this book. I was lucky enough to pick this one up for FREE at Amazon.com. I'd strongly recommend it to readers 14 and up. Parents beware, there are some references to underage drinking at parties to contend with, but nothing too over the top. (I don't believe the story would be as real life, if details like these were left out.) Since Soren and Olivia are both involved in most of the story line, boys should appreciate this book as well as girls. Guys, if you don't like to read about romance, don't worry, its present but not overdone in this book. Males will definitely releate to Soren and some of his haphhazard conversations with Olivia as they enter into their relationship. Read this story if you want a fast paced book which keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering how everything is going to play out in the end.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Rings

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Sep 20, 2012 Katja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Olivia arrives in San Francisco after being uprooted from Boston following the tragic death of her twin sister,Violet. Without Violet Olivia feels she hasn't got what it takes on to be part of a social scene. The whole idea of making friends on her own is daunting. It was Violet that was the extrovert - vivacious, spontaneous and fun she made friends with ease and Olivia went along for the ride.
Life without her sister is overwhelming not just for Olivia but for her parents, the house is full o...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

This summer for Olivia , life is going to get interesting and it may perk her up as last summer Olivia's family suffered a tragedy tearing them all apart , Olivia's twin sister Violet died and then Olivia's family moved to a new town to start a fresh . Her mum Bridget in a new job and her dad Mac busy refurbishing their house. Olivia feeling incomplete heads downtown to the small shopping square and spots a shop called Mariposa's Emporium . The shop has a secret though , it is in fact filled wit...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Yinglin Chen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: freshman-year

Life, is already a mess for Olivia, with her identical twin sister Violet dying, and having to move into a new place, where she didn't know anyone. Living, without someone that has always been there to guide you, help you with your worries or someone you love to talk to, it is pretty hard to face the fact that she died. When Olivia got to San Francisco, she met some really cool friends and some magic along the way.

Olivia, was granted 3 wishes from a magical dress, that was made for her- for par...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Your Average Bookworms rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wish teaches you a important lesson; be careful of what you wish for. The beginning was somewhat dull. It made me bored and I even considered moving on. But of course, I wasn't going to give up on the book that easily. Everything gets interesting as soon as Violet is with Olivia again, something Olivia has always wanted since Violet died. Because Violet was Olivia's only true friend; and of course, sister.

Olivia and Violet have two completely different personalities; even though they are twins....more

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Aug 24, 2011 Paula pccst rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Se um simples vestido lhe desse a oportunidade de pedir um desejo, qual seria?

Foi exactamente o que aconteceu a Olívia, a personagem principal deste livro.
Uma rapariga de idade indefinida mas que se presume, durante a leitura, que seja uma adolescente, muda de casa com os seus pais após a morte da sua irmã gémea, Violet.
Enfrenta várias provações, uma escola nova, a possibilidade de fazer amizades com novas pessoas, o afastamento entre os pais, mas, acima de tudo, a dificuldade de viver sem a...more

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May 10, 2011 Yiwei rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wish, the way we living for
The book focus on a girl named Olivia who lost her sister in an accident. When that tragedy happened, Olivia and her parents moved to San Francisco and began their ‘new’ life. Olivia misseed her sister day and night; she would like to do anything if her sister will come back. Olivia got a magic dress by chance; she can fulfill a wish when she wears it. She tried it and her sister really comes back as ghost. I really like the sense when Olivia and her sister’s ghost l...more Wish, the way we living for
The book focus on a girl named Olivia who lost her sister in an accident. When that tragedy happened, Olivia and her parents moved to San Francisco and began their ‘new’ life. Olivia misseed her sister day and night; she would like to do anything if her sister will come back. Olivia got a magic dress by chance; she can fulfill a wish when she wears it. She tried it and her sister really comes back as ghost. I really like the sense when Olivia and her sister’s ghost lay in their grandfather’s boat, see the stars in the sky. They tell how they miss each other, their patents and their happiness memory in their childhood. Every character’s personality is different and manful in this novel; it’s enjoyable when you see their behaviour. Just like you are the bystander in those situations, you can really feel the tone around you.
Olivia is the main characters in this novel but sometimes Idon’t agree some thing she did in the novel. Calla is her best friend in the school and Soren is Calla’s ex-boyfriend. This couple broke up when they join a party. Olivia found that both calla and Soren are sadness. Soren told Olivia what happen between them, Olivia could feel he really got hurt; she wants to take care of him and give him new warm, because Olivia likes Soren when she first met him. Fortunately, Soren called her several days later and have date with her. Seems they were in relationship, Olivia felt so sweet and hopeful, but she also worried about Calla, that’s what I don’t like. Even though Calla is her best friend, Calla still loves Soren. But they had broken up, Soren chose Olivia, if she likes him; she shouldn’t worried about any other people. “’I am so sorry,’ she said, and was surprised by hoe genuine it abounded. She really was sorry. Sorry Calla was upset, if she was.”
This book is kind of simple, I pretend some complicated situation it might happen but it does not, so I feel a little bit disappointed. All the way, this is a wonderful book.

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Apr 13, 2011 Dormouse rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, shelved, sff

This book was not for me. It was not what I thought it would be -- I like young adult books. I like fantasy and wishes coming true.

I have recently read two books with girls grieving for the death of a close girl in them -- one was Among Others, in which Mor can see fairies and has lost her twin sister, one was A Love Story, Starring My Dead Best Friend in which it's the death of a best friend, not a sister. I liked both those books, and I thought another story dealing with that would appeal.

Spo...more This book was not for me. It was not what I thought it would be -- I like young adult books. I like fantasy and wishes coming true.

I have recently read two books with girls grieving for the death of a close girl in them -- one was Among Others, in which Mor can see fairies and has lost her twin sister, one was A Love Story, Starring My Dead Best Friend in which it's the death of a best friend, not a sister. I liked both those books, and I thought another story dealing with that would appeal.

Spoilers from here on in--
But this book was not for me. The protagonist -- Ah, the synopsis says her name is Olivia -- is supposed to like books, and her sister was the fashionable one, who paid attention to clothes, and was more popular. Olivia does not mention one book she likes or enjoys or reads. Not one, until a book is brought up in a classroom setting, and then she has to be reminded that she has read it and liked it. The book is 'To The Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf. That was a problem for me, because a)I tried to read To The Lighthouse a couple of times and got stuck. It's not a book that flows easily for me). And because b) I have read that book talked about with love and humour elsewhere, and Olivia doesn't have that, talking about the book. And she does not talk about other books, except in referring to 'unpacking her books' at some point, because she has recently moved house.

What she does do is notice what each person is wearing, in much detail. Teenagers in other books don't do this. Describing everyone by what they are wearing worked in Colin McInnes' Absolute Beginners, where the protagonist is a photographer, who pays attention to how people look by profession, and where the clothing marks the person and where they belong - their class, their age, their subculture, as well as their individual style.

In Wish, it marks who is shiny and interesting and popular, and who isn't. And at the start Olivia wears boring clothes, thus she is boring and not interesting. But then! She learns to change her style, and wear more interesting clothes, and that lets her be popular and interesting. I am over-simplifying.

Mostly what I did not like about this book was the ~theme? overall message?~ That being popular is important, that belonging to the popular crowd at school is something important, something to aspire to. Something that helps our protagonist , it's better and more important than simply making friends with people who like to read, who might like her for herself. In 'Buffy' episode one, I felt sad and worried when she rejected the friendship of Cordelia, and the instant acceptance to the popular crowd: I thought it was important. But Buffy doesn't need to be popular , she just needs friends who are with her and recognise what's important to her, and support her. Here, being part of the popular group is the aim, not just making friends.

I did like the romance, I could see the appeal of the boy and I could see him liking the girl. That did work. Just the rest didn't.(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Nicole Ireland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since I got my Novel for Christmas, I’ve been devouring books like they’re a plate of fried calamari from Ronaldo’s in Hampton, New Hampshire.

One of the things that I love about my Novel is that I can sample books before purchasing them because, let’s face it, there are some really bad books out there that aren’t worth my money. However, I’ve been lucky and have come across a few gems over the past two weeks.

The other night I downloaded the teen book Wish by Alexandra Bullen. Yes, I do read...more Ever since I got my Novel for Christmas, I’ve been devouring books like they’re a plate of fried calamari from Ronaldo’s in Hampton, New Hampshire.

One of the things that I love about my Novel is that I can sample books before purchasing them because, let’s face it, there are some really bad books out there that aren’t worth my money. However, I’ve been lucky and have come across a few gems over the past two weeks.

The other night I downloaded the teen book Wish by Alexandra Bullen. Yes, I do read books geared towards teenagers because I feel a good portion of them are far more interesting and well-written than their adult counterparts.

Anyway, Wish revolves around teenager Olivia Larsen who is struggling with life and her identity following the untimely and tragic death of her twin sister, Violet.

Olivia, along with her parents, move to San Francisco from Massachusetts to to start life anew in Olivia’s mother’s childhood home. But the move does not solve the family’s problems. Anger, resentment and sadness still permeate the air around them as they adjust to their new life — a life without Violet.

As if Olivia’s family life wasn’t hard enough, she also feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and that no one notices her. But everything changes for Olivia when she is granted three wishes by a local seamstress.

I don’t want to give the entire book away or what Olivia’s three wishes were, but I will say this. Wish captured my attention from the very first chapter and by the end of it, I was in tears. Olivia’s struggles with fitting in at school were easy for me to identify with because of my own experiences during my teenage years. I still remember how I felt back then, so it was very easy for me to slip into Olivia’s shoes and picture myself as her.

While some may feel letdown by Olivia’s last wish, I’m not one of them. (Although, it seems the general consensus is that this book is a definite winner based on customer reviews at Barnes & Noble.) I think Ms. Bullen ended the book exactly as she should have. It was beautiful and sad, all at the same time. And it’s a story that I will remember for a long time to come.

I can honestly say that I cannot wait to read the sequel Wishful Thinking. It’s sure to be great!

Before I close, I would like to encourage you to post what you would wish for if you had three wishes. There is one rule, you can’t wish for more wishes. So think about it. I can’t wait to see what you all would wish for.(less)

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Feb 10, 2011 Carole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 02, 2011 Chicklitgirl rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had heard good shiz about this book and I was excited to read it, but Wish felt completely FLAT for me.
It was sweet, no doubt about that, but it was also mostly reaaaalllllyyy boring.

Honestly, it only and only got better in the very very very end, where the major 'twist' was, but really otherwise? It was just boring and dragging- (but still sweet though.)

I mean, MAGIC DRESSES! Why WOULDN'T I want to read this?!

Well, that's simple: because where Olivia is white and lifeless, its VIOLET whos act...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-200-book-challenge, reviewed, reviewed-2011

Original Language: English
Publisher: Point
Country: USA
Publication Date: Jan-2010
ISBN: 978-0545139052
Page Count: 336

If you could have anything, what would you wish for? The impossible...or a real chance at being happy? Olivia Larsen's twin sister, Violet, is dead. Olivia knows nothing that can change that . . . until the day she receives a beautiful dress. The dress doesn't just look magical: it has the power to grant wishes. And all Olivia wants is her sister back. But Violet's return isn't what...more Original Language: English
Publisher: Point
Country: USA
Publication Date: Jan-2010
ISBN: 978-0545139052
Page Count: 336

If you could have anything, what would you wish for? The impossible...or a real chance at being happy? Olivia Larsen's twin sister, Violet, is dead. Olivia knows nothing that can change that . . . until the day she receives a beautiful dress. The dress doesn't just look magical: it has the power to grant wishes. And all Olivia wants is her sister back. But Violet's return isn't what Olivia expected. As love, secrets, betrayal, and a haunted past collide, Olivia begins to wonder what a wish is worth . . . and if her life will ever look the same.

Wish is the debut novel of Alexandra Bullen. It follows the story of Olivia, a young girl struggling to deal with the death of her twin sister, after her family moves to California. In Olivia, Bullen has created a protagonist Readers want to empathise with. She is a sweet and self-concious girl who feels neglected by her DYI Father and workaholic Mother.

Wish is a fantastic find, in a carbon copy Twilight world of supernatural young adult fiction. Olivia develops through the book and learns how to live and cope with Violet's death.

Fashion is a central theme of the novel. Posey, the magical seamstress who gifts Olivia with the dresses, stands in the role of Fairy Godmother to Olivia's Cinderella. Clearly fashion as a magical tool is not a new one yet Bullen manages to weave it into a whole new story. Three dresses, three wishes. Bullen's novel is riddled with subtle fairy tale references making the idea a more poignant one.

The one thing I really admired about Wish was the emotion. When Olivia was sad, I felt sad, when Olivia felt guilty, I felt guilty too. There is one particularly intense family moment towards the end that had me in tears. Bullen has learnt how to share her character with her readers.

An excellent debut novel, Wish is a great read for a young adult audience. Read more about Posey and her magical dresses in Wishful Thinking (released Jan 2011).(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The book sounded like an interesting read and I really like fairy-tale retelling types of books...so I was excited to read it. The book is okay; it is fairly engaging and an interesting take on the classic three wishes type of a tale. Special attention is given to clothing/style in this book; so if you are really into that this book might be a good one to pick up.

Olivia has been a shadow of herself since her twin Violet...more I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The book sounded like an interesting read and I really like fairy-tale retelling types of books...so I was excited to read it. The book is okay; it is fairly engaging and an interesting take on the classic three wishes type of a tale. Special attention is given to clothing/style in this book; so if you are really into that this book might be a good one to pick up.

Olivia has been a shadow of herself since her twin Violet died. It seems like all of Olivia's friends were actually Violet's friends and that without Violet, Olivia has faded away. When Olivia's parents decide to leave their sleepy suburban town and move to San Francisco; Olivia finds that she just doesn't even have the energy to care. Then Olivia meets a dressmaker who makes her a beautiful dress. When Olivia wishes out-loud while wearing the dress that her sister would be returned, well suddenly Violet is kind of there with her. Just like anything though, with the dresses there are rules. Olivia can only have three dresses (hence wishes) made, along with a few other rules. Will these wishes give Olivia the courage she needs to get interested in her new life?

This book was a fun read, but nothing special. The writing style was readable and the book engaging. Olivia is a realistic and down-to-earth character; but you can see how her personality is dull compared to Violet. The reasons behind the magic and the dressmaker choosing Olivia are kind of glossed over, so the story doesn't pay much attention to that. Most of the book is spent following Olivia around, looking at how Violet influences Olivia's decisions, and then watching the decisions as their affects play themselves out. Of course most of this centers around Olivia getting in with the popular crowd at school and with a sexy hunky guy Olivia wants to get with. This is not an action book but is more of your typical teenager struggling through the social trials of high school kind of read.

The book tries to deliver a deeper moral but it flounders in this effort. Violet is trying to teach Olivia the lesson to live life to the fullest; so initially this seems to be the message the author is sending. Then as Violet's influence goes bad; Olivia turns her back on her sister's advice and suddenly the message the author is sending is to be yourself; even if you don't do anything and hate who you are. Okay maybe that's a bit harsh...Olivia does change some throughout the book but not much. I just thought that the message to the story was inconsistent and that Olivia didn't grow much as a character.

Bullen does and excellent job describing the characters. We always know what everyone is wearing and how they look. She goes into exquisite detail on the dresses; which I enjoyed. The way Bullen deals with the wishes is kind of blah and typical; but it is okay.

Overall this was an okay read, it was entertaining and engaging. Teens struggling with a sibling loss or fitting in at high school may find it enjoyable. The fantasy aspects of the novel are kind of blah and not all that creative. Also the novel delivers an inconsistent message to the reader. If you are looking for a light summer read, this may fit the bill. I personal didn't like the book enough to check out anything else by this author; but I am not exactly the demographic (30 year old and female) that this book is targeted at. That being said I do read and enjoy a ton of young adult books; this one just didn't make me say "Wow!". (less)

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Nov 07, 2010 Melissa Vanity rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I saw this book, I thought it was going to be such a pretty story. You know, the whole idea of all the pain you feel losing someone close to you, I thought it would really make my heart hurt to read this.
Yeah, okay.

The twin sisters, Violet and Olivia, have the weirdest relationship I've ever seen in my life. They're like more simple friends than actually sisters. I really don't feel Olivia's pain at losing Violet, ESPECIALLY since she feels so responsible. I mean, your twin sister is back a...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Nafiza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya-fantasy

In Alexandra Bullen’s Wish, we are confronted by grief almost immediately. And I have to commend her on its expression as Olivia’s sorrow leaps off the pages and gathers in your throat until its difficult to breathe. She doesn’t say “I’m sad” but her actions speak for themselves and they speak loudly. Death of a sister is difficult enough but when it’s your twin, it must be a different kind of hell. I liked that her grief wasn’t romanticized. The insertion of magic into the story is interesting....more

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Aug 20, 2010 Mimi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was really good in terms of plot, but it was way too slow. I remember wanting to stop reading whe I was more than half way through the book and the climax hadn't been reached yet. I didn't know that the book would get interesting. Although it went really slow, I told myself to keep on reading, and ofcourse I didn't regret it. I don't hate this book just because it was slow. I don't know if it was becuase of Olivia and the fact that she was kind of uninteresting as some of the other cha...more

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Jun 24, 2010 Kailia rated it 3 of 5 stars

The beginning was interesting. It caught my attention but then after about ten pages, it began to lose its hold on me. At one point, I just didn’t want to read any more about Olivia. She was too needy, winy and just plain annoying!

Now that I’ve said that, let’s continue with the rest of the review. Wish, I must admit does come up with some good questions. What would you wish for if you could wish for anything? It brings us back to the “be careful what you wish for” saying. Bullen writes this boo...more The beginning was interesting. It caught my attention but then after about ten pages, it began to lose its hold on me. At one point, I just didn’t want to read any more about Olivia. She was too needy, winy and just plain annoying!

Now that I’ve said that, let’s continue with the rest of the review. Wish, I must admit does come up with some good questions. What would you wish for if you could wish for anything? It brings us back to the “be careful what you wish for” saying. Bullen writes this book in such a way that we understand the meaning of these words and how they influence Olivia. Not sure what I mean? Let’s see if I can elaborate a bit:
Olivia makes a wish to have her sister back. When her sister comes back, everything looks and sees normal. But as the book progresses, Olivia looses old friends (Miles) and makes new one (Calla, Soren, etc.) but then more problems arise. Eventually she and Calla are no longer friends and Soren and Olivia are history, least to say.

In some ways I felt that Wish was a coming of age story or coming out of your shell book. Olivia was always the quiet twin, living in her lively sister Violet’s shadow, or somewhat. Now without Violet, Olivia is lost.

Though I didn’t like Olivia character all too much, Bullen, in my view, did a good job with the character development. The emotions and feeling and behavior in this book match well with what happens in reality. I’ve never actually seen this in life, but I’ve heard stories about my friends cousins, etc.

The partying and alcohol use in the end made me mad. I just didn’t think it was necessary and it actually made me hate the book and throw it out the window. I mean, she upset and sad but not all teens these days go to the alcohol for the answers. It was too stereotypical for me.
As I said before, Olivia seemed like a total wreck in the beginning of the book, just how I had expected, but she quickly became a wining, needy, annoying character that I just wanted to strangle. Seriously.

Wish was not what I was expecting but it was good. I have to give Bullen credit for writing such a book for her debut. Even though this was not one of my favorite books by a debut author, I think we can look forward to some great books by Alexandra Bullen.
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Apr 17, 2010 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Why do I have a thing about finishing a book, even when I'm not enjoying it? Guess I keep hoping that it will get better, as it's always right on the edge of being a good story, but never q u i t e gets there. That's how I feel about this book.
Entertaining premise; just flattens out.
Olivia and her parents have moved to San Francisco after the accidental death of Violet, Olivia's twin sister. Everyone is both unhappy and unable to move forward, or even really deal with the loss.
Olivia gets a spe...more Why do I have a thing about finishing a book, even when I'm not enjoying it? Guess I keep hoping that it will get better, as it's always right on the edge of being a good story, but never q u i t e gets there. That's how I feel about this book.
Entertaining premise; just flattens out.
Olivia and her parents have moved to San Francisco after the accidental death of Violet, Olivia's twin sister. Everyone is both unhappy and unable to move forward, or even really deal with the loss.
Olivia gets a special dress that allows her wish to come true and she wishes her sister back so she returns as a ghost attmepting to help Olivia fit in at her new school, etc. Sounds good, right? But the magic isn't really there. When Olivia finds out that the dress is magic and she'll get two more, she just goes with it and then the magic isn't mentioned much in the book, almost like it was the only way the author could figure to bring Violet back so she added that on, but it adds nothing to the book. There really isn't any supernatural element. Olivia could have simply imagined what would my sister have thought about this or that and accomplished the same thing.
Olivia is so inconsistent and such a blah character that you can't really cheer her on. She has no personality. The most popular girl in school befriends her and why? Because she came to school that day in a blue tunic with gray leggings and fab boots?
Olivia is unhappy with being, as she thinks, invisible, but when Violet tries to help her get new clothes, she acts like someone's eighty year old maiden aunt. 'It shows too much skin!' And yet, the first magic dress she wore had a plunging neckline and made her look sexy which she enjoyed. I couldn't ever figure Olivia out as a character. She was all over the place. Maybe that was the point, but if so, it didn't work for me.
The only real tension in the story is brought on by Olivia's own stupid choices and behavior. Soren, the boy she likes, has recently broken up with Calla, the school's most popular girl who has befriended Olivia and she must continually worry and HIDE for gosh sakes, to keep Calla from finding out because they've been friends FOR A TOTAL OF A WEEK or so and who'd want to lose that kind of friendship? Didn't even make sense.
And when Calla does finally find out, she's upset for a total of ONE day. Wow, those were some fearsome consequences.
There is a bunch about selling Olivia's grandfather's yacht, which seems to be completely unimportant and could have been done in a few paragraphs.
The story ends in what I believe to be the intro for a sequel or related book. I won't be reading it.(less)

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Apr 11, 2010 Manda rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Alexandra Bullen's debut novel, Wish, Olivia Larsen is starting life in a new school and a new city. The reason behind her families big move is not what most would expect. Last summer, Violet, Olivia's twin sister, passed away. Moving to San Fransisco is a fresh start for Olivia and her parents, but not necessarily the start Olivia is ready for. When a visit to a seamstress brings her three wishes, Olivia can't help but wish for Violet back. With her sister by her side again and two more wish...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Abby rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, the-afterlife, romantic

Picked this up because it was the focus of a recent New Yorker article on teen lit & Alloy Entertainment in particular. Alloy is the group that publishes Gossip Girl, The Clique, The A-List and other teen mean girl series. Although they only list one person's name as the author, most of these books are written by a committe of Alloy editors, and the publisher, not the author, retains the intellectual property rights to the work. In the New Yorker article, Alloy editors talk about how they ho...more

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Mar 08, 2010 A rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wish does ask some interesting questions. It's that old "be careful what you wish for" scenario. Not that Olivia's wish goes bad it just doesn't turn out like she expected. Do they ever?

This is a sweet story that uses magic to jump start the plot, but it isn't used throughout. The magic is in the dresses that grant the wishes but then Olivia has to deal with the consequences without the use of magic.

Wish is really more of a coming of age story. Olivia was the quiet twin while Violet was the one...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Robyn Hawk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, young-adult

Wish is an impressive debut effort from Alexandra Bullen...and a brave step - looking into the "what if's" of sibling grief.

This book could have been silly but Bullen pulls you into Oliva's fantasy and you are ready to believe that she has her sister back...but as with all things magical, at some point you have to deal with reality.

I loved the writing style in Wish and feel that young girls as well as teens/YA's will enjoy this book - it speaks their language. My recommendation would be for Inte...more

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Jan 21, 2010 Sarah BT rated it 4 of 5 stars

About the Book: Olivia's twin sister Violet died seven months ago. Violet was the outgoing one, the sister everyone loved and without her Olivia is fading into the background. Her family has moved to San Francisco and Olivia feels lost without her sister to guide her. When a magical gown shows up at Olivia's door and Olivia wishes her sister back, she suddenly finds Violet (or at least her ghost) by her side.

With Violet back, Olivia feels like she can live again. The girls get two more dresses...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Barbara Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was so well written that I could not put it down. You know, one of the those books where you create the space and time to sit and read as often as possible? That was this for me.

This is a story that transcends reality and makes the reader feel as if they are personally involved with the characters. We are not separated by pages and words in a book. We are engaged and vested in the fate of our character. This is the book that you stay in bed to read a bit longer, and this is the book that yo...more This was so well written that I could not put it down. You know, one of the those books where you create the space and time to sit and read as often as possible? That was this for me.

This is a story that transcends reality and makes the reader feel as if they are personally involved with the characters. We are not separated by pages and words in a book. We are engaged and vested in the fate of our character. This is the book that you stay in bed to read a bit longer, and this is the book that you clear your schedule to treat yourself to a quiet afternoon.

I am giving this book 5 stars because Bullen's writing is clear and articulate, and it is a story well-told. I think that she could have written sappier, but she didn't. She respects her readers enough to make this a real story with a magical element. Bonus: I was pleasantly surprised to find out this was set in San Francisco, with the ability to make this book a travelogue for a newbie in town.

In response to some feedback about the drinking in the story, I thought Bullen hit the nail on the head with her description of the children of wealthy parents who attend an exclusive school in a very open city. Teenagers experiment and when they have their own cars, keys to the summer home, and free reign, they are going to emulate adult behavior. It's what they've seen, and it's what they know. These are cues teens pick up from the adults in their lives. Does that mean Bullen is encouraging underage drinking? No. She is simply an observer who is writing about teen behavior. That's what makes this a real story. There is no sugar-coating here. Teens who want to experiment are going to do so.

Onto the story itself:

As the story unfolds, we learn that Olivia has been uprooted from all that she knows to find herself in a new school, in a new state, and without her fearless twin sister to help navigate the social mores. Her parents are distant. Her first friend at school exists only because their two moms work together, and – worse than that – he wears squishy mushroom-colored loafers. And then she sees a boy. One who meets her eyes and smiles like he knows her. But, of course, he is dating the prettiest and most popular girl at school.

In her complete and utter loss, Olivia does the very best she can with what she has. She finds a tailor, Posey, who can fix dresses to suit the wearer in a way that is unexpected. In fact, Olivia has no idea that her bad night had a purpose, and her wish to see her sister again is about to come true. It is only in re-tracing steps and asking questions that Olivia realizes what a gift she has been given.

So, if you had just one wish…what would you wish for?

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Jan 08, 2010 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Olivia hasn’t quite been herself since the death of her twin sister Violet. When her parents decide to move what’s left of the family across the country to San Francisco, Olivia feels awkward both at home and in her new school. Without her lively sister to forge the way, Olivia doesn’t know how to start her new life. When Olivia stumbles upon a small dressmaker’s shop and learns that the dress she gets there is somehow magical, the sky’s the limit, because with the dress, Olivia also gets a wish...more Olivia hasn’t quite been herself since the death of her twin sister Violet. When her parents decide to move what’s left of the family across the country to San Francisco, Olivia feels awkward both at home and in her new school. Without her lively sister to forge the way, Olivia doesn’t know how to start her new life. When Olivia stumbles upon a small dressmaker’s shop and learns that the dress she gets there is somehow magical, the sky’s the limit, because with the dress, Olivia also gets a wish, a wish that could bring her beloved sister Violet back. And with two more magical dresses at her disposal, it seems all Olivia has to do to make her life perfect again is wish. But Olivia has to be careful because magic isn’t the solution to everything, and what she thinks she wants may not be what she needs to be whole again.

Wish is a cute story of when fairytale collides with real life. Olivia is a grieving, scared girl who’s nothing without her twin sister. However, through a very unique fairy godmother, Olivia is allowed more time with her dead sister. Olivia’s tale is sad but ultimately sweet coming of age story of loss and learning to stand on one’s own legs. It’s about making the right choices and fixing mistakes, and it’s a story that’s extremely accessible because of how easy Olivia is to relate to. Her character may seem uninteresting at first because of her overwhelming grief, but Olivia quickly proves to be a thoughtful and well intentioned girl. Her insecurity and fear of moving on makes readers genuinely care for her. Wish may not be the most romantic or exciting story, but it is one that will touch readers and bring a smile to their faces.

Wish will be enjoyed by fans of traditional fairytales and fairytale retellings as well as by those who liked Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël and A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell. I look forward to more writing from this promising new author.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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About Alexandra Bullen

Oh, hello.

I’m Alexandra, and I write books for teenagers.

My first book, WISH, was published by Scholastic in January of 2010!

My second book, WISHFUL THINKING, also published by Scholastic, will be out in January of 2011!

I really hope you like them.

Here is my not-so-official official bio, the one that’s in the books I really hope you like:

“Alexandra Bullen has been a playwright, waitress, barista,...more

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Quotes from Wish

“Family's not family unless it's totally messing you up. I'm pretty sure that's the point” — 22 people liked it

“Really?" Olivia managed. It's called conversation, she reminded herself, like a visitor from a foreign planet. Answer one question, ask another. "Where do you live?” — 9 people liked it

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