Review: As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

Title: As You Wish 

Author:  Chelsea Sedoti
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 

Publishing Date: January 2nd, 2018

Pages: 432
Genre:  YA Magical Realism

Series:  Stand Alone
Source: Audio

 

What if you could ask for anything- and get it?

In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.

Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream? Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself.

I was excited to see a magical realism in YA. I don't come across this genre in YA often. I was very excited even though it took me a while to get to this book. I am not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't what I expected. The book was good and I enjoyed most of it. Just wasn't what I expected. It was kind of an angsty read, a tormented soul type of book. It was a little slow in pace but I found enjoyment while taking in everything the main character was struggling with. 

In the little boring town if Madison there is one thing that makes the town special. Every resident gets a wish on their 18th birthday. Now there are rules... kind of like genie rules... can't ask for more wishes, can't bring someone back from the dead, also you can't wish for anything that will effect the world outside of Madison.... other than that anything goes. Some people ask for fame, or love, or money and some make reckless wishes that they regret for the rest of their lives. Some people make selfish wishes and some people make selfless wishes. Everyone has to go to a wish class and be trained how to wish correctly. (there have been some accidents in the past with wording) Eldon is coming up on his 18th birthday. His parents want him to wish for money, the wish he really breaks the rules. He spends countless hours thinking of the right wish. The wish that he won't regret and that will make a difference in his world. This book is about his wish decision. 

This book was pretty interesting. It was pretty thought provoking. It was deeper than I had expected. Eldon was a complex character and at first its hard to see with all his angst. I will be the first to say teen angst gets on my nerves, but in this book I felt Eldon was a little entitled to a little angst, his sister had been in a terrible accident and he has lost her. He feel as if it was his fault, or he could have stopped it. He wants to fix it and knowing his wish can't, nothing he can do can fix this problem. His parents are pressuring him, the town is questioning him, his friends are no help. He is torn and confused and yes a little angsty. He wasn't an easy character to like but was easy to understand. I still connected to him. 

Some of the other characters I really liked in the book. His friends I loved. They were pretty special and even though Eldon didn't see them as much help but realized in the end they would always be there for him. 

Basically there isn't really much to review. This book made me think. If I had one wish what would it be? Is it right to be able to wish a wish that causes someone else to do something not of their own free will? Can wishing for something instead of getting it be really worth it... or is it cheating in life?  How far will you go to do what you feel is right? This book is about family and friendship, doing the right thing and choosing your own path. 

The pacing was a little slow at times but it didn't take long to get through those slow parts. I did keep going and I did enjoy the listen. I think if I had read instead of listened I may have found it a bit harder to get through. The narrator helped a lot. I did however find it worth the read in the end. Again, not what I expected though. 

It was enjoyable and an experience. 

Chelsea Sedoti fell in love with writing at a young age after discovering that making up stories was more fun than doing her school work (her teachers didn’t always appreciate this.) In an effort to avoid getting a “real” job, Chelsea explored careers as a balloon twister, filmmaker, and paranormal investigator. Eventually she realized that her true passion is writing about flawed teenagers who are also afraid of growing up. When she’s not at the computer, Chelsea spends her time exploring abandoned buildings, eating junk food at roadside diners, and trying to befriend every animal in the world. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where she avoids casinos, but loves roaming the Mojave Desert.