Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen

Ever since she was a baby, Hazel Snow has always been alone. Offered up for adoption by her birth mother and shuffled between homes ever since, Hazel has never really had a family, but she desperately yearns for one. So when by chance she receives three magical dresses, each that will grant her a single wish, Hazel wishes to know her mother. To her surprise, she is transported across the country and into the past, a place where her mother is alive and well. This strange new life isn’t perfect, but it’s all that Hazel could ever ask for, getting to know her mother, forming strong friendships, and even falling in love. At first, Hazel thinks that this is her big chance to change everything, to make up for the years of being alone, but the better she gets to know the new people in her life, the less certain she is. Caught between her own selfish desires and the very real lives of those around her, Hazel will need to find the strength inside herself to make the right choice for her past and future.

Wishful Thinking is a beautiful companion to Bullen’s debut Wish. I wasn’t quite sure that Wishful Thinking would be able to distinguish itself from Wish, but fortunately, the most that they share are magical dresses, Bullen’s wonderfully thoughtful writing, and a couple of interesting crossovers. I was truly swept away with this story. Hazel’s emotional journey to uncovering her past is a touching and endearing one, but also one that is subtle rather than overbearing. That makes Hazel’s ultimate choice and the end of her story so much sweeter to read about. Hazel’s character growth, especially concerning her understanding of family, is so natural and I commend Bullen on her success at that. Wishful Thinking is a completely enjoyable read with vivid characters, gorgeous writing, and a few surprises after every readers’ heart.

Fans of Wish will not want to miss its companion Wishful Thinking, nor will readers who enjoyed A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, Love, Meg by C. Leigh Purtill, and Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Scholastic