Listen Now
Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: AudiobookHub Recommendation
Chapter 2: — The Light in the Writing Factory
Chapter 3: — Lucy, Christopher, and the Wishing Fund
Chapter 4: — Jack’s Announcement and a Riddle Goes Viral
Chapter 5: — Return to Clock Island
Chapter 6: — The Green Glass Door
Chapter 7: — The Shark in the Storm Seller
Chapter 8: — The Five O’Clock Beach and the Dead Girl’s Name
Chapter 9: — Angie in the Library
Chapter 10: — “I Win” and the Real Prize
Description
The Wishing Game follows Lucy Hart, a kind but struggling teacher’s aide in California who pours her heart into caring for Christopher Lamb, a foster child she longs to adopt. When beloved children’s author Jack Masterson—creator of the magical Clock Island series—reappears after years of silence and announces a private contest for his only existing new manuscript, Lucy sees a single, desperate chance to secure the money and stability Christopher needs.
On Clock Island, Lucy competes against other former runaway fans in a week of riddles, games, and increasingly personal trials. As the contest turns from whimsical to emotionally perilous, Lucy is forced to confront her deepest wounds—abandonment, shame, and the fear she can’t be the mother Christopher deserves—while forming an unexpected bond with Hugo Reese, Jack’s illustrator and reluctant caretaker. In the end, the story delivers a tender, cathartic answer to its central question: what if the truest wishes aren’t won, but given?
Who Should Listen
- Listeners who love heartfelt, character-driven stories about found family, second chances, and healing from childhood neglect.
- Fans of whimsical “game” premises (Willy Wonka / scavenger-hunt mystery vibes) grounded in real emotional stakes.
- Readers drawn to stories that blend cozy magic and bittersweet realism, especially around foster care, adoption, and hope.