Oops!... Nicholas Sparks Did It Again

Full disclosure: I grew up reading and obsessing over Nicholas Sparks books and movies. Genuinely—who didn’t love The Longest Ride or The Choice? (Two of my personal favorites!)

But I hadn’t read a Nicholas Sparks book in years... until this most recent one that I just had to share with all of you. Because it is FANTASTIC, and I don’t feel like I see people talking about it enough.

Before I introduce it, I just want to give a shoutout to @bradylockerby on Instagram for recommending this book in so many of her videos that I finally had to read it for myself.

The book is—drumroll please—The Wish!

I absolutely loved this book. It was truly a masterpiece. Once I got into it, I did not want to put it down. It was beautifully written, and I was so invested in the characters.

It even made me cry—something I usually really dislike—but I couldn’t help it, and I was totally okay with it. It’s just a beautiful book. (If you can’t tell, I seriously can’t stress that enough!)

Although the story takes place around Christmas, it can easily be read at any time of year. If you’re a “Christmas in July” person (I know some of my Hallmark Channel fans definitely are!), this would be the perfect book to add some cozy magic to your summer.

What It's About

The Wish is told from the perspective of Maggie Dawes, a terminal cancer patient. She’s experiencing great difficulty with her illness and hires a kind young man, Mark, to help run the art gallery she manages—where she also displays her photography.

As she grows closer to Mark, she begins to tell him the story of the one time in her life when she truly fell in love. She takes him (and us!) back to her teenage years—an accidental pregnancy, being sent across the country to a small town, and everything in between.

Why You Should Read It

This book explores complicated family dynamics, first love, and heartbreak in a way that’s tender and emotional.

It would be a fantastic book club pick and is a clean romance lover’s dream. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone and everyone—it was an easy 10/10 for me!

If you end up reading this gem, please reach out and let me know what you think.

I’m happy you’re here. :)