Every Wish Way

July 24, 2023
Bright debuts with a half-baked homage to Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen–obsessed architect Iza almost has it all—including a job she loves, a supportive best friend, and a cat—but she longs for romance. Her intimidating, controlling, and fiercely independent single mother, the cartoonish villain of the piece, is near fanatically opposed to Iza’s desire for male companionship, leaving Iza desperate for a boyfriend her mother will approve of. She gets some help in this endeavor when she shakes a bottle of nail polish and handsome Beckett, a genie, appears. He’s there to grant her three wishes, though he makes clear from the start that they may come with strings attached. Iza’s first wish (“for a twenty-first-century version of Mr. Darcy”) kicks off a long, strange journey of self-discovery as Iza is torn between Mr. Darcy, who may not be as dreamy as she hoped, and Beckett himself, whose frat guy exterior hides a heart of gold, but who Iza suspects may be “the Wickham” in her version of Austen’s plot. Humor and real chemistry between Iza and Beckett are highlights, but Austenites will quibble with Bright’s cynical take on Darcy and Iza’s romantic flip-flopping makes her a frustrating heroine. It’s a rocky start. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

August 1, 2023

DEBUT Iza is a woman determined to have it all in this debut paranormal romance. She's an architect with a promising career, missing only a loving partner to meet her exacting mother's approval for a picture-perfect life. When she accidentally summons Beckett, a frat boy cursed to grant wishes, from a bottle of glittery nail polish, a seemingly foolproof plan presents itself--use her wishes to create the perfect partner, a modern Mr. Darcy. But is the strait-laced and proper Mr. Darcy enough to impress her decidedly disapproving mother? When Iza finds her mind straying toward the unserious, unsuitable Beckett, she's left wondering if even a wish can give her the life she craves. Iza's determination to find happiness by pleasing her mother and the resulting hot-to-cold behavior toward the men in her life may frustrate some readers, but those who stick with it are rewarded with a protagonist who ultimately values the people who love her and has the confidence to pursue the life she wants even in the face of disapproval. VERDICT For libraries where romantic comedies with a paranormal twist are popular.--Meagan Day

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
Iza is a successful architect in a respected St. Louis firm, but what she really wants is to find that special someone in spite of her mother's dim view of love. If only she could stop picking the wrong men. When she accidentally releases a genie named Beckett from a nail polish bottle, and he offers her three wishes, Iza is sure that asking for her own modern-day Mr. Darcy will solve so many problems. Iza and Beckett start to form a real friendship, but why get close when they know he'll need to leave soon? Is the pain of losing each other worse than never letting someone get close? Debuting author Bright thoughtfully explores a number of complex relationships essential to understanding Iza and her view on the world without it feeling forced. Her creating a unique version of Mr. Darcy while staying true to aspects of the original character will certainly please Janeites, and conjuring genie Beckett and his compelling backstory adds to the delight. For all rom-com fans looking for a smart, sassy, and satisfying read.

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