Member Reviews
What is in this series that each new book I am enthralled by the story and cannot stop reading.
The wished marriage makes perfect sense., I didn’t question it. Justice for Max, he finally has found the love of his life. How does Sarah Ready comes up with these stories, they are believable and amazing.
The first book I read in this series was Fated (Ghosted #3). I absolutely loved that book. Just a touch of magic made it special. So I was delighted that this book was about the left-behind, best friend, Max. and there's another special touch of magic in this book.
Max's cleaning lady, Anna, who is good hearted, a hard worker, and an optimist, falls head over heels in love with him, the lord of the manor, the first time she lays eyes on him. She finds a fabulous piece of jewelry that, when wished upon, grants wishes. The reader will find that the wish granted was not perfect. There are some glitches in the matrix.
I really enjoyed this story. I don't rate this a full five, but it comes close enough, especially with my carry-over feelings from Fated, that I decided to rate it with 5 stars.
I listened to the audio version of the book. While there are two narrators for the book, Amanda Ronconi narrated the vast majority of the book and I thought she was a perfect voice for this book.
There is explicit sex in this book, so it may not be for all readers.
"Wished" by Sarah Ready was my first dive into this author's work, and I went in with no expectations, unsure of what I was getting into. But what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be! From the very beginning, the book had me hooked, and I found myself completely immersed in the story.The story Idea was fresh and unique: Anna Benoit,a cleaning lady, has been secretly in love with her boss, Max Barone, for three years, makes a wish that they were married and in love.
The story is full of surprises, with twists and turns that keep you engaged. The chemistry between Max and Anna is intriguing, and their journey from boss and employee to something much more is both charming and believable. It's a story that explores the complexities of love and the choices we make when faced with our deepest desires.
What I really liked about "Wished" is how it looks at what happens when wishes come true. It's not just about getting what you want—it’s about thinking about what that wish means and deciding if it’s really the best thing for you. This makes the story more interesting and different from other romances.
**ARC Review: "Wished" by Sarah Ready**
*Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)*
Sarah Ready's "Wished" is a whimsical and heartwarming romantic fantasy that sweeps you into a world where dreams, quite literally, come true. The story follows Anna Benoit, a hopeless romantic who suddenly finds herself married to the man of her dreams, Max Barone, after a simple wish turns her life upside down.
Anna's character is instantly relatable—she’s the type of romantic who believes in soulmates and love at first sight, even when reality doesn’t align with her fantasies. Her unrequited love for Max, the enigmatic and seemingly unattainable owner of the chateau she cleans, tugs at your heartstrings. When her wish to be married to Max magically comes true, Anna is thrust into a world that seems perfect on the surface: passion, romance, and the life she’s always imagined. But as the story unfolds, Anna begins to realize that sometimes, what we wish for might not be what we truly need.
The concept of "Wished" is enchanting, blending elements of magical realism with classic romance tropes. Ready does a fantastic job of creating a dreamlike atmosphere, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur in delightful ways. The chemistry between Anna and Max is palpable, and their interactions are filled with both sweetness and tension, keeping you hooked from start to finish.
However, the novel isn't just about a magical love story; it also delves into deeper themes of self-discovery, the importance of authenticity in relationships, and the idea that true love isn’t just about getting what you want but understanding what you truly need.
While "Wished" is a charming read, there are moments where the pacing slows, particularly as Anna grapples with the complexities of her new reality. Some readers may find themselves wishing for more insight into Max’s perspective, as his character remains somewhat enigmatic throughout the story. Nonetheless, these minor issues don’t detract much from the overall enjoyment of the book.
In conclusion, "Wished" is a delightful escape into a world of romance and magic. Sarah Ready has crafted a story that is both enchanting and thought-provoking, making it a perfect read for anyone who has ever dared to wish for their heart’s deepest desires. If you’re a fan of romantic fantasies with a touch of whimsy, this book is definitely for you.
I loooooooove Sarah Ready's books!! I will read any and all of them, especially in this series! As soon as I got approved for this arc, I started reading it! It's just soooooo good! I loved Anna and Max and I really wasn't ready for their story to end, but it was just perfect. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital arc!!
Ty to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced ARC copy!
Read if you like:
- insta loves
- parallel universes
- billionaire romance
- boss romance
- happily ever afters
Anna Benoit is a selfless, hardworking sweetheart who just wants to be loved. She's selfless and helps support her family by cleaning with her friend/boss: Doreen. She has a crush on her millionaire boss. When Anna makes a wish on her boss (Max Barone's) family heirloom, she doesn't expect it to come true.
The next morning, they find themselves married. It seemed like everyone was gaslighting Max at first because he had no clue what was going on and it was a little strange that Max was able to have 7 years of memories shortly thereafter.
It took me a little longer to read than most books. I wish I could have gotten into it more, but this was still so cute.
❝𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.❞
<b>4.75 rounded to 5 stars✰</b>
⋆˚✿˖°๋࣭ ⭑⚝⭒‧͙⁺˚*・༓☾
another book out of the series finished!! only one more to go :,) hopefully sarah ready makes another addition after this one🤞
this book, like the others, i really enjoyed!! my love for magical realism is growing by the minute. let’s get into the review shall we?
💎🩵📖🪄💍🪞🫧🍨
wished is a story about a girl <u>anna benoit</u> who cleans <u>max barone’s</u> chateau for a living. in the years she’s spent working for him, she fell in love. the only issue- he barely notices she exists. that is, until anna makes a wish on a magical necklace that they would be married.
<i><u>characters</u></i>
anna benoit:
I really loved her character! one thing I didn’t like was how insta-lovey she could be at times but once I got past that, she really grew on me! she was such a sweetheart <3
max barone:
it was kinda weird reading about him after his part in <i>fated</i> but honestly, I’m so happy for him :,) he finally met the one.
he was so grouchy in the beginning of the book and at the end he’s such a softie. i actually love him sm😭 sarah ready writes the BEST book bfs. first henry, then aaron, now max bruh. I’ll take them <b><u>all</u></b>.
<i><u>plot</u></i>
i really enjoyed the plot, as with the other books from this series. the only thing I didn’t like, as mentioned earlier, was the insta-lovey feel at the beginning of the book. (hence the .25 off the rating). but later in the book it definitely got better!
<i><u>overall</u></i>
this was a good book! not my favorite from the series so far (one left to go!) but still an enjoyable romance. the montmartre scene was so so cute :,) i would recommend this one! & the rest of the series <3
⋆˚✿˖°🪞🕊️🤍✨˚ ༘ ೀ⋆。˚
𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ♡
“Love isn’t the opposite of hate. It doesn’t have room for hate. It’s pure and compassionate and forgiving and full of grace.”
“If you knew how much I want you in this moment, I think you would run.”
“I think I have a good idea.”
“Darling. You have no idea.”
“Love, even in small portions, is enough to defeat an ocean of hate.”
“Just wait and see. This day is going to bring the most wondrous, magical things your way.”
“Live with passion, love with your heart.”
xoxo
eveonne ♡
_________________________________________
This book went by really quick. I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from the beginning. The short chapters were easy to get through.
Anna's need to grant people's wishes felt very relatable for people pleasers. Her need to care for the people closest to her showed her heart of gold. She is such a sweetheart.
I liked that when her wish was granted, she took some time to figure out what happened but she wasn't playing stupid or denying it heavily despite the circumstances.
Anna and Max felt well matched, they made it work despite a few bumps in their road to happiness. Even though Anna's view on love and relationships couldn't be more different from Max's they taught each other what real love is and they made it work.
I have read a couple of the titles in this series so was pleased when offered this latest ARC from netgalley.
This book revisits one of the characters from tbr previous book in the series, Max, who was deserving of his own love story. Max's cleaner makes a wish on a family heirloom that she is married to Max and low and behold her wish is granted... the morning after Max accuses her of trying to steal said heirloom. Worse yet, Max's memory hasn't been erased...
An interesting premise but not my favourite in the series, the middle plodded on a bit and I was eager for a resolution.
Wished by Sarah Ready is an enchanting tale that captivated me from the first page.
The story follows Max, the MMC, whose journey is filled with unexpected twists, heartfelt moments, and plenty of humor.
Sarah engaging writing style creates a magical and comforting atmosphere.
The book’s charm lies in its perfect blend of romance, humor, and whimsy, making it hard to put down. Max’s story is both fun and addictive, making it a delightful escape for myself.
Thank you Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
The premise of the book was incredibly captivating from the start—there's something irresistible about the idea of wishing for something was real and then seeing it come true. However, the execution didn't quite live up to my expectations. I found the narration and pacing somewhat off, which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story.
I honestly hope this series never ends. I loved Anna and Max’s story, and I loved starting and ending it with a different POV. This was beautiful, emotional and angsty with just the right strokes of magical realism.
Both narrators with excellent.
This was my first Sarah Ready book and also happens to be fourth in a series, so why haven’t I heard of them before? I will say I loved this book! It’s one of those books that you can pick up and read in a day and get lost in and just feel good at the end. The magical realism just wisps you away into a reality where making wishes can come true.
In this story, Anna pines over the man she is a housekeeper for, one that barely acknowledges her. One day she makes a wish that they were married, and the next day waking up to her wish being true.
I did like that it was set in Geneva, Switzerland. Having traveled there myself, I could picture the lake and the chateau perfectly in my mind. This book was just cozy, dreamy, and magical.
Thank you NetGalley and IPBA for an eARC of this book.
Book number 4 in the Ghosted series. While each of these books can be read as stand alone, I really enjoyed all of the books and would recommend reading them all. In true Sarah Ready fashion this book is full of humor, romance, and spice. I devoured this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Wished is probably my third favourite Sarah Ready novel (The Space Between and Josh & Gemma #1).
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review one of my favourite authors!
Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this. 4.5 /5 stars for me!
Man, Sarah Ready knows, just KNOWS, how to write romance, because 'insta-love' is one of my least favorite tropes and yet she was able to pull it off flawlessly.
This is magical realism at its best: Anna, a house cleaner 'in love' with her boss who has spent her life making everyone else happy, wishes herself to be married to Max (from the rest of the Ghosted series). Suddenly they have been married for 7 years, but with only snips and snapshots of their lives together. Max and Anna spend a day in Paris as their past and current selves try to make sense of their complicated feelings for each other before attempting to right-side the wish. Its steamy (I feel like steamier than the other Ghosted series books?) and a bit messy as they go back and forth in wish timelines. But the love these two feel for each other, and the deep dive into the meaning and 'worthiness' of love? That was incredibly beautiful.
I do wish we had more Max POV chapters; his agency in the wish is the one thing that I think I would have loved to hear more about from his perspective. You do not need to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one (Fiona has the biggest 'presence' but not hugely), but you really should.
As an aside: The sections of this that are about architecture are STUNNING. There is a particular paragraph in the beginning about the soul of cities/countries being reflected in the buildings they build and I won't lie, I stopped reading, got up from my desk, and looked at my city's skyline to compare. If you need a romance with some real depth? This is it.
After reading French Holiday also by Sarah Ready, which i really enjoyed, I was looking forward to this book. . I thought the premise was intriguing: that the main character would be granted her wish to be married to the man she fell in love with at first sight only to give it back. However, the execution just didn’t work for me. The book might appeal more to someone looking for a simple fast read with a sweet ending.
I went into Wished a bit hesitant as I had been in a romance reading slump. However, this book ended up being exactly what I needed to get out of the slump and get my love back for the genre. The plot is unlike anything l've read before in a romance book. It kept me hooked from the start.
I loved the main characters, although it took me some time to warm up to the MMC. The way the story progressed was great and loved every minute of it.
The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because it felt like it dragged a little between the 65% to 75% mark. While the story was still enjoyable, that part felt a bit too slow. But, it picked up again afterwards and I was fully invested in knowing how it will end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!
3.5 stars Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I flipped between the audiobook and ebook. This is the fourth book in Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series. I have really enjoyed the other books in this series. While I did have a good time while I was reading this, I wouldn’t say this was my favorite out of the four. Max was a little hard to like at the beginning of the book and not the normal “grumpy” behavior. He seemed rude and a little full of himself. I know we didn’t see a lot of him in Fated but this wasn’t what I thought his personality would be like. I did enjoy Anna though. When I read the description of this book, I was super excited but something just felt a little off to me. I can’t really describe what that even is. It seemed a little rushed and on the verge of being instalove. The thing I have enjoyed about the other books in the series is I felt really immersed in the world Sarah created. I didn’t really get that with this book. Even with that, I will absolutely read any book Sarah writes.
Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC and ALC of this book
After reading Switched I was a little worried u were not going to like this book but I did, I have been told by a few people they think this is the weakest book in the series.... now I can see why they say that I do because the story is not as near being like switched with learning more of a connection.
I feel bad about not loving Switched but I liked this one and it was more of a fast love and also a fast read, I normally don't like falling in love fast etc but this one was sweet and engaging... but I did enjoy halfway through how things changed a little because a wish was made and they tried to stop it but then he's drawn into the wish which I found funny.