Dear Sarah Ready,

American born Anna Benoit is a cleaner. Once a week she attends Max Barone’s chateau in Geneva. Max is handsome, austere and lonely. Anna falls in love at first sight. Max does not see her at all. One day she is cleaning in the library and sees a sapphire necklace in a box on the table next to a note which invites her to make a single wish on the jewels. She wishes she was happily married to Max. It doesn’t go well – initially at least. Max discovers her in the library by which time the necklace has made its way mysteriously into her pocket (she really did not put it there, or if she did, she does not remember it). Fired for attempted theft, Anna’s life changes but not in a good way.

Anna, 25, lives with her mother and eight-year-old (half)sister, Emmy. They are still paying off medical bills associated with the care of Anna’s late father. Emmy’s father is no longer in the picture. They have a very tight budget and Anna’s salary is necessary for their survival.

The next morning however, it appears Anna’s wish has come true. In fact, the book begins here, with Max being advised that “his wife” is waiting for him in his office. (The story then backtracks to how the pair got there.) Max knows full well he is not married. Max and Anna are the only two people in this world who know the truth and remember what really happened. What starts out as a contentious and mistrustful relationship quickly becomes something more. Max and Anna travel to Paris, where the remainder of the parure is kept (the necklace being only one part of it). The plan is to make another wish to set things right.

Up until this part, the narration is shared fairly equally between Amanda Ronconi and Will Watt. After the second wish, the narration is all Amanda Ronconi, right up until the epilogue.

There is a bit of “wish-ception” in Wished. By the end, I admit I was confused by what was real and what was not, who remembered what and why. It’s a romance so it’s not a spoiler to say they end up happily together. They are clearly very well suited to one another; once they actually start talking it’s clear there is chemistry and more between them. But I had questions about the magic of the story. I didn’t quite understand what the point of the “Checkov’s letter” was given where the story ended up and I got lost in the timeline. Had no time at all passed? How does that work?

Anna is a person of extremely high morals. She will take a bus ride she can’t afford to return a single franc she was overpaid in change. (I believe in honesty but this is overkill Anna.) When she finds herself getting what she wished for she has a moral dilemma about consent and self-determination. I didn’t think Anna needed to be quite so pristine in her moral compass in order to have some serious qualms about this. She wants the love between her and Max to be real. Of course she does.

I wondered how she could possibly fit into a life where she had been married to Max for seven years when she remembers nothing about that time. Can you imagine? Going to a job you’ve been doing for years and everyone knows you and remembers things about the preceding time and for you it’s all brand new? The book largely skips over that. Fair enough. It’s not particularly romantic and the timeframe of the book is mainly the five day break Max had planned for his and Anna’s seventh wedding anniversary. (In this reality they got married very quickly and very young.)

I listened to Wished in three bursts, taking short breaks to listen to podcasts. There were times in the book I was less engaged and impatient for some action. And then when the second wish happened I felt a little exhausted. It felt a little like starting everything all over again but this time oh so much more complicated. I sometimes feel this way when there’s a third act break up or when something happens in a story which feels insurmountable, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything missing in the story. Here, I needed to take a breath because it felt like I’d climbed halfway up the mountain and had slid straight to the bottom. The summit felt very far away and I needed extra energy to tackle it. I understand why the author chose the first wish and the second. If the second wish (I’m trying to be a little vague here because spoilers – the second wish happens somewhere around the halfway point or just after if I recall correctly) had been the only wish, listeners wouldn’t have had a chance to know Max.

The narration was very good and that helped me stay engaged with the story. Amanda Ronconi is a narrator I associate with Molly Harper books. In fact, I associate her so strongly with Molly Harper I sometimes struggle to listen to her reading books from other authors. There’s a kind of cognitive dissonance for me. However, in Wished – and I mean this in the best of ways – Sarah Ready’s writing style was similar enough to Harper’s (similar humour, if less frequent) that I did not struggle at all. Ronconi is an excellent narrator, very good with emotion and humour, pretty solid with accents and is able to depict a broad age range of characters. Will Watt is new to me but also very good. Max, despite being French and living in Geneva, has a British accent (it’s explained in the book). Watt has a deep voice and is a native Brit so the accent lined up well. He also delivered Anna’s softer tones in a convincing American accent, in addition to portraying various French-speaking characters. I’d happily listen to him again.

Wished had a strong premise but I’m not entirely sure it stuck the landing for me. Apart from my confusion, the last part was a little too treacly – and this from a listener who likes to wallow in a HEA. While this audio is my first Sarah Ready, there was enough to like that I’ll be reading or listening to her work again. I have Ghosted (in ebook) on my TBR in fact, which is the first book in this loosely connected series.

Were I to rate the book’s content separately to the narration, I’d give the content a B- and the narration a B+ which means overall:

Grade: B

Regards,
Kaetrin

Wished by Sarah Ready is such a fun, feel-good read that’s perfect for anyone who loves a mix of romance and a little magic. The story follows Anna Benoit, a total hopeless romantic who has been head-over-heels in love with Max Barone ever since she first laid eyes on him. The catch? Max doesn’t even know Anna exists. He’s the super successful owner of a jewelry empire, and she’s the cleaner at his chateau. But for Anna, love doesn’t care about any of that. She believes in fate, "The One," and all those swoon-worthy things—so much so that she makes a wish to be married to Max. And voilà, the next morning she wakes up in a world where they’ve been married for years!

I loved the whole concept of Wished. It’s like a fairy tale with a modern twist, and you can’t help but get sucked into Anna’s topsy-turvy world where her wildest dream seems to have come true. She’s finally married to Max, but there’s that underlying question: Is it everything she thought it would be? This isn’t just a simple "wish granted" story. It dives into the whole idea of wanting something so badly but not knowing if it’s really the best thing for you.

Anna is such a relatable character. She’s sweet, optimistic, and a bit naïve when it comes to her idea of love, but that just makes her all the more lovable. Max is more of a mystery at first—brooding, rich, and very much out of Anna’s league—so it’s fun watching her navigate this new version of their relationship. As the story goes on, you start to see a different side of Max, and it keeps you guessing about how he really feels.

What really stood out to me is how Wished isn’t just about the fairytale romance; it’s about figuring out what you really want out of life and love. It’s funny, sweet, and even a little emotional at times, especially when Anna starts to question whether getting everything she wished for is actually what’s best for her.

Sure, the plot has some predictable moments, but the magical, dreamy vibe and the heartwarming romance make up for it. If you love romantic comedies with a bit of magic thrown in, Wished will definitely hit the spot. It’s a light, entertaining read that’ll make you smile and maybe even think a little about your own wishes and dreams.

What would you do if you woke up in your hot boss’s bed, discovering you are married to him? Not only that - but you have been married to him for SEVEN YEARS?

Anna never thought her wish would come true. But suddenly it has, and her entire life has flipped upside down. The best part is that Max, the boss she’s been in love with for years, also wakes up with the same memories from the past seven years - and they did not involve having a wife!

I am such a fan of this series and have been looking forward to listening to Max’s story after my heart warmed for him in Fated. And per usual - it did not disappoint! I loved Anna’s strength and fearlessness, and though I wanted to punch Max at times, I couldn’t help but love him. He was so arrogant at times but also such a softie. He was also such a dirty talker - dang Max! 🥵

Per usual, Sarah Ready kept me on my toes throughout the book, never knowing what to expect. She always brings me to the brink of heartbreak before healing it again ❤️‍🩹

Will Watt and Amanda Ronconi did a wonderful duet narration. I love listening to this series in audiobook version because the narrators always do such a phenomenal job, and this one was no different.

I hope this series never ends, it’s so good 💕

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced listener copy of Wished in exchange for an honest review.

“Live with passion, love with your heart”, better advice than “steal a car…naked”. But this book has a few gems in them, all of which made me smile. It’s a nice, feel good read, about wholesome characters. But the spice was a nice departure and the buildup was exceptionally written.

Wished by Sarah Ready is book four in the Ghosted series. If you like love at first sight, magical necklace, wish granting, whirlwind romance, spicy, hate to love, she falls first he falls harder, opposites attract, billionaire romance then you will absolutely love this book.

Wished is Anna and Max’s story and it was amazing. Anna cleans Max’s house and is secretly in love with him. Max is a billionaire who is so focused on work, not relationships, and doesn’t know Anna exists. One day while cleaning she comes across a beautiful necklace and makes a wish that she and Max are in love and married. Max catches her with the necklace and fires her on the spot. The next morning she wakes up and her entire life has changed…her wish came true.

Sarah as usual did an amazing job with Wished. I want to know what it’s like in her brain to write these creative and unique stories. The Ghosted series has become one of my favorite series and Wished did not disappoint. She did an amazing job with the storyline and a plot that has magic realism in it. I loved all of the characters. I was able to listen to this ARC audiobook and it was perfect. Anna was narrated by Amanda Ronconi and Max was narrated by Will Watt and they were perfect for their parts. I really enjoyed the audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, and Sarah Ready for letting me listen to this ARC. Definitely a must read!!

I messed up by not reading the first three first, but I digress- I really enjoyed this!
I loved the narrators for it and the story line + the magical surrealism.

It’s almost insta-lovey, but also not because she loved him before she made the wish and then he fell in love with her after the wish.

More thoughts to come, but 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4⭐️/2.5🌶️

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this audiobook!

First, I LOVED the mmc voice actor. The opening prologue was delivered so well, as was the epilogue. Overall the voices were great and I’m happy with this delivery.

I love this story and plot. Housekeeper Anna makes a wish while working at Max’s home, a man she’s been in love with for years (while he’s never noticed her), and this story is basically her whole adventure about learning about the power of love and wishes. It was very adorable and unique.

The time structure of jumping around got to be a little confusing at times. I guess the story itself is more just a slow burn because not too much happened in the first half of the story, but that’s okay! The 2nd half was fast and chaotic and I enjoyed it in contrast. The spice was 🥵 and the love/romance was just soooooo good. I love a good passionate man who’s so desperately in love it hurts 🫣

Max, my dear little closeted hopeless romantic, I loved him so much. The life lessons of passion vs “love” was interesting and I really enjoyed watching Anna grow as a person too.

Overall would recommend!

Anna and Max. I've read most of this series and this one might be my favorite.
While working as Max's house cleaner, Anna sees the mystery man that she cleans for in all his eccentricities around the house - the books he likes, the food he enjoys, the order he keeps, the way he speaks to others on the occasional times he works from home. She has a little crush on her boss, though he clearly doesn't see or notice her and that won't change anytime soon. Max, on the other hand, runs one of the oldest jewelry companies in Geneva, witnessed bad love and refuses to take part in any kind of passion only to get burned by it. When he leaves a necklace on his desk and it's discovered by Anna as she cleans, a lighthearted wish has both Max and Anna waking up as husband and wife.
Throughout their tale of trying to undo the wish granted by the family heirloom necklace, seeing what their lives would look like in other lights and lifetimes, and all the joy that's possible together, do they want the wish to be undone? and what happens when it does?

It was such an enjoyable read for all the lifetimes or dimensions or whichever descriptor their friends prefer. And the end... chef's kiss.

#arc
#netgalley
#wished

Anna has been secretly in love with Max for three years. One day she makes a wish on an enchanted necklace. She wished they were in love and married. The next day she woke up to find the wish come true.

This was just as enjoyable as the previous books in this series. What I like about these books is the atmosphere and the description of emotions and places. It always feels like I'm right there, experiencing everything with these characters. Anna and Max are absolutely adorable together.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was great. This is the fourth and perhaps last book in the Ghosted series, but these books do not need to be read in order.

Thank you to net galley for giving me the audio of this book. The readers transported me so I felt like I was watching the story.
This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Ready but I can say with certainty that I will be open to reading others by her.
I loved the concept of this book. So heartwarming and light. The perfect easy read that is still engaging.
The book follows Anna who made a wish on a necklace… little did she know that it will come true. Will the man she has secretly loved love her back or will her wish go to waste?

So she cleans his house and one day she finds this necklace while cleaning and it says that you can make a wish. She wishes to be married to Him. She falls asleep and the next day wakes up in his house in his bed and things are crazy and fun!

4⭐️
🌶️: 22 & 24

This was such a fun read and I really enjoyed the characters and their adventures. I read this as an advanced reading copy and I am so excited to get to read other books by @sarahreadyauthor

I love how these stories have a magical aspect to them!🍂


#netgalley #wished #sarahready #sarahreadyauthor #books #bookreview #bookrecommendations

4.5 stars rounded to 5

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, as I have for the other three books in the series! Amanda Ronconi did great bringing her character to life. Her narration fits in well with the story, character, and the rest of the series. Will Watt, while I loved his voice, read way too slow. I've never listened to a book in 2x speed before but this one I had to or else my brain would explode. It was enjoyable once I sped it up, though.

I did like the story itself. It felt very akin to the first two in the Ghosted series, although with some different characters. The storyline flowed well and the characters were slowly fleshed out. It was a fun romance with a fantasy twist and a great plot weaved in.

I really enjoyed this book. I didnt realize it was a interconnected series but could be read as a stand alone. I loved both caracters as well. The book was Well put together and tied up the loose ends at the end.

Every time i see Sarah announce a new book in this series i get so excited. These books are my favorite Magic Realism romances, i don’t think any other books can top these for me. This was almost topped Ghosted for me but i fear that one will forever be my favorite.

I absolutely loved Anna, Max & their relationship. I listened to this book in one sitting & i don’t regret it at all. This book kept me entertained the entire time & that’s all i need.

This was a very fun, creative, and witty story that was excellently narrated by Amanda Ronconi! This can be read/listened to as a standalone and will not disappoint. I thank Swift and Lewis Publishing for the opportunity to listen to and review this fun audiobook.

Thank you to the author, #Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of Wished in exchange for an honest review. I rotated between the ebook and audio formats.

I am the biggest Sarah Ready fan. Getting to read her books early is always such a treat! The Ghosted series as a whole has just been such a lovely world to get lost in. Wished shot to the top for me. It is my second favorite after Ghosted. I loved the references to characters from each of the previous books. A favorite line being “This being a dream is as likely as time travel or switching bodies!”🤣

Where do I even begin!? I was so excited that Monsieur Maximillian Barone got his own story. I was a little surprised at how cold he was to Anna at the beginning. It definitely served the purpose of character and relationship growth, but he didn’t show that side in Fated. He was always the dependable and loving friend. After learning more about him and additional insight into Anna, it all made sense in the end.

It was such an adventure after the initial wish was made. The Paris section was just my ultimate favorite. It was so creatively done how Max and Anna had this unique bond as they navigated life after the first wish. There were some twists and turns along the way, but I felt like nothing was left out. I love that feeling of satisfaction after reading a book that just checked all the heartstring boxes. I loved how honest Anna always way. She was an incredibly likable FMC.

I am SO happy this went back to the format of the first two in the series and have an epilogue from Max’s POV. This even had the prologue by Max, which I thought was spectacular. I loved how their POVs connected. Email subscribers also get a bonus epilogue!

I’d take a story about young Dorene or even Madame Blinken just to never leave this world of splendid magical realism!

The narration was great!

"Wished" by Sarah Ready is a captivating story that transports readers into a world of enchantment. The narrative follows Anna, a young woman with an unwavering belief in magic and genies, as she works as a cleaner at the estate of the gruff and enigmatic Max. One day, while cleaning the library, Anna discovers a necklace with a note claiming it has the power to grant a wish. Seizing the opportunity, she makes a wish for love and marriage, setting off a chain of events that turns both characters' lives upside down. As their unexpected romance unfolds, readers will be drawn into a heartwarming and magical journey.

Sarah Ready masterfully combines elements of fantasy and romance to craft a spellbinding tale that is both whimsical and endearing. Anna's unwavering belief in magic infuses the story with a delightful sense of wonder, while Max's sudden infatuation with the housekeeper brings an element of instant attraction and charm. Both characters are exceptionally well-developed and immensely likable.

In summary, "Wished" is an uplifting and charming read that will resonate with fans of both romance and fantasy. With its lovable characters and enchanting premise, this book is certain to leave readers believing in the enduring magic of love.

“𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

Wished was my first Sarah Ready book and all I can say is WOW! This story had me hooked, and it definitely won’t be my last from this author. I’m almost kicking myself for not discovering her Ghosted series sooner! This was easily one of my favorite reads in September. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄, 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑴𝑪𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 “𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚.”

Max Barone is one of the wealthiest men in Geneva with his expansive jewelry empire. When he crosses paths with Anna Benoit, his quiet housekeeper who has loved him from afar for three years, Max barely knows she exists. However, Anna has learned all about his life and how lonely it is through her work. But when a mysteriously beautiful necklace appears in the Barone library that Anna is cleaning, her wish sets their lives on a course that will intertwine their paths forever.

From the very first chapter, told from Max’s POV, I was sucked into the character's lives and the stunning city of Geneva. The story’s premise is incredibly engaging, with a single wish creating an alternate reality for Anna and Max. And the character development? So. Much. Fun! There were so many profound moments between the two that I found myself pausing to reflect on how I might navigate the same situations.

I also love, love, loved how the story so beautifully illustrates the way bonds form quickly between people and captures that magical shift when you begin to truly see the other person, falling for the small details that make them who they are. Watching Max begin to see Anna, and watching Anna fall even deeper for Max, was just so perfect.

“𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦?”

“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦.”

“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

Seriously, this story is absolutely enchanting, and I didn't want to put it down. I also paired my reading with the audiobook, which was fantastic—one of my favorite narrators, Amanda Ronconi, brought it all to life perfectly! And Max's narrator for the Prologue and Epilogue? WOW. He is exactly how I imagined Max and did such a great job conveying his colder emotions at the beginning of the book and then so much more at the end.

If you’re looking for a great love story with some spice, heartwarming passion, and a protagonist who loves with all she’s got, do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

“𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺. “𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨.”

𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘹 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦—𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.

(4.5⭐s rounded up)

𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
✨ Billionaire romance
✨ Genie-like wish-granting
✨ Pseudo memories
✨ Love at first sight
✨ Whirlwind romance
✨ Great Spice
✨ Opposites attract

This audiobook really had me hooked from the very first chapter and had me hooked throughout the entire thing. It was funny, sweet, and totally swoon-worthy!

After reading Fated, book three in the Ghosted series, I really felt bad for Max. His best friend turns down his marriage proposal because she has found the love of her life. Granted, Max wasn’t madly in love with her, he just thought she would be a good fit. My heart still broke for him. I was really excited to find out that book four was Max’s story. I think I enjoyed this one more than Fated.

Anna Benoit is adorable and honest to a fault. She has a great family and support system. While working for her employer, Max, she makes a wish that comes true - that she is married to Max. Max and Anna are the only ones in this alternate reality aware that things have changed, so they have to work together to get back to reality, if they want. This story line gave me some Hallmark movie vibes where someone makes a wish and they get to see how love changes everything mixed with Cinderella. Sarah Ready took these, mixed things up, and gave it some needed spice. The chemistry between Anna and Max is absolutely magical.

I switched back and forth from ebook to audiobook. Most of the book is narrated by Amanda Ronconi, who really make the characters come to life. She adjusts her voice for the different emotions and the different characters. Will Watt narrates the prologue and epilogue from Max’s POV. He did a fine job narrating, but I preferred when Amanda was narrating.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.