Review: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteenth sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. And a boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride… but they MUST STOP. Because when she was 15? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her.
And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend. (YA - Fiction)

Review:
My friend Tiger (from All Consuming Books) reviewed As You Wish last week and had me downloading the book pronto! You can read her more detailed review for the book HERE but I’m just going to get to the gushing.
I was completely hooked by the first sentence.

“People say I’m a glass half-empty person. I guess they’re right, because I’ve never understood why anyone would see it as half full, when clearly something is missing.”

That’s my outlook on life – in a nutshell. LOL!
Quick summary: Kayla’s life stinks – she makes a wish at her sweet 16 birthday party – she wishes all the birthday wishes she’s ever made come true. They do. Each wish comes to life, one wish a day for two weeks. A real, live My Little Pony, Raggedy Ann & Ken, a year’s supply of gumballs, speaking fluent Italian, getting a kiss from the boy you’ve crushed on since forever (even if he’s your best friend’s boyfriend) ,going from flat chested to a size D and more!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED You Wish! It made me happy, it made me wistful, it made me tear up, it made me laugh out loud. I’m probably overselling it a tad but as many of my devoted followers know I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump. This sounded like a quick, fun read so I picked it up around 7pm with intention of going to bed early that night. 11:30pm rolls around and I’m still glued telling myself “one more chapter”. It’s an over the top concept where you just have to suspend your disbelief and go with it but everyone is so likeable and relatable, it’s easy. Hubbard had a perfect balance of fun, yet sweet with a touch of romance. No one element overpowered the other.
The story is aimed at the younger end of YA but it has such a sense of nostalgia that I think anyone at any age could relate to it. You Wish touches on friendships, first love, families and growing up while still remaining true to yourself. One thing I loved is that Kayla has problems and is a pessimist at heart but she never whines and is always willing to learn.
I found myself in a fit of giggles several times. Ken buying his muscle milk at the health food store, kissing his biceps and buying tank tops in every color... Ann having a Cinnabon roll for the first time… the pony walking into the middle of a motocross event…Kayla trying to wield control over her new D sized boobs.
There are a few life lessons snuck in for good measure. Don’t close yourself off to new experiences because you’re afraid what others will think of you, (I’m still learning that one at age 45!), play with your toys…even when you grow up, be willing to change and grow.
I think you get the point – I loved the book…..lol
So much that I downloaded it on Kindle but I will in fact go buy the book so I can pick it up when I’m feeling down.
Gushing complete.

Rating: 4 out of 4 Adorable! I will definitely be checking out the authors other books which I have heard good things about.

*If you liked Forgive My Fins or Paranormalcy you will probably love You Wish too.

Author's website: Mandy Hubbard
Twitter: @MandyHubbard
Buy the book! You Wish