Review: As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Pages: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: September 1st, 2009
IBSN: 9780061661525

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

[Synopsis by Goodreads]

Viola, since her boyfriend came out, has felt broken and empty and like she doesn't belong. She spends her time wishing, until one day her wishes summon a jinn - a genie - who is bound to her until she makes three wishes. From there, it evolves into your average star-crossed romance. Viola and Jinn fall in love, and Viola has to be careful: if she makes her third wish, he's gone forever.

As You Wish opens with Viola sitting in English class with Shakespeare teaching her that "sometimes you have to fall in love with the wrong person just so you can find the right person", but she doesn't believe that. She knows, from experience, that "a more useful lesson would've been: sometimes the right person doesn't love you back. Or sometimes the right person is gay. Or sometimes you just aren't the right person." (Page 1)

Viola's an average teen: insecure, plain, not-popular-but-not-unpopular. She's easily relatable, but not exactly interesting to read about. Plus, her whole "I don't belong. I don't feel whole" mantra got on my nerves.

The plot is light and predictable: unlikely couple meet and fall in love, face some kind of obstacle, overcome it. Though, I don't want to sound like it was painful to read, because it wasn't. It was enjoyable and sweet, but I usually like my stories more intense.

Jackson Pearce's writing style is simple, sometimes humorous, and engaging. She devised a unique premise and executed it well.

The short version: As You Wish is a light, sweet paranormal romance, but without a whole lot of depth.

I give As You Wish a 3 out of 5, and recommend it to fans of light paranormal romance.