The Wishing Game Audiobook by Meg Shaffer

I first listened to “The Wishing Game” by Meg Shaffer on a slow Sunday morning, tucked in my favorite corner armchair with sunlight filtering through the curtains—a fitting setting for a story that feels like stepping into a world built from both heartbreak and hope. As someone who grew up clutching beloved childhood books as lifelines, Lucy Hart’s journey resonated deeply with me; her longing for family and belonging felt so real that I found myself rooting for her at every twist of the competition.

Lucy is one of those rare protagonists whose struggles mirror not just our own vulnerabilities but also our quiet strengths. Her past—shaped by loneliness—mirrors what many book lovers feel: sometimes, stories become family before people do. That sense of kinship shines as she nurtures Christopher, the orphaned boy she dreams of adopting. The way Meg Shaffer entwines their hopes (and fears) gives this whimsical tale an emotional undercurrent that left me misty-eyed more than once.

Much of the novel takes place on Clock Island—the fantastical realm where author Jack Masterson has staged his mysterious contest. There’s such vivid imagination in Shaffer’s writing: puzzles hidden in plain sight, eccentric fellow contestants, and sudden bursts of wonder reminiscent of classic stories like Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket—but always grounded by real emotion and stakes you care about.

The audiobook format works beautifully for this kind of narrative—it magnifies the warmth and whimsy while underscoring moments of tension or doubt. Although I couldn’t find specific information about the narrator, whoever voices Lucy manages to capture her vulnerability without making her sound weak—and her resilience without tipping into cliché pluckiness. The other characters are distinctly rendered too: Jack Masterson is every bit the enigmatic mastermind you hope for; Hugo Reese (the moody illustrator with a soft center) adds both sparks and softness to Lucy’s quest; even minor characters linger in your mind after scenes end.

What truly stands out is how “The Wishing Game” becomes a meta-love letter to storytelling itself—to those secret wishes we all tuck away between pages when life feels lonely or uncertain. There were moments when I had to pause listening just to let certain lines settle—a testament to Shaffer’s knack for combining magical realism with genuine heartache and joy.

If there’s any drawback here, it might be that parts of the competition arc feel familiar if you’re well-versed in “chosen one” narratives or literary scavenger hunts. But honestly? The comfort was part of its charm—I didn’t need sharp-edged originality so much as sincerity, which this audiobook delivers again and again.

In summary: This is an utterly charming listen filled with nostalgia but never weighed down by it—a story as comforting as being read aloud to on a rainy day. For anyone who ever wished themselves onto Narnia’s doorstep or Hogwarts’ train platform—or simply hoped someone would choose them—“The Wishing Game” will hit home in all the best ways.