Hi there! I’m back again to review a book from an author whose work I’ve loved before. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
Back in 2020, I was introduced to Minnie Darke from her release of The Lost Love Song, which I was approved for and reviewed on NetGalley (and you can read my review here). I fell in love with the story of Arie grieving the loss of his wife, Diana, Evie trying to find herself in a new city, and a myriad of other individuals touched by the last song Diana composed before she died. The writing was incredible and I loved the method of storytelling – I even picked up Darke’s first novel Star-Crossed, which centers horoscopes, which I haven’t yet had the chance to read. So when the kind individuals at Penguin Random House reached out and said I was preapproved to read her newest novel, With Love From Wish & Co., I couldn’t click the email fast enough to add it to my NetGalley queue.
Marnie Fairchild is the brains and talent behind Wish & Co., a boutique store that offers a unique gift-buying experience. Throughout the years, Marnie has garnered several wealthy clients with… complicated lives that need her assistance with their gift-buying needs. Her longest and most loyal customer is Brian Charlesworth, who currently needs an anniversary gift for his wife, Suzanne… and a birthday present for his mistress, Leona [as these occasions happen to fall on the same day]. Marnie has had her sights set on moving Wish & Co. to the historic shopfront once owned by her grandfather, and when an opportunity to bid for the property unexpectedly arrives in Marnie’s lap, it causes her to make a mistake. A tiny one. With monumental circumstances. Soon, gifts arrive at the wrong addresses, Brian is struggling to keep his marriage intact, and Marnie is scrambling to keep her dreams alive because if she loses him as a client the storefront is unattainable. As the next few weeks become a whirlwind of emotions, the last thing Marnie expects is to meet, and possibly fall for, Suzanne and Brian’s son, Luke Charlesworth.
One thing I admire so much about Minnie Darke’s novels are her ways of storytelling. I knew we were going to follow Marnie, as Wish & Co. is her business, and Brian, as his affair is found out due to a mistake being made. But what I didn’t expect was getting to follow Suzanne, as her heart becomes broken at the news of her husband’s [repeated] infidelity, Leone, Brian’s mistress as she grapples with Brian’s response to the news being found out, and Luke, who has his own secrets to be kept hidden for now [and since it’s not in the synopsis I don’t want to spoil his storyline, but it was one of my favorite parts watching his arc apart from Marnie’s]. While at first it felt disjointed – there were so many shifts in perspective before the “main event” (there’s an initial countdown to the implosion of the Charlesworth marriage), by the time we reached the end I felt so heavily for all of these characters, and their feelings and emotions felt so incredibly raw and honest. There was hurt, anger, distrust, and loneliness, but also love in its many forms – for a partner, for a child, for a friend, all of it. Everyone wants a chance at a new beginning, to start over with the knowledge past mistakes have taught them and move forward to make the future even better than the past and present. I struggled to call this novel strictly a romance, because while yes, it does follow Luke and Marnie and their love story, it follows so much more than just their lives. It was absolutely lovely to see.
No one in the book is perfect. They all occasionally make selfish decisions and don’t see how their actions will affect other people around them. They get angry, respond irrationally, and later, when they can see things more clearly, they can own up to their mistakes and apologize. They might not understand people’s actions or perspectives, and might go about asking in inappropriate way that cause discomfort. But at the end of the day, this is a group of individuals who ultimately want what is best for each other, and will strive to achieve that in what they believe to be the best way possible. I loved watching this story unfold the way it did.
In conclusion, this just makes me even more excited to pick up Star-Crossed, and probably any future novels Minnie Darke wants to grace us with. Her method of storytelling is such a joy to read, and I hope that the story of Marnie, Luke, Brian, Suzanne, and Leone can resonate with readers who need it, as it is ultimately one of love and new beginnings. With Love From Wish & Co. is set to be released [in the U.S.] on August 16th, 2022, which is the day this post goes live, so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and picking up a copy for yourself if you’re interested. *Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Ballantine Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Where to find With Love From Wish & Co.:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Penguin Random House
Minnie Darke’s site
Thoughts About Things 