A review by coleyelizabeth
Make My Wish Come True by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i’m a certified grinch and not super into the whole concept of holiday cheer. despite that, i am still a sucker for a christmas romcom. being able to live vicariously through book characters is one of the few ways i find myself in the festive spirit. make my wish come true was not an exception and would have been even more fun to read in and around christmas and hanukkah.

it follows teen hollywood star, arden james, who in order to get a role goes back to her small festive hometown with the hopes of changing her image. part of the plan is to fake a relationship with her childhood best friend and budding journalist, caroline beckett, whom she left behind years prior. 

this book has all the elements of a feel good hallmark movie with the added drama of hollywood and the struggles of coming of age as a queer woman. there’s a loveable range of characters and a setting that feels like an additional character itself. it explores how difficult it can be to be your complete self sometimes, with arden’s public vs private persona and caroline’s belief that she is neither jewish nor christian enough. it’s light and fluffy but it doesn’t shy away from those deeper themes. arden’s relationship with her grandmother is also a real highlight of this book for me. i always love to see characters that have such a close bond with a grandparent, as i did with my own. 

thank you netgalley and simon & schuster for the eARC in exchange for honest review.