Wish You Were Here

Lake Chicopee harbors an unusual secret - when visitors fall in while making a wish, they don't drown but instead encounter supernatural forces that grant their desires. A playful ghost has made it their mission to ensure people keep stumbling into these magical waters. The novel follows various characters whose lives intersect at this mysterious Iowa lake, each bringing their own wishes and complications to its shores. Their encounters with the lake's peculiar properties lead to unexpected consequences and transformations. This comedic fantasy combines British humor with American midwest settings, mixing supernatural elements with everyday situations and misunderstandings. The story builds through multiple character perspectives and interconnected events. The narrative explores themes of desire, satisfaction, and the often ironic nature of wish fulfillment, suggesting that getting what we want may not always lead to the happiness we expect.

Readers describe this as a lighthearted fantasy novel that doesn't quite reach the heights of Holt's other works. Readers appreciate: - The quirky British humor and wordplay - The creative take on mythological creatures - Fast-paced plot that keeps moving - The inclusion of memorable side characters Common criticisms: - Plot feels scattered and hard to follow - Main character comes across as bland - Jokes sometimes fall flat or feel forced - Ending resolves too abruptly Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (80+ ratings) "The story meanders too much between subplots" notes one Goodreads reviewer, while another mentions "the clever dialogue makes up for the messy narrative." Amazon reviewers frequently mention enjoying the absurdist elements but wanting more character development. Multiple readers compare it unfavorably to Holt's Flying Dutch and Expecting Someone Taller.

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🌊 Lake Chicopee is fictional, but Iowa is home to over 160 natural lakes, primarily formed by glacial activity during the last ice age. 📚 Tom Holt has written over 40 novels, many under his own name and others under the pseudonym K.J. Parker, spanning multiple genres including historical fiction and fantasy comedy. 🎭 The concept of wishes gone awry is deeply rooted in folklore, with the most famous example being "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs, published in 1902. 🇬🇧 British comic fantasy, the genre this book belongs to, gained significant popularity in the 1980s, largely thanks to authors like Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. 👻 The tradition of mischievous spirits or trickster ghosts appears in cultures worldwide, from Native American folklore to Japanese yokai stories.