The Wish by Nicholas Sparks got many mixed reviews mainly because the main character as an adult is dealing with terminal cancer and at the age of 16 ended up pregnant and falling in love with another teenager.The Wish is about a character dealing with terminal cancer and I get how it can be upsetting or triggering to those affected by cancer. A warning would show sensitivity to those dealing with or impacted by cancer. Now, to dislike this book because it praises teenage pregnancy seems a bit of a stretch.
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Table of Contents
What The Wish ISN’T About…
This book is not about either of those two things. Yes, it mentions terminal cancer but that isn’t what the story is about. To say it is diminishes the true beauty of the book. It also isn’t about praising teenage pregnancy. Yes, it happened but the focus is on the path it took her on and how her decisions sculpted her into who she had become – a well known photographer.
What this Book IS About
The Wish is about a woman reflecting back on her life as she nears the end. It’s also a book about family relationships, friendships and a love for photography. And – it’s about love – unforgetable and unconditional love.
Ultimately, The Wish is about life choices, regrets, what-ifs and the wish for second chances and answers. Maggie’s life wasn’t perfect and she made decisions that she had to live with but haven’t we all? I don’t think my teenage self would read this book and think it is promoting teenage pregnancy. Seriously, she gets ripped from her home to be sent away to live with her aunt who she really didn’t even know. Then ripped away again to return home as if it never happened after she gave birth. It all seems pretty awful. Doesn’t exactly scream – “Ah, let me go get pregnant.” So not sure I understand why people think this book praises teenage pregnancy. If anything it displays a bit of the ugly side of teenage pregnancy. Maybe it’s because she falls in love while pregnant? Or that a teenage boy falls in love with her while pregnant…that’s problematic?! That’s just shallow. For me, this story felt real and genuine.
Overall Thoughts
I was completely immersed in the story and though a little predictable at times – I still had questions. Like will she really give the baby away and what would come of her and Bryce. I won’t tell you but I was shocked at the turn of events. One thing that was weird for me was the question whether or not the aunt was a lesbian. It was just one line in the story and it kind of just felt like a wrinkle in the story that didn’t add any real value.
This isn’t your romance novel like The Notebook by Sparks but it feels real and there’s beauty in that. We all have made choices and experienced consequences and circumstances that defined who we are. Not all stories have happy endings. We don’t all live grand lives but we all have stories worth telling. Stories that are beautiful in their own way because they are real. People can relate to real and sometimes we need that more than an escape of grand romance and happy endings.
Do I Recommend this Book?
I recommend this book with the fair warning that it is about a character with terminal cancer. I give The Wish by Nicholas Sparks 5 Heartbeats. Okay, I hope I didn’t reveal too much of the book – just enough to make you want to read it and form your own opinion.
Oh, and if you do decide to read the book be sure to come back and let me know your thoughts especially the ending. Not the predictable ending that terminal cancer yields but the other one.
Looking for a happy ending? Check out my book review on The Twelve Dates of Christmas