How Not to Make a Wish

by Mindy Klasky

Book Overview

While cleaning an old lantern, Kira Franklin releases a genie. But this gender-morphing, appearance-bending creature doesn't do "big" wishes. So forget stopping world hunger or ending war. And still heartbroken from the jerk who dumped her, Kira doesn't believe in the perfect man. So she wishes for her dream job. Stage manager at the hottest theater in town, the Landmark. And presto: she's running Romeo and Juliet . Except, like everything else these...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 077832737X
• ISBN13: 9780778327370
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Wishes come true

Kira Franklin has had a bad year. Her fience dumped her the year before and it looks like she is going to get laid off from her job. Then in an instant her life goes from morose to confusing. While clearing out things to sell at the theater she works at she finds an old lamp like something out of Aladin. It is pretty dirty so she stars rubbing off the dirt and out comes a man that looks like he came out of Saturday Night Fever. He is a genie and his name is Teel. The first wish Kira makes is to have a job at a well known theater, and has her hands full with a gender bending version of Romeo and Juliet. Then Kira makes a wish so that the weight she gained during the year disapears. Teel then decides to help her out while giving Kira magic lypo to increase her bust size by a wide margin. With Kira's new life comes some interesting complications-one of which is a gender bender Tell who can transform between a male to female with ease. A very interesting read that is hard to put down.

Fantasy Chick Lit

Kira Franklin is in a dead-end job and unsure about her future, when she comes across a magic lamp. And a genie, named Teel, appears and must grant her wishes. Told that larger wishes, such as world peace and ending hunger, would take too many years to resolve, Kira must focus on herself. Deciding her first need is a job, she quickly wishes for her dream job. Her next wishes soon follow, but what Kira thought she wanted doesn't turn out to be so her ideal. In true chick lit fashion, How Not to Make a Wish is more about Kira's journey and learning about herself than it is romance or fantasy. Though there are strong elements of both romance and fantasy as well. The incredibly likeable and relatable Kira has gone through heartbreak and still makes unwise choices. But she learns from her mistakes. While, some of her choices surprised me - I assumed that she'd do the selfless thing and free the genie with one of her wishes. Instead, it seems to never enter her mind. Maybe this is so the series can continue, but for some reason it didn't sit well with me. Teel was a main character and stated his case several times for wanting Kira to hurry her wishes so he could possibly enter his idyllic, Eden-like garden. But other than the selfish wishes, this was an incredibly fun and fast-paced read. Klasky is a gifted author that pulled me into the story immediately. The narrative is charming, warm, and witty. This will appeal particularly to chick lit fans, which is a broad category in itself. It's light-hearted and fun and will leave you wishing for more.

What would you do with your wishes?

I was very excited when I heard Klasky was coming out with a new book. I've read all of her other novels and enjoyed them. This one did not disappoint. It takes you to that magical realm where you are granted wishes and even makes you wonder what you would do in the same situation. Also makes you realize that sometimes the old adage is true "be careful of what you wish for"

amusing contemporary

The competition is fierce and cut throat as Fox Hill stage manager Kira Franklin sorts through the debris of dusty junk seeking an angle to save the dinner theatre. She finds a lamp that she assumes was from some long ago production and starts to clean it to see if there is any sale value. However to her shock, her polishing releases Teel the genie. He tells her he will grant her wishes, but keep them reasonable as eliminating world hunger is outside his range though extinction would do the trick. Scornfully Kira fails to read the contract with its four wishes but instead sarcastically wishes for the job she covets and is stunned gets it as she now works at the Landmark Stage. However, that proves not to match her fantasy as her boss is an insane egomaniac; her other wishes turn out as poorly as her first one. Then again, the one wish she did not make involves set designer John McRae, but as she falls in love with him she knows he is leaving. Fans will get what we wish for as Mindy Klasky provides a jocular over the top of the entire Midwest refreshing tale filled with poignancy as chick lit heroine Kira gives a first hand account of her desires, sneezes, and failed wishes; Murphy had nothing go wrong compared to her. Lighthearted, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH is an amusing contemporary as the audience and Kira wonder how can seemingly innocent wishes go so badly and she wishes she had no more coming. Harriet Klausner

A fun, fast, and utterly charming read! A Must have book!

I read and loved Mindy Klasky's other books, and thought that there was no way that this new one could live up to her first paranormal series. Boy, was I wrong! If anything, this book was even better! I'd give it six stars, if I could. Kira, the protagonist, is warm and real and likeable, and all the other characters seem like people you might know from your own life (only funnier and better looking). I can't wait for the next one in this series--I've already bought extras of this book to give to my friends! You HAVE to buy this book.