Twenty Wishes (A Blossom Street Novel)

I hadn't read Debbie Macomber before and really didn't have any expectations going in. The beginning was slow. Very slow. A lot of characters were thrown at the reader all at once, and not only was it hard to tell them all apart, but I really didn't care about any of them. The book opens with a meeting of a widows club on Valentine's Day, so I was thinking, great, this is going to be depressing. Thankfully, it wasn't. Instead, the widows agree to make a list of twenty wishes that they want to fulfill, with the whole idea being self-care and moving on with their lives instead of dwelling on the past.

I found the actual idea of the book to be inspiring. The list seemed like such a great idea (I even considered writing one myself, because I'm a sucker for lists), but I felt like the execution of the story fell short. The ending was predictable. There were really no twists or anything unexpected in the plot, what little of it there was. By a quarter of the way in, I already knew the ending, basically. The characters were mostly forgettable. They felt flat to me and uninteresting, and I found that, for the most part, I really didn't care if they finished their lists or not.

Overall, I think this is a decent read if you're looking for something really simple and straightforward, something with a good message and some positive, maybe inspiring vibes. It's definitely got that going. Just don't expect much plot-wise or character-wise.

This is a short book that I listened to on audio CD. The story was nice and light for the most part. The romances in the book were rather juvenile, though. If you are a fan of audio books, you know a reader can make or break a book. The reader in this book was not that good. She wasn't able to change her voice for the various characters, very much. Everyone pretty much sounded the same, except for some reason, an adult named Barbie talked like a 5 year old and the child in the book talked like an adult. Go figure. Always amazes me that the readers for this author's books articulate the words "iced tea", yet say "chew" instead of "you". The book itself is light and enjoyable, predictable, but then this author's books are all that way. Nothing exciting or unpredictable.

Debbie Macomber doesn't write heavy Russian novels with tragic heroines and deep, multi-layered plots. She writes novels that appeal to millions of ordinary women. So why do I think this simply delightful book could change your life? It's because she compels you to do one tiny little thing---make a list of twenty things you want to do in life. She invites you to celebrate hope, to fill that nagging void in your life, and to tell your brain the secrets of your heart.

Anne Marie Roche, the widowed owner of Blossom Street Books, invites three other widows to celebrate with her what could have been a sad Valentine's Day for all four. At thirty-eight, Anne Marie still longs for the child she never had. Her husband Robert already had a family when she married him and he had no desire to start another and be mistaken for his child's grandfather.

The other widows are Barbie Foster, forty-something mother of twin boys, who lost both her husband and father in the same fatal plane crash; her mother, Lillie Higgins, a sixtyish society matron; and Elise Beaumont, a retired librarian who'd reconnected with her husband after thirty years apart, only to lose him again after three.

While Lillie and Barbie set about accomplishing their lists with gusto, Anne Marie moves a bit slower and needs the guiding hand of Elise to steer her on a quest to find one good thing about her life. A Lunch Buddy program at the local school leads her to Ellen, a shy eight-year-old, and to a surprisingly rewarding life that includes knitting, dancing in the rain, and the trip to Paris she has always wanted to take. Anne Marie's life fills with happiness and love, not in the way she imagined it would, but in a way that will leave the reader deeply satisfied. (You'll probably also fall in love with Baxter, her tail-wagging Yorkshire terrier pictured on the cover and charming from beginning to end).

What these four women learn about love and life, but mostly about themselves, will have you turning the pages and cheering for them. Most of all, it will set your brain spinning about the things you want to accomplish in your own life. Don't be surprised to find that by the time you finish the book you'll have your own list of twenty wishes.

Debbie's writing is sophisticated enough that you don't feel like you're reading junk, but easy to read and immerse yourself in immediately. This book connects you with the characters from the start and has you interested in each person's story as if it were a separate book. I tried reading another author this summer and after 68 pages stopped, but with this book I was already hooked by the second paragraph. Easy to read, even if you haven't read any other Blossom Street books.

I borrowed a copy of this book's audio CD from my local library.

Four widows meet for a party on Valentine's Day and come up with the idea of making a list of Twenty Wishes to help them find joy again and figure out how to continue after the death of their spouse. Each of them starts to make a list of twenty things they want to do and lives begin to change. Some of them find a new love, one volunteers as a lunch buddy for a young girl and this changes her life. As they talk to friends about the twenty wishes, more people start to make wishes and good things happen for many of them.

The story is based on Blossom Street in Seattle, Washington and the description of the local scenery and weather adds to the story. Baxter, the dog also plays an important part of the story and all dog lovers will adore him. By the end of the story, I felt like making Twenty Wishes of my own...

There are a few things that I know when I settle into my favorite chair to read one of Debbie Macomber's books: sleep is overrated, popcorn is considered a dinner delicacy in some circles and finally, I know this book's gonna be great!

With Twenty Wishes - A Blossom Street Book, Macomber does it again, creating a heartwarming story about four widows: Anne Marie Roche, Elise Beaumont, and the mother/daughter duo of Lillie Higgins and Barbie Foster. Together these four choose to celebrate Valentine's Day embracing their friendship, and end up leaving with a new way to look at life, with a list of twenty wishes.

As the women dance on packing bubbles, eat chocolate and drink champagne, they begin tossing out ideas on what they could do to get out of the slump they've all been feeling since the loss of their loved ones. Soon the idea of twenty wishes takes flight, and for Anne Marie means, "Twenty dreams written down. Twenty possibilities that would give her a reason to look toward the future instead of staying mired in her grief."

Finding one good thing about life tops the list for Anne Marie. So at the urging of Elise, Anne Marie accepts an invitation to volunteer as a lunch buddy at a local elementary school and befriends little eight-year-old Ellen. As the friendship blossoms, Anne Marie shares with Ellen the idea behind her wish book and Ellen creates her own wish list. Soon they are venturing into uncharted waters, daring to dream dreams and realizing that sometimes wishes do come true.

What I love about Twenty Wishes is the hope-inspired feeling that resonates through each character. From beginning to end, I am uplifted, encouraged and positively charged with the notion that life has so much good to offer. I love how Macomber prompts us to believe that even if we've been through horrible heartaches such as in losing a loved one, that we too can make a change in ourselves and in the lives around us to create a new and brighter future with just one wish.

Armchair Interviews says: Debbie Macomber does it again-with great style!

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Anne Marie Roche is floundering. After the recent loss of her estranged husband, she has no family except her beloved dog. She owns a successful book store on Blossom Street, but even so, feels something is missing in her life. The highlight of her life is the bond she developed with several other widowed women who frequent her book store.

Now, on Valentine's day, Anne Marie and her friends Lillie Higgins and her daughter Barbie Foster, and Elise Beaumont make a pact. Each will compile a list of Twenty Wishes for things they want to but have never done. One of the items on Anne Marie's list, to do good for someone else, leads her into a relationship with a third-grade girl, Ellen, and a new life she never imagined. Sometimes, wishes really do come true in the most unlikely of ways.

Twenty Wishes is a heart-warming story about finding your greatest desire in the last place you'd ever expect to find it. Anne is in a funk and while resistant at first, being drawn into the lunch buddy program at a local school makes a world of difference. Ellen is a delightful girl who is in an unfortunate situation. Anne Marie's relationship with Ellen changes Anne Marie in so many ways when circumstances thrust Ellen into her life more fully than Anne Marie wanted. Yet with time, Anne Marie learns to open her heart once more and gradually blossoms into the woman she is meant to be, all because of young Ellen.

Elise does not play a very large part in the story, her role being more about encouraging Anne Marie to step out of her sheltered life. However, it was wonderful to get to visit with Elise and see how she's fared since her husband Maverick died. (See A Good Yarn.) Lillie and Barbie though each get their own story. Lillie and Barbie have always been close but losing their husbands at the same time in the same accident forms an even stronger bond as they helped each other deal with the grief. Both are ready to love again and they each find it in the one place they never would have imagined.

Lillie and Barbie have their own challenges to face. Lillie finds herself falling for a kindly gentleman who just happens to be the salesman who sold her the brand new red sports car she had on her own wish list. The differences in their social classes causes Lillie to fear what the other high-society women she knows would think about her affair with a lowly working class man. Barbie finds herself inexplicably attracted to a surly wheelchair bound man she meets at the movie theater. Her own challenges involve getting him to come out of his shell and let go of the bitterness that has engulfed him since he became physically impaired. These two romantic relationships cause friction between Lillie and Barbie, forcing them to re-evaluate their lives to determine what truly matters to them in the end.

What can I say? Debbie Macomber pulled me into her world less than a year ago with one book and now I can't get enough! Twenty Wishes, a part of the Knitting series, brings us back to the lovely little street of Blossom Street, and all its wonderful residents. However, while knitting does come into play a little bit, the focus here is Anne Marie's book store rather than A Good Yarn. I did miss visiting with Lydia though she does make an appearance here, but I enjoyed getting to know Anne Marie and company immensely. I had to wonder while reading, just how many other women who read Twenty Wishes, will be inspired to develop their own wish lists and change their lives. I know I started thinking of what my own twenty wishes would be. It is absolutely impossible not to be moved by any story Debbie Macomber writes and Twenty Wishes just reinforces my belief that she is one of the most amazingly talented authors I have ever had the pleasure of encountering.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2008. All rights reserved.

Valentine's Day, turned out to be a pivotal day for Anne Marie Roche and some of her widowed friends as they got together to celebrate what had once been a romantic holiday for each of them. As the most recent widow, Anne Marie felt empty and deprived since the thing she wanted most in life, was the thing that had come between she and her husband. In a whimsical mood the widows decided that each should make a list of the things they'd always dreamt of doing but had not yet done in their lives. At the top of Anne Marie's list was to find one good thing about life; learn to knit; do something good for someone else; and falling in love again.

Elise Beaumont suggested to Anne Marie to volunteer as a `lunch buddy' at the local grammar school. Not truly enthusiastic, but willing to give it a try, Anne Marie met 8 year old Ellen who would help Anne Marie, not only make her wishes come true but find some of the best things in life she had all but forgotten existed.

*** For any reader who looks for a book to provide the most excellent reading pleasure along with a totally satisfied feeling of fulfillment, they must add Debbie Macomber to the top of their reading list. In reading this story, I am reminded of a bit of advice from a dear friend who once told me, "God hears all your prayers .... Only sometimes he says, "no."" HE may say "no" to what you want but He may answer them in a way you never would have guessed and Macomber wrote a splendid story in showing just that.

Returning to the fictional Blossom Street of Seattle, setting of several other stories, i.e. A GOOD YARN; the SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET, etc., Macomber introduces Anne Marie Roche who is still reeling from the sudden death of her husband Robert as they were about to reconcile after a brief separation. The separation had been Anne Marie's idea in order to convince her husband how serious she was to have his child. After his death and age 38, her regret over that ploy and guilt had just about drained the life out of her. Then she and her friends came up with an idea to get themselves all out of the doldrums. Make a wish list, no matter how silly or whimsical, but just make a list and see if they couldn't make some of their wishes come true.

At the top of Anne Marie's list was a simple wish, find something good about life (or in other words, be happy). By volunteering to be a `lunch buddy', Anne Marie soon found the joy in life, along with finally getting out and "acting" on some of her other wishes.

Although Anne Marie and her relationships with young Ellen, as well as her `strained' relationship with step-daughter Melissa were the focus in the story, Macomber filled this book with two other delightful stories that were equally engrossing. The well-to-do mother daughter widows, Lillie and Barbie, who'd both lost their husbands together in a plane accident, were also extremely entertaining as they made their lists. In the most entertaining way, author Debbie Macomber showed them each finding their hearts true desire in the most unlikely of places and not as either of them would have ever expected.

Bottom line: If your wish, like Anne Marie's is to "find something good about life" then just pick up TWENTY WISHES and you'll find something fantastic. Highly recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau

Thirty-eight-year old Anne Marie Roche's husband Robert died less than a year ago, while the couple was in the midst of reconciling from a painful separation. During her marriage, Anne Marie dreamed of becoming a mother. But Robert, who had been married before and had a daughter and son by his first wife, wanted no part of her dream of motherhood. Now, Anne Marie not only mourns the loss of her spouse, she also grieves for the child they never had together.

As the owner of the popular and successful Blossom Street Books, her days are filled meeting her customers' needs, spoiling Baxter, her beloved Yorkie, and spending time with her friends. Yet she yearns for happiness and desperately feels the need to do something more with her life.

On Valentine's Day, Anne Marie and several of her widowed friends get together to celebrate their friendship and console one another over lost loves. They also begin to make lists of 20 things they've always wanted to do but never pulled off. The lists of 20 wishes are as varied as the women writing them down. Lillie wants to "fall in love with an honorable man." At the top of Anne Marie's list is "Find one good thing about life."

When a friend mentions the satisfaction she receives from being a "Lunch Buddy" for a student at a local school, Anne Marie decides to volunteer for the program herself. Her previous relationship as a stepmother to her stepdaughter Melissa wasn't a pleasant experience, so she's not quite sure how to act around Ellen, the eight-year-old girl she is paired with for lunch. After sharing a meal with Ellen in the school cafeteria, Anne Marie realizes that volunteering to be a friend to this child is quite rewarding and uplifting.

But when Anne Marie returns home, she receives a message from her troubled stepdaughter telling her they need to talk. Later, after receiving distressing news about Robert from Melissa, Anne Marie begins to doubt if she will ever be able to find one good thing about life at all.

Debbie Macomber knows how to connect with her readers. In TWENTY WISHES she has created a novel with sympathetic and realistic characters who care deeply about others and have a zest for life. It is a feel-good story about forgiveness, love and new beginnings.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

This book was highly recommended by one of the store.com's top reviewers and although I wasn't "bowled over", I am glad that I read it - it was a charming tale of what can happen when likeminded people - although bonded by grief come together and make plans to change their lives for the better.

Anne Marie is a thirty-eight year old widow finding it difficult to escape the depression brought upon by her husband's death, and the knowledge that he cheated on her - add poignancy to the fact that shortly before his death, they had decided to try and re-unite. Having never had children because of her husband's wishes, Anne Marie finds herself alone, except for the faithful companionship of her beloved dog, Baxter.

She finds pride in running her bookshop on Blossom Street - apparently the place-to-be in a Debbie Macomber series. This is the first book of hers that I've read and I found her story well paced and the characters interesting but her writing style is just a little too "pat" for my tastes, although judging by Macomber's huge following - I think it will be okay if I take a pass on future stories. Despite these reservations, this was a clear, fast paced read and I especially enjoyed the character of Ellen - a little girl that Anne Marie is paired up with in a "Lunch Buddies" program. This was just one piece of advice given to Anne Marie at the "widows" meetings that she and the other widows familiar with Blossom Street attend. She's told that one way to help lessen her depression might be to get out there and do something good for someone else. Anne Marie is a little hesitant to get too involved in the quiet, shy little girl's life, but finds that her heart opens to the small girl and that she does find a way to take solace in her problems in light of focusing on helping Ellen.

Anne Marie gets a chance to face one particular "demon" head-on when dealing with her step-daughter, Melissa, now a troubled young woman that needs her help. Anne-Marie can't help but mistrust Melissa's motives when all of their past dealings have been disastrous - in this way the two come together to heal some of the bad blood that exists between them and they find their way to heal after Anne Marie's husband's death.

I do find the idea of keeping a list of "wishes" - all of your hearts' delight - and I think it's a great way to make improvements in your 0life. Anne Marie finds that in chronicling and updating her wishes as she makes them come true, she is able to find what she's wanted most and the novel ends with her about to achieve another heartfelt wish and she has someone she loves to share it with.

The cover art on this book is lovely and gives readers a glimpse of the bookshop and Anne Marie's buddy Baxter and makes you "wish" for a well padded arm chair and rows and rows of good "friends" - your own favorite books.

After reading several murder mysteries and then "The Hunger Games" I was ready for something uplifting so chose Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber. This is contemporary fiction that I found to be heart warming and inspirational. It's about Ann Marie, owner of a bookstore and a terrier named Baxter who is a widow and gets together with a group of other widows who all make a list of 20 wishes which change their outlook and their life. The main plot is about Ann Marie reluctantly volunteering to be a lunch buddy to a very shy 8-yr.old girl, Ellen, once a week at the school and how that not only changes her life, but how each of them make the others wishes come true. This book is all about relationships and moving out of your comfort zone to live life.

This book is full of romance, mother-daughter relationships, dealing with grief and moving forward with your life. I liked this book because I loved the main story line about Ann Marie, her dog, her relationship with her stepdaughter and Ellen and think any woman would enjoy it. The romance in it was also humorous. It was a delightful read! It inspired me to start a wish list too.

Part of the Blossom Street series, this is my first Debbie Macomber book. It did drag significantly in the beginning; I thought I would read my self-required 50 pages before abandoning the book. However, the action picked up and I was happy to finish the tale. Seattleite Ann Marie and several other widows see each other socially quite often and they each make a list of twenty wishes, things they wish for or want to do. It's difficult for them to come up with the requisite number because some of the things initially written down seem so trivial. Is it ok to wish for things that are self-serving ot do the wishes need to make a bigger impact? Anne Marie begins volunteering at an elementary school and discovers that the little girl with whom she is matched as a lunch buddy may be giving her more than Anne Marie feels she is giving back. A warm, feel-good story that I high recommend. My next read--to start at the beginning of the Blossom Street books.

Although this story is about a group of widows, it is not at all what one might expect. In fact, I might not have picked it up if it were not for a friend who suggested it wholeheartedly for our book group.

We read the book and found ourselves pleasantly surprised. Instead of a book about women who have gathered together after suffering loss and perhaps pulling you down, the group of women you will get to know in this book will lift you up and give you ideas you may have never thought of. Try something new, look at something or someone differently, change your circumstances.

These ladies this book learn that anything is possible and you will feel that way, too, after reading this charming story.

In the end, our book group discussed each of our own wishes and how wonderful it can be to wish them, even if they may never come true. It inspired many of us to try something we had been thinking about and gave everyone a sense that nothing is silly if you want to wish for it.

This is a nice, curl up and read book I think you will enjoy.

(Borrowed as eBook from the library) The widows of Blossom Street get together for Valentine's Day and each start their list, aiming for twenty wishes of things they would still like to accomplish. Some of the women become enthusiastic right away while others develop their enjoyment of the exercise. Eventually other people find out about the lists and start their own. It was fun for me to watch the lists grow and the list-makers develop a new joy of living. And, the Twenty List idea is great for other people to consider!

I've recently fell in love with the Blossom street series. Thus far, my favorite remains "The Shop on Blossom Street." "A Good Yarn" was an excellent sequel. "Back on Blossom Street" had less appeal (save for, Colette and aunt Elizabeth). Unfortunately, I felt that "Twenty Wishes" was entirely predictable, drawn out, unappealing, and no fun at all. I never developed an authentic connection with Anne Marie as I have with previous characters in the series such as Alix, Jacqueline, and Courtney. Barbie's romance with Mark was interesting. I was most pleased with Lillian's outcome. And, of course I loved Ellen. I just felt like I had to force myself to finish this book.
Nevertheless, Debbie Macomber is a sure fit for a cozy afternoon. A cup of tea, a blanket, and Macomber still make the perfect afternoon.

I really, truly enjoy this series and this installment continues that tradition. It is very light reading, but a lot of fun at the same time. I read the book in a 24-hour period and couldn't put it down. The characters are people you find you care about and the story is good (plus this one actually makes you think). The concept of 20 wishes is intriging and I assume that many, many readers will adopt this concept and make it their own. It would be very interesting to know just how many people pursue a wish as a result of reading this book.

If you enjoy the Mitford series, Phil Gulley's books or the Miss Julia books and are looking for other authors to try, this would be a good choice for you.

If you haven't read any of the books in this series, I would recommend you start at the beginning because I think that would be most enjoyable. However, you could pick this one up and read it independently of the others since it does stand alone. I would also recommend "Suzanna's Garden" even though it isn't considered one of this series, I view it as one of them.

Relax, get on your porch swing or hammock and settle in for a pleasant read !

Anne Marie Roche, the owner of a bookstore on Blossom Street, has been widowed for nine months and is mourning for the things she never had while married, like a child. Now she is close to turning forty and sees no chance to have a child of her own. At a support group for widows, she comes up with a plan that changes everything.

Anne Marie comes up with the idea to write down a list of twenty wishes to focus on. Her list includes things like volunteering at the local elementary school and dancing in the rain barefoot. When she goes to volunteer at the school, she is unprepared to meet the shy Ellen.

Between a shocking revelation about her dead husband and Ellen's grandmother becoming ill, Anne Marie's life gets a little chaotic. Sometimes the best answers to wishes come from unexpected places.

Twenty Wishes is everything I have come to expect from Debbie Macomber. She writes characters that feel like everyday friends and they have everyday worries. This was another great book in the Blossom Street series. The romance between Barbie and Mark is hilarious and while the main character does not have a romance in this book, there are several issues from her marriage that are resolved.

Tori
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I learned when I'm walking the streets for exercise, mind you, it's great to have a fun, upbeat book to listen to. Nothing too nuanced, heavy, serious or academic. I tried listening to an ECONOMICS 101 book and only walked 15 minutes. However, with a fun, lively book like this 90 minutes can go by without realizing it.

If you love the concept that a few small changes can transform your life, you'll delight in this winsome book about four women who on Valentines Day each made 20 wishes of what they'd like to have, be or do differently. It's fun to observe how the individual wishes transform each character's life. I made my list of 20 Wishes while listening to the book and will see what happens.

This is my first review so please bear with me! I am a new Debbie Macomber fan and have just recently gotten into her Blossom Street books! They take me back to a time where everyone knew everyone in your neighborhood, kids could play outside and not be hurt, and the little shopping area in your town.

"Twenty Wishes" is the 4th installment of the series and she is doing great keeping up with all the characters. Usually in series books they don't keep up with other characters when they try to concentrate on one.

The list idea reminds me of "The Bucket List"-and it has inspired me to create my own.

I highly recommend this book-especially if you want to find out what is going on in Lillie and Barbie's lives at the moment. A good and quick read.

A sweet story sharing the lives of a group of widowed friends as they move toward their futures in perfect harmony. The book held no surprises yet still held my interest. I wonder if these characters were actually outlined to be full characters of just themselves but somehow had to be rolled into this one summarized shot. DM definitely delves into the psyche of a woman and brings out a piece that we can all relate to one way or another. Therefore, we read on!

The stories of Barbie and Lily were beautiful. I couldn't wait to read more. Anne Marie was WAY overdone and boring. The other 2 should have received equal time. Debbie Macomber is a very insightful author. I feel that sometimes she misses the mark like in Montana but I still reach for her books. Barbie and Lily offered so many life insights.

I enjoyed this book, however it wasn't one of my favorites by Debbie Macomber. I enjoy the positive endings to all of her books, they give you a cozy feel. I feel like I have walked the streets of Seattle (even though I've never been). Her descriptions give you plenty to go on as far as setting is concerned. I gave this one a 3 because as much as I like Debbie's writing, this book was a bit too breezy for me. I like a little bit of grit and this book just didn't have it. Its worth reading, its just not the page turner I'm used to from Debbie Macomber.

CD/Unabridged/Fiction: So, I knew by disc two how it was going to end. That was okay, because it was entertaining. It's the story of a group of widows who start a "20 Wishes" club. Ann Marie is the main character that get rooked into fostering a second grader. Her two friends, a mother and daughter (whose spouses died in a plane crash) find love too. The daughter with an angry paraplegic and the mother with a auto service manager. It is a Macomber novel so of course, it's happily ever after.

I found this book to be another great one in the Blossom Street series. Now waiting for No. 5! Hopefully there will be one and very soon. I love the way the author brings in new characters, along with all the old ones from each previous book in the series. Definitely could read each book all on it's own but oh so much more enjoyable when you read the whole series.

I also share these women's and the author's passion for yarn and knitting. I only wish they were real and the A Good Yarn Shop was real and located near my home in a very small town in Maine so I could join them.
Keep up the good work, Ms. Macomber!!

In Seattle thirty-eight years old Blossom Street Books owner Anne Marie Roche grieves the loss of her husband Robert who recently died. They had no children together though he left behind two adult offspring from his first marriage. Ironically they were separated seven months at the time of his demise, but Anne Marie cannot move past her loss; blaming herself in some ways.

Anne Marie and her friends celebrate Valentine's Day together when she thinks about creating a list of things she wants to do but never has. Her friends do likewise as does eight year old Ellen Falk, her "Lunch Buddy", a Woodrow Wilson Elementary School child she mentors like a Big Sister. Instead of performing her list, Anne Marie decides to make Ellen's TWENTY WISHES come true.

It takes a village to raise a child as Debbie Macomber affirms with this heart felt thought provoking return to Blossom Street. The relationship between the Lunch Buddies is fabulously developed so that the adult gets as much or more from it than the child. Fans of character driven tales will want Ellen's TWENTY WISHES especially one in particular to come true.

Harriet Klausner

I'm not one to put a rating, but I believe this one deserves one. I don't want to spoil the book, so I'll just say that you won't be disappointed. I found myself crying on several occasions.
I used to force myself to read an entire book before, but I no longer torture myself. This is not one that you will have to force yourself to finish. Excellent writing that had me glued to the book. Also had me wanting to read more, so I'm going to follow this series.

I love Debbie Macomber and this is without any question her best book yet. You don't have to be a widow to understand this - just a woman who has wishes that she'd like to fulfill. This would make an excellent book for reading groups and I can't recommend it highly enough. I read it in 24 hours - I just couldn't put it down and I'm going to read it again. That's great praise coming from me who rarely reads a book more than once but this one is worth it. I've started my own list of 20 Wishes. It would make a great gift.

I read this book all the way through that is a first for me in a long time. This book was given to me from a co-worker, I thought that it was great. I laughed and I felt a little emotional at certain times. The book kept me turing the pages to see what was going to happen in each widows life. I loved the book. If you find yourself thinking about reading this one, think no more. It is a good read. Funny and it actually will make you think of "Twenty Wishes". Good...

I have read just about all of Debbie Macomber's books and I can't think of one book that has disappointed me, and again Twenty Wishes was not a disappointment.

Debbie Macomber created a wonderful story around a group of widows that meet on Valentine's Day and start a list of Twenty Wishes. The list includes those wishes that each always wanted to do. For example, Lillie wants to find a good and decent man that she may fall in love with. Anne Marie needs a child, etc. There have been numerous synopses of the book so I won't go into detail, except to add that the author does an excellent portrayal of that beautiful city of Seattle. This is "feel good" story so relax, and enjoy this wonderful book.

I absolutely loved the concept of "Twenty Wishes", however I felt like she tried to cram too much in to one story. She didn't flesh out the characters and their stories as much as I would have like to have seen. I think that they each deserved their own book. I kind of felt like I was reading a Reader's Digest condensed version of several different stories. I loved each individaul story, but I just wanted MORE.

Debbie Macomber's Twenty Wishes is a good example of how writing your wishes down helps them come true. Lonely and depressed after the death of her husband, Anne Marie forms a widows' club at her bookstore and based on her lead, they all create a list of 20 wishes. The wishes aren't goals or objectives, they're just things the ladies would like to do in their lives and they range from buying a fast car to dancing in the rain. As the ladies put their focus on their wishes, they start coming true in unexpected ways.

This book is an awesome testimony to the power of wishes and good friends. Unlike normal self help books on goal setting and achiving self fulfillment, this book is a fun read and lets you learn the lessons along with Anne Marie and her friends.

I LOVED THE BOOK AS I HAVE WITH ALL DEBBIE' S BOOKS I HAVE READ. I FIND IT EXTREMELY HARD TO PUT THEM DOWN. AFTER I FINISH READING THEM I ENJOY DISCUSSING THEM WITH MY FRIENDS. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT DEBBIE HAS THAT MAKES THEM SO ENJOYABLE BUT I HAVEN'T READ ANY THAT I HAVEN'T LIKED, AND AS SOON AS I FINISH ONE, I Am LOOKING FOR ANOTHER.

I really liked this book. It made me realize that no matter what happens you shouldn't give up hope or stop wishing.

I like the fact that Debbie Macomber is able to weave characters that have flaws and problems just like the rest of us but they aren't so over the top that you don't believe them.

She also gives you updates about characters in previous Bloomsom Street books and works them into the story. It was like hanging out with old friends and making new ones.

Just finished reading this delightful book, and as with all her books found myself laughing and then crying throughout. Her characters (people) are so real that I feel that I'm there with them. Am so grateful we have this wonderful writer who shares these stories with us. Also, know it's a different book or series but I LOVE her angel books too! Just finished the latest one and it too was delightful! Thanks Debbie!!!

One can always count on Debbie Macomber's books to make you feel good. She is the only romance writer whom I read (and only her knitting books) and I always feel so content when I finish one. I love the setting in Seattle, even though I have never been there - she makes me feel like I have. Her characters are realistic and well described too. Looking forward to the next already!

I was introduced to Twenty Wishes because I read an anthology that includes the follow-up short story The Twenty-First Wish. I saved it until finishing this one and can't wait to see what happens to these characters next! I plan to start at the beginning of the Blossom Street series after that as well.

As much as I wanted to dismiss this book as fluff, I found myself not able to put it down. Good concept, good story and I love the 20 wishes, go make it happen theme. Things wrapped up just a bit too perfectly, though it made for a great escape.

This author never disappoints. Back to Blossom Street. If you have read the previous books in the series or not, a good story. Personnally, I think it helps to fully understand the characters to read the previous books in this series.If you are looking for a light read that will let you escape for a brief time, this book will do that for you. Good story and a great one day read

I really was not very excited about reading this book from the summary but I am glad that I did read it. I loved the story with Barbie and Mark as well as Lilly and Hector. I know Ann Marie and Ellen are in future books for there happily ever after.

This is a book with great ideas! It motivated me to get friends together and read and share our "wishes" with each other. It's got me 'hoping and wishing.' Really enjoyed this book and all of Debbie Macomber books.

All of the Debbie Macomber books I have read are about hope, triumph over life's problems and sharing and supportive friendships. These books are what I refer to as "feel good books". Twenty Wishes is a terrific read! This book shows how good friends love and support each other to overcome personal tragedies. I found this book very hard to put down and when I read the very last page, I still wanted more, more more! Twenty Wishes left me with a resolve to reach out more to my own friends and neighbors.

I really enjoy revisiting my friends on Blossom Street. Debbie Macomber's books are always impossible to put down!! When I want a book that is going to be a sure thing that I'll enjoy it, I always search for one of hers!!!

This is a sweet, delightful, feel good story. I really enjoyed it. And even though nobody was getting shot or killed, it truly was a page turner. I felt like I was a member of their little club and couldn't wait to hear the latest about each and every one of them. I read it with a constant smile on my face.
I live in Seattle area and also enjoyed all the references to our beautiful city. The people here are awesome. This book is written as if it were a true story. And perhaps it might be--someone, somewhere who can identify with at least one of the characters.
I agree that the "Twenty Wishes" is an excellent idea to do---as well as taking up knitting, going to Paris and, of course, dacing barefoot in the rain.
Relax, enjoy and be ready to feel good when you read this delightful story.

This is a book with great ideas! It motivated me to get friends together and read and share our "wishes" with each other. It's got me 'hoping and wishing.' Really enjoyed this book and all of Debbie Macomber books.

All of the Debbie Macomber books I have read are about hope, triumph over life's problems and sharing and supportive friendships. These books are what I refer to as "feel good books". Twenty Wishes is a terrific read! This book shows how good friends love and support each other to overcome personal tragedies. I found this book very hard to put down and when I read the very last page, I still wanted more, more more! Twenty Wishes left me with a resolve to reach out more to my own friends and neighbors.

I really enjoy revisiting my friends on Blossom Street. Debbie Macomber's books are always impossible to put down!! When I want a book that is going to be a sure thing that I'll enjoy it, I always search for one of hers!!!

I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I'm giving it a 5 star and even calling my mom tonight to encourage her to read this! I never thought this book would be so thought-provoking and challenging that it would change some of my outlook on life itself. It's so easy to get bogged down with all the 'busyness' in life that I don't take time to 'smell the roses'. I am doing 2 things this evening: 1)starting a list of my 20 wishes, and 2)finding something that will help someone else in the community. This story's theme is definitely a conversation piece to have with one's family and friends. A big thanks to the author!

This is a sweet, delightful, feel good story. I really enjoyed it. And even though nobody was getting shot or killed, it truly was a page turner. I felt like I was a member of their little club and couldn't wait to hear the latest about each and every one of them. I read it with a constant smile on my face.
I live in Seattle area and also enjoyed all the references to our beautiful city. The people here are awesome. This book is written as if it were a true story. And perhaps it might be--someone, somewhere who can identify with at least one of the characters.
I agree that the "Twenty Wishes" is an excellent idea to do---as well as taking up knitting, going to Paris and, of course, dacing barefoot in the rain.
Relax, enjoy and be ready to feel good when you read this delightful story.

This moving story about four women at a crossroads in their lives and how they utilized 20 wishes to help them move on to new beginnings made me think of wishes that I would like to fulfill in my own life.

I enjoyed the first four books in the Blossom Street series, but this one was terribly boring and predictable. I felt the writing was very sub-par and that the author just wanted to get it written and done with.

I had already purchased the next book in the series, Summer on Blossom Street, but I am having second thoughts about even starting it after wasting so much of my time reading this book, Twenty Wishes.

I gave it two stars instead of one since I didn't hate it, but really felt this author could have done much better.

I laughed…I cried… and as always when I start reading Debbie's books, I just can't put it down! This book was heartwarming, encouraging, quixotic and absolutely chimerical. At times, I caught myself reminiscing and musing. This will be a book to pass on to my daughter and generations to come!! On to the next book...

I just finished reading this book after 2 days. I loved it and couldn't wait to see what happened next. I moved from Seattle 10 months ago and after reading this book I told my husband we are moving back I miss it so, much and Debbie makes me feel that I am right there with the people on Blossom Street. Even Thou Blossom Street is not real, Debbie does a good job of showing how Seattle opens its heart and arms to people in need and I can't wait for the next book. I have started my own list of Twenty Wishes with Number one being I moving back to Seattle and dancing in the rain like Anne Marie.

I've read almost all of Debbie's books and I believe this to be the very best. It has all of the heart and soul you've come to expect in a Debbie Macomber book, and if you've liked her books in the past, you will love this one. I absolutely recommend it to every woman who reads to feel uplifted and just a little bit better about life. If you read it, I bet you'll be making your own wish list as soon as you finish the last page.

I just LOVED this book. I am at a time in my life where I just retired and was wondering what to do with my life as well. The twenty wishes touched me so much. It must be so great to have good friends like this group. I would LOVE to have that in my life right now. I'm working on my TWENTY WISHES now.

so heavy handed and horrible. a man treats a woman like garbage and she can't help but to admit to herself how attracted she is to him. what?
and any time a woman acknowledges the fact that she knows she's attractive it has to be preceded with "not to be conceited but...." ugh!

show debbie don't tell.

Usually I give what is known as 'chick lit' a very wide berth when I am picking out my reading material. Longtime author Debbie Macomber writes novels set in the Pacific Northwest, one of my favourite spots, and tend to write about women who are facing change in their lives, with nearly everything solved by page 300 with a very light touch and containing nothing to offend anyone.

This time, the story is set on a fictional street in Seattle by the name of Blossom Street, each novel centered on a shop, and the entrepreneur who runs it, along with various friends, relations and customers. Anne Marie Roche is dealing with the sudden death of her husband, a man that she had deferred to for most of their life together. Now all she has is just her bookstore and her memories. Among those lingering regrets is that she and Robert never had a child together, and it's something that haunts Anne Marie.

To help combat the loneliness, she has gathered together several friends on that dreaded holiday of Valentines day, and they plan a celebration of widowhood with champagne -- Vueve Cliquot of course -- and as a way of coping, decide that each of them will create a list of Twenty Wishes, of all the things that they've wanted to do or experience or have that they haven't been able to.

Two of the widows, Lillie and Barbie, lost their husbands in a plane crash, and have been able to keep their relationship as mother and daughter-in-law intact over the years. For Lillie, it?s been hard coping with her loss, knowing that her husband was unfaithful to her, and the marriage down to a very tepid simmer. Barbie struggles with the loneliness of being widowed, and at loose ends, as it were. Both women want to be with someone again, and this time around they both find it with men who are very different.

But most of the story centers around Anne Marie. She volunteers at a local elementary school, becoming a Lunch Buddy with a little girl, Ellen, who is withdrawn and very quiet. It's a daunting task for Anne Marie, but when she brings her Yorkshire Terrier, Baxter, to meet Ellen, it's love at first sight for both the dog and the little girl. Being around Ellen manages to soothe Anne Marie's hunger for a child, and the pair develop a deep bond ? especially when Ellen's grandmother ends up in the hospital, and Anne Marie finds that her impulsive gesture to help may lead to much more than she expected?

Macomber takes a look at unusual relationships here, especially with the two men that Lillie and Barbie meet. Lillie finds herself falling for an auto mechanic who is Hispanic to boot, and it's a look at class and money differences. As for Barbie, she meets Mark, a quadriplegic at a movie theatre; and Mark is a man with one huge chip on his shoulder where other people are concerned. I do confess that it was good to show a character with physical disabilities in a novel, an occurrence that doesn't happen very often, and showing that they can have happy, healthy relationships was a real plus with this novel.

On the downside, you know that there is pretty much a simple plot here, no great emotional entanglements, and lots of emotional hand wringing and angst. But by the end, everything is solved and has a happy ending. To say that this feels very contrived is an understatement. There isn't a lot of character depth here, nor are there any suspenseful moments, or any real problems. It seems that everyone of the characters is well off ? enough to where they?re not worrying about money, bills or mortgages.

Namely, I can't stand this sort of fiction, tending to want something more involved and plot driven. The only reason that I started with the Blossom Street novels was that they had started in a knitting shop, with a cancer survivor, and being that I do quite a bit of messing around with fiber arts, I thought to give it a go. In previous novels, the author was kind enough to tuck a knitting pattern into the story at the end, which was the only reason why I kept on reading them. That and the setting of Seattle -- a city where I had grown up near -- were the real draw of the books. Unfortunately, there isn't any sort of knitting pattern in here, only an advertisement in the back of the book for the pattern books and a host of knitting supplies.

If you're into knitting, I would rather suggest the collection of knitting patterns that are derived from this series and released by Leisure Arts books.

I can only give this one three stars, as the writing is so simplistic that it induces yawns. Great for those nights that you have insomnia, but not so good if you want a good read. Only somewhat recommended ? fans of Macomber will enjoy it, but it also leaves a lot to be desired.

Another great book! She can't write them fast enough, everything this lady writes is excellent. Her storylines are so real that her readers can identify with them. I'm looking forward to her next one, no matter which series I read them all and I've always been equally pleased. I'm a huge fan and look forward to adding to my collection of her books.

This is one of those "can't put down" books and I loved the story. What a super idea and a great life lesson. I would highly recommend this book but only if you have time read it, all day and take it to bed with you until you are finished. Fun and entertaining but so true!

This book was yet another example of how well Debbie knows about people's lives, and the good and bad times we all go through, she shows us how to get pass them, she is a real genius about writing about rural areas, I read this book in 4 days!! GREAT READ!!!

joyce Latona

I managed to get to page 20 and had to put it down. The book has zero storytelling or linguistic value. I think I may have enjoyed it at age 13, though even then I wanted something with a little more excitement, if not great writing.

Wonderful Book...If you are not a fan of Debbie Macomber you will be after reading this book...I would however, recommend you start from the beginning by reading The Shop on Blossom Street first and continue through the Blossom Street series until you get to Twenty Wishes...they are all great books.

One of *my* twenty wishes would be to interview all of the people who bought copies of this book, making it a NYTimes Bestseller. I'd really love to know 1) Why they bought it, 2) What they really thought of it after reading it, and 3) What other fiction they read. As a writer, I'm utterly fascinated at how there can be such a chasm between this, and say, a 'literary fiction' award winner. As I was reading it...strictly for research purposes...I was shaking my head in wonder. Because this is exactly the sort of writing that all writing instructors teach people NOT to produce. In fact, it could be the basis of a great course: 'How Not to Write'.

Facile.
Predictable.
Ham-fisted.
Without grace.

Don't get me wrong: the underlying themes here are valid. But Macomber writes like an earnest high schooler, explaining everything, telegraphing everything, so clearly wanting to tell a particular story and announcing to the reader exactly what that story is all along...

Let's put it this way: if this had been a movie, everyone would have walked out. Everywhere. It would make a 'Hallmark' movie-of-the-week seem like high-art.

But yes, I did cry. I'm a romantic at heart, so there were passages that triggered emotional reactions in me. However, those reactions were not due to any craft, any dexterity, any deftness of touch on the author's part. She could have been executing stick-people cartoons and I might have cried.

I'm happy that so many people got so much out of this novel. A further wish of mine would be to read this as it might have been done by a writer of greater abilities. Even Nicholas Sparks would have taken it to a better place, offering up nuance, subtlety, a chance for the reader to actively participate in the process, instead of being so utterly spoon-fed, with Pablum all over their clothes in the end.

I'm glad there's a market for Macomber's work. Every writer deserves an audience. Clearly, she's found hers. Another wish granted.

The "Blossom Street" books are by far Debbie McComber's best books. When I began reading this one I was so disappointed that she wasn't taking us through the lives of the characters of the past books, but in the end I was deeply fulfilled and satisfied with the book. It was so good I cried!

I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I'm giving it a 5 star and even calling my mom tonight to encourage her to read this! I never thought this book would be so thought-provoking and challenging that it would change some of my outlook on life itself. It's so easy to get bogged down with all the 'busyness' in life that I don't take time to 'smell the roses'. I am doing 2 things this evening: 1)starting a list of my 20 wishes, and 2)finding something that will help someone else in the community. This story's theme is definitely a conversation piece to have with one's family and friends. A big thanks to the author!