cover image Wishful Thinking

Wishful Thinking

Kamy Wicoff. She Writes (shewritespress.com), $16.95 trade paper (370p) ISBN 978-1-63152-976-4

This whimsical, humorous romance with a fantastical twist should appeal to working parents. Jennifer Sharpe is a good-hearted, plucky 39-year-old divorced mom withtwo young sons, Julien and Jack. She works long hours at her job as a v-p at the New York City Housing Authority. Her ex, a journeyman actor who's often broke, has largely ignored their sons. Her boss is a rich, blustery real estate developer who uses his financial support of her pet project to manipulate her. Her babysitter and loyal friend help out, but Jennifer finds there are still too few hours in the day. Enter Dr. Diane Sexton, an eccentric neighbor and brilliant physicist, who installs a time-travel app she appropriately calls Wishful Thinking on Jennifer's phone. The novel's wildly imaginative fun begins. Considering the app %E2%80%9Cmiraculous," Jennifer activates it for her trial run, and the stunning results get her hooked. While still at the office, she uses her new time travel powers (%E2%80%9Clike a hot flash on steroids") and attends Julien's guitar recital, where she meets and falls for his music instructor Owen. As undesirable complications arise, the app permits one final momentous deed before Wicoff (I Do But I Don't) brings her entertaining novel to its sunny Hollywood ending. (Apr.)