As You Wish

The plot of Pearce's debut novel is simple: girl (Viola) meets boy (Jinn) and they fall in love, their story told in alternating perspectives. The twist: the boy happens to be a jinn (aka genie), and while Jinn is supposed to grant Viola three wishes and be on his merry way, he's definitely not supposed to become enamored of his master. Thus, their love is of the star-crossed variety. Luckily, Pearce doesn't allow things to become overly melodramatic. The banter between Viola and Jinn is quick, witty and, at times, comes with a dash of true feeling. However, their story is not without complications. When Viola shows an unwillingness to finish making her wishes, which would effectively banish Jinn from her life, Jinn orders a “press” from an ifrit (who acts as a heavy, forcing a reluctant wisher into compliance), and Viola is still working through complex emotions months after her breakup with Lawrence, her former boyfriend and current gay best friend. But Pearce never lets events become too dire. Overall, this is a fun, frothy read. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)