Book Synopsis

From award-winning author Melody Maysonet, What We Wish For is a poignant YA novel that explores one teenager's coming-of-age as she struggles through homelessness, family feuds, and her mother's addiction.

Be careful what you wish for ...

Fifteen-year-old Layla Freeman likes to pretend her life is fine. After all, her mother is about to celebrate thirty days sober, and yeah, they've moved into a homeless shelter, but it's only temporary, right? Her mom will get better, and in the meantime, it's important that no one at school finds out where she's been living for the past month. Layla has worked hard to build her reputation as a girl who doesn't care what others think of her, but the truth is she does care--deeply--and she's tripping over her own lies, especially to her best friend, as she tries to pretend nothing's wrong.

With their time at the shelter running out, Layla hatches a plan to get help from her rich aunt and uncle, despite the long-standing feud between their families. When the plan backfires and her mom ends up in the hospital after an overdose, the silver lining is that she's sent to fancy rehab--paid for by Uncle Scott and Aunt Tanya. Layla gets to move into her aunt and uncle's mansion while her mom is gone and begins building a tentative friendship with her snobby cousin--even as her relationship with her best friend deteriorates.

Armed with new wealth, new relationships, and even a new mother figure, Layla thinks all her dreams have come true ... But secrets have a way of coming out, and one secret above all threatens to turn her world upside down--and destroy her entire family.

Review Quotes

"I absolutely loved this story about a family just hoping to have a home, the impact of poverty, and the power of the human spirit. Homelessness and addiction mix in this heart-wrenching tale about a young girl and her family as they navigate a season of loss, strain, and financial hardship."

"Introduces readers to a variety of themes that are intricately woven to create a meaningful, nuanced story about addiction, family, and insecurity."

"[Maysonet's] first-person narrative is engaging, and the emotions generated are vivid...Convincing and satisfying."

"This story of a teen's life with a single mom fighting addiction is often harsh and tense, but it remains honest, believable, and quite engaging."

"Melody Maysonet's What We Wish For is a testament to the horrors of addiction, the pain of betrayal, the power of tenacity, and the saving grace of friendship. It is brutal and enraging and heartbreaking and a little bit funny; and in the end, small-t triumphant. When you close the back cover, you will simply nod your head, knowing you have read something capital-T True."

"Maysonet depicts the stark impact of addiction with compassion, emphasizing the toll it takes on sufferers and their loved ones alike. Layla's internal struggles with guilt and self-loathing offer a realistic glimpse into the emotional turmoil of those affected by substance abuse and poverty...The book's strengths lie in its rich character development and poignant narrative. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful and consistently authentic."