Review: Chasing Wishes

Title: Chasing Wishes
Author: Nadia Simonenko
Publication Date: 2014
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
"I wish I didn't have to go home. I wish I was someone else—someone with a future…"

For sixteen-year-old Nina Torres, it feels as if life is nothing but a dead end. Despised by her rich classmates and afraid that she'll become just like her drug-addicted mother, Nina's future seems to get dimmer every day.

There is one bright spot in her life though...

Sitting beside her one night, the only person in the world who cares about her makes a promise. No matter what happens—no matter how much Isaac's wealthy family disapproves—he and his girlfriend Nina will be together forever.

Fate plays a cruel trick on Nina, though, and a visit from Child Protective Services the next morning turns Nina Torres into Irene Hartley, a woman with a future but who will never see her beloved Isaac again.

Nine years later, a blind and incredibly handsome young entrepreneur hires Irene to be his personal assistant. Terrence Radcliffe reminds her so much of Isaac that she can hardly believe her eyes, and she's falling for him fast. Irene knows that fairy tales don't come true, but she allows herself one last wish. She wishes that she could finally say goodbye to Isaac and let herself take a chance on Terrence.

What she doesn't know is that Terrence is also searching for someone: a shooting star who streaked through his life nine years ago, and he won't give up until he finds her…

Chasing Wishes is a powerful contemporary tale of lost love and wishes come true, recommended for ages 17+ due to adult content.

My Thoughts

Right from the start, I already thought that I'd fall in love with this novel, and boy, I was right. I found myself in Irene's character, the way that she loves fairy tales but comes to realize that it doesn't really come true. The way Chasing Wishes is written with its alternating point of views between the past and the present, and between Irene and Terrence is beautiful. It provides a whole new perspective, and I love how the past and the present kinda just meets by the end of the story.

Although we already know that Isaac is Terrence, and Nina is Irene, it just doesn't diminish the excitement I have on reading how they'll realize it for themselves. There were some parts that irritated me a little because just when I thought they'd have an inkling of who the other person was, it'd turn out that I'm wrong. Times like that I'd be frustrated and found myself wishing them a happy ever after also.

I love how Irene knows where she came from, and her character even grew more with that. It was heartbreaking to see how awful her past was, but she is admirably strong that even I don't think I could have done what she had done. Even after everything, I love how Irene did not really change even after she met Terrence, and when she was surrounded by luxurious aura. The way she describes things so vividly paints a mental image in my mind, which makes me appreciate what they're also seeing at that moment.

When it comes to Terrence, it is whoa. Dealing with blindness is no small thing, but he is a survivor. He doesn't just accept things, he tries to do something about it. I think that's the thing I like most about him. Moreover, he follows what he thinks is right, and doesn't let himself be dictated by others. For him to be like that at a young age is truly amazing because not many know what they want in life at that age.

Irene and Terrence aren't perfect people. They are both flawed, but that's what makes them even more beautiful together. Chasing Wishes gives a hope that sometimes, it is also alright to wish for something and believe in it. We just need to chase after our wishes also, and do something about them. A truly beautiful modern fairy tale that I recommend reading to everyone!