The Wish House: A BubbleLove Review

Mario - How Do I Breathe

Title: The Wish House

Author: Celia Rees

Rating: 3.5/5

Book 4 of 100: (The 100+ Reading Challenge)

One scorching summer, Richard meets Clio Dalton, the beautiful sixteen-year-old daughter of a local artist. Seduced by Clio and by her glamorous, eccentric family, Richard spends most of his holiday at their home, the Wish House. But Richard ignores the dark truths of the Daltons’ world: inside the Wish House, Jay’s artistic genius is burning out of control. Will Richard and Clio be irreparably damaged in the fire of his obsession…? 

I would be lying if I said this book didn’t stun me - because it did. To be honest, the story was just as beautiful as the paintings depicted within it, however, I don’t think this will be classified as one of my favourites. I’m probably too young for it - I don’t know. Of course the book is suitable for my age - I’m just not sure if I am suitabe for the book, if you know what I mean.

Keeping in mind the themes of first true love, first sex and first death, The Wish House is definitely for older teens. It tells the story of how an ordinary boy on his usual holiday falls in and out of love with a girl whose family is on the borderline of ‘extraordinary’. The name Wish House has been derived from how the trees around the house sway loudly - giving the impression that they are saying, I wish, I wish… On the other hand, it can also be thought of as a term which has evolved from the original name of the house - the Witch’s House.

Starting off every chapter is a commentary on some of the paintings created by the artists of the family - mostly of Jay and Clio’s. These paintings reflect how much the story flows and are, in some way, interconnected. As the story unfolds, the reader is able to paint his own image of the artist’s creation and read about Richard’s escapades from there.

The Daltons are mysterious. Magical. Geniuses. Behind all these, though, is scandal.

It’s all in the looking. Artists look differently. Use their eyes properly. Remember that, lad. You have to look carefully if you want to see.

I fell for how the author wrote the book - it is just like a painting but on paperback. I wouldn’t mind reading another of Celia Rees’s books. There is something quite gripping on The Wish House which I am sure I will encounter again if ever I come across another book of hers.