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Be Careful What You Wish For
Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things. Not just big stuff - like world peace or for a date with Brad Pitt - but little, everyday wishes, made without thinking. With her luck, she knows they'll never come true . . .
Until one day she happens across a lucky charm. Suddenly, the bad hair days stop; a handsome stranger answers her ad for a housemate; and she starts seeing James - The Perfect Man, who sends her flowers, excels in the bedroom, and isn't afraid to say 'I love you' . . .
But are these wishes-come-true a blessing - or a curse? And is there such a thing as too much foreplay?
Until one day she happens across a lucky charm. Suddenly, the bad hair days stop; a handsome stranger answers her ad for a housemate; and she starts seeing James - The Perfect Man, who sends her flowers, excels in the bedroom, and isn't afraid to say 'I love you' . . .
But are these wishes-come-true a blessing - or a curse? And is there such a thing as too much foreplay?
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Alexandra Potter
24 books2,107 followersAlexandra Potter is the best-selling author of fourteen romantic comedy fiction novels including Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up (which is now the basis of a major US TV show, NOT DEAD YET on ABC, Hulu and Disney+) MORE Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up and One Good Thing. These titles have been published in twenty-five territories and have sold millions of copies worldwide (making the bestseller charts in the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia).
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
June 8, 2013
A onda kao treću njenu knjigu pročitala ovu... I zaključila da njeno pisanje sazrelo, da je knjiga dobro i da upravo s ovim naslovom treba da počne s objavljivanjem u Srbiji... I onda sam se bacila na sve svoje uredničko-ubeđivačke moći da je Laguna objavi... I posle nekoliko dana natezanja, nisam uspela da ubedim gazdu... I onda ju je godinu dana kasnije objavio uspešno Alnari... :)
March 7, 2021
This is my first read from Alexandra Potter and I am glad that I discovered this book and this author. A very charming and delightful read.
Heather Hamilton is a wedding photographer who is single and has a crush on her neighbor. She doesn't exactly hate her job but she she wants to move on and wants to be a photographer for the Sunday Herald newspaper. One rainy night she is stopped by an old Gypsy lady and she sells Lucky Heather to Heather. All of Heather's wishes start to come true. She gets a short-term roommate who pays advance rent that will cover some of her credit card payments. She gets a seat on tube. She gets a parking spot outside her flat. Her neighbor, James asks her out. He turns out to be the perfect man as Heather wished. In fact, James turns out to be too perfect for Heather.
Heather finds out that all the wishes even though they have come true, they don't make her happy. She also realises that all the wishes have come true at a cost. What a girl wants, isn't always what a girl needs indeed.
I loved all the supporting characters in the book. In fact, I can't remember the last time I loved all the characters in a book. Heather was very relatable, funny and flawed but not too stupid in my opinion. Yes, she did some things that annoyed me but still overall I loved her character. Gabe was an absolute sweetheart. I adored him and loved him. Jess was loud and out there but I laughed at all the stupid things she did. Lionel was also really good and I loved him. Ed was good too in his annoying big brother way. Brian was simply amazing. James was also good. Even though he was too perfect, I liked him. I even liked Rosemary by the end. Like I said, I loved all the supporting characters.
Pacing was a bit slow in the beginning and I thought I might not like this but ended up thoroughly enjoying this. It is truly a feel good book and also the message was great. Do we really need all the things that we wish for? That's why they say, "Be careful what you wish for?"
4.5 stars
Heather Hamilton is a wedding photographer who is single and has a crush on her neighbor. She doesn't exactly hate her job but she she wants to move on and wants to be a photographer for the Sunday Herald newspaper. One rainy night she is stopped by an old Gypsy lady and she sells Lucky Heather to Heather. All of Heather's wishes start to come true. She gets a short-term roommate who pays advance rent that will cover some of her credit card payments. She gets a seat on tube. She gets a parking spot outside her flat. Her neighbor, James asks her out. He turns out to be the perfect man as Heather wished. In fact, James turns out to be too perfect for Heather.
Heather finds out that all the wishes even though they have come true, they don't make her happy. She also realises that all the wishes have come true at a cost. What a girl wants, isn't always what a girl needs indeed.
I loved all the supporting characters in the book. In fact, I can't remember the last time I loved all the characters in a book. Heather was very relatable, funny and flawed but not too stupid in my opinion. Yes, she did some things that annoyed me but still overall I loved her character. Gabe was an absolute sweetheart. I adored him and loved him. Jess was loud and out there but I laughed at all the stupid things she did. Lionel was also really good and I loved him. Ed was good too in his annoying big brother way. Brian was simply amazing. James was also good. Even though he was too perfect, I liked him. I even liked Rosemary by the end. Like I said, I loved all the supporting characters.
Pacing was a bit slow in the beginning and I thought I might not like this but ended up thoroughly enjoying this. It is truly a feel good book and also the message was great. Do we really need all the things that we wish for? That's why they say, "Be careful what you wish for?"
4.5 stars
May 13, 2019
Γλυκούλικο ανάγνωσμα!Αναρωτιέμαι πως δεν έχει μαθευτεί...
Gabe=the perfect Babe
Gabe=the perfect Babe
February 9, 2016
Real rating : 4.5
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENED.ALEXANDRA TWEETED ME.I'M IN HEAVEN.
So,this is my second Alexandra Potter book and I love it!Like the last one I read,this one is a chick-lit with a touch of fantasy.Great characters who definitely develop a lot by the end of the book.The ending is great,too.I love the fact that Heather turns down her job at Sunday Herald when she thinks that she didn't get it because of her talent.I personally love to know that my hard work paid off and is appreciated and that I got something and acomplished something thanks to my hard work and talent,not because someone else just gave it to me,so I understand Heather completely.Great read and I would recommend it to every chick-lit lover.
Things I really liked:
1.) Every character in this book.They are all very interesting and loveable.(even James is ok.)I really liked Heather's father Lionel-he's such a funny guy.And Gabe:
Favourite quotes:
''Consider the implications. We think we know what we want, but we can never really know until we've got it. And sometimes when we have, we discover we never really wanted it in the first place - but then it's too late.''
‘You know I once read somewhere that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.’ Absorbing the words I’m struck by its profundity. I wonder which philosopher came up with that. Presumably some Buddhist monk or another spiritual leader who had spent his life doing good deeds and existing on the love of others. Someone who lived without possessions. Someone who probably didn’t even own a pair of shoes. Let alone a pair of overpriced sandals that ended up in the bin. Suddenly I feel ashamed. ‘Who said that?’ I ask, reverentially.Having drunk its fill the bird darts away and my dad turns back to me. ‘I think it was Joan Collins,’ he confesses, and linking his arm through mine we begin walking slowly to the house.'
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENED.ALEXANDRA TWEETED ME.I'M IN HEAVEN.
So,this is my second Alexandra Potter book and I love it!Like the last one I read,this one is a chick-lit with a touch of fantasy.Great characters who definitely develop a lot by the end of the book.The ending is great,too.I love the fact that Heather turns down her job at Sunday Herald when she thinks that she didn't get it because of her talent.I personally love to know that my hard work paid off and is appreciated and that I got something and acomplished something thanks to my hard work and talent,not because someone else just gave it to me,so I understand Heather completely.Great read and I would recommend it to every chick-lit lover.
Things I really liked:
1.) Every character in this book.They are all very interesting and loveable.(even James is ok.)I really liked Heather's father Lionel-he's such a funny guy.And Gabe:
Favourite quotes:
''Consider the implications. We think we know what we want, but we can never really know until we've got it. And sometimes when we have, we discover we never really wanted it in the first place - but then it's too late.''
‘You know I once read somewhere that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.’ Absorbing the words I’m struck by its profundity. I wonder which philosopher came up with that. Presumably some Buddhist monk or another spiritual leader who had spent his life doing good deeds and existing on the love of others. Someone who lived without possessions. Someone who probably didn’t even own a pair of shoes. Let alone a pair of overpriced sandals that ended up in the bin. Suddenly I feel ashamed. ‘Who said that?’ I ask, reverentially.Having drunk its fill the bird darts away and my dad turns back to me. ‘I think it was Joan Collins,’ he confesses, and linking his arm through mine we begin walking slowly to the house.'
May 14, 2020
awesome book
September 20, 2015
Ok, I give up. It’s official, I don’t like Alexandra Potter as an author. She has great ideas as plots go, but then the delivery is awful. This book was no different.
It was slow paced; it took a while for me to get into it, and loads of will power not to quit it altogether. I had to skip-read a bit towards the end, when a useless and page-wasting family tragedy takes place, in order to finish the book.
The general feeling I got from this book was meh.
There are also three general line of writing that I’ve read too many times and that are really starting to annoy me:
1. Heroin sees guy with a gorgeous girl, she misunderstand her for his girlfriend, and it turns out she actually is the sister.
2. The oh-too-perfect-man – Please stop the madness.
3. Stand-up comedy, why?
I think I’ll start some discussions about these three point because it’s becoming annoying to have to read them over and over again, I want to see if I’m the only one.
It was slow paced; it took a while for me to get into it, and loads of will power not to quit it altogether. I had to skip-read a bit towards the end, when a useless and page-wasting family tragedy takes place, in order to finish the book.
The general feeling I got from this book was meh.
There are also three general line of writing that I’ve read too many times and that are really starting to annoy me:
1. Heroin sees guy with a gorgeous girl, she misunderstand her for his girlfriend, and it turns out she actually is the sister.
2. The oh-too-perfect-man – Please stop the madness.
3. Stand-up comedy, why?
I think I’ll start some discussions about these three point because it’s becoming annoying to have to read them over and over again, I want to see if I’m the only one.
September 24, 2016
This book is amazing! The story is really fairytale like and yet so realistic, that is just insane. I love how the story unfolds and they way Heather wishes for things we all wish for sometimes. Oh and I might have a little crush on Gabe, he sounds like the perfect boyfriend
October 22, 2017
But when wishes start coming true, what do you wish for? You can have anything, but are those things good for you? You never know till you actually try it out. And then probably along the way you find out it's not all that. An idealistic wish is just that - maybe when it translates to reality it's not really something you'd want.
Heather is our leading lady. Heather, lucky Heather. Heather gets lucky, gets happy, and comes to terms with the reality of wishes coming true.
But when things start to come true in ways that are different from what she expected them to be, that's when it hits her.
A couple of incidents happen that show her what she really needs, what truly makes her happy.
This book is very well written, and I enjoyed reading it. I read chick lit quite quickly, and a well written one draws you in beautifully. This definitely did.
Some of it, you may say, is unrealistic. But the basic premise is magic, charms and a sprig of lucky heather. Don't try and debate the premise.
A lovely book, it'll put you in a good mood and make you count your blessings.
And being blissfully aware of our blessings and happy little moments, well that's something we should all wish for.
Heather is our leading lady. Heather, lucky Heather. Heather gets lucky, gets happy, and comes to terms with the reality of wishes coming true.
But when things start to come true in ways that are different from what she expected them to be, that's when it hits her.
A couple of incidents happen that show her what she really needs, what truly makes her happy.
This book is very well written, and I enjoyed reading it. I read chick lit quite quickly, and a well written one draws you in beautifully. This definitely did.
Some of it, you may say, is unrealistic. But the basic premise is magic, charms and a sprig of lucky heather. Don't try and debate the premise.
A lovely book, it'll put you in a good mood and make you count your blessings.
And being blissfully aware of our blessings and happy little moments, well that's something we should all wish for.
July 10, 2011
Absolutely amazing!!!! :D It's a book I've read over and over again and yet I still love it. Highly recommended if you want some light, funny, feel-good reading :D
March 12, 2015
4.5
Veoma dobar chick-lit roman koji daje odgovor na pitanje "Da li nas zaista usrećuje kada dobijemo sve što želimo?" :)
Veoma dobar chick-lit roman koji daje odgovor na pitanje "Da li nas zaista usrećuje kada dobijemo sve što želimo?" :)
September 1, 2016
Supposing I won't like this at all, judging by the cheesy title, I still read it out of politeness because I got it as a present. As I read a couple of pages, I couldn't believe that someone actually sees this as literature. It seems as someone wrote this book just to make a joke.
As someone who passed the age of twelve, I couldn't see how this could be taken seriously by anyone pass that age, but sadly I've seen grown woman reading Alexandra Potter. It may seem as cruel but I find this writer awful as well as this book. ( I read another book of hers just to make sure).
Anyway, the story is a very bad blend of reality and fantasy concerning a young woman with many desires. She buys a magical good luck charm from an old woman and suddenly all her wishes come true. After some time she finds out that all those things realized do not please her, but bother her.
Not even having to think about the moral of the book, you see that it want to spread the message to think carefully before you wish for something because it may not be what you want.
Nothing wrong with the moral, but I'm very displeased it's displayed in such a shallow way. This book, with all it's exaggerations, very bad humor and above all, shallowness enters my list of worst books ever.
As someone who passed the age of twelve, I couldn't see how this could be taken seriously by anyone pass that age, but sadly I've seen grown woman reading Alexandra Potter. It may seem as cruel but I find this writer awful as well as this book. ( I read another book of hers just to make sure).
Anyway, the story is a very bad blend of reality and fantasy concerning a young woman with many desires. She buys a magical good luck charm from an old woman and suddenly all her wishes come true. After some time she finds out that all those things realized do not please her, but bother her.
Not even having to think about the moral of the book, you see that it want to spread the message to think carefully before you wish for something because it may not be what you want.
Nothing wrong with the moral, but I'm very displeased it's displayed in such a shallow way. This book, with all it's exaggerations, very bad humor and above all, shallowness enters my list of worst books ever.
July 4, 2018
As with any romatic comedy, you get exactly what it says on the tin - Girl meets boy, girl meets boy, girl dates guy when we know she is better suited for guy 2, it doesn't work with guy 1 and then we wait to see if she gets it together with guy 2.
I loved the added twist of wishes coming true, as it was nice that it didn't go over the top. There were no real "bad" characters in this story, so it is a nice, gentile ride (until the drama towards the end) that you can see the end goal from the end of the third chapter when all players have been introduced.
I found the pacing to be good, and the fact that this is not insta-love is great, watching it develop over time is great. I adored the end of the story with Rosemary and Lionel, it was perfect. Our main character was multi-faceted, with very few "stupid" moments that may have caused eye rolling. I loved her independence and her self-respect that was present throughout.
James and Gabe were great as well, there was nothing really wrong with either of them. It was nice to see that we can have two guys who are nice throughout (James had a few behaviour traits that could be considered creepy at times).
I just wish that we hadn't had the drama that felt a bit forced at the end, it seemed a bit unnecessary and didn't really need to be as dramatic and tear-inducing as it was.
Otherwise a great book and I can't wait to read more from Alexandra Potter.
I loved the added twist of wishes coming true, as it was nice that it didn't go over the top. There were no real "bad" characters in this story, so it is a nice, gentile ride (until the drama towards the end) that you can see the end goal from the end of the third chapter when all players have been introduced.
I found the pacing to be good, and the fact that this is not insta-love is great, watching it develop over time is great. I adored the end of the story with Rosemary and Lionel, it was perfect. Our main character was multi-faceted, with very few "stupid" moments that may have caused eye rolling. I loved her independence and her self-respect that was present throughout.
James and Gabe were great as well, there was nothing really wrong with either of them. It was nice to see that we can have two guys who are nice throughout (James had a few behaviour traits that could be considered creepy at times).
I just wish that we hadn't had the drama that felt a bit forced at the end, it seemed a bit unnecessary and didn't really need to be as dramatic and tear-inducing as it was.
Otherwise a great book and I can't wait to read more from Alexandra Potter.
October 24, 2013
Read on the blog!!
A classic Alexandra Potter. Somehow she takes one idea and turns it into a book! Alexandra Potter is the ultimate chic lit. Her books have ways of being incredible fun and insightful and eye opening. The moral of this book is in its title, Be careful what you wish for. I mean its no secret that every time I see a pair of pretty shoes(or anything) I wish I could have them(I know you do too). And its not that I don't want all my wishes to come true, all I'm saying is that if they did there's hardly any fun in it. And if you read this book, you'll come to know that maybe all wishes coming true doesn't necessarily make you happy.
Let me warn you beforehand that unlike other books in which cute American girl falls for sexy English guy with British accent, in this book cute English girl falls for the American guy. Who happens to be a stand up comedian. Who(stand up comedians, not the guy) Heather hates. I am going to shut up(or stop typing) before I spill all.
Heather is one of those characters that leads a completely messed up life and though that might sound good on paper she is really in need of some vigorous shaking up. Heather's wishes are pretty much a way of convenience(a place in the tube) and honestly there is no need to stop wishing for them. Heather is a comical person. She sends texts in the midnight to ex boyfriends asking if they fancy a shag(she was drunk). Heather is also a wedding photographer(I love them). And always late. Which is how the story begins.
Now let me tell you about Gabe James. James has all the qualities of Heather's perfect guy. Actually before that he was Heather's completely hot neighbor with amazing cheek bones on whom she had a huge crush on but always met in horribly awkward or embarrassing situations. But in the wishes-come-true period Heather without knowing wishes for her perfect man and James asks her out. Because he has also always had a crush on her.
James is perfect in every way but not so much for Heather. I won't list his qualities and his bad points but to be truthful I didn't really like him. Or I like him but I feel a bit sorry for him(sorry James). But on a side note I felt that he and Jess(the best friend) would be perfect together(don't ask how, I could just picture them looking cute together).
Now the guy Heather falls for aka the american shall not be named(oops) in this blog. He shall be called "The guy" from here. The guy is cute, has a weird dressing style, ridiculously funny, and my best part argues with Heather on a totally cute topic that I'm totally not telling. The guy is an utterly fun character and his imperfectness makes him so much perfect for Heather. The guy can make you(and Heather) laugh and can cheer up the most down moments in your(or Heather's) life. The guy makes a very good friend.
This is a teeny-meeny part I did not like.The guy and Heather are very good friends who enjoy each others company, no pressure. I felt that their relationship never had time to develop. Now normally if a girl falls in love with a friend, they have incredibly awkward moments and she has a whole denial period, then comes the by-mistake-deep-heart-eye staring then those few stolen kisses, stammered apologies and finally confession of love from both sides, but this book lacked that. Heather just comes to a realization that she loves him after she has mmmmm(sorry got mute).
Also I do not like the way they make up. Alexandra Potter could have made it so much more romantic. There are some moments but its nothing like your typical heartfelt moment.
I rate this book a 3.5. I know that after you read my review you'll think how come? but I've never been madly in love with Alexandra Potter. She has the perfect settings but she ticks me off in a few places. Now on my advice whether to read it or leave it...
Honestly its ones own choice. I wouldn't undo my reading it. Its not all romance, its a mixed bag. It totally depends on your mood and genre choice(I don't advice this for Raven types). So honestly(and no offence), do what you want.
Lots of love and donuts
Beez.
A classic Alexandra Potter. Somehow she takes one idea and turns it into a book! Alexandra Potter is the ultimate chic lit. Her books have ways of being incredible fun and insightful and eye opening. The moral of this book is in its title, Be careful what you wish for. I mean its no secret that every time I see a pair of pretty shoes(or anything) I wish I could have them(I know you do too). And its not that I don't want all my wishes to come true, all I'm saying is that if they did there's hardly any fun in it. And if you read this book, you'll come to know that maybe all wishes coming true doesn't necessarily make you happy.
Let me warn you beforehand that unlike other books in which cute American girl falls for sexy English guy with British accent, in this book cute English girl falls for the American guy. Who happens to be a stand up comedian. Who(stand up comedians, not the guy) Heather hates. I am going to shut up(or stop typing) before I spill all.
Heather is one of those characters that leads a completely messed up life and though that might sound good on paper she is really in need of some vigorous shaking up. Heather's wishes are pretty much a way of convenience(a place in the tube) and honestly there is no need to stop wishing for them. Heather is a comical person. She sends texts in the midnight to ex boyfriends asking if they fancy a shag(she was drunk). Heather is also a wedding photographer(I love them). And always late. Which is how the story begins.
Now let me tell you about Gabe James. James has all the qualities of Heather's perfect guy. Actually before that he was Heather's completely hot neighbor with amazing cheek bones on whom she had a huge crush on but always met in horribly awkward or embarrassing situations. But in the wishes-come-true period Heather without knowing wishes for her perfect man and James asks her out. Because he has also always had a crush on her.
James is perfect in every way but not so much for Heather. I won't list his qualities and his bad points but to be truthful I didn't really like him. Or I like him but I feel a bit sorry for him(sorry James). But on a side note I felt that he and Jess(the best friend) would be perfect together(don't ask how, I could just picture them looking cute together).
Now the guy Heather falls for aka the american shall not be named(oops) in this blog. He shall be called "The guy" from here. The guy is cute, has a weird dressing style, ridiculously funny, and my best part argues with Heather on a totally cute topic that I'm totally not telling. The guy is an utterly fun character and his imperfectness makes him so much perfect for Heather. The guy can make you(and Heather) laugh and can cheer up the most down moments in your(or Heather's) life. The guy makes a very good friend.
This is a teeny-meeny part I did not like.The guy and Heather are very good friends who enjoy each others company, no pressure. I felt that their relationship never had time to develop. Now normally if a girl falls in love with a friend, they have incredibly awkward moments and she has a whole denial period, then comes the by-mistake-deep-heart-eye staring then those few stolen kisses, stammered apologies and finally confession of love from both sides, but this book lacked that. Heather just comes to a realization that she loves him after she has mmmmm(sorry got mute).
Also I do not like the way they make up. Alexandra Potter could have made it so much more romantic. There are some moments but its nothing like your typical heartfelt moment.
I rate this book a 3.5. I know that after you read my review you'll think how come? but I've never been madly in love with Alexandra Potter. She has the perfect settings but she ticks me off in a few places. Now on my advice whether to read it or leave it...
Honestly its ones own choice. I wouldn't undo my reading it. Its not all romance, its a mixed bag. It totally depends on your mood and genre choice(I don't advice this for Raven types). So honestly(and no offence), do what you want.
Lots of love and donuts
Beez.
July 5, 2017
I've been looking at my favorites shelf recently and thought that I should probably explain why this one ended up there, since I am really not one to read chick lit and enjoy it in such huge amounts that I would give a 5 star rating (not to say that chick lit is bad or that I can't enjoy it that much, just that it doesn't necessarily happen).
This was something I read when I was fairly young and not that much into reading in general. I was maybe eleven when I got this as a birthday present, which is really a weird age to read this genre, but eh. I gave it a go and honestly, I don't remember my first impressions of it. I also didn't have any criteria back then whatsoever, so not that it mattered. I ended up rereading it multiple times afterwards and lending it out to people. My copy is literally falling apart, but every time I look at it I just feel this nostalgia and familiarity to the story that I can only say that I truly love this book and will forever do so.
Of course, if I stumbled up upon it now, after the reading experience and taste I acquired through years, I doubt that I would have seen anything in it, let alone loved it near as much.
So I can't be objective here, nor am I trying to be. I've never picked up anything else from this author and I don't know if I ever will. If anyone has a recommendation for any of Potter's other works I would really appreciate it tho.
Thanks for reading folks <3
OH OH OH
And also, Gabe is probably the reason why my ideal type of guy looks and acts just like him, lol.
This was something I read when I was fairly young and not that much into reading in general. I was maybe eleven when I got this as a birthday present, which is really a weird age to read this genre, but eh. I gave it a go and honestly, I don't remember my first impressions of it. I also didn't have any criteria back then whatsoever, so not that it mattered. I ended up rereading it multiple times afterwards and lending it out to people. My copy is literally falling apart, but every time I look at it I just feel this nostalgia and familiarity to the story that I can only say that I truly love this book and will forever do so.
Of course, if I stumbled up upon it now, after the reading experience and taste I acquired through years, I doubt that I would have seen anything in it, let alone loved it near as much.
So I can't be objective here, nor am I trying to be. I've never picked up anything else from this author and I don't know if I ever will. If anyone has a recommendation for any of Potter's other works I would really appreciate it tho.
Thanks for reading folks <3
OH OH OH
And also, Gabe is probably the reason why my ideal type of guy looks and acts just like him, lol.
July 12, 2007
Be Careful What You Wish For.
Heather is quite an unlucky girl. She wishes to have some luck, at least once in her life. And then she buys heathers from an old gypsy down the street - and miracles start to happen.
Ceritanya lucu sih.. very chick-lit, almost a Sophie Kinsella style. But Potter definitely has her own charms, giving readers twists and turns to make us want to read till the last page.
A brilliant read if you have free time, lazying on the couch with a bunch of snacks.
Heather is quite an unlucky girl. She wishes to have some luck, at least once in her life. And then she buys heathers from an old gypsy down the street - and miracles start to happen.
Ceritanya lucu sih.. very chick-lit, almost a Sophie Kinsella style. But Potter definitely has her own charms, giving readers twists and turns to make us want to read till the last page.
A brilliant read if you have free time, lazying on the couch with a bunch of snacks.
April 13, 2018
An interesting story detailing on how you can spend time wishing for things you don't really need only think you need. This book was very easy to read and was enjoyable throughout.
January 23, 2021
Po Me and Mr.Darcy moja druha potterovka. Neviem ci to bolo len mojim nahodnym vyberom (dufam, ze ano), ale prisli mi v mnohych ohladoch velmi podobne (britsko-americka dvojica, stipka magickosti a nadprirodzena). Mozno preto ma zo zaciatku az tak nechytila.
Miestami az pateticka hlavna hrdinka mi natolko pripominala Bridget Jones, ze som miestami mala problem udrzat si v hlave predstavu ako vyzera a videla v pribehu Renee Zellweger. Takisto celkova zapletka bola jasna uz od prveho stretnutia Heather a Gabe, ak nie rovno z anotacie.
Kazdopadne som si pri jej citani oddychla a zabavila sa. Zlom prisiel po tom, ako Gabe vzal Heather motorkou do Cornwellu. Potom konecne pribeh nabral “grady”, zacinal byt zamotanejsi, zaujimavejsi, napinavejsi. A to rozuzlenie s jej dream jobom! To som necakala 🙈.
Rovnako sa mi velmi pacila hlavna myslienka pribehu - co keby sa nam splnili vsetky nase zelania? Boli by sme stastnejsi? Co vsak ocenujem uplne najviac na knihach od Potter je to, ako nam sklada z oci ruzove okuliare a ukazuje aj temnu stranku romantickych predstav, na ktore clovek pri snivani akosi zabuda. Je to vtipne, magicke, no zaroven velmi realisticke tym, ze clovek si uvedomi, ze tie jeho nerealisticke sny a tuzby mozno nakoniec vobec nie su take uzasne. A ze realny zivot je mnohokrat lepsi.
Za tento realisticky pohlad na lasku si celkom urcite zasluzi dobre hodnotenie. A rovnako aj odporucanie na citanie.
Miestami az pateticka hlavna hrdinka mi natolko pripominala Bridget Jones, ze som miestami mala problem udrzat si v hlave predstavu ako vyzera a videla v pribehu Renee Zellweger. Takisto celkova zapletka bola jasna uz od prveho stretnutia Heather a Gabe, ak nie rovno z anotacie.
Kazdopadne som si pri jej citani oddychla a zabavila sa. Zlom prisiel po tom, ako Gabe vzal Heather motorkou do Cornwellu. Potom konecne pribeh nabral “grady”, zacinal byt zamotanejsi, zaujimavejsi, napinavejsi. A to rozuzlenie s jej dream jobom! To som necakala 🙈.
Rovnako sa mi velmi pacila hlavna myslienka pribehu - co keby sa nam splnili vsetky nase zelania? Boli by sme stastnejsi? Co vsak ocenujem uplne najviac na knihach od Potter je to, ako nam sklada z oci ruzove okuliare a ukazuje aj temnu stranku romantickych predstav, na ktore clovek pri snivani akosi zabuda. Je to vtipne, magicke, no zaroven velmi realisticke tym, ze clovek si uvedomi, ze tie jeho nerealisticke sny a tuzby mozno nakoniec vobec nie su take uzasne. A ze realny zivot je mnohokrat lepsi.
Za tento realisticky pohlad na lasku si celkom urcite zasluzi dobre hodnotenie. A rovnako aj odporucanie na citanie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2017
Уморительная книга. Легкая, простая, смешная и не лишенная смысла. Отличный способ отвлечься и приятно провести время. После прочтения остаются очень приятные ощущения, будто поболтал с хорошей подружкой. И даже некая мистическая составляющая была к месту и не вызывала ощущения нереалистичности. С удовольствием почитала бы у нее что-нибудь еще.
September 25, 2009
What a girl wants isn't always what a girl needs...
I wish I could meet a perfect man for my Mr. Right.
I wish I had bought that lottery ticket, otherwise I would have won the biggest prize.
I wish...
We are always making wishes, big or small, about the past or about the future... even though we know most of them are seldom achieved.
Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things as well. In Alexandra Potter's book "Be Careful What You Wish For", this 30-something girl used to make little, everyday wishes without thinking. With her luck, she knows they'll never come true. Deep in her heart, however, she still wishes that they would become reality someday.
She made hopeless wishes until one day she came across a mysterious gypsy, who gave her a so-called "lucky feather". Soon after that, a lot of changes start to take place in her life.
She was surprised to see that her luck was dramatically changed for better. Besides an empty seat on the tube or a vacant parking place in her neighbourhood, a new flatmate came to share her rent and Lady Charlotte came to save the wedding photography agency she worked for...She was even overexcited to make aquaintance with the man she had crush on for a long time and fell in love with each other...
Seemingly, everything went on well until...gradually...she came to realize...good luck does not necessarily mean happiness.
She did date with that perfect man, but she found actually she didn't love him.
Lady Charllote did hire the service of the agency Heather worker for and her wedding would no doubt bring the near-bankrupt agency a great fortune, but it soon turned out that the groom-to-be is Heather's ex-boyfriend. Just imagine how Heather would take photos at her ex's wedding.
...
Poor Heather was sad to find most of those changes or so-called good luck had not brought any happiness to her. On the contrary, she got in trouble again and again, which she was almost unable to deal with.
Her father's sudden heart attack almost led to her regret for a life time. Fortunately, he was saved from the death and slowly recovered under the care of all his families. Exhausted Heather, after a series of unexpected incidents, came to realize what matters most in her life.
What's more, she at last admitted to herself that she had already fallen in love with Gabe, her flatmate, who had just had a quarrel with her because of some misunderstanding and left their flat for the Edinburgh Festival, when she just accepted a new photographing task to go there as well.
Of course, the author has the ability to offer the story a happy ending, which is to all readers' relief.
Finishing the novel, I couldn't help thinking about my life.
What if I also had a luck feather?
What wishes would I make?
On the cover of this book is an interesting sentence: "What a girl wants isn't always what a girl needs."
Doesnt that make absolute sense?
I do agree with that.
So I do hope that every girl, whether you have read the book or you are going to read it, think carefully about your life and make wishes carefully. After all, our life is under the control of ourselves, not a so-called feather.
Don't believe it? You just go to read Heather's story and you'll learn a lesson like she. I'm sure.
I wish I could meet a perfect man for my Mr. Right.
I wish I had bought that lottery ticket, otherwise I would have won the biggest prize.
I wish...
We are always making wishes, big or small, about the past or about the future... even though we know most of them are seldom achieved.
Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things as well. In Alexandra Potter's book "Be Careful What You Wish For", this 30-something girl used to make little, everyday wishes without thinking. With her luck, she knows they'll never come true. Deep in her heart, however, she still wishes that they would become reality someday.
She made hopeless wishes until one day she came across a mysterious gypsy, who gave her a so-called "lucky feather". Soon after that, a lot of changes start to take place in her life.
She was surprised to see that her luck was dramatically changed for better. Besides an empty seat on the tube or a vacant parking place in her neighbourhood, a new flatmate came to share her rent and Lady Charlotte came to save the wedding photography agency she worked for...She was even overexcited to make aquaintance with the man she had crush on for a long time and fell in love with each other...
Seemingly, everything went on well until...gradually...she came to realize...good luck does not necessarily mean happiness.
She did date with that perfect man, but she found actually she didn't love him.
Lady Charllote did hire the service of the agency Heather worker for and her wedding would no doubt bring the near-bankrupt agency a great fortune, but it soon turned out that the groom-to-be is Heather's ex-boyfriend. Just imagine how Heather would take photos at her ex's wedding.
...
Poor Heather was sad to find most of those changes or so-called good luck had not brought any happiness to her. On the contrary, she got in trouble again and again, which she was almost unable to deal with.
Her father's sudden heart attack almost led to her regret for a life time. Fortunately, he was saved from the death and slowly recovered under the care of all his families. Exhausted Heather, after a series of unexpected incidents, came to realize what matters most in her life.
What's more, she at last admitted to herself that she had already fallen in love with Gabe, her flatmate, who had just had a quarrel with her because of some misunderstanding and left their flat for the Edinburgh Festival, when she just accepted a new photographing task to go there as well.
Of course, the author has the ability to offer the story a happy ending, which is to all readers' relief.
Finishing the novel, I couldn't help thinking about my life.
What if I also had a luck feather?
What wishes would I make?
On the cover of this book is an interesting sentence: "What a girl wants isn't always what a girl needs."
Doesnt that make absolute sense?
I do agree with that.
So I do hope that every girl, whether you have read the book or you are going to read it, think carefully about your life and make wishes carefully. After all, our life is under the control of ourselves, not a so-called feather.
Don't believe it? You just go to read Heather's story and you'll learn a lesson like she. I'm sure.
February 12, 2013
This is the first English Book Novel that i read. By reading this just like reading our own story as a girl because the same feeling occurs in every girls' life.
And here are some quotations i got from this whole novel..
"Life is full of experiences.. One has finished but that only means another is about to begin.."
"If you like someone, why can't you call straight way?? Why can't you be honest and say how you feel??"
"I think the perfect man does exist.. He's just different from different people.."
"And sometimes when we have, we discover we never really wanted it in the first place - but then it's too late.."
"we think we know what we want, but we can never really know until we've got it.."
"It's fine having another person around.."
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is gift.. That's why we call it present.."
"Because life's far too short to waste a single drop of it.."
"As I near him my heart speeds up, like the beeping of a metal detector when it's found treasure.."
And here are some quotations i got from this whole novel..
"Life is full of experiences.. One has finished but that only means another is about to begin.."
"If you like someone, why can't you call straight way?? Why can't you be honest and say how you feel??"
"I think the perfect man does exist.. He's just different from different people.."
"And sometimes when we have, we discover we never really wanted it in the first place - but then it's too late.."
"we think we know what we want, but we can never really know until we've got it.."
"It's fine having another person around.."
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is gift.. That's why we call it present.."
"Because life's far too short to waste a single drop of it.."
"As I near him my heart speeds up, like the beeping of a metal detector when it's found treasure.."
March 20, 2018
Да, определено трябва да внимаш какво си пожелаваш.
Не е чудно ако се случи.
Личи си , че това и е първи опит с този тип кни��и.
Малко е недодялана.
Но има и какво да научиш.
Преди всичко да бъдеш себе си.
Няма нито идеални хора, нито идеален живот.Колкото по-рано го осъзнаеш, толкова по-добре ще си живееш.
И няколко свежарски идеи и мисли успях да си запазя.
"За нея намирането на мъж е като купуването на автомобил втора ръка.Година на производство,хубав силует,телефонът на предишния собственик,може ли да се разчита на нея?"
"Да срещна мъж ,който има за хоби миене на мръсни чинии,моногамия и предварителна любовна игра."
Не е чудно ако се случи.
Личи си , че това и е първи опит с този тип кни��и.
Малко е недодялана.
Но има и какво да научиш.
Преди всичко да бъдеш себе си.
Няма нито идеални хора, нито идеален живот.Колкото по-рано го осъзнаеш, толкова по-добре ще си живееш.
И няколко свежарски идеи и мисли успях да си запазя.
"За нея намирането на мъж е като купуването на автомобил втора ръка.Година на производство,хубав силует,телефонът на предишния собственик,може ли да се разчита на нея?"
"Да срещна мъж ,който има за хоби миене на мръсни чинии,моногамия и предварителна любовна игра."
July 22, 2023
Имам си традиция от две години насам. Всеки месец юли чета тази книга, докато съм на ежегодното си бягство от града. Тази книга е моето "guilty pleasure". Много неща ме дразнят в сюжета, особено главната героиня, но с времето насладата ми от тази книга се разраства като обрив (тъпа шега, знам... )
November 14, 2011
AAAHHHH THIS WAS SO CUTE!!!!!! Possibly one of the cutest endings ever :D I LOVE GABE <3
January 16, 2022
3,75 porque soy quisquillosa. Las tramas lentas me cansan y tardo meses en terminarlos pero me.alegro que no lo largué. Creo que Heather me caía mal porque se parece en muchas cosas a mi y era como medio complicado de leer y nada al final me encantó. Esperaba más magia lo admito más locura con la parte mágica y eso me jugo en contra pero cua do te das cuenta por dónde pasa es una historia muy linda con unos personajes muy lindos. Aguante Gabe
February 19, 2024
Actually a really good book, enjoyed it :)
August 25, 2019
Започнах тази книга точно защото е тип "плажно четиво", но явно не съм била настроена точно за този жанр. Беше ми леко глуповата, на места безинтересна, а на места направо ме губеше като читател. Не казвам, че е тотално зле, но не е и кой знае какво - някакво средно положение с лека доза магичност, която скоро едва ли ще си спомням.
January 8, 2017
Funny, interesting, a little too fast forward in the end but the topic was creative and I just wish...Ops! Never mind...
July 23, 2019
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2019: A book read in the season it is set in
Well, it is set in summer and I read it in summer. Even more specifically, it starts in the beginning of July and I started reading it in the beginning of July. Does that give me extra cookie points?
I‘m almost embarrassed to admit how long it took me too finish this book. Usually I fly through books by authors like Alexandra Potter or Sophie Kinsella, his time, not so much. And that doesn’t mean the book is bad, I just had a hard time getting into it for some reason.
Heather Hamilton is a wedding photographer in her early 30s and feels like life is passing her by. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, she is about to lose her job, is in credit debt, doesn’t get along with her stepmother and feels like she has a few pounds too much. So she makes lists of wishes. The perfect boyfriend, the dream job, chocolate chip ice cream without calories... the usual, you know? So one day an old lady (insert magical gypsy lady trope, which I‘m not comfortable with because let’s be real it a cultural appropriation trope that wasn’t fit for use even in the early 2000s anymore) gives her lucky heather, her namesake plant, for, you guessed it, good luck. And promptly Heather‘s life turns around and her wishes start to become reality. But everything comes with a catch.
This story is a rom com, but with at its core also a cautionary tale about being satisfied with what you have instead of always wishing for a magical fix in your life and mostly, that often the things we think we need in our life, are not the things that make us happy. The title Be Careful What You Wish For is program. And the message does work. It’s a little bit too on the nose sometimes, there is a certain lack of conflict, because Heather notices pretty fast that her wishes are not exactly what she expected them to be and it doesn’t feel like the lesson learned in the end is, well, earned.
But that isn’t why I had problems getting into it. The story was fine, the side characters worked, even if they were textbook rom com clichés. I mean we don’t read books like this and expect them to invent anything new, it’s a soft comfort to relax for a couple of hours.
I think my basic problem was Heather herself. She is not an unlikeable character and she is written to be relatable to women, because, let’s face it, her problems are real ones that a lot of women face every day. I can’t even pin down my exact issue here. I just didn’t really warm up to her. Maybe I missed a certain spice that made her interesting to me.
I also had some issues with the rushed ending. The romantic climax, which should have been the butterfly explosion of the story, fell flat because all of sudden Potter decided to "tell" instead of "show." The book never lacked details or character interactions, until the main couple got together and instead of an "active scene" it was suddenly a passive retelling. What an odd choice to make. The decoy love interest got more moments than the actual one.
That book was Potter‘s first try to include a magical element in a story and it definitely shows. That doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means, but having read more of her later works, she definitely learned to incorporate "magic“ better and more fluent into her storytelling.
I liked the book, but it’s not one of her best ones.
Well, it is set in summer and I read it in summer. Even more specifically, it starts in the beginning of July and I started reading it in the beginning of July. Does that give me extra cookie points?
I‘m almost embarrassed to admit how long it took me too finish this book. Usually I fly through books by authors like Alexandra Potter or Sophie Kinsella, his time, not so much. And that doesn’t mean the book is bad, I just had a hard time getting into it for some reason.
Heather Hamilton is a wedding photographer in her early 30s and feels like life is passing her by. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, she is about to lose her job, is in credit debt, doesn’t get along with her stepmother and feels like she has a few pounds too much. So she makes lists of wishes. The perfect boyfriend, the dream job, chocolate chip ice cream without calories... the usual, you know? So one day an old lady (insert magical gypsy lady trope, which I‘m not comfortable with because let’s be real it a cultural appropriation trope that wasn’t fit for use even in the early 2000s anymore) gives her lucky heather, her namesake plant, for, you guessed it, good luck. And promptly Heather‘s life turns around and her wishes start to become reality. But everything comes with a catch.
This story is a rom com, but with at its core also a cautionary tale about being satisfied with what you have instead of always wishing for a magical fix in your life and mostly, that often the things we think we need in our life, are not the things that make us happy. The title Be Careful What You Wish For is program. And the message does work. It’s a little bit too on the nose sometimes, there is a certain lack of conflict, because Heather notices pretty fast that her wishes are not exactly what she expected them to be and it doesn’t feel like the lesson learned in the end is, well, earned.
But that isn’t why I had problems getting into it. The story was fine, the side characters worked, even if they were textbook rom com clichés. I mean we don’t read books like this and expect them to invent anything new, it’s a soft comfort to relax for a couple of hours.
I think my basic problem was Heather herself. She is not an unlikeable character and she is written to be relatable to women, because, let’s face it, her problems are real ones that a lot of women face every day. I can’t even pin down my exact issue here. I just didn’t really warm up to her. Maybe I missed a certain spice that made her interesting to me.
I also had some issues with the rushed ending. The romantic climax, which should have been the butterfly explosion of the story, fell flat because all of sudden Potter decided to "tell" instead of "show." The book never lacked details or character interactions, until the main couple got together and instead of an "active scene" it was suddenly a passive retelling. What an odd choice to make. The decoy love interest got more moments than the actual one.
That book was Potter‘s first try to include a magical element in a story and it definitely shows. That doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means, but having read more of her later works, she definitely learned to incorporate "magic“ better and more fluent into her storytelling.
I liked the book, but it’s not one of her best ones.
February 12, 2017
3.7 star
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