Wish You Well by Jamie Sumner

Wish You Well by Jamie Sumner
Publisher:  Antheneum Books for Young Readers
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   288 pages
Publishing:  September 1st, 2026
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines: "Wyatt once told me a heart can survive indefinitely outside the body as long as it gets oxygen."

Violet has been slowly losing her eyesight ever since she was diagnosed with Best disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects the macula of her eye.  She doesn't want to be treated any differently than the other kids at school, and more than anything, she wants to keep playing soccer.  Soccer and swimming are the two places where she feels free, where perfect vision doesn't matter.  But at the moment, she's grounded because of an incident behind the pool house, which she insists was completely accidental.    

Violet and her mom used to be close, they painted each other's nails and genuinely enjoyed spending time together.  But as Violet's eyesight worsened, her mom has been overwhelmed by medical bills and working late.  She even insists Violet attends a children's picnic at the hospital to meet other kids going through medical challenges.  There, Violet witnesses Wyatt Cass choke on a hot dog before he's saved by Nurse Priya and her daughter, Noor Singh.  Wyatt is recovering from a heart transplant, and Noor is undergoing chemotherapy which creates an instant bond between them. Soon, Wyatt urges the three of them to apply to the Wish Upon a Star annual wish-granting campaign.  His hope is that they each of them will get a wish and bring the other two along.  Three epic wishes, three big adventures...but they barely know each other.  And is it right to pretend to be close friends just to get their wishes granted?

From the author of Roll with It and Schooled comes her newest book, Wish You Well.  One of the first things that struck me was how beautifully descriptive the writing is.  The author paints a modern, relatable picture of kids navigating serious medical conditions while still watching Tik Tok videos and swooning over Wyatt's "boy band eyes."  It's adorable.  Even though each character is dealing with something heavy, the story never sinks into sadness.  It stays hopeful, upbeat and full of heart.

I especially loved Violet's inner monologue and how the kids respected each other's boundaries.  They don't pry, but eventual share the emotions of their chronic illnesses along with all the complexities that come with them.  Their wishes are another highlight; each one fits their personality perfectly.   Wyatt dreams of kicking a field goal (mostly to please his dad) though what he really wants is to go to Google Plex.   Noor hopes to meet a celebrity chef.  Violet wants to blow up a building, although the chances of her mom letting her are very low. It takes time for their wishes to unfold, but watching them connect, problem-solve, and support one another is incredibly satisfying.   There are even some sweet, lighter moments between Wyatt and Violet that made me smile.  In her acknowledgements, the author talks about wanting to write characters who feel authentic and empathetic, and I felt she wonderfully conveyed this.