N.B. This review was published on a previous blog. I received a copy of Mindy Klasky’s book, Act One, Wish One, through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program.
A quick glance at the cover of the book and one would already know that the story is related to the theatre. Even better, the title is very telling, that even without looking at the illustration, one could have an idea of the story. Theatre. I have read only a handful of books in this genre since, I think it is rather refreshing that this book went out of the usual cookie-cutter profession of chick lit heroine – working in a magazine, in PR, in fashion – and had its protagonist working in theatre.
Act One, Wish One tells the story of Kira, one year after a more than interesting breakup with her almost-husband (I refuse to reveal any spoiler). One day, she comes across a lantern and unleashes a wish-granting genie, which sets the story in motion.
I like the characters. They’re flawed like real people should be, which makes them relatable. Although I did not like the genie much, Teel, at least at first because they could be so pushy, of course, they had a valid reason to explain the attitude. However, I think that the most annoying character was Bill. It’s one thing to be adventurous and push the envelope a bit further, but it’s another thing to be too ambitious to the point of absurdity.
The plot is good. The genie angle isn’t too original, but I think it played quite well and gave the reader something to think about making decisions and how one little misstep could change the course of one’s life.
One last thing, I was hoping for a more intense confrontation between Kira and TEWSBU.
Overall, it was a good book for light reading. This is the first Mindy Klasky book I have read and I know it will not be the last.