Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Kerry Lonsdale and Orly Konig – this is the first I have ever heard of them and I am usually skeptical about any new authors I try. However, the premise in the blurb of the book really was intriguing, making me opt to try their upcoming book and I have to say, I am very glad I did.

“The Wish List Trip” – the title of the book pretty much sums it up – this book is about three women, Zoe, Anna and Holly, who have been close friends since their college days and have always planned for trips together, every year, since the completion of their course. But the story begins with Zoe’s family meeting up with Holly and Anna, after the tragic passing of Zoe due to cancer. Zoe has left detailed instructions about where and how she wants her cremated remains to be scattered, and it’s upto Anna and Holly to fulfill her wishes.

The catch here is that Anna and Holly had a falling out in the last vacation they had had just before Zoe’s diagnosis, which was 5 years ago, and they still haven’t repaired the rift in their friendship. Zoe wishes for them to go to all those places they had vacationed together, in the same order they had gone, and leave a small trace of her in all these places; she also expresses her hope that the two of them are able to resolve their differences in this trip. Whether or not they manage to do it forms the rest of the story.

I am a fan of stories that are centered on female friendships – particularly those that are very long and deep ones. This book is all about one such deep friendship. However, this book manages to make it much more interesting by making us believe that even such deep and close friendships can be oblivious to certain well-kept, long buried secrets.

The characterization of Zoe, Anna and Holly is perfect; they are real, funny, messed-up people, who are not perfect. They are all unique and the circumstances around them convincingly explain their unique natures. That is what makes the rift believable as well.

The pacing and narrative style of the story is perfect. At no place, did I feel that it is getting boring. The story alternates between Anna and Holly’s points of view; that creates an immersive experience as the reader gets to foray into the mindset, thoughts and emotions of these characters. Though the story is about the last wish of a dead friend, it does not make the readers wallow in grief; rather, the story is a celebration of a person who has managed to touch many lives in the short time she had in this world. Anyone who reads this book will do so with a smile on their face while an array of their own bittersweet memories runs through their minds.

I greatly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next book from this pair.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.