This ook has a good message behind and I totally support it. It was good even when this is not usally my type of tea but I tried read something different than I used to

✨ Review: If My Wishes Came True by Nathalie Theodore ✨

Nathalie Theodore delivers a beautifully heartfelt and emotional story in If My Wishes Came True, the second book in her Dramatic Hearts Club series (though it works perfectly as a standalone).

We follow Jenna Andersen, an accomplished interior designer in Chicago who seems to have it all on the surface—but underneath, she’s haunted by old wounds, lingering insecurities, and the nickname “Runaway Jenna.” When she unexpectedly rediscovers her passion for painting, the act of creating again opens her up to healing, new connections, and ultimately, love. Enter Charlie, the neighbor who slowly chips away at her guarded heart, and Vanessa, a friend who helps remind Jenna that she’s not alone.

This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about self-discovery, mental health, and second chances. Theodore writes with such tenderness that you feel Jenna’s struggles and triumphs in your bones. The romance between Jenna and Charlie is both swoony and grounding—it gives you butterflies but also feels rooted in something very real. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved the balance between vulnerability and hope in their relationship.

What really stood out to me was the authentic representation of mental health. Jenna’s journey felt layered and compassionate, showing that healing isn’t linear but that love, art, and connection can help us find our way back to ourselves.

If you’re a reader who enjoys character-driven stories, found family, and romance that is as moving as it is romantic, this one will stay with you. It’s tender, emotional, and ultimately uplifting—a story about learning to stop running and to finally believe in the possibility of your own happily ever after.

⭐ Rating: 4.5–5 stars
💫 Tropes you’ll find: love at first sight (with a twist), found family, emotional healing, artist rediscovering her passion
💖 Perfect for fans of: introspective contemporary romance with emotional depth

Jenna and Charlie’s love story gives you all the butterflies as they battle the ups and downs of accepting their fate as soulmates. The way Nathalie Theodore writes their happily ever after kept me up well past my bedtime wanting more. From the initial meet-cute to the grand gesture, I knew that these two were soulmates. There were several moments in the middle that felt a tad long as Jenna battled with her internal self-doubt and monologue, but Nathalie handled Jenna’s battles with grace and tact. The mental health representation was top-notch and executed so well! Charlie was a phenomenal balance to Jenna. I only wish I had gotten a glimpse inside his head, too! The supporting cast were all so fleshed out, it really made the found family aspect of the book shine so much brighter! Great quick read!

Nathalie Theodore crafts a heartfelt and emotionally resonant novel in If My Wishes Came True, blending love, personal struggle, and unexpected twists into a story that feels both unique and deeply relatable. From the first page, the narrative pulls you in with its compelling characters—each layered, flawed, and undeniably human.

The story explores the complexities of relationships and the quiet battles we often fight within ourselves. Theodore captures these emotional currents with honesty and grace, weaving a plot that feels intimate yet filled with moments of real surprise. The twist, when it arrives, is both shocking and organic, changing the trajectory of the story in a way that lingers long after the final page.

What truly elevates this novel is its originality. Theodore doesn’t follow a formula—she allows the characters to grow and shift naturally, making their journeys feel authentic. The emotional depth and personal stakes are powerful, and it’s nearly impossible not to become invested in the lives on the page.

If My Wishes Came True is a beautifully written, standout novel about love, resilience, and the unpredictable turns life can take. It’s the kind of story that stays with you—and one that reminds readers of the power of hope, even when things seem lost.

"I want this to be love at first sight. I want Charlie Sutton to be my last first kiss. I want him to be my soulmate."

Thank you, Nathalie Theodore, for the ARC of If My Wishes Came True!

This was such a sweet book, and I loved the amount of "fate" in it.

All of the characters were wonderful, and I love that Vanessa and Tati Marie became like family to Jenna.

I loved that Jenna was able to move beyond some things in her past and reconcile some of her strained relationships.

My favorite part of the book was when Jenna and Charlie were talking about his dream and her journal! 😍

I also loved Nathalie's story about her parents!

If you're looking for a sweet romance book, If My Wishes Came True is available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.

This was such a great story and I love how Nathalie interweaves mental health in her stories. This story was more lighthearted than If The Stars Align, but it was so fun seeing Jenna get her happily ever after. There were a few cameos from If The Stars Align that added such a fun little twist to this story. I love that Jenna was sure that she was giving up on love until she had her rom-com moment with Charlie. These two really were perfect for each other and I loved watching them interact. One thing I appreciated about Jenna was that she got the help she needed during this story. She had put it off for many years, but when she wanted to be a better woman for Charlie’s sake, she put in the work to help herself get to a better mental state. I also like that she told Charlie how she felt when she thought he needed his own help to better his mental health. It took Charlie a little more time to realize that he needed it, but I loved that he also did the work on his mental health to be better for Jenna. These two worked on their mental health alone and together, not only to better themselves, but to make sure that they were their best selves going into a relationship. They were so clearly soulmates and I loved watching them come together and fall in love. This was a great story about love, grieving, mental health, and soulmates, and I loved having the opportunity to read this story!



Thank you, Nathalie, Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC!

Jenna Andersen seems to have it all, but behind her polished image is a woman still haunted by past wounds, self-doubt, and buried dreams. Known as “Runaway Jenna” for a reason, she’s built her life around starting over. When a return to painting reconnects her with a long-lost passion and introduces her to the quietly supportive Vanessa and the magnetic Charlie next door, Jenna is forced to confront everything she’s been avoiding.
Jenna’s return to painting is quite emotional, and I found that her artwork was beautifully interwoven into the story as a means of healing for her. Her friendship with Vanessa feels refreshingly real, and the slow-burn romance with Charlie is also very authentic. These are not perfect characters, but people are easy to relate to, particularly as they struggle to overcome their past. I found the secondary character development well described and part of this story. Overall, this book highlights the ability to rediscover yourself through what you love and, in doing so, open yourself up to finding love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is posted on Goodreads as of July 29th!


If My Wishes Came True was such a tender and moving read. I really connected with Jenna as a character.
The way she heals and finds her voice again felt so real and relatable. I loved watching her slowly open up, not just to love but to herself and her own dreams.

The romance with Charlie was sweet, patient, and genuine. Jenna and Charlie inspired each other to grow and to chase a life that felt most authentic to each of them. I loved that Charlie saw her for who she truly was, including her struggles, and loved her for all of it.

What I appreciated most was the mental health representation and how the book handled mental health and family dynamics with care. A gentle reminder that healing and second chances are possible, and that you are still worthy of being loved through your struggles.

I really enjoyed how this story showed the courage it takes to let yourself be fully seen, especially when you’ve felt that no one has taken the time to truly discover you or your heart. It’s a reminder that the right love doesn’t just notice you, it truly sees you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nathalie Theodore, and Written in The Stars Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Nathalie Theodore for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

Jenna is a beautiful and successful woman who’s long given up on finding love, but still yearns for it. One day, as she’s leaving her building’s elevator towards her apartment, she walks into one of her neighbours. She was already upset but now she’s also embarrassed, but as her eyes meet those of the stranger she collided with, sparks fly and Jenna might just have to believe that her wish for true love might just come true.

Of course it won’t be that easy. Theodore hits her readers with one heck of a plot twist. Readers will swoon with how perfect Jenna and Charlie are but hearts will ache for them as well. If my wishes come true is a beautiful mixture of an idyllic love story, character growth, found family and the ultimate happily ever after. All the heartache is well worth it in the end.

The mental health rep and complicated family dynamics are handled with care. I very much appreciated the “therapy positivity” in this book. Needing therapy does not make you weak. It makes you brave and you can clearly see how it helps Jenna face her issues and grow into a better, more authentic version of herself.

This story also gives readers hope that making a bold career or life change can lead to success and that the pursuit of happiness should start with finding what makes you happy, and not focused solely on others or their opinions of you.

I enjoyed the tidbits of the Hatian culture that we got through Tati Marie and Vanessa. Their friendship with Jenna was also heartwarming, as was the way Jenna and her sister rediscovered their sisterly bond and built on it.

These two were written in the stars (or elsewhere - you’ll see) and you will fall in love with love.

3.5 ⭐

What do you do when you have come to terms with the fact that true love will never cross the threshold of your broken heart until one meeting, no–one person flips the script with one single look? Some would call it destiny, or fate, or the stars are finally aligning. But Jenna Andersen won’t let one momentous meet-cute with the man of her dreams shake her that easily. She is known as “Runaway Jenna,” after all. The bubbly, talented, and gorgeous Jenna that everyone knows has secrets–secrets she wants to run from to preserve her already shattered heart. But when Charlie Sutton bumps into her and sparks instantly fly between them, is Jenna ready to stop running from her past and allow love into her life, a life she is unfulfilled with?

I am going to be completely honest with you–I wanted to read this book because of the cute cover. I know, I know. You think I would at least consider what the story is about. But, lucky me, the story was as good as the cover.

Although I didn’t fall in love with the romance (ba-humbug me is at it again), I did enjoy the journey Jenna and Charlie endured, not only for each other, but for themselves. There was great character development, but I did wish I had Charlie’s point of view. He had a lot going on in his own life and was a complex character, but I guess if the twist at the end was going to shock me, it had to catch me totally off guard. But still, it would have been nice to have his perspective.

The plot kept me invested, but as I mentioned before, I wasn’t feeling the romance. I think it’s because I’m not a fan of the insta-love trope, so that affected my enjoyment of the story. However, I did appreciate how real the author kept the relationship and the struggles Jenna and Charlie had to overcome, taking it seriously and having them work it out. This isn’t like most romance books I’ve read, and I can’t compare it to other stories, but this is more of a romantic drama than a rom-com. (And yes, there is spice, so you have been forewarned. 😉)

The writing was entertaining, and it kept me engaged the entire time I was reading. If there are going to be more books in this series, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m going to read them because Nathalie Theodore is a great writer and I want to know what happens among their circle of friends.

I recommend this book if you like some realism (but not too much of it) in your romances and perhaps a happy ending? I don’t know. You’re going to have to read the book to find out if Jenna’s and Charlie’s relationship was meant to be. 😉

Thank you to Written in the Stars Press and NetGalley for the arc! All opinions and statements are my own.

#IfMyWishesCameTrue #NetGalley

If My Wishes Came True is the second book in the Dramatic Hearts Club series by Nathalie Theodore. Nathalie’s debut novel, If The Stars Align was one of the first ARCs I had the opportunity to review and I loved it so much!

This sequel focuses in on Dex and Sunny’s friend Jenna Andersen, who was referenced in the first novel. Jenna has everything going for her — she’s hardworking, creative and beautiful with a burgeoning career in interior design — but she can’t stop running from her past.

Jenna has to learn to face her fears and feelings before she can let love back into her life. With the help of friends, family and a very handsome stranger across the hall, she is able to prioritize her needs and find her own happy ending.

Some tropes you’ll love:
💗 Artist
💗 Strangers to Lovers
💗 Mental health rep
💗 Set in Chicago
💗 Jenna’s POV

Nathalie is an amazing writer and includes breathtaking twists and turns I never see coming! Her characters have so much depth and feel like real people you could know. I hope you check out this book when it releases on August 1st!

Thank you to NetGalley and Nathalie Theodore for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#ifmywishescametrue #chicago #romcom #indieauthor #kindleunlimited #arcreview #netgalley #bookblog #bookish #indiebook #romanceisrebellious #populargirl

Thank you NetGalley and Nathalie for the advanced copy of If My Wishes Came True. I would 100% recommend this book and the first to anyone who loves a good romance. First, the colors of the cover are absolutely beautiful, made me want to pick it up and see what it’s about. After reading the first book of the series I was so excited, and I was not disappointed. I loved how this book was centered around Jenna, yet we still got to see a little Dex and Sunny here and there. Jenna is a brilliant character who is talented and has so much depth to who she is. People just see her as the blonde cheerleader, but she is so so so much more than that. Her growth throughout the book was inspiring and her romance with Charlie is one for the stars.

I love that the reader gets to learn more about Jenna Andersen. from If the Stars Align, and see there is more to her than just being a blonde cheerleader.
Jenna’s character had so much depth to her, yet she was able to grow in the novel. I loved that she got to figure out what she truly wanted in life and who she wanted to be.
Absolutely love Charlie, but can see the aspects of his personality that frustrated Jenna and why it did so.
Brinigng in Dex and Sunny throughout the story is great for those who loved the first book
Beautifully written, leaving me want more from this world!

Having read (and throughly enjoyed) Nathalie’s debut “If The Stars Align”, I was eager to continue with the Dramatic Hearts Club series. Follow ups can be hard to nail after such an impressive start, but this was a fantastic romance read and I think the series just gets better and better.

Jenna and Charlie are hereby added to my 10/10 perfection romance lineup, along with Sunny and Dex who I loved seeing woven into the interconnected series.

Even when you can’t directly relate to a struggle like Jenna’s dyslexia, Nathalie still manages to expertly depict them in a way that you really understand them. This is a testament to how well she develops her characters; very human, flaws and all that make their journey all the more compelling. Charlie is a total golden retriever that adds to the swoon-worthy soulmate narrative. The story was excellent with the protagonists sharing an authentic connection that has you really rooting for them.

Overall, this was a good all rounder - genuine heart, humour, some steam, conflict and deeper themes that made the characters multidimensional. I’m already excited for the third instalment and would highly recommend for those looking to discover their new favourite romance author!

Jenna and Charlie must face their fears (and trauma) in order to make their dreams and wishes come true, both in life and in love. (TW: death, grief)

This is a very cute cozy read! I loved the character of Jenna and her depth/development. Her trauma and fears were so valid. At halfway I was so anxious about what was going to happen next I almost had to put the book down for a day or two and come back. Nathalie’s writing is so raw and vivid that I have had visceral reactions to all her books! 🫣

“If stifling feelings were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist.”

Loved the characters from book 1 making cameos! The plot conflict at 75% was not what I was expecting but I liked it and the pacing seemed to pick up a bit at that point. I liked how quickly that conflict resolved but wow, Jenna was a little harsh. 😮‍💨 She wasn’t wrong but her delivery was harsh.

Release date 8/1/25. Thank you to the author for the ARC. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

Absolutely cackled at the midnight pumpkin line. My main two complaints were the pacing was really on the slower side and the capitalization of a word repeatedly used that was distracting to me personally.

“On the bright side though, at least I’m not a 🌽 star.”

If My Wishes Came True is a heartfelt, introspective story about healing, self discovery, and finding the courage to stop running. Jenna is a deeply relatable character flawed, strong, and trying her best to outrun a past that still has its grip on her. Nathalie Theodore does a beautiful job peeling back the layers of Jenna’s life, from her struggles with dyslexia and self worth to her rekindled passion for art and unexpected romance. This book is emotional without being heavy, romantic without being cliché, and inspiring in all the right ways. Perfect for fans of character driven stories with heart.

I enjoyed it, a good read I flew through the book as I really enjoyed reading it. Best of luck on release day ☺️

4 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
Goodreads review posted on 07/03/2025

Charlie and Jenna’s story was wholesome and their meet-cute was expected but adorable nonetheless. This story really does tug on your heartstrings and showcases some family dynamics that may not be an easy topic to talk about. I did struggle a bit in the middle of the story to keep engaged when the storyline slowed a bit but it was absolutely worth it in the end to keep reading!

Charlie and Jenna run into each other for their first meeting and spark an instant connection that plays into the storyline later on in the book. Jenna is running from a past that seems overwhelming while Charlie is trying to figure out what his present and future are going to look like. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to more from Nathalie Theodore!

I love this book and Jenna Andersen. There was so many times I wished I could hug here. This book does a great job making Jenna so relatable and tackling mental health issues. It's about overcoming your past and realizing you deserve your happy ever after. It is also a love at first sight book. If I could give this book 10 stars I would.

4.5 stars
Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this masterpiece of a book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was SO good!! I loved the characters, the plot, the love story. It was everything I could have asked for in a book and more.
The message of following your dreams was very prevalent throughout the book. It was very inspirational and gave me a lot to think about in my own life.
Overall, I would recommend this to anybody looking for a romance with good characters, plot, and an inspirational message.

This book was very well written I loved it !!! It’s about love it’s about friendship it’s about life lessons it was everything I never thought I needed in a book thank you