Author: Heather Grace Stewart
This is a sequel to Strangely, Incredibly Good but can be read as a standalone.
The story picks up around three years after the previous book, and once again we’re introduced to Cat who’s life has finally changed for the better since she met her genie in a bottle. Or Wii Fit machine. The love of her life has been missing for a long while now and she’s wondering if she’ll ever see him again. But life is keeping her busy. With a little previous help from her beloved genie, she’s managed to turn her life around, though it’s not all fun and games. One of her daughters falls in with the wrong crowd, her sister has a serious texting addiction and her 94-year old Grandma has become an MTV sensation. It’s a lot to deal with, and while she’s taking care of everyone else, she often forgets to look after herself as well.
The story is bittersweet as it brings up serious issues like bullying, addiction and (very) long distance relationships. You could think that time-travel, magic and genies would make this more of a young adult story, but believe me, it’s very adult and the fantasy parts are so well written and woven into the story it becomes very much believable. I loved the conclusion to Cat and Gene’s love story and it gave me many laughs, giggles and a few tears along the way. Highly recommended.