Sample

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Wish You Well

By: David Baldacci
Narrated by: Norma Lana, David Baldacci
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.83

Buy for $21.83

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

It is 1940 and a tragedy sends Lou and her little brother, Oz, along with their invalid mother, from New York City to the rugged mountains of Southwest Virginia to live with their great-grandmother. The story is told with both heartbreaking elegance and large doses of touching humor as the lives of Lou and Oz are changed forever.

The portraits of the land and its people are described with an extraordinary eye for detail, and the story flows through swells of prejudice, innocence, faith, and the question of whether one can ever really wish another well. The climactic courtroom battle is as unpredictable as it is relentless and will not only decide the fates of Lou, Oz, and their mother, but also those they have touched.

©2000 Columbus Rose, Ltd (P)2000 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Richly textured." (Library Journal)
"Baldacci triumphs with his best novel yet, an utterly captivating drama." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Wish You Well

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,148
  • 4 Stars
    269
  • 3 Stars
    102
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    20
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    977
  • 4 Stars
    213
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    15
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,003
  • 4 Stars
    188
  • 3 Stars
    73
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    14

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Emotional with constant action

Picked the book based on the author, not my usual genre of books but this was a truly encompassing story, Great listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The personal story

The characters, the history, not long gone but poor people leave fewer trails as they journey. Ever as recent as 1940, much is lost today. Thank you for the memories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wish You Well made me cry!

David Baldacci is an amazingly talented and versatile writer who is known mostly for his thrillers, but he actually has written books in several genres. Wish You Well, set in 1940, is historical fiction. It starts with Lou and Oz living with their invalid mother and father in New York City. The father dies and Lou is forced to go with her brother and mother to the mountains of western Virginia to live with her great grandmother. The book is about the lives of Lou and Oz with their great grandmother. It is a wonderful and touching story, a great listen! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book Good family book

Am sending to my sister (who grew up during the depression) and and my daughter and granddaughter who will be the verbal historians. ONE SUGGESTION I grew up in the south with farm ancestors and in a farming community. .
When this very good reader says "brogans" it is like chalk on a board. The correct pronunciation is "bro(long "O") ANS (like the word and) emphasis on the ANS. My parents talked about them all the time.

An thinking when I go to visit my 9 year-old grand-twins for Thanksgiving, we will listen to this book together, They live in Virginia now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Awesome Story - the best of David Baldacci's!

I only read David's books that are not real suspenseful because I don't like high suspense. This was awesome and very entertaining.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I'm glad I read this!

This book is such a deviation from Baldacci's "regular" style of writing that it is challenging to formulate a review. I keep comparing it in my mind to Baldacci's more typical genre but there is absolutely no comparison. The bottom line is that I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I read it. I think you will too... If the other, more typical books of legal/crime drama are the main course, then "Wish You Well" is the dessert. A completely unique flavor. Open your mind and give it a try!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a wonderful journey into a life

an accident changes all, it is a wonderful story - a few great surprises - I found it wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartfelt

this book touched my heart like no other.
I will read,listen to, everything David Baldachi writes! i laughed,cried, got angry, and cheered throughout this book! I how it males it's way to a wonderful movie. Amazing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificently written and read

Just a tremendous read. It shows you the skill of Baldacci. Have read many of his mystery series but he could write in any genre. This book touched me as I read the great story about Appalachian life in the 40’s

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Thank you Mr. Baldacci for this trip back in time. I could almost see those mountains - again. I remember what they look like. I have family there we used to visit every year during my childhood.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!