The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Adams, Michelle. Little Wishes. HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.

In the present moment of the story, Elizabeth Davenport wakes up on the anniversary of her first date with the love of her life, Tom Hale. She lives in a fishing village called Porthsennen. She expects Tom to leave a gift on her doorstep, like he always does. She becomes alarmed when no gift arrives and decides to head to London to look for him. Elizabeth finds Tom’s house. There, she meets his daughter Alice and learns that Tom is dying of cancer. She decides to stay with Tom to support him during his illness.

The past plot line describes how Elizabeth and Tom first officially met. He saved her mother’s life one night when she nearly drowned. After that, Elizabeth and Tom continued to meet in secret. Elizabeth is engaged to a doctor named James, but breaks things off with him because of Tom. On her first date with Tom, he takes her to the rocks to look at the stars. She slips and falls into the water. Tom saves her and brings her back to his place. They have sex that night. The next morning, her father acts strange. That afternoon, her mother is found dead in the sea.

Back in the present moment, Elizabeth and Alice keep Tom company throughout his various diagnoses. Elizabeth and Tom start to fulfil some of Tom’s wishes for them. Elizabeth takes him on elaborate dates as an attempt to regain lost time. Meanwhile, Alice is going through a rough patch with her husband. She is unsure how to proceed and Elizabeth advises her to do whatever will leave her without regrets.

In the past plot line, Tom’s father accuses Dr. Davenport of killing Catherine. This causes a rift between Tom and Elizabeth and gets Tom fired from his fishing job. Tom leaves to work at a lighthouse on Wolf Rock. James helps around the house after Catherine’s death and helps Dr. Davenport at work. Elizabeth and Tom try and send each other letters, but each gets intercepted by James. Elizabeth is pregnant by Tom.

Elizabeth gets a job at the lifeboat station. One day, there is a boat crashes into Wolf Rock. Tom nearly dies. Elizabeth kisses him and tells him she loves him. James saves his life. Afterwards, James writes a letter to Elizabeth, pretending to be Tom. He writes that Tom no longer loves Elizabeth. Elizabeth is heartbroken. James lies to Tom and tells him that he and Elizabeth are to be married soon. Tom leaves town. James continues to be an active presence in Elizabeth’s household. He proposes once again, and Elizabeth accepts.

Seven years go by. Elizabeth and James bond over raising Elizabeth’s daughter, Kate. Elizabeth has an art exhibition with paintings inspired by Tom. James decides to finally tell her the truth about the letter. They split up and Elizabeth tracks Tom down in London. She finds him with a wife and child of his own and decides not to disturb him.

Tom becomes increasingly sick in the present plotline. He starts to lose his memory. Elizabeth realizes the necessity of introducing him to their daughter, Kate. They meet, even though Tom’s memory is already gone. Tom passes away peacefully in his sleep. Elizabeth finds a letter he wrote to her in which Tom explains that he always knew about Kate and that he forgives Elizabeth for keeping it a secret from her. Alice promises to stay in touch with Elizabeth. Elizabeth brings Tom’s ashes back to Porthsennen.