As a member of BOTM, i have received her 2 previous novels. i lucked out getting this as a read now during the COVID-19 quarantine. I flew through this book--it was such an easy read. I would love to have read more of this story. Highly recommend!

I thought it was good but moved a little slow at times. Sam a shy and self-conscious teacher is crushing hard on the crazy and zany teacher Duncan who dresses wild and doesn't care and is a fun loving teacher of their school. Sam finds that she is in love with Duncan, but he has a girlfriend and doesn't seem to know she exists so Sam leaves her job and moves away. Four years later, Duncan becomes the principal of the school she loves and the shy Sam of the past is the colorful and joyful person no longer the shy mousey librarian. Duncan on the other hand has changed as well to a 3 piece suit wearing guy, serious and all about school safety. What happened to him and why doesn't he recognize Sam. It was good, but still a couple of unanswered questions.

Katherine Center's What You Wish For is a hopeful love story, but it's also so much more than that. When we meet Sam, the school librarian, we are introduced to her world full of color and complexity, but the introduction of a colleague from the past complicates the joyful world she's created for herself. I tore through this book. I was enthralled with the characters, their intentional optimism, and their community's commitment to living a life filled with whimsy. I'll admit-- I did suspect one of the foils early on, but I didn't mind because it added a new layer considering why another main character wasn't identifying something that seemed somewhat obvious. This book was heartwarming and optimistic and exactly what I needed right now. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Always happy to read and review a Katherine Center story, thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity. This story is about two teachers, each with their own disabilities who finally find their way in life. Working together years prior and through some misconceptions losing touch , they reunite at a private school in Galveston, Texas. Older, changed and both with personal tragedies they navigate a new relationship. Engaging and adult characters that you really care about( although sometimes I felt you had to suspend disbelief), always hoping for their happy ending.

This has to be my favorite book by Katherine Center! What You Wish For follows the journey of Samantha Casey and her friends and their plight to save their school. This plucky school librarian has found her chosen family and home, but it is all threatened when a man from her past comes in as a rigid .force of change.

Having worked in education, certain elements are fanciful, but it only adds.to the enjoyment.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The author brings to life many things in this book. I could smell the sea air of Galveston,TX, with all the old buildings that are so full of character. The Kempner School that sound like so much fun, which allows the kids to be so creative. The quirky teachers who would do anything for the school and the founders Max and Babette Kempner. Samantha Casey is the school librarian. She is in charge of creating a space where the kids love to come and read. She also went through a change personally when she came there. Gone are the days of drab colors. She wears colors, hats, scarves and has even dyed her hair. Duncan Carpenter has been brought in to be the new principal. Gone is the fun, crazy teacher that Sam knew. This man wears suits and takes everything so serious. The two of them clash every day about all the changes. Be careful for What You Wish For, it might come true. Never miss a chance to celebrate!

Katherine Center does it again. A book full of emotion and feeling that sucks you right in. A story of finding joy, manifesting happiness and second chances. This book is proof that family isn’t always blood. I loved this story! Thank you netgalley for the arc!

What You Wish For is a very sweet, uplifting story about Samantha, a High School librarian and Duncan, a person from her past and now to be her new principal. They both have very unique and complex issues they need to overcome so they can find peace within themselves.
Perfect book to read at the beach and relax with.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest review.

What You Wish For
Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication 7/14/20

When I stumbled upon the synopsis of this book I knew I needed to read it. This is a beautifully written story with some very colorful witty characters. My attachment to this book happened on the first page. Getting to know Babette, Max and Sam was a complete joy. Adding in Duncan to the mix was intriguing... I felt Duncan was built up so much I needed to know what his true story was and when I learned of his obstacles I started rooting for him. There are so many deep complex characters and the story unfolded in a heartwarming way. This is a book that will stay with you and can easily be read in one sitting.

Many thanks to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers’ Copy of her latest book in exchange of an honest review.

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I have been a fan of Katherine Center's previous work and her newest book, "What You Wish For" (publish date 7/14/2020) was everything I hoped it would be. This story takes place in a small school in Texas. The school's beloved founder and leader unexpectantly passes away and is replaced by a hard-nosed, security and safety driven, new principal. The main character and school librarian Samantha is surprised to find out that the new principal is the same man she had previously (and secretly) had a crush on at her former school. Even more surprising to her is how much his personality has changed since she last saw him.
"What You Wish For" is a delightful read with wonderfully written characters. Some of the story is predicable but I was pleased to find myself surprised several different times while reading. The author does a great job of keeping the reader engaged, entertained, and at times also deeply moved. I couldn't put this one down and was sad when it ended.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

3.5 stars

I was in need of an uplifting story and this fit the bill. Interesting characters and easy to get into. Enough surprises to keep you engaged and not become formulaic. Would recommend to fans of Katherine Reay.

This was my first read of Katherine Center and I look forward to checking out her other titles.

I was provided an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

Parts of this book were hard to read at the moment, but there were a lot of very timely relevant motivational quotes that put a little hope and courage in my heart.

"Terrible things happen all the time. That doesn't mean you live your life in fear." (Chapter 22)
"Because I refuse to let fear make me small." (Chapter 27)

This book felt a little different from the other two Katherine Center books I've read (Things you Save In a Fire and How to Walk Away). It took a little while to warm up to this book and mainly the POV character. She was quirky, which I typically like, and I did end up connecting with her and understanding and relating to her the further I got into the story. There were parts in the first part of the book that seemed to drag a little bit that I felt got a little too wordy and in the character's head, but I knew... just knew in my gut it was going to turn around, and boy did it turn around.

About halfway in, I was good and hooked and finished the book in one lazy Sunday afternoon.

Katherine Center has written a heartwarming story in What You Wish For.
Where in a small private school on an island in Galveston, Texas we learn of love, hope, sadness and to never stop looking for joy.
A perfect cosy book.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is a book that immediately soared to the top of my to-read list as books by this author do. She has this way of writing stories about love in a way that is so different and unexpected and wonderful. This installment focuses on Samantha, a librarian at an elementary school steeped in fun tradition and innovative learning. After a beloved principal suddenly dies, Duncan is appointed to take his role. Samantha is excited as she one worked with Duncan and feels his spirit will mesh well with the culture of the school. The Duncan who shows up is very different. His highest priority is increasing school safety. With this, he looks to extreme measures to make the school more secure. Many of these measures cut into the heart of the school and the character Samantha so loves. Samantha is angered by the shift and determined to do whatever she must to save the school for the kids. Throughout, Samantha also wonders what's changed in Duncan, so this also adds depth and intrigue to the story. Again, Katherine Center has written intriguing characters that are centered throughout. Having people to root for adds such connection, and she does this masterfully. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the early look at this July 2020 release. While you're waiting for it to come out, do yourself a favor and check out How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire!

There's a lot to like in What You Wish For-- two compelling, damaged, human main characters who you roots for; the fresh and charming setting of Galveston, Texas and some serious storylines you rarely see in a romance. Center's writing is funny and moves along at a pace and she's infused the book with humanity and humor.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This was a fun read that came to me at a terrible time when we are all being quarantined due to the Covid-19 virus. I was supposed to read it in 72 hours but found I could not put it down. It was so nice to be able to take my mind off the world problems and escape into a book with great characters and a strong story line. When Samantha, an elementary school Librarian, finds out that an old colleague of hers is coming to her school to replace a much beloved founder and Principal she thinks this is great, until he arrives. The friend she remembers as goofy and fun loving is now a serious, non fun loving dictator. The story weaves through all kinds of health issues and emotions as you wonder how it will ever work out for any of them.

Thank you Katherine for writing such a good book. You have a new fan and I will go back and read your other books and look forward to new ones

Katherine Center does it again! She is such a great storyteller and just writes about such great relatable charactors. Loved it!

Katherine Center has become one of my favorite authors where I must read any book that she releases. This is my third book from her and it was amazing!

I have to admit this book started a little slow for me. I got tired of the main character, Sam, repeating how Duncan used to be. It was constant. But that didnt deter to how amazing and profound the book is.

I feel like compared to her other two books that I've read, How To Walk Away and Things You Save In A Fire, this had more of a romance content. Not to say the others didn't, just I felt that romance was the main theme mostly because Sam had a crush on Duncan.

Her books always have this theme to learn from and her characters grow throughout the book and learn to change in a good way. This book was no different. Both Sam and Duncan grow and change as the story progressed. I loved all their interactions and I was crying in some scenes.

The drugged up Duncan after surgery was my favorite moment. This book had some laugh at loud moments that I enjoyed.

Katherine Center is a wonderful author and this book is another must read! Her way with words make it such a quick read because I'm invested and get lost in the story that she writes.

What You Wish For
Katherine Center
July 14, 2020


Max and Babette Kempner founded the creative, innovative, school on Galveston Island in Texas. It was formed for grades K-12 for students who were not only intelligent but whose parents wanted their children to be creative, artistic and knowledgeable about their world. They hired teachers and staff who wanted to help students grow in mind and body. They encouraged reading, learning, laughing and joy with their environment. The librarian, Samantha Casey enjoyed her job working with the students and developing a love for reading and enjoying learning. Sam, as she was known, lived above the Kempner’s carriage house in a cozy little apartment. She rode her bike to school each day. Her style was wearing colorful outfits to encourage her to be active and alive. Her best friend, Alice taught mathematics at the school. Her t-shirts had a different math joke or equation on them daily. She wanted students to know that everything revolved around math in some way.
The school’s world turned upside down that summer. Max had a fatal aneurysm. There was no saving Max that day. He was lost with his friends and family around him. The worst was yet to come. Max was the principal of Kempner School. The board would have to decide who would take over the position. In the last days of summer, staff worried over Babette’s feelings of loss and what they would soon do with ‘a stranger’ to take over the reigns of their wonderful school.
I had read only one other Katherine Center book, Things You Save in a Fire. I was so entranced by it that when I had the opportunity to read the digital galley of What You Wish For, I immediately put in a request. Her books seem to possess the reader. I was enthralled by each. I found myself thinking over Sam’s journey; the future of the Galveston school, other characters and their investments and their involvement in each other’s lives.
It was a twist of fate that I should pick up this book at this time of viral panic. The fear that we would never be joyful again, however Ms. Center’s writing brings us back to the center of life. I must thank St. Martin’s Press of New York for allowing me to read this uncorrected proof of Katherine Center’s book What You Wish For. This book will be published on July 14, 2020. Her novel is one not to be missed. It reminds me to think of personal relationships, the daily flow of life and how joyful friendship can be.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy What You Wish For in exchange for an honest review.

As a former teacher there were a few things that distracted me from really loving this book, but overall I enjoyed What You Wish For. I sometimes felt Sam, the main character who is a Librarian at a private school was a little juvenile and there were a few things that were a little far fetched about her former coworker/new Principal Duncan.

But the overall story of friendship, overcoming obstacles, relationships and more were lovely.