I absolutely love Katherine Center and was thrilled to get the opportunity to read her latest book! The story started off a little slower than I would have preferred and it took a bit longer to feel a strong connection with the main characters. However, as the story progressed, the pace picked up and by the end, I felt the usual tugs on my heart strings from reading one of Center’s books. Overall, I definitely recommend this book!

I really liked the setting of this love story, a beloved school in an island community, and the theme of the power of joy and whimsy to help us through tough times was lovely.

I think the book needed some additional editing and I didn't finish it because the idea of blackmailing someone into addressing their mental health in the ways you see fit totally turned me off. I know not everyone would be bothered by that and lots of folks looking for a romance between quirky characters will enjoy this one.

I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Casey is currently living her dream life as a quirky and fun librarian at a wonderful elementary school where her coworkers feel like family. But when tragedy strikes and the school is forced to find a new principal, the last thing she expects is her former crush, Duncan Carpenter, to show up as the replacement. At first she’s worried all her old amorous feelings will come flooding back, but within minutes it’s clear that this isn’t the same lovable Duncan she once adored from afar. Instead, now he’s stern, demanding, and unyielding, and shows no interest in getting to know his new employees or students at all.

From the first day, Duncan sets out to remove all potential hazards and distractions at the school. Bright murals are painted over, field trips are cancelled, and strict security measures are put in place. Samantha has no idea what happened to the old Duncan, but she’s determined to stop her school from becoming a sterile prison. Time to keep her friends close and her enemies closer.

MY THOUGHTS
I can’t even begin to describe how ecstatic I was to get approved for this title early. I love Katherine Center, and her books are usually guaranteed four- or five-star reads for me. I wish I could say that I loved What You Wish For, but I just didn’t. Before I say anything, let me point out that this book is wildly popular on Goodreads and Instagram, and most people LOVE it. Even I have to admit that the 30% of the book that focuses on the development of a deep relationship between Samantha and Duncan is perfect. Unfortunately, though, that fantastic 30% couldn’t make up for the less than stellar remaining 70%.

I’m not sure if I’m just a little too old for characters like these, but my main problem with the book is Samantha. As far as I’m concerned she’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One minute she’s completely sweet, rational, and empathetic, and the next minute she’s…jumping off a pier at night because she’s, uh, a little sad and disappointed. (In fact, she does a lot of physical running away when she’s upset in this one.) I can understand a few major emotional swings in a story, but, good grief, she’s all over the place. Hers are not the actions of a calm, responsible adult—let alone an adult who is in charge of children on a daily basis.

And that was another big problem for me—how unbelievable the school environment was in the story. I volunteer at my kids’s elementary school a lot, and so many things in this book would never, EVER happen—especially at a school considered to be “one of the best in the country.” For starters, you can’t bring a dog to school. You definitely can’t bring a fake GUN to school either. There has never been a carpool line that lasted for an hour. There’s no money to install bullet-proof windows or doors made out of tank materials. There’s also zero research that would support turning an elementary school into a all-grey military-esque zone. It just doesn’t make sense to anyone who has worked with kids or spent any time at an elementary school whatsoever.

In short, you’re going to have to suspend belief if you want to enjoy What You Wish For even a little bit. There are some golden moments in the story, sure, but, for me, it was too over the top and unbelievable for me to really connect with it on a meaningful level. I wish I had liked it more, but, sigh, I just didn’t.

Katherine Center writes books that are so relatable, her dialogue is clever and realistic and her characters are flawed and loveable.
This book is about choosing joy.

“You think I’m happy because I don’t know any better?
I’m not happy because it come easily to me. I bite and scratch and claw my way toward happiness every day.
It’s a deliberate kind of joy. It’s joy on purpose.”

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

4.5 Joyful Stars

I really do enjoy Katherine Center’s storytelling. Her stories are more than just romance with a message or a message with romance. Her words paint a beautiful picture whether it’s a character or setting - a person you want to know or a place you’d like to be. She infuses them with funny thought and banter. And even though it’s generally only in one perspective, I never miss out or desire the other one.

Set in Galveston, Texas, What You Wish For centers around Sam Casey who is the quirky librarian for The Kempner School. Enter Duncan Carpenter as the new principal and the one that got away. Both with baggage and secrets. They are not who they used to be and their journey of discovery was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. And while the romance was swoon-worthy, it’s not the only thing going for the story. The secondary characters never fail to add more oomph. They aren’t just background fodder. They are placed perfectly.

My only complaint with Ms. Center’s stories is that I wish they didn’t end.

This book was a love story but not just romantic love. It is about loving life, loving the family you create, the journey of childhood, but most of all loving yourself. I loved the characters and their development over the course of the book, especially Samantha. As an educator myself, I really connected to the theme of finding balance between keeping our children safe and allowing them to live life with joy. School safety and school violence play a big role in this story so just be aware if that is a sensitive topic for you (although who isn’t thinking about that issue in this world?) This book, like all of Katherine Center’s stories, is a romance mixed with serious issues and important topics. It will make you smile and will make you think about life with a bit more compassion. I really enjoyed it and I know lots of people will be talking about this book when it releases this summer!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A charming and sweet book about second chances and love. Samatha finds her self at a school she loves and has found her own voice in the world she has created for herself. She's happy and content and finds out that the love she thought she lost is now going to the be principal at her school. When she finds out that he is no longer his fun-loving self she is determined to help him find himself again. I truly enjoyed this quick read. Katherine Center does not disappoint. If you loved her other books you'll enjoy this one. A nice poolside or beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for my advance copy all opinions are my own.

A novel by Katherine Center was exactly what I needed to read to escape for a few hours during our COVID-19 isolation time! I am a huge fan of Katherine Center as an author and storyteller. Her writing style is reminiscent of late 90's chick flick movies and I almost always end up assigning her characters to my favorite movie actors as I'm reading. This story was slightly predictable, but sweet, endearing and nostalgic. I especially appreciate that the author does not add unnecessary sex or excessive profanity to her books as many authors do these days.

The characters in this story were lovable, relatable, flawed in their own ways but ultimately I was cheering for everyone (except for the horrible chairman of the board for the school. Kent Buckley was the worst!) It was encouraging to watch each of the main characters overcome their own set of trials (epilepsy, PTSD, grief....) while they were also helping each other to recover. They exhibited bravery, connection, love and hope.

Thanks to the author for an enjoyable read that helped me keep my mind off of our own worldwide trial of the Coronavirus. This was a bright light for me!

(I receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book)

Just the thing to take my mind off of all that's going on in the world. I love it! EXCELLENT character and plot development. I read quickly and the pace was perfect. 👌 My copy still needs to be edited but all in all this is a phenomenal book.

I loved every page of this awesome book by Katherine Center.. Every page of this book was better than the previous one. I loved the way it was written and the way the characters were developed.. All I can say is everyone must read this amazing book..

"What You Wish For" is the sweet and endearing story of a school librarian named Sam who reconnects with someone from her past, and finds love along the way. While the plot isn't as strong as Center's "Things You Save in a Fire," it was equally delightful and a total cheese fest. Some parts were slightly unrealistic (a therapist confirming the identity of one of his clients) but I was more than willing to overlook such details for the sake of this rom com. Perfect for a lazy day at the beach or to avoid losing your mind during a pandemic.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I had not read anything by this author and was delighted to get and read this novel. It was filled with heart and the characters, Duncan and Sam, were so lovable. I loved the layers that they author slowly uncovered for us as to why Duncan was the way he was. I loved the secondary characters Alice, Clay and Babette. The writing kept me turning the pages and I was so glad that Kent Buckleys character ended as he did in the last chapter. A great read that I stayed up late to finish!!!

I received a complimentary copy of What You Wish For from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Love. This. Book! Sam, the mousy librarian turned color-wheel, is vibrant and energetic, fighting for the good in the world--especially right in her own charming little elementary school. (Her excessive sort of personality is perfectly expressed continuously and interuptingly through her own thoughts as she thinks through real-time events.) She battles side-by-side with a few friends to thwart the attempts of the new principal--her once happy-go-lucky, co-worker crush from a previous school turned newly soul-less--to destroy the beauty of the award-winning school. The back and forth between these two characters is mesmerizing: I could not get enough! This is my favorite kind of book: real characters, real situations unfolding in real ways. I REALLY loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Here's what I've learned about this author's books: they are set in Texas, the protagonist is always a strong, smart, confident women who is fully realized and likable, and the ending is always satisfying.

So if you are looking for a good pick-me-up kind of book that will have you rooting for the protagonist to get all the wonderful things in life she deserves, then give this (and her many other books) a go.

Yet another fantastic book from Katherine Center! I've been waiting to hear Duncan's story since Happiness for Beginners and I was not disappointed! Center is so talented and easily writes stories centered around oftentimes tragic or difficult subjects, but with a real and inspiring sense of hope. Well done!

Katherine Center’s books always make me laugh, cry, smile and restore a bit of my faith in the world by the end.

Sam, a high school librarian, is surprised when the new principal of her school is a former coworker she was in love with. But the fun loving guy she remembered has been replaced by someone who’s cold and safety focused. The book follows them both learning to overcome their various hang ups to find love.

Very sweet book that I’m so happy I got to read early thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley sharing an advanced reader copy.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for an advanced reader copy of What You Wis For in exchange for an honest review.

This might be my new favorite Katherine Center book. I loved the Happiness for Beginners tie-in. This was the perfect book to bring me a smile and some joy. Center just has a way about her writing that I adore. Her characters are so relatable and lovable. I loved this so much that I read it in approximately 24 hours.

I loved the daily challenges Sam, Babette, and Alice gave Duncan to help him learn to see joy. There were so many wonderful lessons in this book. I couldn’t recommend it more.

I will add the link when I share closer to the publication date.

I loved this book. Katherine Center has written another incredible book. The character development was great. I quickly fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them to move beyond their struggles. This was a 5 star book for me.

I really enjoyed this book! It was an easy read and pulled me in right from the start. Highly recommend this book and others from this author.

Katherine Center - I love your books!! Your characters are lovable and imperfect and your underlying messages of healing, hope, joy and choosing gratitude and happiness are so uplifting.
I really enjoyed this story, I loved the surprises along the way as well as the appearance of some of my other favorite characters from another K.C. Book. What a fun, quick, refreshing read.