I absolutely loved this book! I have Loved everything this author has put out, but I especially Loved the uniqueness of these characters. Such a great premise!

On the surface this is a cute romance, but once you get involved there are some much deeper themes that I was very impressed with.

Samantha has found joy in her personal and professional life, living on Galveston Island as the librarian for the legendary Kempner School, an elementary school that fosters creativity and learning in original way.

However, Sam hasn’t always had a positive outlook on life. She suffered from epilepsy as a child and later as an adult, which was the catalyst for her parent’s breakup. Also, she’s never been lucky in love. Years ago, Sam found her “person” in Duncan Carpenter, a fellow teacher at a previous school, but he never really noticed her, but now she embraces every happiness life affords.

Sam’s life is turned upside down, though when Duncan is hired as the new principal of Kempner, and instead of the fun-loving, full-of-life guy she knew before, she’s greeted with Duncan 2.0, a gray-suit-wearing, joyless man intent on turning their quirky, happy school into a safe, prison-like habitat. But Duncan is about to have a rude awakening, because Sam is no longer the shy and meek librarian she used to be, and there’s no way she’s letting him implement the changes to her beloved school without a fight.

Loved how Katherine Center made Kempner School come alive. If only all our schools were so quirky and magical!

I just LOVED What You Wish For so much! It was very much a hate to love romance which at times filled me with anger and I wanted to slap Duncan upside the head! Don’t worry, I didn’t hate him for long, and soon I loved him! Finding out what changed Duncan from the goofy, whimsical teacher into a carbon copy of one of the ‘Borg twisted my heart and made me really feel for the guy!

Sam had her own issues Lingering self-esteem issues from how she was treated by her father and others in the face of her medical condition. It broke my heart.

The slow burn romance between Sam and Duncan was so utterly lovely! I was moved by the deeper subjects tackled, but the story was lighthearted and funny, too. What You Wish For was a 5-star read for me, definitely one of my top five favorites for 2020!

I alternately listened and read What You Wish For, and I have to say the audio was perfection! Therese Plummer is one of my all-time favorite narrators! Her female and male voices are spot on, and her performance enhanced an already fantastic story!

Katherine Center also narrates at the end, reading her essay on reading and writing, and it was amazing! She describes how special it is when a writer can make a reader step into the shoes of a character and story and feel!

Not your typical Katherine Center romance novel. This story digs deeper into the main characters' personal "issues" which keeps each of them from experiencing the full value of happiness that love can bring.

From PTSD to marriage problems to medical problems as usual Katherine Center will tear at the heartstrings of her readers all the while reminding us that love really can heal all.

I loved Katherine Center's books. I like to describe them as "better than they need to be." Because they are fun, quick reads but also have depth and the writing is good. This was not my favorite of hers but I would recommend it for someone who is looking for something that recognizes that life is often sad but there is so much to embrace.

I am a big fan of Katherine Center and What You Wish for was a fantastic read.
The amount of joy I felt reading this book was palpable. The characters were endearing and well written.
There is a bit of mystery and romance to make for a fantastic read.

DNF for now. I was surprised by a rather detailed and tragic death scene early in the book. I wasn't ready for it and I just needed to put it aside. I don't think other readers have been bothered by it, but the timing wasn't good for me.

Aside from that scene, I just wasn't really into the story as it had progressed, so I'm shelving it for now.

Amazing read! I was quickly swept up in this book with the strong characters and emotional storytelling. Highly recommend!

Katherine Center has a gift for writing heavy and hard topics in a way that is still so easy to read. This was a heartwarming story with well developed characters. It’s a perfect book to escape into for a few hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

As someone who enjoys Galveston. TX I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, I really loved the setting and how it was described. This book was definitely not what I was expecting. As a teacher myself I looked forward to a teacher romance, and while I got that, this story was so sad! OMG. I was crying by the first chapter. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending!

Ever since I read How to Walk Away, Katherine Center’s books will be a must read for me. This new novel was equally wonderful! I love the way her characters are brought to life. The story is a combination of emotional situations and fun and humor. Samantha has overcome so much from her past and is finally enjoying her life and her job working at a school library. But then someone from the school she used to work at shows up. And Samantha finds herself becoming assertive in ways she probably never dreamed of being. I felt sad sometimes, angry sometimes, and laughed sometimes as I was reading. It was the interactions of the characters that stayed with me when I read How to Walk Away and this new novel had the same effect on me.

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW: discussion of school shooting, sudden death of a parental figure

I was so excited when I received an advanced copy of this book, because I have really loved the Katherine Center books that I have read in the past, namely Things You Save in a Fire. I think, however, that because my hopes and expectations were so high for this book, I found myself being a little bit disappointed in this particular read. I liked it, but I didn't love it, if that makes sense. This was just one of many examples in my opinion when all of the pre-publication hype for a book may not have done it much justice, and may have instead been a bit of a hindrance.

As far as the characters go, they were all likeable enough and interesting enough to read, but in my opinion none of them were anything really special. The lead, Sam, was a little bit difficult for me to connect to, which was really hard for me since I was really excited for her character, and figured that by the end of the book I would want to be her "when I grow up." Quirky school librarian with a love of fun colors and patterns? Yes please. But somehow I just didn't connect quite as much as I would have wanted to. And for the male lead, Duncan, it was even more difficult for me, so I had a hard time feeling invested in the story or their relationship. By far my favorite character was Clay, the sweet little bookworm with the big heart.

I will also say that the story did get a bit better as the book went on, but that the first almost third of the book was really difficult for me to get through - I wasn't feeling fully engaged or invested, so it was taking a long while to "get through." It seemed to get a very slow start, which is an odd feeling thing to say about a book which shows the death of a character on about page 8. I'm not sure what it was about the story that was so difficult for me to get into in the beginning, but it just didn't click for me until about the 2/3 mark.

All of that being said, I would still recommend this book to my friends if they were already a fan of Katherine Center and were looking for their next read, but I'm not sure I would rave about it beforehand. And other friends or readers who are wanting a jumping in point with Katherine Center, I may let them know to start with Things You Save in a Fire instead. Still lots of fun characters, and tons of heart, but in my opinion a story that I felt much more invested in from the beginning.

If you’re a fan of Harlequin Romance or Danielle Steele, this is definitely a book you’ll enjoy. It has a decent plot with likable characters. With that said, the story was lengthy and drawn out and could have been 100 pages shorter. It was a bit too light (predictable and lacking excitement) to hold my interest but regardless I managed to finish, it should have been 100 pages shorter. My least favorite book is a love story or a damsel in distress/Prince Charming scenario and this book fit into both of those categories. I didn’t get that from the synopsis or I would never have requested it. Regardless, many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy.

Sam works at the perfect school as an elementary librarian. Max and Babbette Kempner own that perfect school and treat all their faculty as family. That is until the day that Max dies from a freak embolism created by sitting too long on an airplane.
As the grief hits everyone at the Kempner School and the community of Galveston Island, Texas a stranger comes to the school to take Max’s place as Principal of Kempner School, well, a stranger to everyone but Sam, that is. Duncan Carpenter was Sam’s crush at the last school she had worked at. Duncan was cool, like Max, people gravitated towards him- he was the epitome of fun! The day comes when the faculty has their first meeting with Principal Carpenter and Sam is ecstatic and scared at the same time. She plans on quitting since she doesn’t think that she can work with Duncan again as she believes he’s married and possibly has a handful of kids. Who comes through the door into the happy lunchroom isn’t anything like the Duncan she remembers, he’s suited up, serious and scary. The new Principal wants to add high tech security to the whole school almost like a prison, taking out all the fun of what Max and Babbette had created at their school.

When Sam feels all is lost she remembers the advice that Max had given her when she first arrived at Kempner School, “It’s not about fixing all your problems, anyway,” Max said. “Okay. Listen close: pay attention to the things that connect you with joy.” It wasn’t what I’d expected him to say. I leaned away and turned to frown at him. “What does joy have to do with anything?” “Joy is important.” Was it? “I don’t know. Not having car accidents is important. Joy seems pretty expendable.” But Max just smiled. “It’s one of the secrets to life that no one ever tells you. Joy cures everything.” I flared my nostrils. “Everything?” I challenged, pointing at the bandage over my stitches.” “Everything emotional,” Max clarified. “I don’t think you can cure emotions,” I said. But Max just nodded. “Joy is an antidote to fear. To anger. To boredom. To sorrow.” “But you can’t just decide to feel joyful.” “True. But you can decide to do something joyful.” I considered that. “You can hug somebody. Or crank up the radio. Or watch a funny movie. Or tickle somebody. Or lip-synch your favorite song. Or buy the person behind you at Starbucks a coffee. Or wear a flower hat to work.” I shook my head. “One flower hat can’t fix all my problems.” “No, but it can sure help.” I sighed.“You’ll never fix all your problems.” “Well, that’s encouraging.” “The point is to be happy anyway. As often as you can.”

I really needed to hear Max’s advice especially now in this crazy year of 2020 where nothing seems normal. I wonder how Ms. Center knew we were going to need that advice on finding Joy no matter what life throws at us. She is a wise, wise soul.

Will Sam, the Kempner staff and Babbette be able to save their school? Will Duncan Carpenter remember Sam, and will Sam be able to get over the grief she is experiencing after Max dies?

Read What You Wish For to find out those questions and experience the craziness that happens with Duncan, Sam, and jerk face Kempner School Board President, Kent Buckley (also Max and Babbette’s son-in-law) and the rest of the community.

I’ve read all of Katherine Center’s books and have loved all of them. I think What You Wish For is her best yet! I was so sick of Duncan Carpenter at the first that I wanted to chuck my Kindle Paperwhite across the room and swear off reading this book, but Sam and her best friend Alice kept drawing me back in. I am so glad that I went past that 2nd chapter. I read What You Wish For in less than 24 hours I just couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen to the Kempner School, I wanted to see if Duncan turns into the man that Sam knew before and I wanted to listen to 3rd grader Clay Buckley, Max and Babbette’s grandson tell us more about Maritime living. He was just enchanting.

Don’t miss this book. It seriously is a read that you have been wishing for!

Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for giving me the opportunity to read What You Wish For in lieu of my honest review. It was definitely a fun read!

This was my second Katherine Center book and it definitely did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this one. It was whimsical, joyful, and a delight to read. I want to go to and also work at the Kempner school! I had the same vibe with Things You Save in a Fire. It is evident that Center pours her heart into her characters and books. I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, light read but also some good depth with a new plot twist around every corner. The book kept giving me surprises throughout to keep it interesting!

This was absolutely the best book to read right before school re-opening, not re-opening, closing? … I don’t know anymore. But a quote for teacher appreciation and reality for those out there with the “teachers have so much time off and shouldn’t complain about going back to school” mentality.

“It takes long hours and late nights to gear up for the start of the school year, even in a normal year … decorating, organizing, lesson planning, Marie-Kondoing by cabinets, checking in on teachers’ upcoming lesson plans and stocking books to tie-in with study units and book reports. It’s a lot of planning, but it’s also a lot of physical work, and it can only go so fast … It’s more work than people think it is. It’s more work than even I think it is.” Not to mention all the personal finances that go into purchasing materials and items for students and classrooms.

Synopsis: Samantha had a troubled past but she has now reinvented herself in Galveston as the quirky, colorful school librarian. Due to tragedy the school is getting a new principal Duncan, and in an unlikely coincidence Sam has a pass connection to Duncan. However, Duncan is no longer the fun-loving free spirit that Sam previously knew. He is now an uptight suit wearing, safety obsessed, Debbie-downer determined to change Sam’s beloved school. What happened to the upbeat Duncan and will Sam be able to help him find joy?

Thank you @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for sending me an ARC copy in return for an honest review

Okay, Katherine Center is a new auto-buy probably auto-love author of mine. Her stories feel like a warm hug, they touch on something deep inside you and give you hope. This book was just what I needed, a lovely story of finding family in unexpected place. I love how she focused on the tension that's at the intersection of fear/sorrow and hope/joy. She focused on the beauty found in being present and trying to be brave instead of trying to be perfect. She made me want to be a librarian and choose joy on purpose. Seriously I loved this book

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is not what I expected from reading the blurb. I was looking forward to reading something light and entertaining (I wanted a change of pace). I thought it had a rough beginning where I felt I was plopped into the middle the book instead of the beginning. Samantha “Sam” Casey is the librarian at the Kempner School on Galveston Island, Texas. Sam loves her apartment, her friends, the staff, students, and her job. Max and Babette Kempner founded the school and have become surrogate parents to Sam. She lives in the apartment in their carriage house. I did not like Sam. She is an insecure woman who rattles on endlessly. She has an eclectic wardrobe. What You Wish For is told in the first-person so we get to know Sam’s every thought. The reason Sam left her last job was utterly ridiculous. There was a great deal of repetition of information (I lost track of how many times we are told Duncan is goofy, she had a crush, Tina did not like her) and there is foul language as well. I believe the book is supposed to be humorous, but it missed the mark. Samantha’s full name is not mentioned until the fourth chapter and I thought all the characters lacked development (they are not fleshed out especially Sam’s friend, Alice). There were two scenes that went on way too long. One is the dance party which could have been cute if it had not felt like it lasted five hours instead of five minutes. The other is a touching scene with Clay Buckley (the sweetest young man) near the end. I did appreciate the epilogue that wrapped up What You Wish For. There were some areas that could have been humorous with a little tweaking. The main themes of the book are to find joy in your life and find reasons to celebrate. We all need happiness and hope in our lives. The author did touch on serious subjects which were PTSD, bullying, and school safety. I struggled to finish What You Wish For because I wanted to dump the book after reading the first chapter. I found the story to be cheesy which resulted in eye rolling and me yelling at the book. I did, though, enjoy the descriptions of the Kempner School which is in a beautiful building and of Galveston Island. I suggest you read a sample to see if this book is what you are looking for. What You Wish For was not a wish come true for me.

When Katherine writes she has this goal of finding happiness in her books.
"That's the thing about joy. You don't have to wait for it to happen. You can make it happen."
I think that if you are looking for a story that puts a smile on your face , then definitely try this one. Its a feel good journey of finding joy. Story was heartwarming and I love how Katherine can transport on to the pages.

This is my second Katherine Center book. I really enjoy this author and will continue to read her. I'll be honest that I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one but I still love the author's style. She has a great way of drawing you in and you just have to keep reading.

I am a huge Katherine Center fan - ever since I read “How To Walk Away” I’ve been obsessed!! “What You Wish For” is the perfect combination of a Summer read that involves a teacher and her perfect little dream school where she teaches. Being a teacher myself I was of course so excited for this release!

Samantha is the fun “Jessica Day” style teacher who loves her school and when the new school principal comes, Duncan, he plans on changing everything about this small town school charm. Duncan also happens to be an old flame of Samantha.

However, I felt this one was a little bit of a letdown for me. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve been in a reading rut lately, but I felt the characters were never really truly development and read like a corny Lifetime movie.

Of course there is a lovely message involved in the book about finding joy and being surrounded by people that care about you the most. I just felt that the book was the ultimate cheesy romance that I’m not sure I was into at the moment.

Overall, if you are into a cheesy romance to read while at the beach then this one is for you! For all you Katherine Center fans I felt this one was a dud.