Katherine Center has done it again!! She is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors.

This book was equally heartwarming and heart wrenching. I loved Sam and Duncan’s story, and the fact that Duncan is based off of Center’s husband is the sweetest thing EVER. I can’t recommend this enough if you love simple, wholesome romances. This just made my heart SO happy!

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!**

Samantha Casey is a school librarian, who absolutely loves her job and the kids at the school. She had a troubled past, but has since reinvented herself in Galveston. Due to an unexpected tragedy, the school is hiring a new principal. The new principal ends up being Duncan Carpenter. She knew Duncan from school and had the biggest crush on him. But, Duncan is no longer the free spirit she used to know. He is very uptight and sticks to playing by the rules. Can Sam help him remember the joyful person he used to be?

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center’s books, so I was so excited to read this one! I really enjoyed this book a lot. I liked the characters in the book, especially some of the side characters. I felt connected to Sam’s joy and passion for doing what she loved. The only thing that bothered me with this book is, it was very repetitive. Overall though, I thought it was a great book with a good message in it, to choose joy over fear, sorrow, and anger. It’s a quick read, and good timing for everything that is going on in this world right now.

I love Katherine Center’s books so much. There is something about them that make me so happy. This book had a mantra of sorts- ‘choose joy’, which is appropriate since Center’s books always seem to bring me joy when I read them.

What You Wish For follows Samantha Casey, school librarian. Her school radiates joy and she loves her job so much. When she loses someone close to her who happens to be her school’s principal, she’s not sure how the school will go on. But then she hears his replacement is Duncan Carpenter, the Duncan she knew and loved who was so much fun at a past job and she just knows things will be okay.

The Duncan Carpenter who shows up to work is not the same Duncan she once knew. He is not carefree, fun, and full of laughter. He’s serious, focused on safety and safety only and is willing to take away her place of joy to make the school a ‘safe place’ which seems more and more like a prison.

There is more than Duncan that meets the eye, and though I guessed much of his back story fairly early on, it was still heartbreaking. The first half of this book was good for me, but the second half is where it really shined. Duncan and Sam balanced each other out so perfectly. I loved them together. Also, if you’ve read ‘Happiness for Beginners’, you’ll get a little glimpse into Helen and Jake’s future (Duncan is Helen’s younger brother and Jake’s best friend) which was great!

Overall, this book made me happy. It had emotional moments, but I had such a big smile on my face while reading. I love people that are unapologetically themselves and live life to the fullest. This was just the book I needed right now and I’m so glad I read it!

I completely loved this story. Sam is a librarian in a wonderful school, owned and managed by Max and Babette. She also lives in their carriage house and they are very close friends. She has come into her own in this new position, having been very shy and hanging out in the background. When Max suddenly passes away during his birthday party, everyone is lost. A new principal is announced, and it turns out that the new principal is from her former school. Duncan was fun loving, related well to the students and Sam had a huge crush on him. Her crush was the main reason she left there and now she is facing the decision to leave again. When Duncan arrives at the school, he doesn’t act at all like the same person. No joy, no personality and he is obsessed with security. He is all the things their beloved Max was not. Can Sam and Max ever learn to coexist at the school? Very enjoyable characters with a strong story.

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What a fun book! As a teacher I was not sure about the "extra school security" angle that was written in the school setting but I was pleasantly surprised of how well it was written and how important it was to this story. In a time when it is hard to focus on things because of what is going on in the world, this book was needed. I am not usually a fan of romance books unless they are written by Katherine Center. Her books have never disappointed and always put a smile in my face even when everything around you makes it hard to do so. Go get this book! You won't regret it:)

This is my favorite Katherine Center book so far! As an educator, I loved the school setting and teachers as characters. While this did deal with some heavy topics, it was a fun and fast read. I immediately fell in love with the characters and their personalities. I can’t wait to read more by this author! #NetGalley #WhatYouWishFor

This is a beautiful love story that I couldn't put down. Samantha & Duncan as well as all of the other characters were so much fun to get to know. They had so much depth & life that they leapt off of the pages. I love the realness of the stories for all of the characters, & I think everyone should read this book.

A wonderful book which follows a woman after a health crisis. She chooses to live her life to the fullest, in a world of color instead of neutrals, enjoying all it has to offer. When a man from her past comes to her school, she's shocked to find how he has changed. Little by little, it's revealed why he is different, and with her ebullient influence, he finds his way back to living life. Their journey shows you can get what you wish for.

**Received an ARC from netgalley**

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is my least favorite of her most recent works, but I still really enjoyed the story. The message to choose joy, and to not live your life in fear, is a very relevant and relatable message for this time. So many issues in our lives can keep us living in fear, or choosing to take steps to live in the moment and enjoy the little things while we can.

What brought the story down for me was the multitude of reminders and descriptions of how amazing and silly and perfect Duncan is - it felt just too repetitive to be reminded in multiple chapters.

I enjoyed the journey they took together to find themselves and each other, and of course to find joy. Mentions of trauma they both faced was also important for the story and for their personal growth. The ending has a nice feeling of resolution, but it just fell a little short in the full package for me.

I loved this novel! AND I really loved the author’s note at the end of the book. I got the audiobook version of What You Wish For from @netgalley. (Thanks!) And whole this is my first Katherine Center book, it definitely won’t be my last!
The main character is an elementary school librarian (like me!). When Sam’s principal tragically dies, a teacher from her old school (who she had a massive crush on) because the new principal. Sam thinks Duncan will be the a great principal for her school because of his enthusiasm for learning and teaching. However, Duncan is a shell of himself and is only worried about one thing: student safety. Sam’s crush is still there, but she hates Duncan more for “ruining” her school.
This is just a sweet story about grief (which sounds unlikely but it is), and if you’re in education, I think you’ll really this too.

I had just finished reading this one when I was able to get my hands on the audio version and WOW! I recommend both versions. Samantha Casey is the librarian for an elementary school who suffers the devastating loss of their principal. This left the staff floundering until they are notified their new principal will be someone from her past. Duncan Carpenter is nothing like he was before, now he all buttoned up and only worried about security. All his plans for the school will basically take away all the joy and make it like a prison. Sam cannot believe it but will she stand for it? What is behind all of this transformation? This was a very well written story that was not only emotional but also redeeming.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher (both versions) via NetGalley**

As a long time fan of Katherine Center's work, I was looking forward to "What You Wish For." This novel is both heart-wrenching and sweet. At times, I was frustrated with the characters but I loved the opportunity to revisit beloved characters from her previous novel "Happiness for Beginners." This story was also a bright spot in the current pandemic environment. This joyful attack on life was just what I needed.

A wonderful, entertaining romance novel with quirky characters that draws the reader into the story from page one. There's even a subplot about PTSD and how we can choose joy over sorrow! This is the third book that I have read written by Katherine Center and this is by far my favorite! Five stars all the way! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center and this book was just as incredible. Delightful story with emotional plot and wonderful characters. Relished every word and so sorry I finished quickly.

Sam Casey is happy with where life has taken her. She has a cute little apartment, a job she loves as a school librarian, bosses and co workers that she considers family. Sure, she's single and feels like she doesn't deserve to be loved, but that can be managed, right?
After the death of Max, cofounder of the school she works for and beloved father figure, her life comes grinding to a halt. Along with her devastating grief, she finds out that Duncan Carpenter- whom she left another school over- will be Max's replacement. Duncan Carpenter, aside from being her unrequited love, will fit in wonderfully at the school with his love of kids and belief that learning should be fun.
Except, that's not the Duncan that shows up. This Duncan Carpenter, formally sunshiine and rainbows in now Mr Carpenter- humorless and colorless, who wants to change everything wonderful about the school she loves.
I am not usually a fan of romance novels, but if Katherine Center has written it, I am sure to read it. My love of her novels began with 2019's "Things You Save in a Fire," which was one of my first ARCs from Netgalley. "What You Wish For" popped up in an email from Netgalley as one I'd been automatically chosen to review, and I could not pass it up.
"Things You Save in a Fire" made me laugh out loud and sob, but "What You Wish For" hit me in a different way. You see, Sam is epileptic and it's a big part of her character. I'm also epileptic and from the page she mentioned her seizure disorder, I was dreading where Center would take it. But, Center didn't make it weird, she didn't make it a horrible disability that limits what you can do in life.
Along with getting epilepsy right, she got PTSD right. There were just enough details to understand Duncan's change in personality. I did know what was going on and what would happen, but predictability isn't always a big deal for me. I'm more about the character arcs, which Center brings.
This is sure to be a reread for me in the future, as well as one I recommend if you enjoy sweet romance, or crying. Or both.
All in all, I give "What You Wish For" a 5/5. I love Center's writing style, and I loved the story.
(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Stories like this one are exactly what I need during this stay at home order. I loved What You Wish For so much! The plot line is arguably predictable, But the overall story is lighthearted and emotional with characters dealing with change and loss.

Samantha Casey works as the librarian at a well-regarded, progressive elementary school in Galveston. She is happy with her work and friends and the life that she has built for herself after moving to the city about five or six years ago. Sam is such a likable character - quirky and independent, while also displaying vulnerability and relatability. Her own self-reflection and growth resonated with me, and I appreciated the messaging of enjoying oneself and finding joy whenever one can.

This story brought to life how Sam experienced her own personal journey of overcoming obstacles and learning about herself. I think that this ultimately enabled her to help out a former colleague, now new boss, then new love(!!!) to "find himself." Her and Duncan's story is so lovely, and yes, I knew they would end up together in the end. But I was still engrossed and rooting for them with each passing moment.

A sweet and uplifting story that also handles serious themes of death, violence, and trauma. I want to read more from Katherine Center!

Here it is: another 5 star, read under 24 hours, review. I just couldn't help it-- I love the way Katherine Center writes.
When I first heard about her latest book I knew I would need to read it right away; so I would like to thank NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for this Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book made me laugh and cry. It dove into some real-world scary stuff; things that are legitimate dangers in our current world. This could've made for a sad, depressing book. But this story is all about choosing joy, and that is just what this book does as well. The characters are fun, they all have great chemistry together, and their individual personalities and speaking styles came through the pages beautifully.
Another thing I really loved about this book was that, even though it stressed the importance of choosing to find joy every day, it didn't dismiss the real-life, joy-stealing things that happen all the time. It wasn't a fairy tale story that poofed away the sad and scary as soon as the joy was found. The sad and scary were still present, but they weren't the only thing dictating the story line. I love that. The sad and scary in our world will never poof away, but we can choose to find joy, when/where we can, despite that.

Even though this is not a genre I usually read, I decided to give this a try since I’d been hearing about it for a while, and I’m glad I did. It was an easy, quick read and an enjoyable story. The characters were like able and the boy in the story reminds me so much of a boy I know that I could picture him! I liked the banter between the two main characters. I will definitely read more by this author in the future.

I felt like the plot for the book as well as the characters and events were pretty ‘cheesy’. I felt like they were a little unrealistic and annoying at times. But despite that, the writing was very well done as the author is very talented. I read all of the way through and was glad that I did.

Katherine Center has become a want to/will read author. I loved her last novel and I was excited when I got a copy of this. The love story was cute and the approach on PTSD after a tragedy was very well done. Not very often I read about it and even less in romance novels. The novel starts pretty strong but I thought it was necessary for the unraveling of each character. Duncan definitely was my favorite and I rooted for him all the way. I am here for what Katherine Center brings next because I’m sure it’ll be just as amazing!