After relocating from California, Sam is happy with her comfortable, colorful teacher life she’s built on her Texas island. Until the day Max, her boss, landlord, and father figure passes away leaving her world gray and upside down. Soon she discovers that Duncan is his replacement, who also happens to be the reason she left California.

What You Wish For engrossed me from the very first page and kept my attention to the very end. I could not put it down. Sam, Duncan, Alice, Babette and Clay were lovable, enjoyable and endearing characters that only increased my enchantment with the story. Fear is a powerful emotion, which Sam and Duncan learn how to use in a positive way throughout the novel. I’ll be recommending this one to many for years to come!

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is the story of Samantha “Sam” Casey, a school librarian at the Kempner School, who hides from the world an embarrassing secret. Very few people know that she suffers from epilepsy but her boss and parental figures, Max and Babette Kempner, helped her see joy and create joy in her life. When Max suddenly dies, he leaves big shoes to fill. The staff at the school do their best to carry on until Kent Buckley, the Kempner’s son-in-law and school board member, announces he has hired a new principal and it is someone Sam knows! Duncan Carpenter was the guy she liked at a previous school when she was a mousy, quiet staff member and he was the exuberant, fun-loving teacher. But the man who arrived looks like Duncan, but he sure doesn’t act like Duncan. He begins by making major changes at the school and Sam will not stand for it. She immediately goes into action to get Duncan to leave or get him fired. What caused Duncan to change so much? Can Sam get to the bottom of it and show Duncan that the school doesn’t need his changes?
I LOVED this book. This amazing story grips you in from the opening chapter and never lets you go until the final sentence. I loved Sam. She was vulnerable and introverted. Even though her tendency was to hide from embarrassing moments, she found the strength to be front and center when the situation called for it. I also loved Duncan. When he is first introduced and he is not the man Sam remembered, I knew there was a reason behind his behavior. Sam and Duncan’s personal stories are heartbreaking, and I wanted to reach through the book to hug both of them. I loved each of the beautiful people who made up the staff at the school, even Sam’s quirky, math-obsessed friend, Alice. Katherine Canter provides a story with lovable and relatable characters to tell a story of survival and finding joy as joy is the cure to many negative emotions and situations. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find that creating joy in your laugh helps chase away the negativity that surrounds you. Great advice for the world we live in now. I highly recommend What You Wish For!

What You Wish For
is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, I already obtained a hard copy prior to getting this arc. Thank you.

There are a very select few authors who’s books are pure magic for me and Center is most definitely one of them. There is something in the way that she tells a story that is just really special to me and I think it’s the combination of humor, wit, heart, emotion and fantastic characterization that just knocks it out of the park for me every single time.

This is definitely the kind of book that will make you feel all the feelings, Sam and Duncan both have traumatic events in their past that they’re working through and while there were definitely some heavy issues explored here, the author handles them with grace, sensitivity and humor which is just the best combination ever. They’re the kind of characters that you fall in love with yourself and root for and I was truly sad when I finished and had to say goodbye to them. Highly recommended by me and if you’ve never read a KC book before and love uplifting, funny and warm reads what are you waiting for?!

Thank you to @stmartinspress, @netgalley, and @katherinecenter for the early gifted copy of What You Wish For. It is out today, July 14th!
This was actually my first book I’ve read by Katherine Center. Everyone raves about her work all the time, so when I got the chance to review this one, I figured that was my sign to give it a shot.
I was initially a little hesitant going in—I was afraid it was going to be a cheesy romance. Those just make me roll my eyes. I was happily surprised to find it was not cheesy at all. I really enjoyed the writing style (and often laughed out loud at things the main character said or did). The plot and characters had depth, and I was completely invested in their story. The sub plot of finding joy was a welcome relief from the heaviness we are all experiencing these days.
Now that I have gotten my feet wet with my first book by Katherine Center—I totally get it. You all were right. She’s amazing, and I have been missing out. I will definitely be reading her other books!
4⭐️

Sam is this awesome woman who finds herself "alone" but learns that wherever there is community and fellowship, you are never truly alone.
This book is about opening yourself up to love, life, friendship, everything good that life offers you.
Sometimes in life you truly get what you wish for, and ain't that beautiful!!

“Faced with darkness, I had chosen flowers. And polka dots. And light.” What You Wish For, by Katherine Center.

One of the best bookish feelings happens when you start reading a new-to-you author and realize, early on, that you are going to want to go back and read all of that author’s backlist. I was about one chapter in to WHAT YOU WISH FOR when I started to feel pretty excited at the prospect of reading Center’s previous novels. Then I settled back into my cozy reading chair and really enjoyed the book right in front of me. So much.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR begins when Max Kempner, the much beloved principal of an artsy private school dies suddenly, and the school community is devastated. We zoom in on Samatha, the sassy librarian, for whom Max was a mentor and kind of adoptive father. When Sam hears that the new principal will be a former colleague, Duncan Carpenter, she has a lot of feelings. Sam used to have a serious crush on Duncan, so much so that she eventually left her old school to try to start fresh and move beyond her unrequited love. But when Duncan shows up, he is barely recognizable. The fun-loving, joy-spreading goofball she once longed for has become intense and inflexible, single-mindedly focused on transforming the school into a high-tech fortress that prioritizes student and staff safety above all else. After a series of incidents, Babette, Max’s widow, along with Sam and her best friend, decide to intervene and hatch a plan to try to restore Duncan to his former self. Soon Sam and Duncan are spending a lot of time together and it does good things for both of them.

If you are after a story with heart, but that doesn’t shy away from difficult, even tragic, life events, I think that you will find that Center does that kind of narrative so well. Her website says that she writes “bittersweet comic novels” and I’d say that is the perfect little tagline to capture her style. But Center doesn’t just toss in “hard stuff” to make her stories have more depth, she writes about the hard things in a way that proves that she has actually thought about the nuance of those experiences. It’s a rare book where I laugh out loud, and there were moments in this one where I did. Center has a quick wit. I wanted to hang out with these characters, to believe they were real people. I like imagining where their lives might have taken them after the end of the story.

My only quibbles were that a few plot points felt odd, a little out in left field. I won’t reveal them. Also, at the start, Duncan verged a little bit on a caricature with his level of intensity. It seemed nearly too much to believe. Also, I easily figured out what his “secret” from the past was, long before the other characters did. I found that a little hard to believe in the age of Google, that no one else would have investigated his history a bit and discovered the truth of his experience earlier on. Still, these things did not interfere with my overall enjoyment and investment in the story. I loved it.

If you enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over or A City Baker’s Guide to Country Living, this book belongs on the shelf near those two. Heartfelt, funny, warm, hard to put down - this reading experience was a delight.

4.25 stars

What You Wish For is the embodiment of finding joy and holding onto it for dear life in a book. For different reasons both of our main characters, Sam and Duncan, feel that they are too broken to ever be truly happy in life.

Sam struggles with her diagnosis of epilepsy and the fear that no one will ever be able to love her if they have to someday witness her in the midst of a seizure. Especially considering that her epilepsy is the reason her dad left her and her mom when she was just 8 years old.

Duncan used to be the class clown, free spirit, goofball teacher at school. He brought laughter with him wherever he went. And then something tragic happened that turned him into a non smiling, suit wearing, robot human.

Together with a lot of help from some very lovable characters (Max (may he rest in peace), Alice (adds the math puns), Babette (grace in the midst of grief), Clay (whale rescuer child extraordinaire), and even Tina (don't worry you'll warm up), Sam and Duncan find that they can and do deserve to live joyful lives.

New from Katherine Center, What You Wish For is out in a few days on July 14! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Okay first: I didn’t read Happiness for Beginners first and I SHOULD HAVE. It’s not required to understand the story in WYWF, but holy smokes the reading experience would be a million times better. The character backstory you get in Happiness plays a huge role in WYWF.

That being said, I read WYWF in one sitting. As I do with all books by KC. This woman knows how to tug at all my heart strings, I tell ya. The main character in WYWF is a school librarian, so right off the bat I was in love with her - I’m a sucker when it comes to reading about characters in my own profession. The instant connection is real. Sam’s personality and grit and determination throughout the story are just perfection. And I loved the development of her relationship with Duncan - it was so fun to read about characters who had known each other in another life and then, because of how life goes, change during their years apart and have to navigate their new understanding of each other - or lack of understanding!

I can’t wait to get this one in at my library, so I can share it with patrons. I’ll be sharing Happiness with them too, don’t worry 😂 I can’t get enough of KC - already anxious for her next book! In the meantime, I’ll probably do some rereading of a few of my favs.

Sam is a sweet school librarian. I love how she stood up to Duncan and helped unravel his layers. The small private school setting and the close knit community was fabulous. I have loved previous Katherine Center books and this one did not disappoint! I will be recommending this to others and buying it for my school librarian! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book!

🍎REVIEW: What You Wish For by Katherine Center🍎

Note: I have enjoyed many of Katherine Center’s other novels and will read her future ones, but this one was the bad apple.

I struggled with the main character, Sam, often finding her unpleasant to read. There was just something about the way she was portrayed that made it difficult for me to connect with her and her thought process was stressful for me to read. I found her “crush” (obsession) with Duncan a little creepy over cute and almost DNF after the first few chapters due to the high amount of descriptive paragraphs analyzing every action, outfit, and observation Sam had seen/made of Duncan.

With that being said, was there romance? Yes. Did I ‘aw’ a few times? Of course!

I would also like to note that Alice (Sam’s bff) was a wonderful character and had me cracking up many times in the novel. I need her math tshirt collection!

Rating: 3/5 🌟
Pub Date: July 14, 2020


I received a coly from the publisher on netgalley in exchange for a review.

I liked the author’s writing style. The story was fun and easy to read and it was paced nicely.

I didn’t find the lead female relatable. The school settings and the teachers’ love of their job was too idealistic. Anyone who’s ever worked in a school can tell you this would never, ever happen!! I also found the plot to be cheesy and predictable.

3/5 stars

This novel is everything I've come to expect from Katherine Center — well-drawn characters centered around a multi-dimensional female lead, an engaging story that makes you feel all the things, and a happy yet realistic ending. Her books are unputdownable, and What You Wish For was no different. It was a quick, lovely read, and I would absolutely recommend it.

4 stars for this magical novel filled with hardships and joy, and sends the beautiful, heartfelt message of healing, making your own joy, and finding the best in each day.

Samantha (Sam) Casey loves being an elementary school librarian in Galveston, Texas. That is until her beloved principal and dear friend passes away, and is replaced by none other than Duncan Carpenter, a former crush from years back at another school. He’s changed from being a sweet teacher—to a stiff, humorless principal, obsessed with school safety. Sam, and other school staff, decide to rebel against the new changes. That is until Sam finds out what’s changed Duncan, then she, along with teachers Babette and Alice, turn the tide in a new direction—to help him—putting “Operation Duncan” in motion.
I love Katherine Center’s writing and adorable characters. This is a delightful story that sends a beautiful message to its readers—to celebrate life everyday with joy!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Casey is the school librarian at a small school that focuses on diversity, learning, and creativity. She has thrived in this environment and is now completely different than the once mousy woman she was. When their beloved principal passes away the newly hired principal, Duncan Carpenter, resurrects from her past. She had quietly been in love with him and he is in part the reason she left her last job. However, the Duncan that shows up for the first day of school is not the happy go lucky guy she used to know. This Duncan is a suit wearing, straight-laced, security conscious man and he proceeds to turn their lives upside down.

I loved the community of people that surround Sam Casey in this novel. A with previous insecurity and shyness issues, Sam has blossomed in the “safe” environment of this small town in Galveston, Texas. As the novel moves forward we learn more about just how much Sam has changed and why, especially as she faces her past crush and is deeply disappointed at his new demeanor. The old Sam would’ve run away, but this new Sam ends up leading the charge, fighting for their rights while at the same time searching for the man she used to know.

Duncan was pretty easy to understand. Based off Sam’s memories he’d obviously done a bit of growing up, but there was something bigger behind his actions. I loved how Sam picked away at his armor to find that more fun loving man underneath. What You Wish For was the perfect mix of quirkiness, drama, and I especially loved the heart in which this author embued in her characters. From the start of the book I was invested in Sam, and then when Duncan entered the scene and his demeanor was a direct contradiction to how Sam had described him sealed the deal. I along with Sam wanted to solve the mystery and truly enjoyed the journey of finding out all of these characters secrets.

I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Sam and Duncan bring to life What You Wish For. A truly unique tale of second chances. Center weaves a triumphant, uplifting story that is unexpected and satisfying.

I enjoyed the varying points of view and truly felt the push and pull of these characters. The growth both experience was key for me as I was cheering for them all the way through. Center’s novels continue to surprise and entertain me.

What You Wish For was amazing cotemporary romance that revolved around Sam and her efforts to save her beautiful school. It was about fight the darkness and find joy in life, getting over fear, PTSD, death, friendship, companionship, belongingness, and love.

Writing was lovely, flawless, and descriptive, it hooked me to story from the beginning. Setting of Kempner elementary school on historic island of Galveston, Texas was amazing. Told in first person narrative from Sam’s POV made the book charming and refreshing.

I’m not going to repeat the plot or how it started, synopsis told it perfectly. I loved plot, characters, and everything in this book. It was a bit predictable but I enjoyed every moment in this book. Close-knit community of school- staff, students, people of island and Max’s family they looked after each other, loved school and cared for it.

Max was there in whole book even though he died in first chapter. His character, nature and lessons he taught lived within all characters except Kent Buckley. He was such opportunist douchebag son-in-law. I was surprised he was appointed chairman after Max’s death and learning what he planned for school. I couldn’t figure out why Max’s daughter, Tina, would marry this guy stay with him and tolerate him but couldn’t stand Sam’s presence even though she was always nice to her.

Babette was awesome. This old lady was my favorite. Alice was so Mathy (is that a word?). Herlove for math, math jokes, and seeing everything in life with math was infectious. And Clay is my most favorite little guy. He was Tina’s son, only 3rd grader but knew a lot of things about marine. He was total brainy and even read Steinbeck! I loved him for taking name calling as compliment. He was wisest character after Max and Babette.

Sam was lovely librarian, full of life. She loved Kempner school, her job and kids at school. On outside who didn’t know her would say she never felt sadness or faced darkness in life, but she too was fighting sadness and loneliness every day. She had epilepsy and faced bad things because of it in childhood that implanted seed of fear and loneliness deep within her soul. She was still struggling with unpredictable seizures, but I loved how Max, Babette, and Alice helped her. She tried to live fullest, grabbed joy whenever and wherever she could but when Duncan came back in her life, life and her feelings became complicated. She showed Duncan what it’s like to have fun and happiness and live above the fear but at the same time she wasn’t really ready let go her fears- fear of rejection, fear of change in person’s view after witnessing her epilepsy and fear of holding them back. Her development was great. Her feelings about epilepsy, for school, Max-Babette, and Duncan touched my heart.

Duncan was interesting. His description through Sam’s eyes, his quirkiness and events he created in previous school they worked together created fun image and when he joined Kemper’s as principle, his180 degree character change was shocking. He didn’t gave best impression with that stage speech and changes he started making in school with all those school securities and safety memos popped my eyes out of socket. I could see why Sam was so concerned it made me equally curious to know his story which was predictable, but when I heard it, it was heart wrenching. He was amazing person, he had best interest at heart but he was weighed down by trauma, fear and obsession of making school safe that he couldn’t see what he was doing to school and staff. It surprised me to see elementary school turning into grey, joyless and confined prison. But when Sam made team with Babette and Alice on Duncan project to change his mind, make him see good in world, beauty of school, joy and happiness above his fear and specially what he was before tragedy, I could see him change gradually. I loved how wall around himself started to crumble brick by brick and relationship between him and Sam blossoming along with it.

Romance was cute, it was well balanced with theme and plot of the book. There were sad moments that made my heart heavy more than once but there were so many joyful and beautiful moments that proved no matter what happens in life it’s worth to find joy, fight darkness and live fullest.

I enjoyed reading school’s history, each classes in school and its decorations, specially library, Galveston Sea wall, amusement park built on pier, The Great Galveston storm and museum for it. It was really interesting and I loved googling these places.

Importance of school security and school shooting was handled delicately. We see how difficult it is for those who survived, importance of therapy for PTSD, love from people and helping survivors to move on. It also made me think what Duncan was doing was not wrong but also made me agree with Sam that overdoing it doesn’t make it kids friendly environment of school, there need to be balance in it, and nobody can protect anybody all the time.

Climax was surprising. I was expecting something will happen all along, I knew Kent Buckley would do something but when and how was surprising. I loved the way Sam and Duncan cleared differences, admitted their feelings but what happened afterwards was not at all predictable. I loved the end and how things turned out for all characters.

Overall, What You Wish For was meaningful, inspiring, feel good and entertaining emotional roller coaster with beautiful setting and amazing characters. If you still haven’t read any Katherine Center’s book, just get this one and start reading.

Twenty-eight-year-old Samantha Casey is a librarian who lives and works in Galveston Island, Texas. She is happy to be employed at the Kempner School, whose founders, Max and Babette, established an imaginative, joyous, and vibrant educational institution for elementary school children. Approximately four years earlier, Sam quit her job at Andrews Prep in California. She had fallen in love with Duncan Carpenter, a charming and goofy teacher who, she was convinced, would never be interested in her. In those days, Sam was drab and reserved but she has since reinvented herself. Now she wears bright colors, has pink bangs, and unabashedly speaks her mind.

Katherine Center's "What You Wish For" is a bittersweet romance in which dark themes are interspersed with slapstick humor. Much to Sam's shock, Kent Buckley, the overbearing, self-absorbed, and obnoxious chairman of the school board, hires Duncan Carpenter to be Kempner's new principal. On the one hand, the Duncan she remembers would be a fabulous addition to the staff, since he was always so simpatico with kids and adults alike. On the other hand, Sam ran away from Duncan before, and she has no desire to do so again.

A new Duncan unexpectedly shows up—a buttoned-down, harsh, and bossy man who wants to turn Kempner into a fortress. He lays out a plan that would rob the school of its color, excitement, and warmth. Sam and her colleagues put their heads together to launch a counteroffensive. It is a shame that Center's plot is so heavy-handed, since Sam and Duncan are an appealing couple with intriguing backstories. However, the events that bring them together and their behavior throughout the novel bear little resemblance to anything that might happen on planet Earth. "What You Wish For" would most likely appeal to readers who enjoy escaping reality for a few hours and are not put off by Center's offbeat and wildly implausible plot.

Another hit from Katherine Center. full of unforgettable characters, witty dialogue and how sometimes we find joy in the most unexpected places.
School librarian, Samantha Casey loves her job and all that comes with it. Her work world is everything she wants until someone from her past comes into it.
Duncan Carpenter, the new principal at Samantha's school believe that rules and regulations are to be followed without exception.
As Samantha's world as she knew it before Duncan appeared begins to unravel, she must make it right at any cost.
This is the perfect summer book that are looking for that much needed uplifting read.

I don't have enough words too describe how much I enjoyed this book...so I'm just gonna say it was .excellent. Really, really excellent. The characters are fun and engaging, and the storyline is interesting and intriguing.
This is the second book I've read by this author (Things You Save in a Fire was the first one), and I am in love with her writing style.
I definitely look forward to reading her next book.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.