Many thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

I have been hearing so much about Katherine Center that I was beyond ecstatic to get an ARC of What You Wish For and thankfully I was not disappointed. Of course, the romance is sugary sweet but I LOVED, just loved the laughter she created in each line of the book. The dialogue delivery had me cracking up so much all the time. Duncan was a joie de vivre kind of guy, happy and goofy and a loving teacher who always made kids and adults around him laugh. But he takes up position as principal of Kempner school a changed man. Samantha, the librarian in the school who has in the past known him and loved him from afar is totally flummoxed seeing the serious and brooding macho man.

Thus, becomes the journey of fighting against rules, taking a stand and joining hands with Babette and Alice for Operation Duncan to connect him to minute moments of life. And at a time when the pandemic has taken so much away from all humankind leaving us in pain and frustration, this simple story makes us root for each small joy that we can fight for.

I loved how the author has used a message of gunfire in schools and the trauma affecting the people involved as a layer of story in this romantic tale. There’s quite a lot of inspiration to be had from this beautiful story about love and sacrifices and the need to never give up. Sam’s epileptic seizures and her struggle to overcome her fears were inspiring. The ultra-cute 10-yr old Clay deserves a special mention. The dramatic scene at the pier had me scratching my head and along with Duncan really wanted to know what the hell was that? 😒

OK, so probably if I was in a school that had so much fun, I would have never come home, you know what I mean? 😀. Galveston Island has never sounded more enchanting, and I am terribly sad that I missed visiting this beautiful place while in Texas.

I liked this story but I found one of the main characters a little too self centered about her health. Samantha is the librarian in a local private school and lives in the carriage house of the principal. When he dies at his 60th birthday bash the town and school are thrown into a frenzy. The school quickly hires Duncan to be the new leader. Samantha knew Duncan before she came to Galveston and has had a crush forever. They clash immediately about building security and funding. Mixed with drama from the old principal's family and Samantha and Duncan's health the story moves along at a good pace. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was my first Katherine Center novel. I enjoyed the story. It was easy to read and I quickly found myself lost in it. The characters were relatable and well-developed. Just the right amount of fun, heartbreak, laughter and romance. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kempner School is special. Special for the students as well as the teachers. A community like no other. Samantha Casey is the school Librarian. A job she loves. When they suffer a great loss, a new principal is hired. Someone that’s not new to Sam, someone she both hoped never to see again and someone she thought perfect to fill the position. Duncan Carpenter is not the same man she knew four years ago. Where did this militaristic dictator come from? What happened to the fun loving Duncan that everyone adored? As layers are stripped away, and Duncan’s reasons are revealed, three women come together to teach Duncan how to live again. Hearts are touched and lives are changed when Duncan and Samatha learn to step out and be brave and to “choose joy on purpose”.

I wanted to like What You Wish For by Katherine Center. I’m a teacher who has recently dealt with the entrance of a militaristic new principal; I even grew up on Galveston island. That said, I found the story lacking, the characters unbelievable at several points, and the setting inconsistent with a place I know well. That said, I adore Clay and his whale facts—Clay is the best. I’ll round this book up to 3 stars just for him.

What You Wish For has an interesting story-line and an interesting character development. The juxtaposition between the flip flop of personality and flair between Duncan and Sam's characters was intriguing; from bold to dull for Duncan and from dreary to bright for Sam. I enjoyed watching Sam get to know Duncan outside of school.

Important themes and elements of the story:
-Life-changing situations leave their mark and it's important to seek help and guidance to help heal and grow.
-Common theme: After tragedy or difficult situations, it's easy to allow yourself to believe that you're damaged or unfixable. It's important for people to be supportive in difficult times to let you know that you can overcome and grow.
-Concept: Joy is the cure for everything. Pay attention to the small things that bring you joy, and do more of that. Joy is cumulative; all the small things add up to your overall joy and happiness in life. It doesn't have to be big things to be joyful. I love this perspective. Find joy on purpose.


In a Nutshell: What a lovely story and a wonderful author. I'm only sorry it took me so long to discover her writing!

Thank you netgalley, St. Martin Press and Katherine Center for free e-Arc What You Wish For in return of my honest review.

What You Wish For is the first novel I read by Katherine Center. I have heard many great things about her and her work and was very excited to be approved for new book.

At first, I thought my expectations were too high and I was afraid I was missing something. However, within 50 pages Katherine Center turned everything around. What You Wish For seems to be a cute romantic story about two people with some heavy baggage. It is true, at the same time, it is so much bigger than that. The story has so many layers to it and Katherine Center does amazing job in unraveling all of them one by one.

Characters were fantastically developed. Both protagonists came to life with through background and some details that made them full and alive.

IF you enjoy strong female and male characters, What You Wish For is for you!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing this ARC. I enjoyed this feel-good story which had an overall message of hope and positivity. Something definitely needed right now. I have only read one prior book from this author and I found this new book to have a similar Vibe. My biggest disappointment was that I had figured out the backstory of the main male character very very early in the story, so perhaps that was too telegraphed. Overall, I would recommend for anyone looking to life their spirits.

Is it weird I didn't read a thriller?? It's weird to me, but I'm obsessed with Katherine Center, so I had no choice. There's something special about her writing that really draws you into every book. What You Wish For deals with some very heavy topics, but it does it in such a hopeful way. It really reminded me of how shitty this world can be, and that all we can do is try to find some joy to get us through the day. This was a little predictable at times, but I really didn't mind it. Sometimes predictability makes me happy, because it goes in the way that I wanted it too.
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Was this my favorite Katherine Center book? No, but I wasn't expecting it to be. There's seriously something special about How To Walk Away, that that will forever be my favorite. So yes, it was predictable at times, but it also just made me really happy. It was a book I couldn't put down, and I'm so glad I switched up genres and read it. This is the perfect beach read

This was a lovely summer read. I was initially hesitant, as sometimes romcoms don’t capture my interest, but the characters were so compelling, and the situational humor was well crafted and clever.

Thanks Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC! I enjoyed it very much, and look forward to future works by the author.

This was not your average romance novel, BUT it was a really good contemporary/women's fiction novel in my opinion. I was okay with it not having enough romance in it because it had everything in the book that it needed. The struggles, hardships, and you got to see what the two main characters dealt with every day in the aftermath of their tragedies/illnesses. This was a beautiful story that flowed easily and I actually live two hours from the setting of this novel so I know specifically all the places the author describes in this book. I really loved how this book was all about books, teachers, librarians, schools, etc. I will read anything Katherine Center writes!

What You Wish For is a fun, romantic, story. I love this author, Katherine Center is a new favorite author. This book is well written with great well developed characters. This was a satisfying, book to read in the shade of a beautiful tree, while sipping ice cold lemonade.

This was cute! A pleasant, easy read, that was enjoyable. I was a little put off by the idea that one can be happier just by doing happy things and making an effort to be happy, because I think many of us know that doesn’t always help, but I did like reading about the joyful things that they chose, and dealing with their heavy feelings.

I absolutely adored Alice (I’m a math-fan too) and little Clay (as a life-long lover of reading), and I thought the end tied everything else in nicely.

Katherine Center has become a must read author for me and I am someone who does NOT typically like romance books! How to walk away was my first and I was hooked ever since. And What You Wish For did not disappoint. I loved reading about Samantha and Duncan and I love that this book (much like the others) has a lesson that can be learned in each of them so that they aren't just your typical "romance" novel.

Highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a reminder to choose joy, even in hard times. Sam is an elementary school librarian for a private school. She loves everything about it until tragedy brings a new principle to their school who wants to change everything. But Sam knows the new principle from her previous school.

The first half of this book I found incredibly angst-filled and almost stopped reading. The last half is so much better, so stick it out! I liked Center’s previous book, Things You Save in a Fire, much better, though.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors! She’s my go-to for a fun, romantic, summer read. I loved her last two books! Loved them!
Having said that I felt like this one fell short me. The book in my opinion had trouble starting, and I didn’t care for this heroine. I find insecure people exhausting. There just wasn’t enough for me to invest in this story.
I feel it necessary to be honest about the books I read, so I’m sharing my thoughts. I hope this was helpful.

This was a NETGALLEY gift from the publisher and I’ve given an honest review.

Book Info
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: July 14th 2020 by St. Martin's Press
Original Title What You Wish For
ISBN 1250219361 (ISBN13: 9781250219367)
Edition Language English
URLhttps://us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Other Editions (4)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB

From Katherine Center, the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel full of heart and hope.

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.

When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.
My Thoughts


Sam, Duncan, Babette, Max, Alice, Tina, Clay and Kent are main characters brought to life in this story.

The supporting cast of characters are also represented well with a few of them standing out from the rest but all of them important.

A story set on Galveston Island in Texas that revolves around a school the likes of which I would have given anything to attend growing up as it is eclectic to say the least.

Samantha/Sam Casey has found a home as an Elementary School Librarian in the vibrant, colorful and thoroughly inviting environment that gives her a wonderful reason to get up every day.

For Sam not only do the youngsters give her a sense of worth but they and the entire staff also allow her to feel like for the first time in her life she really belongs.

When the new principal shows up, and is the last person Sam ever expected to see again, the life she has built for herself on Galveston Island is threatened.

In fact the very things that make her job environment inviting and interesting for the students are as well.

Duncan Carpenter turns out to be nothing like the man Sam remembers, her fears of once again falling under his spell seem rootless as he begins his campaign for change.

The old saying ”Be careful what you wish for” proves to be one Sam should have taken to heart.

However this saying, as so many others before it, also proves not to be infallible when Duncan is faced with her unexpected opposition.

This story is a sleeper as it builds on itself in layers that are so worth unpeeling!

[EArc from Netgalley]


On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Katharine Center is an amazing writer. I really enjoyed that this book is set in Galveston, a location only minutes from me! It was really fun to read about the island. But, I felt like the story moved along slowly and I wasn't as engaged as I hoped to be. I think many readers will be blown away by this book, it just didn't appeal to me as much as I thought it would. I think the cover is absolutely stunning!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’d rate this more like 3.5 stars—I liked the writing but a plot twist gets blown rather easily and early, re: how Duncan Carpenter, Amazing Teacher as Sam knew him, became Duncan Carpenter, Dull & Militant School Principal. Therefore it flattens out his character quite a bit, even though there are some well-written moments as Sam and the rest of the faculty try and get him out of his shell. Sam helping Duncan home after an outpatient procedure high on painkillers was cute and funny. It’s a relatively chaste book in that intimate scenes are very few and hinted at. Other reviewers have mentioned some of the characters here are from earlier books, and that those books turned out better than this one. I’ll have to read the cover blurbs and see if they’ll peak my interest enough to dive in.

4 Stars
* * * *
This is another "Touched my Soul" Read from Katherine Center. She takes the idea of having to move forward and grip life with two hands and find your joy with the need to show another how to move past his pain.
The pacing, heart, and just feels took me away and I loved it all.