This is the story of Samantha, a quirky, joyful school librarian with a troubled past, and Duncan, the new, incredibly strict school principal who we learn has some secrets of his own. The idyllic school is thrown into turmoil when Duncan arrives and begins focusing on school security to the detriment of nearly everything else. Samantha becomes one of the forces trying to pull Duncan back to earth—and save her school in the process. But, it’s no surprise, sparks start to fly between the two, and soon, it becomes much deeper than that. This is a book that deals with romance, yes, but it also covers heavier ground including living with a serious medical condition, PTSD, and more. But if you’re worried it’s a downer, think again. It’s also really funny at parts! Katherine Center has mastered the delicate balance of creating a believable romance that still has rich characters and smart dialogue. If you love romance that also incorporates some more serious elements, you’ll love this.

For me Katherine Center is an auto-buy author! I always enjoy her books! This one didn’t disappoint either! I will say it took me a little bit to get into this one, but I think that was mainly because of life getting in the way. I really enjoyed Sam’s character and connected with a lot of the themes throughout the book. Choosing joy even when it’s hard was one thing that stuck with me. Overall this one gets 4 stars!

While I really loved the other two books I've read by Katherine Center, this one fell short for me. I am usually pulled right in and fall in love with the characters within the first two chapters. Sam, the main character was not one I connected with at all. Her emotions were all over the place and seemed to chance quickly, she made rash decisions that seemed extreme and it was hard to reconcile her as an adult (her personality and behavior felt more in line with a late teen/young adult) especially an adult who was responsible for children. I wanted a stronger main character, one who knew who she was and didn't let her life get completely derailed by small things. I felt a little disheartened by how Sam treated her epilepsy; it presented a great chance for ownership, not being embarrassed by a medical condition and maybe sparking learning and understanding for someone that's different than you. It makes sense she would be embarrassed as a child but as an adult, I wanted her to be confident in who she was and not let this define her. When I hit the 70% mark, the plot and the relationship between Sam and Duncan felt more like the Katherine Center I was expecting. Fan's of Center should give this story a chance, there are a lot of people who have throughly enjoyed this story, this one fell short for me unfortunately.

There were many things I really enjoyed about this book. The charming Galveston Island setting. The amazing secondary characters (Clay! Alice!). And the overall message about choosing joy in a world where that seems in short supply.

There were other things that just didn't sit right with me. Sam, the main character, has her wonderful qualities but at many points she came off as disconcertingly immature. And there were very serious topics in the book that (to me) were dealt with in a sort of off-handed and breezy way. The mental health rep in the story was not handled in a way that felt nuanced and serious enough to me.

I know many people will love this book and I remain a huge fan of the author. But for me this had issues that I found it hard to get past.

This was my first Katherine Center book and I was not let down. I don't know what took me so long to read her. Sam has moved to a new school and has blossomed out of the mousy girl she used to be into a flowery, vibrant woman. When the principal of the school, her beloved friend, passes away, the board hires a man from her past. She had a huge crush on Duncan when she was at her old school and is afraid those feelings might resurface until she meets him again. Gone is the fun quirky guy she once knew, and in his place is a stiff, grumpy man who is only concerned about school safety.
Right away I liked Duncan, it is clear that something traumatic had to happen to him to cause this drastic of a change in demeanor. Sam was reeling with the changes in him after the first meeting and slowly she began to peel back his layers one by one. Sam was the quirky one now and she wanted her school, the place that made her feel like home, to not be a fortress. The other teachers tasked her with making him see the light in the school as it is and stop the changes.
Both Duncan and Sam have secrets and they both feel unworthy of a forever kind of love. It was great to see them both open up to each other and learn to trust again. I am all for a grumpy hero, and Duncan was that and more. I really enjoyed this book.

This is a book about finding joy in life, no matter what darkness is in your past. Samantha is a teacher at a private school with some health concerns. When the beloved leader of her school dies unexpectedly, Samantha loses not only a great boss but a father figure. When he is replaced by the man she left her last job for, she feels her world crumbling around her. But Duncan is not the same as he always was. After surviving his own trauma, he has become a completely different person. It is up to Sam and an interesting cast of characters to help him once again find the joy in life. This book was filled with fun, relatable characters and was an easy, meaningful read.

This is my third book by Katherine Center, and once again, I am in love! The author has a knack for writing stories that are simply irresistible. With her fun dialog, lovable characters, and an addictive plot, the author creates a world that pulls you in, and transports you seamlessly into the book’s pages.

What You Wish For is full of feelings, laughs, and important messages, and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys fun yet emotional stories that will leave the reader with a smile and a quiet satisfaction.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

All the books I've read by Katherine Center have been fun and entertaining. They have relatable characters and great dialogue. This novel was no exception. I loved the character of Sam and her friends and colleagues. The romance was also sweet. This was an enjoyable read with a positive message! Great for fans of Jojo Moyes.

This book was brilliant in ways I just can’t describe. It’s poignant, heart-warming, funny and full of great joy. I absolutely adored all the characters, especially the main protagonists, Sam and Duncan. There’s even a whale rescue. If I say anything, it’s this - READ THIS BOOK.

I am a fan of Katherine Center and will read whatever she writes. First off, I love this cover, and it matches the inside (supporting the idea that sometimes, you can indeed judge a book by its cover). There is a theme of joy throughout this story and how to intentionally choose and cultivate it in your life regardless of whatever else might be going on in your life.

Both of the main characters, Samantha and Duncan, have had some personal experiences that caused them to be apprehensive about committing to joy and expecting long-term happiness for themselves. This is the second time they have worked together. Sam is amazed at the changes in Duncan since she last worked with him 4 years ago. He had been the poster child of joy and is now the poster child of safety in the school setting She is still drawn to him and wants to understand what caused him to so dramatically change. While she was trying to support him, she also received some support. It was a lovely journey.

This was more philosophical than some of the previous books I've read by Katherine Center. I know that it has been said that if Brene Brown wrote fiction, it would resemble a book by Katherine Center, and I really felt that here. There was some almost-therapeutic language in the book- it was relevant for the characters, but thought-provoking for me as a person as well. I liked this book as much as I have liked her other books, but this did feel a little different. I am looking forward to having this book on my shelf, and I do recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read this!

I really enjoyed reading this story. Samantha breaking down Duncun slowly is so much fun. the person who she thought he was and what he has become and what she will do to bring him back was so much fun! I really enjoyed this story. This author is becoming one of my favorites.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sam had been abandoned by her father and found herself parentless after her mother's death. She longed for the love and safety of a "real" family and thought she had found that with Max and Babette, the founders of the Kempner School where she worked. However following Max's untimely death, her whole world was shaken up. Max was gone, Babette was grieving, and Sam's former crush, Duncan, was the new principal. But this wasn't the Duncan once adored by all, and Sam wasn't fond of this new version. She was determined to help him restore his own joy before he ruined her school.

I discovered Katherine Center via Things You Save in a Fire, and I have gone on to read more of her books for one simple reason - they make me happy. I am guaranteed the warm and fuzzy feels from Center's books, and once again, she has filled my heart with warmth and joy.

Sam was a fantastic! Though her past was riddled with sadness, she kept pushing herself to seek happiness. She could have moped around and felt sorry for herself, but instead, she put on her clown socks and became an active part of her school's community. She made friends and some became her de facto family. She seemed to have a lust for life, however she deemed herself "broken" and denied herself love, all of which broke my heart.

She may have thought she was broken, but she kept choosing joy. This was a beautiful idea that came up, time and time again, in this story. The idea that we can choose joy, and that we have to fight for it sometimes. All of Center's books seem to have something that really speaks to my heart, and this time, it's this concept, which was so encouraging and uplifting.

Enter Duncan, a blast from her past, who also thought he was "broken". My heart was already brimming with emotion, but enter two "broken" people, and it was spilling over. I loved seeing them come together, as Sam searched for the Duncan she knew. Like Sam's "truth", his made my heart ache, but Center mended it by helping these two find some peace with their past, as they forged a friendship and more.

As always, Center left me with all the feels. I laughed, cried, ached, and was filed with delight. Yes, an absolute feelsplosion. I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this stunning story of love, loss, healing, and pain, which reminded me to actively choose joy.

So many readers adore the books by this author that I feel almost as if no review is necessary.  All loyal fans need to see is her name on the title of the book.


This is the third book that I have read by this author.  My favorite is still How to Walk Away, although What You Wish For is certainly an enjoyable read.


I liked the setting of this book, both the Texas location and the vibrant, joyous school where narrator Sam is the librarian. This novel is primarily about Sam and Duncan with attention paid also to those around them.  The two knew each other in the past when Sam had a crush on the flamboyant, exuberant Duncan.  Sam is now at a new school and guess who the new principal is?  (I'm sure that no guess is needed).  But why is Duncan so different?  Will he and Sam connect again?  Even if you feel you know the answers, this book is a good one to laze around with on a summer's day.  Its message of taking as much joy in life as possible, despite life's difficulties, is an affirming one.


On NetGalley, there are 1576 reviews and counting with readers all liking the book.  These are the biggest numbers that I have seen on the site.  I think that readers who buy this book will enjoy it too!


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

A solid ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ book with an engrossing plot, heartwarming and real characters with flaws and all, cutesy love story, and well-placed humor to lighten some of the harder parts. Thoroughly enjoyed and a pretty quick read for those needing to escape for a few hours.

What You Wish For is such a cute contemporary story full of positivity. Katherine Center most definitely knows how to write relatable, fun loving characters that just make it so hard to put her books down.

I absolutely loved the slow burn relationship between Sam and Duncan. Some of it was cheesy and unbelievable but I didn’t love the story any less for those brief moments.

Overall, I highly recommend this one. I fell in love with this author’s writing last year and most definitely will pick up whatever she writes next!

Thank you in advance to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really love Katherine Center as an author, and I would say that this book did not disappoint. It was a great balance between laughter and romance and kept me interested throughout the entire book. I finished the book within 2 days, and really enjoyed it. The characters were relatable and were easy to connect with.

While the storyline was a bit lacking at times and a bit cheesy or corny, the boom still put a smile on my face at times. Some lessons on life can be seen in this book and may stick with a reader for a while. Not my favourite book by this author, but looking forward to the next.

Samantha Casey is school librarian for a private school in Galveston, Texas. Passionately devoted to colorful, fun, and expressive, Sam could not be any different than new-to-the-school strict and rules-bound principal Duncan Carpenter. Years earlier, Sam knew Duncan in another school when she was colorless, dulled-down, and controlled and he was flamboyant, joy-filled, and colorful. As Duncan enforces discipline with an onslaught of regulations intended to enforce safety and security, Sam is the person designated to challenge him and encourage him to see the world as the school community does. The time they spent together challenges them to face their deepest fears and greatest longings. Far from being a straightforward romantic adventure (albeit an exceptionally well-written and joy-filled one), this story is trademark Katherine Center is speaking directly to the reader's heart, encouraging whole-hearted embrace of confounding, baffling, marvelous life in all its mess. I loved spending time in Sam's world, now cannot wait to visit Galveston, and enjoying the complex and believable characters. A wonderful read -- never wanted to leave this story world!

Samantha Casey loves her job as school librarian at Kempner Elementary, she loves the kids and she loves her co=workers. When tragedy strikes, leaving the faculty reeling, no one is sure how they will manage to move forward. Then Duncan Carpenter is hired to be the new principal. Samantha knows him from her former job....a job she left because she had unrequited feelings for him. Samantha's first instinct is to pack up and run...until he shows up and is nothing at all like he used to be. Now he is threatening the very core of what their school is and has always stood for. So, she has to choose between running away or staying to fight for what she believes in.

I loved this book. I say that with every book I read from this author, but this one really resonated with me, partially because the main character had epilepsy, which my daughter also has. I loved Samantha's spunk and tenacity. Her fiery spirit made me smile, and the parts about the seizures made me cry. If you are looking for a really good story to get totally immersed in, then I think you should grab a copy of this book, settle down in your favorite reading spot, and enoy the rest of your day.

Thanks to #partner @NetGalley for the digital ARC of Katherine Center's What You Wish For in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on Tuesday, July 14.

Katherine Center’s What You Wish For is devoted to the pursuit of joy. That doesn’t mean it’s always a joyful novel--in fact, it opens with a tragedy that broke my heart. What it does mean is that Center is exploring, on every page, what we can do when it’s tough to be joyful, when our lives seem to be out of our control, when the world seems to be against us. How do we find joy then?

Elementary librarian Samantha Casey has not led an easy life, but she’s finally found her happy place. She loves Kempner School, which is pretty much an educational utopia. She has a best friend, Alice, who is both incredibly nerdy (math t-shirts!) and insanely cool. By moving to Galveston, she’s escaped the horror of an embarrassing and unrequited crush on Duncan Carpenter, a brilliant teacher and free spirit from her last school. And she has Max and Babette Kempner, the founders of the school, her mentors, and her (unofficially) adopted parental figures.

All of this changes in a moment, in the first scene of the book, when Max, the beloved principal of Kempner School, dies. Suddenly, that firm foundation Sam had found shifts, and she’s left to try to scramble her way back to security, especially after the unexpected reappearance of a very changed Duncan in her life.

Katherine Center does here what she does so well in each of her novels: she creates a world for her main character and then shakes it up. Readers get to watch what happens as the character tries to find firm ground again while realizing that false comfort won’t work.

What You Wish For, with its school setting, checked all my boxes: I loved the discussions of the place of joy and color in a school (and in a life) and the focus on reading what makes you happy (former English teacher here!). I was so happy to see Duncan, a secondary character from a prior Center favorite, Happiness for Beginners, reappear. I reveled in Sam’s struggle to love and connect with others, particularly her consideration of when that connection is worth the risk inherent in reaching out.

I absolutely loved Max, who is wise and kind and the principal and dad we all wish we had (I think I marked every single thing he said in the book!). Most of all, I was hungry to see a character who realizes that finding joy can be difficult but that the search is definitely worth it. That’s a message we all need always, but particularly right now.