What you wish for started on a merry tone, despite the tragic event that opens the story. The novel reads as if the narrator, who is the main character, Samantha Casey tells a story to a friend. Sam is a 28 year old woman, a librarian at an elementary school in Galveston, Texas. However, she talks and feels and behaves like a much younger woman, often times downright immature. This made the novel read like almost like a YA novel, but with adult characters.

It has a small town vibe to it, with a tight knit school community, all working to make the school a colorful and joyful haven for the kids. We learn mostly about Samantha, her guardian parents Max and Babette, her best friend Alice, and her crush Duncan, whose presence at the school is the plot of the story. We learn everything about Duncan through the lenses of Sam’s obsession with him. I mean, obsession. As I finished the novel I thought it was cute the way it ended, but looking at it objectively, it’s weird and cliché how things worked out for those two, as for all the other characters.

I can’t explain it, but although nothing really surprised me, not even the perfectly tied ending, I still enjoyed this one. I think it’s because I knew I was reading a romance novel, and I wasn’t expecting too much heaviness, or at least not heaviness met with pessimism. Or maybe it’s because we’re thrown right into the middle of two people’s stories, people who struggle to make sense of their lives, and one can’t really judge that.
I appreciated the themes of PTSD, epilepsy, school shooting and security, but these were in stark contrast with the over-joyous, we-try-maybe-too-hard-to-make-the-school-happy vibe. The focus is only on Samantha, her thoughts, her feelings, her wants, her needs, despite using “us” and “the school” to expand her opinions to other characters. The themes dealt with bring a serious note to a novel that focuses more on creating your own happiness and striving to hold on to hope and optimism.

By the half-point of the novel I just let myself go with the flow: everything was whimsical (especially the library, according to Samantha), silly things happened, old-Duncan’s personality and antics were sounding weirder and weirder, and the whole school was longing for a friendly clownish school. I wish we had learned more about what the kids thought about all that was happening.

It’s not the deepest book, clearly. Yet, it is a light summer read. If you’re looking for a happy ending novel, set in a small town, with romance and chemistry galore, this might be for you.
I know I got all the warm, fuzzy feelings as I was reading it.

What a lovely story that resonates well in today's world. Sam Casey loves her job as a school librarian at a wildly popular independent school in Galveston. Tragedy strikes when the brilliant founder, Max Kempler dies suddenly and the board of directors assigns a new, unknown principal. Unknown to all but Sam, and although Sam believes Duncan Carpenter will be good for the school, she knows his presence will not be good for her. As she prepares to walk into his office to quit, the tables turn and Sam realizes more is at stake than her heart; her beloved school is facing serious, devastating changes.

This story threads tales of creativity, dedication, hard work, and immense, heartbreaking love all into one small setting. When a little boy goes missing one night the community kicks into gear and it seems all that was though lost may be found again. The underlying topic of school safety is truly hard to read and comprehend, but it is a very real concern about what is happening to schools all over the country as people grapple with living with fear of the what-if's.

Katherine Center is a gifted writer with a talent for writing stories and characters who are eccentric enough and charming enough to hold attention, to be likable and believable. I was glad to have been given a chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a worthy book, and I very much enjoyed reading it.

"It's a deliberate kind of joy. It's a conscious kind of joy. It's joy on purpose."

FIVE STARS! This is the first book by Katherine Center that I have read, but I was deep into this page turner within the first 10 minutes. As a teacher in these modern times, I found the stories and the concerns of the characters relevant and relatable. The underlying issues of mental health and trauma were told from several viewpoints and provided a great example of how we all handle situations after trauma and that we all have stories. I fell in love with all the characters and cast them immediately. So many times I found deep connections to the words and highlighted many lines. Thank you for an advanced copy of this beautiful story, NetGAlley.

"This is what it means to be fully alive. To feel it all -the joy and the sorrow-the hope and the fear. This is what life demands of us. You just have to stay, and try, and let life break your heart"

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. 3.5⭐️ I love this author. Her last two books were 5 ⭐️ reads for me so I have high expectations. This book didn’t quite measure up for me, at least in the first 30-40 percent where I started skimming and almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t because the book really turned around and the second half was wonderful. The book has been highly rated so definitely give it read. And I look forward to the author’s next title.

This is not my typical genre of books but I heard so much about Katherine Center that I wanted to give it a try. Bascially a cute story about a quirky elementary school librarian in Texas who meets her crush from her past and who is now her boss as her new school principal.

It was a light read which was a nice contrast from serious historical fiction, thrillers, etc. It was cute and heartwarming but again I think not my typical genre. For those that love romance, I would give it 4 stars. For those who don't maybe a 3 star.

I recevied a free copy from the publisher (thank you!) for an honest review.

I loved this book!

I don’t read a lot of romance, but Katherine Center’s books are the perfect blend of entertaining fiction with a romance that never fails to pull me in.

This book was so much fun, I was hooked from the very first chapter! Sam is a fabulous character! She is passionate, quirky, and marches to the beat of her own drummer. Duncan is another character that I found very interesting and couldn’t wait to see how his character would develop.

The story may be somewhat predictable, but I didn’t care. It was a book that I could hardly bear to pull myself away from. The writing is addicting and humorous, putting a smile on my face and thoroughly entertaining me!

If you have not read a Katherine Center book yet, this is a fantastic place to start!

Samantha Casey is living a quite happy life at Galveston, Texas, as a librarian at the legendary Kempner School, co-founded by Max (the principal) and Babette Kempner, who are much loved and cherished by everyone.
Samantha and the faculty, even the town people, have put together a very awesome party to celebrate Max’s 60th birthday..However, Max passes away, unexpectedly, in the middle of it..
When the school board appoints Duncan Carpenter as the new principal, Samantha finds herself in an uncomfortable situation…In addition, to her dismay and anger, Duncan has determined to reform Kempner into something depressing and dreadful in the name of security.
What You Wish For focus on the essence of “joy” that dictates joy doesn’t come in a big bundle, but rather in many tiny pieces which one could gather along his/her journey of life. Kudos to the talented author, Katherine Center, who is so creative with such delightful and uplifting idea of joy!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s for this e-ARC which I truly enjoy reading it.
#NetGalley
#StMartins
#WhatYouWishFor

Katherine Center has become very well known for the way her writing tugs at your heart, sometimes even breaking it, and making you laugh. All at the same time. This book was no exception. I absolutely loved it. The characters were lovely and relatable and it was a great feel good book.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book for an honest review.

This is the third of Katherine Center’s books that I have read. It was an easy read but it comes off as a little cheesy. I did not enjoy it as well as her two previous books. Once I got about halfway into the book it did have an issue that we deal with in our world everyday.

I really wanted to love the main characters but I could not get a feel for them. I will still read Katherine Center’s books in the future but for me this is a 3 star book.

Enjoyed this book. Funny storyline. Light hearted read about some otherwise serious subjects. Will be looking for other books from this author.

. When I think about great summer reads, I think about Katherine Center—although for the past few years her books have been published in late July, and for years I held to a loose cutoff of July 4 for inclusion in the summer reading guide. Her new book comes out this summer, on July 14.

I was excited when this new book came in the mail back in February, but I didn’t pick it up until we were sheltered at home the second half of March due to coronavirus. And let me tell you: during those early days this is EXACTLY the kind of book I wanted to read. Center writes books that feel fast, are easy to read, but also really smart—smart in how they’re put together, and smart about people and their problems.

This new book, set in Galveston, TX, is about a school librarian named Samantha—and you know I’m always excited for a librarian protagonist. Her world is rocked when a dear friend dies, a friend that happens to be the principal at the school where she works. And then it’s rocked again when she discovers who his replacement will be: the board is bringing in a successful young principal all the way from California to take her school in a new direction—and that guy turns out to be none other than Duncan Carpenter, Samantha’s unrequited crush from long ago, when they worked at the same school. Duncan is the guy that her bestie knows as THE guy because Samantha has talked about him so much; he’s the guy Samantha knew was absolutely perfect for her—except she never told him.

Let’s talk about Duncan a minute. Longtime Katherine Center readers may recognize that name from Happiness for Beginners, a book I love and dedicated an early episode of One Great Book to. Duncan is Helen’s younger brother—he’s goofy, he’s fun, he’s got a heart of gold. Back in California he taught kindergarten and athletics, he believed in PLAY, he wore polka dot ties and would reliably show up with a “typo” on his nametag on the first day of school, you know, something like “Duncan Carpenter, Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

Samantha is 99% terrified and 1% thrilled that Duncan’s coming to town, to her workplace—but then when she shows up he’s nothing like the guy she once knew. No fun, no play, no joy. I’m tempted to tell you more about why, but that doesn’t happen till page 99, so I’m gonna skip it for now.

I really enjoyed this book, I flew through it in a day or two when I first read it, and talking about it now makes me want to read it all over again. But I didn’t include it in the guide for two reasons: the first is there’s a potential trigger embedded in the plot that’s really tough for a whole lot of readers, and the second is … there’s a Big Moment that’s key to the resolution that is pretty strange. I just thought, really? It’s the kind of plot development that would be AMAZING to talk about in book club, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around it on my own. (It’s worth noting that as I did not read the certain-to-be-final text, it’s possible that could change some. But it’s highly unusual for the story to change at this point.)

Another good read by Katherine Center. I really liked her book 'Things You Save in a Fire' so I picked this one up when I saw her name on the cover. I wasn't disappointed either. I've been reading a lot during this Coronavirus pandemic and it was really nice to read something light and positive.

I liked the character Samantha with her pink bangs and her flair for color in her wardrobe; the way she turned her life around. Alice, a master of math humor, and Clay (a/k/a Brainerd) were also great characters. I also really liked the idea of such a warm, caring, creative school as an environment for children. But the thing I liked most about this book was its message to embrace joy even in difficult times - choose happiness as much as possible.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center develops characters so quickly, you feel like you're cheering for them from page one. "What You Wish For" follows her successful "How to Walk Away" and "Things You Save in a Fire" titles to mold a love story for the ages,

Ho. Ly. Crap.

Talk about a roller coaster of emotions! I laughed out loud, bawled my eyes out, gasped so many times I might as well have hyper ventilated, hated so many, just to name a few.

At the beginning, Sam annoyed me. She had the "poor, poor, pitiful me" mentality. In the second half, that all changed. The book touches many important topics: gun violence, physical ailments, overbearing parenting, abandonment, and more.

I will definitely be adding this novel to my home library.

5/5 emotionally raw stars.

Netgalley provided me with an ARC for my honest review.

Any reader who is looking for some joy in life needs to read this latest book from Katherine Center. Those little things that individuals enjoy can add up to happiness in spite of the troubles people often face. That’s pretty much the point of this book.

Samantha Casey, an elementary teacher living in Galveston, has had her share of troubles. In Galveston, she has created a life she loves that becomes threatened when her mentor and principal dies suddenly during the summer break.

Upon returning to school for the fall semester, Samantha learns that the new principal, Duncan, is none other than the man she had a serious crush on at her former school. Samantha knows he is perfect for the job, but the stress of being near him and dealing with unrequited love has sent her stress levels soaring. Unfortunately, when Samantha encounters Duncan he seems like a completely different person—and not in a good way.

As Samantha and the other staff try to adjust to the new normal at the school, they also try to restore Duncan into the man he once was. Their attempts bring healing to the school and many others as they each learn how to find joy in life.

The story deals with a heavy subject, but does not dwell on painful events and is told with an inspirational and hopeful tone. I thought this was the perfect read for this season in life as many deal with the repercussions of our current events.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

I have loved every Katherine Center book and loved this one just as much! If you are looking for a love story that includes personal issues and finding joy in every situation, you need to read this!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR was a quirky story, injected with good people and goals. Centered around school life, with teachers, pupils and other staff, this book reeled you in to feeling part of that family. This was a great character-driven story and it felt like something I hadn’t really read before.

The protagonist Sam, was a librarian in a school she loved, with staff that were like family. The death of her beloved mentor and head of school brought an old crush Duncan to the school. This was not a happy reunion and it turned into a semi-hate relationship.

"One: Duncan Carpenter was really here, in my school, about to become the guy in charge. Two: I was not immune to the sight of him in any microscopic way. And three: he had no idea who I was. That last one smarted, I’m not going to lie."

It was quickly apparant that Duncan was not the guy she’d previously known. The Duncan in this story was a hard-skinned robotic type headteacher, immune to persuasion and with one goal. Sam tried and tried, but he was impermeable.

"I couldn’t think of a polite way to tell her that her brother was a mural murderer-and that I had just decided he was my mortal enemy forever."

Actually what happened was an unraveling of Duncan’s character and it was delicious reading. There were a bunch of superb side characters in this book, especially Max, Babette, Clay and Chuck Norris.

The story included some well written elements representing living with mild epilepsy, I appreciated some of the insightful research that went into that perspective. Added to that, the story also dealt with some psychological trauma. The author did not shy away from inclusion of these areas and it enhanced the book.

Katherine Center always manages to leave you on a wow and with a case of the warm fuzzies. WHAT YOU WISH FOR has done just that, warmed me and entertained me. This is an ideal summer read.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the early review copy.

“What You Wish For” is a wonderful book about love, loss, finding your voice, and overcoming tragedy. To be honest, it took nearly 60% of the novel before I was hooked. I felt that there was a slow build but it could also be that I am a former teacher and couldn’t get into the plot.

When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued that the setting was a school and about a teacher however, I quickly realized that as a former teacher I don’t have any interest in reading about teachers and/or schools. This is completely a personal reason and does not reflect on the book.

Once I was about 70% in I was hooked and couldn’t quit. I was also surprised that my favorite character was the supporting role of a 3rd grader. But, then after a few days I realized that of course I loved this character because I taught 3rd grade.

Overall, I would recommend this book as it’s a fun, quick read and also tells the story of how it’s easy to try to “fix” someone when we should “focus” on ourselves first.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fun quick read. The author did a great job bringing the characters backstories into the present.. There were moments that made you smile, some that made you sad and some so true to life they made you feel sick.
Good read that deals with difficult real life problems...but allows you to escape the real world.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book.

What You Wish For is a heartwarming book about choosing joy. This is the first Katherine Center book that I have read and will definitely be adding her other books to my TBR list!