Center's latest novel has an interesting concept. Sam left her previous job because of a crush on a coworker only to discover he is now her boss at her current job. Except fun loving goofy Duncan has turned into a robotic dictator, issuing memos,and threatening to destroy the uniqueness of the school. Reasons for his actions are explained later, but I didn't care for his character, even after the reveal. The two best scenes are when Sam speaks out against Kenneth and Tina gives Kenneth what he deserves. I didmt enjoy this one as much as the author's book from last year, but it's still a worthwhile read.

I don't read very many romance novels, so when I do I want to make them count. This was a great pick for that reason. This was one of those experiences where I caught myself smiling because the characters were so great together.

To be a good read this genre for me is really dependent on how well I like the two leads and whether I buy into the fact they belong together. I couldn't help but root for Samantha and Duncan to find happiness. The author did a good job giving them interesting backstories so even if you aren't quite as enamored with them as I was, this still is a decent read.

I have to preface this by saying that I normally do not read romance novels. I tend to read non-fiction and historical fiction. When looking at this book, it was after several months of Sheltering in Place and wanting an escape. The author had what seemed to be a good track record with two previous books, which made me decide to read What You Wish For.

This is a very quick read. Sam is a quirky elementary school librarian who has a secret. Duncan, the new principal, has his own as well. The first half of the book had a strange pacing and the characters were not well developed. The story did pick up afterwards.

I loved the message of trying to find joy in everything given what we are experiencing. That being said, I found the story lacking any substance. Maybe it is because I do not read romance novels. There is a good basis for a much better book. My rating is 2.5 rounded to 3.

Thank you, NetGalley, Katherine Center and St Martin's Press for an advance copy of What You Wish For in exchange for honest feedback

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgally for review purposes.


Wow I wasn't ready for this book but I needed it. I'm so used to thrillers and mysteries but every now and then I like a little break - though most of the time the books I choose never seem to satisfy. This one was a happy surprise!!

Sam has had a rough start to life but finally feels like she belongs somewhere. Before she knows it, everything changes and she has to learn how to work with someone her polar opposite...and also her past big crush.

This book was charming and the perfect balance of romance for me. It felt more realistic than most of these which end up being pretty cringey and cheesy. Still cheesy! Just a good cheese. Maybe a Gouda.

I'd recommend! Especially if you don't usually read this genre and want to break into it :)

Ian Ian Ian!! I loved the way his character was portrayed. We could all learn a thing or two from cassies mom, Diana. I loved the way this book came together. You start building an emotional wall up. You hate the world with Cassie. By the end you’re a soppy loving mess.

Thanks to Netgalley, , St. Martins Press and Katherine Center for this ARC. So I loved Things we lost in a fire, which was my first read by this author. Then I read even more of her books, and while I loved them all, this has to be my favorite by far. This author never disappoints. I love her characters, her stories, and she is definitely one of my favorite authors. Loved, loved, loved ! This book. 5 stars for sure, but wish I could give her 10 !

I discovered author Katherine Center years ago when her first book "The Bright Side of Disaster" was released. I was immediately taken, not only for her compelling characters and heart-tugging plot lines, but also for the way her books spoke to me. There is a calmness in her writing that I am drawn to.

Her books always have that special something to pull you in and no matter what the storyline is, you always know 'this will be ok'. It doesn't mean a predictable ending or everyone always sails off into the sunset...it just means that her books bring a level of satisfaction...when you finish the book, you just feel good. “What You Wish For" coming out ‪on July 14th‬ is all that and more.

When school librarian, Samantha Casey, learns that the new school principal, Duncan Carpenter, is actually a blast from her past she realizes that while her heart has not totally healed, he is the answer her school needs. But Duncan is not who she recalls and instead of the fun, loving man she remembered, his new demeanor could destroy the school for good. Sam and Duncan must find a way to work together, trust one another, and even risk heartache again before everything is lost.

I loved this book. I adored the characters, the community, the relationships, the struggles, the differences and the compassion. This book is about loss and how you forge ahead even when you feel as if your world is over. It's about accepting who you are and allowing others to do the same.

Katherine pours her heart into every character, every chapter, and every moment. Her books make you believe in the power of trust, triumph and the hope that binds us together even in the darkest times. “What You Wish For" completely captured my heart and I can not recommend it enough. AKA: Run (do not walk) to pre-order!!! A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine for this ARC. All (gushing) thoughts and opinions are my own.

Aww! She has done it again!! Every time I think this is her best book yet until I read Katherine Center’s latest and once again she surpassed herself. Love her books! Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center:

Not quite sure how to rate this one…
I always really enjoy the characters and setting of these books but sometimes they are just too much. I know there must be some drama and/or conflict in a story but every single character in WYWF has a major trauma in their life. It is hard to focus on what the main story is when there is So Much happening with everyone around it.
Not to say this was a bad experience because it was not. I think the main story and its main moral of choosing to be happy no matter what, is important and it was well told there was just so much extraneous drama that it was draining.
Favorite quote:
“You’ll never fix all your problems.”
“Well, that’s encouraging.”
“The point is to be happy anyway. As often as you can.”

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.)