Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of What you Wish For by Katherine Center.

This author has become a must read for me!! Another top notch writen book. I give this book a 10!

This was an incredibly sweet tale that explores the meaning of joy, of taking chances and of letting go. Letting go of fear, letting go of inhibitions, letting go of a bad marriage.

On a very personal note, I would’ve loved to see more romance, but that’s the voracious romantic in me speaking.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What You Wish For took me for a wild ride. In it, you will meet Samantha and Duncan. They, of course, have a little past with one another.. but I wouldn't really consider this a whole second chance of love for them. Yes, they sort of had a crush on one another back then but the other never truly knew about it. Plus, nothing happened between them until they were reunited.

Even then.. it was definitely a slow burn with some bantering. They both have a past that they needed to talk to the other about. Mostly it's because it would help them heal and grow into better people altogether. Plus they were pretty adorable together and had some cute moments throughout the book.

Heck, even the ending was really cute and I'm very happy that I got a chance to read this.

I loved all of Katherine’s previous books. This one was my least favourite but I still gave it four stars. That just goes to show how much I love her writing.

After reading too many romance books in a row her style and storylines are a refreshing take on what can sometimes be the same old story. She reminds me why I enjoy this genre so much.

Highly recommend.

It's not often that I feel like I can't put a book down and this book didn't start out that way but definitely ended that way for me. Sam is a librarian in a small town. Her character started out needy and kind of a poor me which I just don't have patience for but I kept reading. And I'm thankful I did. Katherine Center captures the growth and eccentricity of Sam who is searching for the family relationship she doesn't have. Her epilepsy keeps love at bay for her as she struggles with the trauma of her past. Even though I personally would get frustrated with Sam with some of her Fargo antics her character is charming and patient. I love how she makes lemons out of lemonade and even makes a giant leap towards love. My favorite quote in this book was, "Pay attention to the little things that connect you to joy." Well said. Special thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for giving me a chance to read and review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"What You Wish For", by Katherine Center was an unexpected surprise. Samantha "Sam" Casey, the lovable & quirky librarian escaped to a whimsical elementary school located in Galveston, Texas. Galveston is like a little seaside town that has been frozen in time. The buildings are victorian and historical landmarks are intertwined within the town. I enjoyed the realistic landmarks and buildings that were referenced in the book. Galveston has always held a special place in my heart and wish people could view Galveston through Katherine Center's eyes.
Sam Casey found everything she wanted in a home in Babette & Max Kempner's carriage house turned apartment. Babette and Max were the closest thing to family, she lost her mom at the sweet age of 10 and her father left long before then. Sam worked at Babette & Max's school as a librarian and life was fantastic. That was before Max's sixtieth birthday party and Sam and Babette would find a life without Max. Max was the principal of Kempner Elementary and now they would have to find a replacement weeks before the school year.
Duncan Carpenter, Max's replacement would arrive and stir Sam's heart and emotions to a breaking point. Duncan and Sam worked together before Sam moved to Galveston, but Duncan was fun and an exuberant educator. But, what changed Duncan? Why was he so cold and rigid? What happened to the checkerboard pants and the novelty shirts?
Sam fought back her feelings and emotions until Babette stepped in and allowed Sam to really feel and acknowledge her fear and to face it. Would she allow herself to face her fear and allow the help she needed most?

I highly recommend "What You Wish For", this was my first novel by Katherine Center. It was an enjoyable read that I found myself engulfed by the characters and storyline. The events that took place were relatable and I found myself giggling and devouring each page. Katherine Center's writing is remarkable and fluid. One of my favorite quotes from the book, Max was talking to Sam after a life-altering event "...pay attention to the things that connect you to joy."

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is a fun summer read that captured my attention quickly. Samantha Casey, an elementary school librarian, fled her former home to get away from an unanswered crush on another teacher that threatened to take over her personal life and well-being. When her beloved school loses its beloved founder and headmaster, he is replaced by none other than the ridiculously fun and creative teacher that she remembers from her old school - the same one she ran from originally. But the person that walks through the doors of her current school that definitely has the same name and the same face as her crush also definitely cannot be the same person she remembers. He is drab, stern, and domineering in all the ways that she and the other teachers do not want for their colorful and fun elementary school and his introduction is more than a little shocking. Will the teachers be able to work together to save their school or will it be turned into the compound that the new headmaster and the board are envisioning? And what does this mean for the feelings that Sam tried so hard to escape?

This is the second book I read from Katherine Center and I was not disappointed. I love the settings she picks and the way she describes and develops her characters. A couple moments here and there felt a little rushed but overall, the story had a good flow. She really knows when to infuse the book with the right amount of drama to push her characters to their limits.

"How to Walk Away" was one of my favorite books last year. So, I was excited to read Center's newest book - "What You Wish For." The premise of the book - a woman who loves her job as an elementary school librarian and lives in an idyllic community. When a former crush arrives on campus after the school's principal dies, her world turns upside down. The storyline drew me in, but the formulaic events that unfold were disappointing.

I enjoyed reading What You Wish For. It spoke to me about some hard topics that need to be addressed. It had some really bittersweet moments and some great touches of humor. There is a central romance but that is not the complete focus of the book. In the end my only wish was for some more personal interaction between the heroine and the hero of the story. It's hard to do that sometimes though in a first person perspective. This is the second book that I've read recently by Katherine Center and I will be looking for more.

What a great book that sparks hope and strength in the midst of such a difficult time in our wold! Katherine Center is able to craft a storyline that feels recognizable and comfortable but also pushing at boundaries at the same time. She is a true storyteller that draws you in to her world and makes you feel a part of her community. The quirky traits that sometimes can be used by authors unsuccessfully are a strength of Ms. Center's. She makes you really care and root for each character. How To Walk Away is still my favorite by this author but I will continue to pick up each novel that she writes.

What a wonderful book! The overarching themes of find joy and celebrate everything no matter how hard and disappointing life can be really resonated with me.

I loved that it was told first person so you really saw things through Sam's eyes. It helps connect you to her and to how she holds herself back while longing to belong.

The author is also excellent at descriptions. She vividly paints a picture of Kempner Academy and, much like Hogwarts, I wanted to walk in through the front door and immerse myself in the school.

There is a scene toward the end of the book, where I recommend cuing up George Michael's Freedom 90 (which was so my college jam) while you read. . Also, I really need Alice's One Hundred Most Mathematically Booty Shaking Songs of All Time playlist to be included in the back of the book. Can this happen? Please??

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

Center’s latest novel is beautiful, refreshing and heartwarming.

Sam finally feels like she is part of a family when her father figure Max passes away unexpectedly during his 60th birthday party. Max was the local school principal and was loved by the entire community. Sam is the school’s librarian and is shocked when she learns Duncan, a man from her past, is hired as the new principal. However, Sam soon realizes that Duncan has changed when he starts making undesirable changes to the school. Now, it is up to Sam to make a stand or start a new life elsewhere.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves easy to read, lighthearted novels.

I had no idea how much I needed this book until I read it. It filled me with so much hope and joy. It made me laugh and cry (but mostly laugh). It had a kind of innocent pure joy that leaped off the pages.

Katherine Center is becoming one of my favorite authors. I love her stories and I love her book covers!! This book held me from the beginning. I think that many of my patrons will enjoy this book. Can't wait for her next book!

I will read anything Katherine Center writes without even giving it a second thought. I tore through her first two books and What You Wish For was no different! Sam and Duncan are the protagonists in this particular story and, as I have come to love from Center, are well thought out and developed characters who may have flaws, but also have a lot of depth and character growth through the course of the book to make them likeable to the reader.

The romance might be a tad cheesy, but I’m still here for it and the school setting and the subplots create an awesome plot line reminding readers to chase the joy in everyday life. I love a book that makes you feel good about humanity at the end, and What You Wish For fulfills that desire for me. This would be a perfect beach read or stay at home read for this summer! Thanks for the opportunity Netgalley!

“The world keeps hanging on to this idea that love is for the gullible. But nothing could be more wrong. Love is only for the brave.”

Katherine Center does it again. Another zany adventure featuring quirky, annoying characters that made me laugh and turn the pages. Many times I wanted to slam the book down and roll my eyes. I'm glad I stuck with. If times were better I probably would have put this aside. It has a sweet message of finding joy that I found very helpful and calming.
Thanks to net galley for the ARC of this book.
3.75*

This was my first Katherine Center book and I have already read two of her backlist titles because I enjoyed it so much. Ms. Center seems to be so dialed in to honest emotions, difficult situations and mixing in the perfect amount of romance and heart.

Sam is the librarian at a small creative elementary school in Galveston, TX and her community is her family. When the founder of the school suddenly passes away, the board of directors hires Duncan Carpenter. Sam remembers Duncan as a man she had a massive crush on at a previous school where they were employed; he was silly, fun, whimsical and she's secretly excited but nervous for his arrival. However, the Duncan that shows up to her school is NOT the Duncan she previously knew. Now, hes obsessed with school safety and seems hell bent on ruining the perfect little oasis that Sam has built for herself. Sam decides to fight for her school and her community regardless of her past with Duncan.

Sam was such a well developed character with a unique backstory that gave depth to the reasons she had for fighting for this community she loves so much. Duncan is complex and functions on such a higher level than a normal antagonist would. The supporting characters in this novel lend themselves to perfectly round out the setting and really bring it alive.

This was a perfect book for this time in my life as I needed a distraction from all the crazy of the outside world. I will continue reading Ms. Center's backlist as well as any new releases she sends out into the world.

I was gifted a copy of this book from @netgalley and @StMartinsPress in exchange for an honest review. This book is due out on July 14, 2020 ⭐⭐ ⭐ Sam is a librarian at a small private school. When the founder/principal dies unexpectedly, an outsider, Duncan Carpenter, is brought in to fill his place. Sam recognizes Duncan as her coworker from her last school, but he is very different. Both Sam and Duncan have secrets from their past. This was a heartwarming story about finding and embracing joy. I enjoyed the school setting. #whatyouwishfor #netgalley

I'd never read a book by Katherine Center before, and I am SO glad that netgalley helped me remedy that! I really loved this book! Samantha lives in Galveston, Texas and works as a school librarian at a progressive elementary school. Things change drastically at the school, and Sam has much to deal with - the loss of the father-of-her-heart, and a big change in the direction and attitude of school leadership.

I loved what this book says about finding joy in life, in all its complexities. I loved the friendships, and the emotions, and the story. The author's writing style suits me well - it is conversational, funny, empathetic, and it drew me immediately into the book.

I finished this book last night and it kept me awake for awhile thinking about it. I'm looking forward to reading some other Katherine Center books now!

4/5 stars

the great

I went into this book knowing only that it was about teachers falling in love in Galveston, and that they had already worked together before they each separately moved there. I think knowing so little going in was the best, because there were so many fun and heart-wrenching reveals throughout the book. I've read How to Walk Away, and I remember being completely sucked in. This one didn't even require an actual plane crash to hook me!

What You Wish For is like Gilmore Girls meets a hard-hitting Hallmark movie. There are some well-rounded side characters, and there are some one-dimensional side characters.

There was a lot going on this book, plot-wise. I think that it all worked, even if a few were a little over-dramatic in their scope. The only thing that I will say is that this book should have a trigger warning for discussion of school violence/school shootings.

everything else

I do wish that there had been more focus on the romance and less on the school politics and subplots.

to conclude

I think you should go into this book knowing as little as possible, so all I'll say is that this is worth reading!

I received an ARC from St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.