"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.

“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.” 
This being one of my most anticipated novels of the year, I was overjoyed to receive an early copy.  This did not disappoint. 
Sam loves her job as an elementary school librarian. Her school is about creativity and joy, but when Duncan Carpenter comes in as the new principal, he threats to change everything she loves. Sam is no stranger to Duncan, but he has drastically changed since she has seen him last- he is no longer the fun carefree teacher she used to know. 
oh how I loved this story! I loved Sam and her courage to speak her mind. She had such passion for the school and the people she considered family. She could see the potential in Duncan and she was ready to fight for him to find joy again. They had such a cute friendship, I was smiling through most of this book. Nothing beat the scene where she picked him up after surgery. So sweet and funny.
Katherine Center remains one of my favorite authors..now its time to get to those backlist books of hers.

"What You Wish For" is the third book I've read by Katherine Center and, like the first two, it did not disappoint. Samantha is working her dream job as librarian for a small private elementary school in Galveston. However, her dream turns into a nightmare when the principal dies suddenly and the school board replaces him with a blast from her past, Duncan. Duncan is determined to change everything she loves about the school, turning it into a place more like a prison than a nurturing place for children.

Of course, you know this book is going to have a happy ending and that Sam and Duncan are going to end up together after having to overcome events that make them both grow as people and open their eyes to what is right in front of them. It is Katherine Center, after all. However, knowing it will all work out in the end does not make this book any less pleasurable to read. The writing is good and creates characters that the reader will relate to and bond with,. The story will make you cringe, smile, laugh, and, yes, even shed a tear or two. I was originally going to give this book three stars, but the ending is so brilliant that I had to elevate it to four.

This is exactly the kind of book we need during the trying times we are all living through. It will make the reader feel all warm-hearted and squishy inside. And most of all, this book reminds us all to "never miss a chance to celebrate."

Many thanks to NetGalley, to St. Martin's Press, and to the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest review.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, spoilers below. ⁣
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Katherine Center’s new book is delightful and romantic and absolutely unrealistic. It was everything I needed during a weekend of chaos. Sam, a teacher in Texas finds herself working with her old crush- except he’s a completely different person. Watch Duncan evolve to be a better person within the pages. ⁣
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I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy it. I really did. Some parts had me seriously rolling my eyes though, and it could have been steamier as a romance.

Sam is a school librarian at a hippie-dippy school. Duncan is the new principal hired to make some serious changes. Sam and Duncan have a past connection at a previous school but Sam realizes right away that this is not the same carefree, happy-go-lucky Duncan she knew before. Right away you can tell Duncan had to go through something very tragic to change so much. This book came across as nonsensical and frivolous. Big disappointment for me since I have been a big fan of previous books written by Katherine Center. I was not taken in by Sam's personality at all. She was a big driving point of why I really didn't like this book.

JOY. This book is about choosing joy on purpose. I nearly jumped up with excitement when I received a copy of What You Wish For from #netgalley. I love Katherine Center and although this book was a little bit cheesy at times, it was the good kind of cheesy.
Samantha is a quirky (there have been a lot of quirky characters recently), lovable and sometimes frustrating school librarian (did someone say dream job?) Duncan is hired as the new principal who was once Samantha’s crush and is totally different than she remembers. Samantha and Duncan both have healing to do and fears to conquer.

What You Wish For is a feel good book that tackles some serious situations but also provides lots of smiles and laughs. Samantha and Duncan both have to choose joy on purpose. Katherine Center does great characters and the secondary characters are wonderful and I wanted to work at their school and have them as coworkers. I felt this book was different from her others though. Katherine Center is a go to author for me and all the things that make her great are present in this book, it just took me a little longer to really get into the story.

As usual, I will be recommending this book to lots of people.

Not my favorite Katherine Center book. I didn't buy into the basic premise that she moved and changed her whole life because she liked this guy too much ... then didn't buy her not wanting to get close again because of epilepsy. Understood a little more after learning her origin story with her dad, but still, seemed a stretch. It was also hard to accept that Duncan could juggle and engage the kids and be his old self then immediately turn back into the prison guard type... it wasn't believable, it was just to serve the story and show steps toward the ultimate goal ... (I'm also a crazy continuity person and found some spots that didn't link up.) And if I read "fair enough" one more time ... way over used. (Douchey, all lost its funny from overuse.)
All of that said - I laughed out loud at times, I loved the Duncan Project/Operation Duncan, I loved the characters, I loved when Sam revealed her epilepsy to Duncan ... There were sweet spots but the entire thing took huge suspension of belief over and over. And over.
I don't post reviews lower than a 4 star on Goodreads - so I've just marked it as read without a rating which is why I'm not linking to my review here.

Another great book by Katherine Center.! I love that the characters in this story are flawed, imperfect people. That makes them believable. Being a teacher, I also love the elementary school setting of this book an d all the issues that the setting brings to the story. If you loved Katherine Center's other books, you will love this one as well!