Katherine Center always draws you in and this one was no different. 'What You Wish For' is about a librarian who up and moved her whole live to Galveston, Texas. Unbeknownst to her the man she once was infatuated with ends up the new principle. He is different than what she remembers and she slowly unravels what has happened to him in the time they have been apart. Perfect blend of romance and emotional pulls while covering a difficult topic.

Samantha Casey is an sweet, eccentric-dressing librarian at a private school that is run by a sweet couple with whom she lives in their garage apartment. Circumstances change, and a new principal must be brought in to head the school. Enter Duncan Carpenter. Duncan is the sole reason that Sam left her first beloved librarian position and moved away to start a new life. She adored Duncan, who was so funny, loving, sweet and crazy with his students. However, Duncan never seemed to notice Sam. He even asked her to "catsit" while he and his girlfriend went away for the weekend. So, when it is announced that Duncan Carpenter will be the new principal, her boss, Samantha is shocked. She left so that she wouldn't need to face Duncan every day knowing that he had no feelings for her. How can she possibly work for him every day? When Duncan arrives, things go from bad to worse, he seems heartless. He doesn't even recognize her from the past. He has none of the charisma he used to have with the students. He is boring, all business and obsessed with safety measures at the school. He begins to dismantle all that was fun and exciting at the school. Sam becomes in charge of helping all the teachers stand up for what is right for the kids at the school. She aims to get their school back, and along the way she hopes to find out what happened to the original Duncan.
Another fabulous book by Katherine Center. Her characters are so deep and mesmerizing. You feel as if you know them personally. The plot is well developed and pulls you right in. Loved it!!

I think the blurb sums up this one well enough that it doesn’t need a summary from the reviewer. The school had so many fun elements and I would have loved to attend such a school when I was younger.

“Joy and sorrow walk side by side.”

When Duncan first showed up to the school and started making major changes, Samantha’s repeated defense of him baffled me. When someone is changing So much that students and teachers alike are growing depressed, that doesn’t call for support. I was glad when she stood up to him. I can understand the trauma Samantha has endured to keep her illness a secret. But it also shows a lack of trust in the friends she has made since moving here. She’s changed how she tackles life and is much happier for it. She should put some faith in her friends.

I think the fact that both Duncan and Samantha are suffering from their secrets helps to bond them together, even though feelings are brewing between them. I liked them together, even when they weren’t getting along. Because their arguments were fiery, fueled by a passion for what they believed in. I also could completely relate to her when she said, “I had woken up that morning with a terrible oversharing hangover…”

There were a lot of fun characters in this one and such a powerful feeling of community. Add that to a storyline that swings between emotional and amusing, and this made for a super fun read. I read in another review that readers first meet Duncan in Happiness for Beginners, so I definitely want to go back and read that one. Thank you St. Martin’s for sending this along!

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a lighthearted story where I found myself rooting the whole time for Duncan and Sam to put aside their issues and to take a risk to be together. It also brought up how real school safety is in the present day and I also found myself thinking about how fear really can take over a person.

Overall, great book. I definitely recommend it!

I loved this. I love everything KC rights. This was amazing. I love that the love interest had issues that he needed to overcome and so did Sam. It was so good!!

A romance book/ story that really goes well beyond the romance genre. WHAT YOU WISH FOR tells us the stories of people who must choose their destinies and then set themselves on the right path to happiness. Each of the main characters has made definite changes in their lives to get what they have always thought they wanted. But when they see the other person's changes, the mirror on the wall shows them what might have been vs what will be.
The tone of this book is caring and emotional. The characters and their community are real, you will want them to see the good that will give them happily ever after. It's really hard to tell how easily you will be "in" this story with out giving away anything. Give yourself a treat and read this book.

This is my second Katherine Center book and it's safe to say I'm a fan. Her books are addictive page turners that tackle some deep and serious issues without feeling heavy or too pedantic.

It's no easy feat to combine the topics of school violence, death, sadness, and love and not overwhelm the reader, but Center manages it effectively. I love how she builds her characters and miss them when the book is done. I'm already looking forward to reading my next book of hers.

This is my third Katherine Center book, and I have never been disappointed. I fall in love with her quirky characters so easily, it’s ridiculous!

I loved the backstory on this one - it was so fresh and new, and (probably because I’m a teacher) it really struck a chord with me. I AM the fun teacher (in high school, though) so for me, the story was personal.

This story of a school librarian who gets what she wished for (and instantly regrets it) is one I will not forget for a very long time. This book runs the gamut of emotions! I was misty-eyed at least four times reading this!

You don’t want to miss this one!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

**Review will be posted on my blog and Goodreads/Instagram, July 8th! I'll update links at that time.**

HEART-WARMING.

Wow. This book was a lot different than I was expecting. I know Center tends to write some heavy subject matter into her contemporaries and this was the case here as well. I’ll mention it now (and again in my content warnings) that this book is heavily influence by school shootings.

While still discussing such heavy subject matter, Center was able to also infuse light, love and bravery too. The main character, Samantha, was such a joy and I loved her ridiculous antics and fashion choices. Sam’s deep love for her school and the kids she watches over (she’s a librarian!) was evident and was the much needed positive light. Her contrast to Duncan, the ever-brooding, tough-nut-to-crack, new principal was great.

I was impressed with their push and pull, but also thought the slow burn, took way too long to catch any fire. It was over halfway through the book before anything really started to maybe happen. I think if there was a bit more romance I would have adored it even more. I looove that they knew each other prior (at a previous school) and how that played into both of their emotions. It was cute and relatable. And I really appreciated reading the quiet, strong moments between them as discussions of their past came about.

This was an overall enjoyable and touching read. I felt connected to the story and the trauma’s that were discussed. These characters kept me wanting to read to see the full scope of what this novel had to tell. There’s a couple nods to Happiness for Beginners characters (that’s where we first meet Duncan!). I definitely recommend reading that book too, and potentially even first if you want because that book is also a gem.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: little
Romance: kisses, heavy make-outs
Trigger/Content warnings: loss of a loved one (start of the book), epilepsy (that causes a car crash), PTSD from a school shooting, heavy grief

Katherine Center has done it again! You won't be able to put this book down. It hits all the feelings: frustration, loss, love, anger, confusion, change.
Samantha is a quirky librarian who moved to Galveston from California to escape her unrequited crush. and to start over. After the loss of her principal, she finds out that her crush, Duncan will become the new principal. When he comes to the school, all he wants to do is make changes. No one likes change, especially changes that are happening in the school now that Duncan is in charge. These changes make him unpopular and many of the staff conspire to get rid of him. But Sam soon learns that Duncan has been keeping his past from her and the school that has triggered his behavior. She alters the plan to get rid of him and decides she must help him. Is she too late? Does he want to change? Will they get rid of him?

I received this ebook from NetGalley. The book publishes in July 2020.

This book takes place in Galveston, Texas. It is about the story of Sam (Samantha) Casey, the librarian at Kempner School. The school is run (and was founded) by Max and Babette Kempner. When someone in the school community passes away, they find themselves with a new principal, Duncan Carpenter. Duncan and Sam worked with each other years before. She had feelings for him but it was not mutual. Sam was thrilled to learn that Duncan would be their new principal because he was fun, goofy and she thought he would be a good fit. He changed a lot from when they worked together - even going so far as not remembering her. He makes several changes at the school that do not go over well resulting in a bit of animosity between Sam and Duncan.

This book is about joy and finding joy, feeling joy, experiencing joy. I did not like this book as much as Things You Save in a Fire. This book seemed a bit overdone and I found myself skipping over some of the dialogue.

What You Wish For (Katherine Center) review—May 27, 2020

4.25 stars rounded to 4 stars

I love this author. Her books make me happy. My all-time favorite continues to be Happiness For Beginners, but I really enjoyed this one too.

Sam Casey is hiding something. And she is also pining for someone. But the two are mutually exclusive. How in the world can she find joy with this spiritual albatross around her neck? What to do? Duncan Carpenter is guarding a secret too. He also has his eye on someone. Again, he can’t have his cake and eat it too. And Duncan knows there is nothing he can do about this dreadful situation. Nothing.

Allow me to digress for a minute. Just look at that gorgeous cover. I practically cherish it. But alas, my ARC does not bear that cover so I am going to do something rash and go buy the book just so I can gaze at that cover on my Kindle. I will sacrifice fresh blueberries on my cereal for a week to do that. The title? Meh, not so much. One of those forgettable titles that merge with a million other book names. “Happiness for Beginners,” “Things You Save in a Fire”—now these are unique, eye-catching, and unforgettable; I didn’t even to have to look them up. Ms. Center, please throw your prestige around and insist on a say on your titles. Don’t let your otherwise kind publisher deprive your books of the distinctive titles they deserve. Minus ¼ star for that.

Sam and Duncan. BTW, awesome move bringing Duncan back from Happiness for Beginners. I gave Happiness for Beginners 4.5 stars as I was trying to be tough. But in retrospect, that book is 5 stars all the way. I was mad though. I was mad that the epilogue occurred ten minutes after the last chapter ended and didn’t tell us more about the future of my beloved HFB characters. Well, Ms. Center must have heard me as we have encore performances of several HFB cast members in this book, which is set about 6 or so years later. So Happiness for Beginners is getting it’s full five stars as of today. I still think about that book. Sigh. Love it to death.

Back to Sam and Duncan. Geez, I felt so bad for Sam. What a dilemma she finds herself in. But Sam is able to dredge up strength she never knew she had. And much of it is because of a couple of oldsters, Max and Babette. Every lost soul should have a Max and Babette. I really enjoy these books with wise old people. Everyone should have an elderly mentor (think Mrs. G. in Have You Seen Luis Velez?) I’m not kidding. Big points for these characters. And math whiz Alice. Who knew math drives all of existence? Duncan though. It pains me to say it took quite a while for me to warm up to the guy. I think it is the fact that he is really struggling, but that is not obvious at first, and Ms. Center does not let us into his mind until late. But better late than never, right? I love the dude now. But that darned delay in us getting to know Duncan better cost this story 1/2 star. Sorry to be so rough on you, Ms. Center, but it’s totally tough love.

Kudos though for the epilogue. A nice one.

Ms. Center’s writing is truly boffo IMHO. She can really tell a tale. Her dialogue is spot on. And her humor is my humor. Big Props!!! Her books make me happy. I know I already said that, but I’m saying it again. This is the very first time I ever bothered to highlight quotes in a book. I want to be able to read them anytime I want—she is so smart in working powerful life lessons into her stories.

I only have four Katherine Center books left to read. Makes me panicky. Guess I will be forced to savor them by not reading them too quickly. I will try.

For all of you who have made it so far through this rambling review, I want you to know my bottom line. And that’s that Katherine Center books are recommended for everybody who wants to feel happy! And who wouldn’t that be, yeah?

I would like to thank Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ms. Katherine Center for an ARC of this title. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I really enjoy Katherine Center's books and read each new one as it comes out. Her books are light and fun, but also have an unexpected depth to them. This one was no exception! I will continue to read her books.

Cute. Liked it, but didn't love it. It was a bit predictable, but I enjoyed the characters, They were all people that you'd root for, and would want to see happy in the end. The pacing of the story was a bit off for me. It goes from zero to 60 in terms of the two main characters "relationship". I always like to see a more plausible build up. These main characters go from the male "Duncan" not even knowing the lead woman (blanking on her name right now) who has been in love with him since she met him to him declaring love for her in a very short time period. It just wasn't realistic. I really loved all of the supporting characters, and loved the family they formed though. But all in all this was a sweet story that I enjoyed.

Once again, Katherine Center comes up with an interesting way to combine both romance with more serious issues. This normally works for me as I love a more serious romance novel and although I really enjoyed the author’s last two books, something about the way PTSD and trauma were dealt with in this book rubbed me the wrong way. Both main characters severely needed therapy so watching them circle around each other when they were in such unhealthy places was uncomfortable. I know many will enjoy this though so give it a shot if the synopsis appeals to you.

This book was exactly what I needed right now. It's like her books are good for the soul. You'll cry, laugh, smile and be thankful you got to experience this writing. This is a love story, but not in the way that you might think or expect. It's not a steamy read at all if that's what you're looking for, but it is a feel good read that you'll be glad that you experienced.

This is a positive, cute story that I think so many people will enjoy and need right now.

I am a teacher who lives in Texas and visits Galveston often. This book was right up my alley! I loved being able to picture all the places that the characters visited. I could identify with the main character of Sam in more ways than one. I appreciated the way the author dealt with the topic of epilepsy. It is always hard (I imagine) for an author to write a romance novel that deals with such heavy topics. I feel like she treated it with respect for the most part. There were a few parts (jumping off the pier) that left me shaking my head. But overall, I enjoyed What You Wish For and will continue to read everything this author writes!

WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Katherine Center is a heartfelt and emotional story of love, community and family. For Samantha Casey, life is good in almost every way. She loves her job as an elementary school librarian on historic Galveston Island. Since moving to Galveston, Sam has made good friends with the other teachers and the school’s beloved principal, Max, and his wife, Babette, are like parents to her. Everything changes when Max dies suddenly and a new principal is brought in to replace him. Sam is stunned to learn that the new principal is none other than a teacher she had a crush on at her last school. But Duncan Carpenter is no longer the sweet and caring teacher she remembers. His harsh new demeanor begins to threaten everything the tight-knit community has built over the years. If Sam is going to stay on, she will have to learn why Duncan has changed and help him get back to finding joy in life. I was totally engaged with the characters and the struggles they faced. I loved seeing how they came to choose joy and happiness over pain and fear. This story confronts serious and timely topics, but it also has a touching romance and enduring friendships that warmed my heart. The personal growth of the main characters was uplifting and hopeful. I truly enjoyed this compelling story and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This was my first Katherine Center book and it certainly won't be my last. It's clear message of choosing to live life with joy presented a pleasant and much welcome escape from our reality right now. This was a slow burn story, centered more of community than a love story - although it did have that too. The community at this school and all the secondary characters were what made the story special in my opinion. I was endeared to the quirky characters, especially little Clay.

While the storyline does deal with some emotional and heavy themes such as death and school safety, it does so in a way that brings hope front and center.

I had an opportunity to chat with Katherine Center about the book, her writing and an array of other topics. She is a lovely person and it is evident that she pours her heart into her characters and books. I will certainly be reading her other books which seem to have many rave reviews.

Katherine Center was first put on my radar by one of my first bookish friends after joining bookstagram. I loved THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE so I was thrilled to receive the ARC for WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

In WHAT YOU WISH FOR Samantha is a school librarian who absolutely loves her school and the people she works with, kids and staff alike. The book opens with a heavy blow with the loss of the school’s principal. In the midst of their grief, they learn that a new principal has been hired and the name is very familiar to Sam. Sam remembers Duncan as a loveable goofball and a fantastic educator. He’s also the man she once left a job for to escape her serious and unrequited crush.

The Duncan who shows up is not the man she remembered. He has an obsession with school safety that seems very over the top to the teachers. The changes he’s implementing take away everything that made their school such a special place. Sam and her friends are ready to stand up to Duncan and the school board to make sure their students get the best school possible.

This book takes on some heavy topics including school violence, trauma, disabilities and grief, but the author’s writing really makes it feel like a comfort read. There is an ongoing message of intentionally adding joy to your life, even in different circumstances. I think I loved the supportive friendships in this book most of all.

The narrative is very conversational and I was easily able to connect with Sam and her inner monologues. Sam is fun and awkward, and her absolute passion for books and the kids she works with comes through loud and clear. I will admit that I struggled a bit to see the good in Duncan’s character. He’s a very extreme example of someone who is rigid and controlling. As the novel goes on and Sam is able to see some the old Duncan breaking through I did warm to him more. The reasons behind his extreme personality makeover also come clear further along in the story.

I found this a fun and engaging read and I flew through it in less than a day. Keep an eye out for this one when it’s released on 7/14/2020!