This was the quarantine book I needed! It made me laugh out loud. It made me cry. It touched on difficult subjects (school shootings, epilepsy, depression, thoughts of suicide). What You Wish For was un-put-downable. I did not want to leave Sam and her world in Galveston, Texas. ⁣
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Sam left the school she was a librarian at because of a guy. She has managed to make a life for herself in Galveston, but when her boss and mentor suddenly passes away and the guy she left her previous job for is hired to replace him, will she run away again? Sam is faced with the decision of leaving Galveston or staying to save her beloved school. Will she be able to conquer her fears and find joy in everything or will she give into her self-doubts?⁣

Katherine Center has become one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed What You Wish For and am glad I was given the opportunity to read it through Netgalley. What You Wish For did discuss some heavy topics which I wasn't expecting just by reading the description of the book but I thought it covered these topics very well. There is definitely a reminder throughout the book that you shouldn't assume stuff about someone and that there really could be a lot more going on for that person that you don't realize. Overall, I thought this book was great and one that I will be recommending to people.

In Katherine Center’s highly anticipated summer release, hope is found. Her novel gave my heart just the jolt of positivity it needed to hang on to love and joy in the world right now. If you are looking for an uplifting and lighthearted read, this is it. Sure, there parts of the story which were tough to swallow as an educator myself. However, from the darkness Center’s novel brings a light with its quirky and lovable character and scenes of pure hope. This novel brings out the message of bravery and joy in the aftermath of tragedy and fear. It highlights the true meaning of love and family and how to find peace within the world when everything makes you feel alone.
When a quaint and whimsical private school on a small island loses it’s beloved leader, Sam, the school librarian, finds it her duty to save the school from what happens next. In Max’s absence, with his widow grieving and unable to take on the responsibility of managing the school, a new principal is appointed. Sam and the new principal, Duncan, have known each other for years, or rather Sam has been obsessed with him since they taught together previously. However, the Duncan who appears at this school is nothing like the fun-loving, carefree, goofball from her past. As the school faculty prepares for the changes brought on by Sam’s former crush turned nemesis, we learn that people are filled with experiences and emotions they find hard to share. Through friendship and the power of joy the lives of these characters change through a heartwarming series of events.

After reading Things You Save in a Fire, I was excited to receive a copy of What You Wish For.

Sam Casey moves to Galveston, TX to escape Duncan Carpenter, a teacher from her past life who she was crushing on HARD. Duncan was everyone's favorite person - he was fun, charming, carefree. When Duncan seemed to find the love of his life and Sam realized she didn't have a chance, she made the decision to move on with her life.

Sam finds the perfect job as a librarian at a perfect school in TX. When the principal of the school suddenly passes away, the school is rocked to its core. Imagine Sam's surprise when the new principal is announced and it's none other than her Duncan. Except... it's not the Duncan from her past. Duncan has changed. A LOT. Gone is the fun and engaging Duncan. He has been replaced with a stone-faced and serious man. There is nothing fun about this Duncan. What's even worse is that he wants to implement changes to the school that basically turn it into a lifeless prison. What could have possibly happened to Duncan from the time Sam first knew him to now that caused this change in him? Can anything be done to save the school from disaster?

Katherine Center is now my go-to for a nice, feel good read, which was something I needed right now. I enjoyed this book and blew through it in two days. Was it a little predictable? Yes, but that's OK with me. I loved the characters and their flaws. I loved the quirkiness of Sam and she was someone I could relate to. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

I always enjoy reading Katherine Center’s books. She writes in a way that really draws the reader in. The story is about Sam, a librarian works at a small school where Duncan, her old colleague and crush, becomes her principal. Both have baggage that have shaped who they are now. There’s also this theme of choosing joy even when life is hard and it was really encouraging. I loved getting so sucked into their story and being able to feel for them emotionally. When that happens, I have to applaud the writer for her skills. Great job! I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved everything about this book! Such a cute story, I couldn’t put it down. When a small Texas town suffers the loss of one of their most adored principals, he is replaced by an old colleague of librarian, Samantha. She suspects he will be great for the school as his personality is bubbly, goofy, and quirky. But she soon realizes that the man who took the position, is not the man she once knew. Will she be able to change him and why did he change so much?

I loved this book because of the characters in the book. I thought the plot was great and the book kept me guessing as to how it would end. I have loved every book by this author and this one was just as great. I feel like as I was reading it and got to the end, I was disappointed that it had ended.

This book was enjoyable. I read it in two sittings and thought it was a well rounded story. The characters were a little bit too unbelievable and too much. The whole story was a little over the top. I’m surprised because I’ve really enjoyed Katherine Center’s other books but this one was only an okay read.

This book captures Katherine Center’s writing style very well, much like her other two books. The characters of Max, though gone, is felt throughout the book and captivates the reader at the beginning. It does a nice job of capturing grief and other heard emotions in a relatable way.

Let me just start by saying that I LOVE Katherine Center! She's absolutely one of my favorite authors. Her books are the ones I set aside for vacations and special occasions because I know that reading them will make me happy. So of course I was thrilled to be able to read her latest novel, What You Wish For. I was even more excited when I learned that one of the main characters, Duncan Carpenter, is a crossover character from my favorite novel of Center's, Happiness for Beginners. What You Wish For revolves around Sam, an elementary school librarian who loves her job but struggles when a new principle (Duncan) comes in and tries to change everything that she loves about the school. The story unfolds by sharing both character's pasts, and we learn why they are they way they are and how events from their past have affected their current lives. The characters were enjoyable and I was rooting for all of them to find their happiness by the end of their book. Overall, What You Wish For was a quick, lighthearted read, perfect for anyone who loves rom-com type books!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The last two books I read by Katherine Center were on my 2018 and 2019 favorites list. I have a feeling What You Wish For will make its way onto my 2020 favorites list. She's just that incredible!

First of all, I love how she describes Sam and her school library. Sam is so vibrant and creative and her library reflects that. I wish I had a school librarian like her when I was a kid. (I just had this cranky old woman who made books sound so boring when she read them.) Duncan sounds like a total dreamboat (aside from when he's acting like a jerk). I love all the creative things he did as a teacher in the past. There are some surprising and heart-wrenching moments, as well as some that brought tears to my eyes.

Katherine also addressed something that not many books talk about and I appreciated that added this to Sam's life. Readers who also have experienced it (or still do) will be able to identify with what she was going through. (I am not saying anything more as to not spoil it.) The supporting cast of the story was great and enhanced it even more. I especially liked the first principal's grandson Clay, as well as Alice with her math-themed shirts.

This was a sweet and romantic story overall and it also addresses an important current issue going on in today's society. I had a hard time putting it down and still think about it often.

Movie casting suggestions:
Sam: Makenzie Leigh
Alice: Allison Scagliotti
Duncan: Dustin Milligan
Babette: Sharon Lawrence
Kent Buckley: Glen Powell
Tina: Lyndsy Fonseca

This book had everything that I needed from Katherine Center. I love that you can feel everything that the characters are feeling through her writing. Sam, the librarian at a small charter school, finds herself in a sticky situation with a one time crush who she had tried to get out of her head for years after a tragedy at her school. The book takes us through the whole school working through in the eyes of Sam. It is a great story that hits you right in the gut in a good way. It's one of those books you hold to your chest once you are finished because you are so happy.

This is the first Katherine Center book I have read so I honestly didnt know if it would be my kind of book... but I was proved wrong almost instantly.

The story follows Sam, who has gone through her fair share of difficulties forcing her to move away and start again. She is the happiest she has been in years when suddenly Duncan Carpenter in brought in as the new school Principal. Sam and Duncan have a history, but this new version of Duncan is certainly not the same person she knew all those years ago.

The message throughout this story is all about finding joy even in the most difficult of times, and it is truly heartwarming and, quite frankly perfection.

This is a story that I will remeber for a long time, and I will certainly be reading the rest of Katherine's books after devouring this story.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my ARC of this wonderful book.

This was my first Katherine Center read even though I’ve heard really good things about How To Walk Away. I’m normally a thriller/mystery reader, but wanted something a little different after several thrillers in a row.

The story revolves around Sam, a librarian at a private elementary school in Texas. When the school she loves is threatened by a new administrator, Sam does everything she can to stop his plans. The only problem is that the new administrator just happens to be Sam’s
former crush. And even though his personality is completely different than when she knew him several years ago, it seems like her old feelings are still there.

What I liked: As a teacher, I liked that the story revolved around a school. I loved the relationships among the teachers and the community that were weaved throughout the story. It was definitely a fast read for me and kept my interest.

What I didn’t like: I don’t know that there was anything I didn’t like per se. Was the story a little cheesy and predictable? Yes. Did some of Sam’s actions frustrate me and make me roll my eyes? Yes. But I didn’t dislike it overall. I am a little surprised with the predictability that I finished it as quickly as I did. Maybe I did just need a break from intense thrillers and this one worked for that. There was some foul language, but it was sprinkled throughout.

Overall, I thought it was a good read. Again, it was a somewhat cheesy and predictable romantic comedy type story with some heavier themes mixed in at times. I definitely think it was worth the read! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for an advanced copy of this book.

Sam loved everything about her life in Galveston. She enjoyed her job as a librarian, the kids and her coworkers, her charming old school building and the carriage house she lived in in the backyard of two of the town's favorite people: Max, the schools principal and his wife Babette, the schools art teacher.

But when Max passes away suddenly, a new principal needs to be brought in to start the new school year. As luck, or lack thereof, would have it the new principal is someone from Sam's past. Duncan Carpenter was always full of fun and excitement and to say Sam had a crush would be an understatement, but Duncan never really noticed her. Sam was terrified but also looking forward to Duncan seeing the new her.

The Duncan that arrives is not the Duncan that Sam fell for all those years ago, and suddenly Sam has to work not to hide her feelings like she initially feared but to save her school and everything that she's come to love about her new life.

To say that I'm completely in love with this book wouldn't even do it justice!! This is my second read by Katherine Center and I can't get enough. All her characters and story lines are completely relatable. They are the perfect love stories because they're realistic. She does a wonderful job of balancing heartbreak and trying to just figure out life and all it's challenges. It's arguments and disagreements with friends, family and partners but being able to work past them and love one another; it's not all grand gestures and things being perfect and living happily ever after. This book is being published in July and if you don't preorder it right this minute you're making a huge mistake! I can't wait to read more of her books!!

So... I had such high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it was not my favorite Katherine Center book. The cheesiness was REAL and I found it pretty predictable. I was honestly bored through much of the book. What I did enjoy was the message of finding joy and Center's excellent characterizations. I definitely felt connected to the characters and I did like the ending.
This book will probably be for a lot of people, just not for me. Sorry I cannot give a more positive review. 3.5 stars.

I went in with pretty high expectations - I loved Center's last two novels - and this didn't disappoint.
And what a timely book - a big emphasis of the novel is choosing to find joy in life, even through its hardest moments. This was just what I needed to read during this pandemic. I also really loved the relationship between Sam and Duncan - was it a little cheesy? Maybe - but I LOVED it.

If you read only one book this summer, read this one, because Katherine Center knows how to play with your emotions, ya’ll.  I will be as spoiler free as possible. I cannot review the book without giving away some plot elements. What You Wish For is a must read if you loved How To Walk Away and Things You Save In A Fire. 
The book follows Samantha Casey, a school librarian who after a life-changing event re-invents herself. Sam as her friends call her has built a new amazing life for herself. She loves her job and her co-workers are her new family. When tragedy strikes Sam thinks her former co-worker Duncan Carpenter will help the school and be the change everyone needs.

Sadly, Sam learns that Duncan has changed and not for the better. Duncan appears to be a stone cold, rigid man. The amazing, charming, and loveable teacher is no longer there. I knew conflict portion of the plot that involved Duncan. It was easy to guess. Later in the book when Duncans conflict is revealed, many of you will think I knew it! I think that element was obvious because of Duncan’s introduction.


The subplot with Duncan may seem like it is the heart of the story, but it is not. The true heart is Sam’s backstory, which may wreck you when you read it. This may appear to be a romance novel t, but it is not. You will know what I am talking about when you read What You Wish For and if it doesn't make you cry, I don't know what will. Sam’s childhood trauma has a significant impact on her current situation. It ties into all five components of the plot. Sam’s trauma is everything and the key to helping Duncan reveal his conflict.


At 72% through this book Sam says something that resonated with me and Duncan. “Dude-I’m not happy because it comes easily to me. I bite and scratch and claw my way towards happiness every day.” I many ways we all can relate to Sam. We all have something we work to towards getting past. We may not be characters in a Katherine Center novel, but the theme of trauma and recovery is something we can all relate to. 

The actual gift that What You Wish For gives is insight on blame. Mainly how blaming ourselves for things we have no control over can cripple us emotionally. I took away the message of the power of letting go of blame can transform your life. Katherine Center writes books that always have an underlying life lesson or two. In How To Walk Away loss is a major theme. In Things You Save In A Fire, forgiveness and reconciliation are major themes. I feel that What You Wish For finds a fresh way to spin the theme of forgiveness this time not others but yourself. You need to let go of blame. You must make your own happiness, not wait for happiness to come to you. 

I rated What You Wish For five stars on Goodreads. As always, Katherine Center knows how to write an irresistible story you cannot put down. As a bonus, you learn a life lesson or two. I recommend you read this book when it comes out on July 14th.

Katherine Center's newest book"What You Wish For" is a great blend of romance, engaging characters,, and current day topics. I found myself wanting to visit with the Samantha, Duncan, and the small town characters each of whom were distinctive. I appreciate that no one is all good or all bad and that there are not magical solutions to every problem. This is another enjoyable summer read by Katherine Center-- a 4.5 for me rounded up. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.65 Stars

As this story begins, Samantha Casey is a librarian at the Kempner School, a school founded by Max and Babette Kempner. A school founded on educational principles, as well as an environment, that foster creativity, encompass a love of teaching as well as learning, and place that both the students and teachers love.

Max and Babette have just returned from a recent trip to celebrate their anniversary, and are surrounded by friends and family at a party to celebrate his sixtieth birthday. A party that Samantha has put together, as she has considered them her family, they were the closest she had to a family, living in their carriage house. A mother that died when she was ten years old, no siblings, just a father that left years before her mother died, unable to deal with her epilepsy, her seizures. Friends she had, but none as close as Max and Babette. And then, at this party Max collapses after dancing with her, and dies. And Max’s position as principle needs to be filled.

When Samantha finds out who the replacement will be, she realizes it is someone she knew from the last school she taught at, someone she had a crush on, and more than that, perhaps, someone who helped her shed her timid self, and embrace a more colourful self. Only, when he arrives, he’s nothing like the man she thought she knew. He wants to turn their school into something without any semblance of joy. Something more like a prison.

In an effort to figure out what has made him change, she begins to slowly try to find glimpses of the old Duncan Carpenter, the man she considered super goofy, who knew how to have fun.

I had read, and enjoyed, Katherine Center’s last book, Things You Save in a Fire, so when I was offered an opportunity to read this, I took it. I didn’t expect it to be more or less enjoyable, but I began to wonder where it was headed when it seemed to be taking a turn in a direction with seemingly little light.

Slowly the light seemed to filter through, though, and I truly loved the ending, although I felt it remained a little too long in the darker side until then. The message, one of choosing joy even when it doesn’t seem as easy to find, was a good one for these days, as well as the message of fighting for a worthy cause.



Pub Date: 14 July 2020


Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC provided in exchange for an honest review.  
This book came along for me at the right time.  There is something so comforting about a romance read that makes you feel all the feels.  I was drawn into the main character because she is a quirky elementary school librarian who is happy at her school and content in her life.  Well things change when a former crush becomes the new principal of the school.  Things from his past have led him to make many unpopular changes to how things are done.  The story does a good job showing how past traumas influence our current behaviors and relationships.  Overall this book makes for easy enjoyable reading.