I was so excited to receive an ARC of Katherine Center's new book, What You Wish For, from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley! First of all, the cover is absolutely gorgeous: bright, cheery, and floral, so I was extra excited to read this book!

What You Wish For centers around Sam, a librarian at an eccentric and friendly school in a small Texas town. After the cherished school principal and Sam's hero unexpectedly passes away, the replacement principal, Duncan, is trying to take away everything that makes Sam's school special. And Duncan also happens to be Sam's long-time crush from her previous school. But this version of Duncan is not the Duncan Sam remembers. Sam is adamant about finding out what happened to Duncan and saving her beloved school.

I enjoyed the story and loved that the book centers around finding happiness and fighting to maintain that joy. It is an important message during these tough times. I found Sam less likable than Center's other protagonists in previous books, but it was a quick read. The plot meandered at times, but I loved the ending, which ties everything up beautifully.

Such a great quarantine read! The plot was beautifully light and frothy, but with enough substance to keep you hooked. It made a perfect escapist read during these crazy times, I can't wait to share it.

I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Quirky teachers in a school in Galveston, TX, marine animals, a longing crush, and a sense of wanting to save someone. Recipe for a great contemporary novel. I would certainly recommend this book for a rainy day quarantine read, a beach read, a plane read... it is the type of book you can completely devour in one sitting (I read it in two). I enjoy Katherine Center’s style for this reason!

I wouldn’t rank this release as high on my list as Center’s Things You Save in a Fire (the twists in that one were amazing!). This novel felt predictable to me; as soon as Duncan began his role as a principal, I knew what his story line would be. However, I don’t think that makes a book NOT worth reading. In a sad, dark, and uncertain time, What You Wish For has provided a joyful escape and a happy ending. There definitely appeared to be some Gretchen Rubin influence throughout (conversations and lines about joy, different tricks to make a person feel happy, color theory...) which I enjoyed. I found Samantha and Alice to be delightful, it made me long to see my own students, it made me miss colorful, eccentric outfits.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR
BY KATHERINE CENTER

I was excited to get this ARC via Net Galley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for a fair and honest review. I loved Katherine Center's previous book "Things you save in a Fire," so I thought that this one would be every much as good.

Samantha Casey plans a surprise 60th party for her landlord's and friend's Max and Babette. Max dies suddenly of an embolism to his lungs during the party. A new principal for the elementary school where Samantha is a librarian is picked. The new Principal happens to be an old crush that Samantha had unrequited love for named Duncan.

Duncan is the reason Samantha left California to come and live over Max and Babette's garage apartment called the carriage house in Galveston, Texas. Duncan does not appear to be the same person he was in California. On the first day of school he brings a painted squirt gun to school and fires it up in the air complaining the school has poor security. Will Duncan ruin Samantha's new school?

I believe the book's message to choose joy. Honestly some of these character's felt more like cut out cardboard caricature's than real people. I chose this for something light during these times and I am sorry to say that I wanted to love this more but I didn't.

Publication Date: July 14, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WhatYouWishFor #KatherineCenter #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

WHAT YOU WISH FOR
BY KATHERINE CENTER

I was excited to get this ARC via Net Galley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for a fair and honest review. I loved Katherine Center's previous book "Things you save in a Fire," so I thought that this one would be every much as good.

Samantha Casey plans a surprise 60th party for her landlord's and friend's Max and Babette. Max dies suddenly of an embolism to his lungs during the party. A new principal for the elementary school where Samantha is a librarian is picked. The new Principal happens to be an old crush that Samantha had unrequited love for named Duncan.

Duncan is the reason Samantha left California to come and live over Max and Babette's garage apartment called the carriage house in Galveston, Texas. Duncan does not appear to be the same person he was in California. On the first day of school he brings a painted squirt gun to school and fires it up in the air complaining the school has poor security. Will Duncan ruin Samantha's new school?

I believe the book's message to choose joy. Honestly some of these character's felt more like cut out cardboard caricature's than real people. I chose this for something light during these times and I am sorry to say that I wanted to love this more but I didn't.

Publication Date: July 14, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WhatYouWishFor #KatherineCenter #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

I can truthfully say I've never read a book with such an enthusiastic and idiosyncratic group of characters. This is an energetic, upbeat book and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were vividly drawn but for me the school was the most interesting and central character. I fell in love with it - they had me at the butterfly garden and in how the staff universally encouraged students in their interests.

I really liked Samantha, the librarian at the school, who is the central (human) character of the book. Samantha had tried to be invisible for most of her life, but blossomed when she began working at the school, wearing bright colors for the first time in her life, speaking up, and learning to enjoy life. I have to admit, the striped knee socks and clashing colors made me blink, but I got it. Don't be afraid to be noticed. Be fearless.

The school was founded by the current principal, Max, and his wife. Something tragic happens that requires a new principal to be hired. Samantha is shocked when she discovers that he is a man she had worked with at another school. She is even more shocked when she realizes how much he has changed. He is no longer the fun loving, open and outgoing man she had known, but someone who seems determined to squash everything good about the school.

I'm glad I read the book and I'll read more by this author. There were a few things about the book that I wasn't crazy about, which is why it received 4 stars.. At times it seemed a little too manic in tone, and I thought that the adoration for Max, the school founder and principal when the book began, was excessive to the point of being unbelievable. I also wondered why none of the employees (including Samantha - a librarian!) googled their new principal as soon as they heard his name. It just seemed unrealistic as most people would do an internet search as soon as they had a name and a little background for their new boss. With LinkedIn, etc. there is no way they could not know something about him.

I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Center is a new author to me and she has taken me on a heartwarming and fun journey with What You Wish For.

I would categorize this ultimately as a light-hearted romance novel but with other characteristics weaved in of friendship, self-growth and the serious topic of safety for children. The highlighted parts were definitely the degree of goofiness and what it means to find joy. All the characters were easily lovable so you'll feel like you are meeting some new friends. Yet, if you are looking for a heart thumping romance, this one did not quite reach that peak.

I'd recommend this read!

Everyone I know who loves to read is excited for What You Wish For by Katherine Center. She is a fantastic author and though she has a lot of awesome books, my favorite is one of her first novels, Happiness for Beginners. I loved that book!

Synopsis:

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.

When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

This new book is getting great early reviews and they are well deserved. If you like relatable and fleshed out characters plus a plot that’s going to tug at your heart and make you travel on an emotional adventure, this is for you.

You can pre-order the book here and it will be published on July 14.

I love books that make you laugh throughout and feel happy at the end and that's exactly what this book did for me. It took a couple of chapters for the book to grab me but once it did I flew through it and was completely engrossed in the story.

Another great book by Katherine Center!

I adore Katherine Center, but this book paled in comparison to her other works. It felt like a rushed story, just thrown together. It was difficult to connect the main characters' past interactions to their present actions....and while I always appreciate representation and hard conversations, some just themed "thrown" in here.

If someone asked me about this book, I would tell them that if they absolutely love Katherine Center, then read it on a day you are bored. If they have not read Katherine Center, I would recommend all of her others before this title.

Move over, Marie Kondo! Katherine Center has graced us with the tool (no cleaning/organizing required) to help us all "spark" joy, especially during this time when we all need it most. The central theme of the story is to choose joy in life, and I love how Center was able to seamlessly weave the art of choosing joy throughout the entire novel. From deployment to grief, trauma to heartache, growing pains to dealing with disorders, Center has created characters with whom any reader can relate. Despite these struggles that often challenge us in life, we are all presented with the option to pursue joy and happiness - and I am thankful to this book for that reminder.

I did prefer the author's other two books, but this book was cute and positive. Worth a read for sure.

Katherine Center never disappoints. This isn't my first book that I have read that she's written, and I must say that I gladly enjoyed reading it. Perfect book to read during this difficult time.

Thanks to Ms. Center and to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to start this review by saying that I LOVE Katherine Center. I have loved every single book of hers that I’ve read. Every single one. This book, while I had some reservations about it immediately finishing it (hence 4 stars instead of 5), still holds up to my standard for her work. Clay is an impossibly adorable, serious child, and I loved the emphasis on the ocean. The ocean almost acts as a character itself, witnessing pivotal moments in the story. I would definitely recommend this book.

I don't read many romance/chick lit books, but I make an exception for anything that Katherine Center writes! I think it's the sense of humor that she adds to her books and the realistic (for the most part) characters, situations, and dialogue! What You Wish For did not disappoint! The two main characters both had believable issues, and the issues were totally unexpected when I found out about them. The dialogue was superb - and I expect the author actually talks the way the characters do - that's the only way she could get it so perfect! And I love epilogues, too, so I was glad to see that.

If I am being completely honest, there was one part that didn't really make sense to me and which I thought was totally unnecessary - the jumping off of the pier part. I sort of lost interest there - it just seemed too "out there" to really happen.

A sincere Thank You! goes out to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for this free review copy.

I loved Katherine's last two books, and was really looking forward to this one! It did not disappoint, and it will be another book that has a permanent place on my shelf!

I am a HUGE fan of second chance romances, and this reminded me a lot of them! We have two main characters, Sam and Duncan. They used to work together at a school in CA and Sam had the biggest crush on Duncan! After moving to Texas, her school needs a new principal and Duncan is the new replacement. She notices very quickly how different he is, and has some quick thoughts that she should just quit. While nobody seems to like Duncan and all his over the top changes, Sam soon finds out why he is the way he is, and tries to helo him find his old self.

While this book felt so different from her last books, it was still so well written and kept my attention! What You Wish For comes out July 14th, so make sure to pre-order or have your library order it! ☺

What You Wish For is an awesome book. Great story, characters and setting. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center intrigued me because the description said: “Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian…” I was a school librarian myself for 14 years, and it was probably the best, most fun, most demanding job I ever had.

Sam worked in a private school on Galveston Island in Texas. The founder and beloved principal died recently. He was replaced by someone Sam taught with in another school who she knew would be absolutely amazing although she had some trepidation about him coming to her school as she had been secretly in love with him.

But the clever, funny guy she remembered Duncan Carpenter to be had disappeared inside a gray suit wearing, militant type who basically wants to turn the school into a prison with gray walls covering everything, including a butterfly mural. He planned on having students and staff wear gray uniforms. He cancelled all field trips. His goal: make this the safest school ever.

The staff soon was rebelling. The teachers wanted their new principal fired. Before giving up on him, Sam and two of her colleagues came up with a plan to try to redeem this once funny, carefree, playful guy who had turned hard-core radical in the name of school safety. Can they turn this stern-faced principal back into the juggling, dancing, goofy guy who Sam remembered?

My first experience with Katherine Center was earlier this year with her book Things You Save in a Fire. Her writing is lighthearted and uplifting. Based on the two books I’ve read by her now, I would describe her as a new voice in women’s fiction or chick-lit.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting April 25, 2020.

I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective.

This book brought tears to my eyes on numerous occasions. I sat down to read it and found myself emersed in the story quickly. Before I knew the story was done, but the characters and the message of the book still linger.
It's a beautifully tragic story that brings these two former colleagues back working together in new place, in a new time. Much has changed for both, some for the better and some for the worst. Sam had always had a crush on the popular, happy-go-lucky Duncan in the past, but a lifetime of ridicule and humiliation when she was younger die to her epilepsy had made her a shy mouse. She knows she is invisible to the awesomeness that is Duncan Carpenter. So to prevent further heartache, she runs from one coat to a island community of Galveston, TX to teach. There she blooms and learns to ". . . bite and scratch and claw my way toward happiness everyday" instead for letting fear smother the life out of her. ". . .it's a hostile kind of joy."
Everything is perfect until her beloved mentor and principal does unexpectedly and is replaced by Duncan.
Duncan's past has changed him. Here is no longer the happy-go-lucky man of his past. He has a job to do and nothing with stop that. He has shut down his emotions, cut off all human contacts. He is a shell of his former self, but he is determined to protect his student and teachers, even if it means they go to school in a prison-like place everyday to do, they will be safe. What changed him so drastically? Can these two broken people find a way to help heal each other??
This book had a lot of "hot topic issues" that we see (sadly) more and more in our world today. I don't want to run it for you, but what teachers could or have faced and how bullying effects lives. They are issues with long reaching impacts on not just the individuals but communities and families. I felt the power of love in this book. It's the kind book that gives you the warm-fuzzies while at the same time enriches your life for having read it if you take the life lessons to heart

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

** I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. **

Over the past year, I have become a huge fan of Katherine Center and was eagerly awaiting the release of her new book What You Wish For, Art to come out this summer. When I found out @netgalley had released copies for review, I was extremely excited and put all other reading on hold to gobble up this one as fast as possible. •
Sadly, I was a bit disappointed. It had everything typical of a Katherine Center novel, but fell short with a few plot twists. Not to mention, I thought the main character was a bit whiny, which may have been intentional, but was nonetheless hard for me to sympathize with. Of course, the love story was cute, but overall, the build up of the story over promised on the ending, which left me feeling disappointed and as if I had missed something all along.

Sam Casey’s life before she moved to Texas was bleak. She wore gray and brown more than anything else, she was meek and timid, and she didn’t have many friends. What she did have was a crush on a coworker named Duncan Carpenter. Duncan is passionate about his job; he makes learning fun, he wears crazy colors and patterns, has dance parties, and will wear every tie his students give him regardless of how crazy it is. After making a huge change and moving to Texas and experiencing a traumatic car accident, school librarian Sam decides to find joy in her life. She wears bright colors, does whimsical things that strike her as enjoyable, and befriends her students and fellow teachers. After a tragedy, a new principal is needed at Sam’s school. Who else would they happen to hire other than Duncan Carpenter?
Sam stresses over whether Duncan will remember her or not; she definitely remembers him. But the Duncan that they hired is not the same Duncan Carpenter that Sam remembers. This Duncan wears plain gray suits and hardly smiles. He wants to turn the school into a fortress; creating gates, locked doors, new security protocols and painting over the beloved murals and colorful hallways. Can Sam and her fellow teachers convince him to change his ways before he changes their beloved school into something unrecognizable?
Center’s newest novel has heart, guts, and comedy. Sam is a lovable protagonist who’s been dealt a hard hand in life but is learning to cope. Flashes between the former and the current Duncan makes readers root for Sam as she strives to get him to see the world as wonderfully and colorfully as he once did.