Samantha Casey, an elementary school librarian in Galveston, is mortified to find that her school's beloved principal is being replaced by her former crush, Duncan Carpenter, a once joyful, carefree teacher who is now obsessed with safety and seemingly against all joy.

I started this book on Sunday night and spent the entire morning finishing it on Monday. I found myself immediately engaged in the story and didn't want to put it down. Sam has gone through a lot of tragedy and sorrow and her life yet she isn't whiny and chooses to live her life with color and creativity. Despite the book focusing on the spark between Sam and Duncan, all of the characters were so lovable and integral to the story.

This book is all about choosing joy despite our circumstances and I think we could all use that reminder right now! It was the perfect escape from reality for me this week.

This was a one day read for me. The characters were endearing and the story moved very fast. Would recommend .

The book is lighthearted at times, which is typical of Center's stories. The book involves overcoming traumas, dealing with illnesses and death but the author handled all of these wonderfully.

I loved this book! I loved the characters and this story really had a lot of heart. It was definitely a book i needed to read during this time! Thanks for the opportunity to read this! I look forward to reading more by this author!

I always enjoy Katherine Centers book. They are a delightful to read over a cup of coffee on a sunny day. Always enjoy.

EVERYTHING KATHERINE CENTER WRITES IS PERFECT. This book is no different. I am in love with with characters in this book (which i absolutely could not put down). This story was so romantic and beautiful and as I read I just was rooting so much for Samantha and Duncan, not just as a couple but as individuals. I cannot wait for this book to come out- I have recommended it to everyone I know already.

Samantha is a private school librarian who, like the rest of the community, is shocked at the sudden death of the school's principal. He was larger than life, a man who loved his job and the kids... but his replacement couldn't be more different.
The new principal is Duncan Carpenter, who decides to charm the
He's also the man that caused Sam to move halfway across the country to get away from.
They are both very different than they were when they were coworkers in a previous school, Sam coming out of her shell and being vibrant in everything from the way she dresses to how she acts. Duncan used to be this way too, but now he's all about schedules, safety, and the color grey.
This book is full of heart. Katherine Center is quickly becoming a go-to author for touching stories full of hope, love, and second chances.
You can’t help but feel good when you’re reading her books, even when there are things that break your heart a little.
What You Wish for was no exception, and it was a joy seeing all the characters develop as the plot evolved.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Rating: 3 joy-ish stars

Format: Ebook*, 320 pgs, pub. 7/14/20

Synopsis: A librarian at a Galveston private elementary school is mortified when her former crush shows up as the new – and now joyless – principal.

POV: Whoever is designing Katherine Center’s recent book jackets really deserves a raise. They’re irresistible and scream PICK ME UP NOW to anyone looking something in the “women’s fiction” genre. If what you’re wishing for is a light, easy read with some cute scenes and a pretty formulaic plot, than look no further. Bonus points for having a heroine with epilepsy, a topic that’s not often covered in lit – chick or otherwise. While some characters did previously appear in Center’s “Happiness for Beginners,” this definitely can be read as a standalone.

Recommended Readers: Women’s fiction readers looking for a book with an upbeat “choose joy” message (or a character with epilepsy).

*I received an Advanced Readers Copy from #NetGalley & #StMartinsPress in exchange for an honest review.

Women's fiction
Young woman, Sam, lives in the "carriage house" of two senior people she loves above all. This story is full of family drama, past and present friendships. Death and how to live life again to the fullest.
I have only read one of books before now, The Lost Husband., Which I also recommend.

Whenever I see the cover of a new Katherine Center book, I smile. They are bright and cheerful, yes, but I also know there will be complicated characters who look for deeper meaning, deeper gratitude and deeper joy than from any other author. What You Wish For doesn’t disappoint.

Set in the historical and beautiful city of Galveston, Texas, What You Wish For is the story of school librarian Samantha Casey. Sam has a history of running away from problems, not the least of which was a paralyzing crush on colleague Duncan Carpenter. She finds a home at the charming private school on the island, and fits in until the day she experiences a return of her childhood epilepsy. Instead of running away again, she takes the advice of her mentor and recreates herself with joy.

Then her mentor dies, and none other than Duncan Carpenter comes to take his place. Only Duncan has changed too, and not in ways that Samantha can understand.

This book examines serious issues: bullying in school, creativity versus protection, school safety and the way people are marginalized for characteristics that don’t define them. Katherine doesn’t disappoint her readers. She lets her characters charge ahead boldly and with flowers in their hair. You will want to applaud.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley. It will be released on July 14, 2020.

I loved this book! As a former schoolteacher, I really enjoyed that the majority of the story took place in the school or with the school close by. It was a warm-hearted story with characters you could root for. The only negative I would say is that it felt a bit predictable, but I still found myself racing to finish to find out what happened.

I’m a bit surprised at how high of a rating this book has. I got to page 100 and decided to stop. I felt like I was reading a 15 year old teenagers diary about her obsession on a crush. The main characters mental health is questionable and my favorite character was a third grader.

I could not put this down. This is such a great story of how people change based on life circumstances, but also how they don't really change deep down. Sam and Duncan are both lovable in their own way, but I really liked Sam's character from the beginning. This book shows us to never give up hope and to not give up on the people we love.

Everything Katherine Center writes is wonderful. Her characters are flawed, which is my favorite thing about them. I admire the principles in this title and how standing up comes at a price. The evolution of the characters is the primary story and it was well told.

If Katherine Center writes a book, I am there for it. And you guys, this is a good one!!!! I don’t even know where to start. First of all, the main male lead in this book was apparently in Happiness for Beginners, which I haven’t had a chance to read yet. So you definitely don’t have to read it to read this book at all.

Without giving anything away, this book touches on different illnesses, both physical and mental. It deals with a very heavy, prevalent subject matter, and you get a love story. But not the light, steamy kind I usually read.

This book made me laugh, and cry, and the whole message of the book is something the world needs right now more than ever!!!! To find joy in life, no matter what sorrows you have been through. To come together as a community. The school and community that surrounds Sam and Duncan sounds incredible and I want to be there right now!

Bottom Line: I highly recommend you read this book!! Especially right now!

**I received a copy of What You Wish For from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

I received this as an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I had really high hopes for this book. I had just finished reading Things You Save in a Fire and was blown away by Katherine Center’s writing. This book was good but nothing compared to that book. As an educator, I found the school setting unrealistic and idealistic. I wish it worked that way in real life but it really doesn’t. Also, the romance didn’t really do it for me. It felt a little lackluster in my opinion. I also thought the “choose to make your own joy” was a nice idea but not exactly realistic for all people, especially those who suffer from depression, mental illness, etc. That idea really rubbed me the wrong way. Lastly, there was an over abundance of rhetorical questions that the main character proceeded to answer. Ugh. Overall, was I a bit disappointed? Yes, but the book was a pleasant read nonetheless. (See what I did there?) 2.5-3 stars

Sam Cassidy loves her job as librarian in the cute and eccentric elementary school she ran to after falling for a fellow teacher at her previous school. The staff are the best and Principal Max and his wife, Babette, accepted her like a daughter.

Then Max died and everything changed.

Babette’s neurotic son-in-law becomes head of the board and immediately appoints a new principal about as different from Max as it was possible to be- oh, yeah, he’s also the man Sam had fallen for in her previous life.

But this Duncan Carpenter wasn’t anything like the funny, sweet guy she remembered. This Duncan Carpenter wanted to bleed every drop of personality out of their precious school. He installed security gates, locks, metal detectors, and painted over their bright colorful artwork, turning their whole world gray.

He had to go.

Then Sam learned Duncan’s deepest, darkest secret and suddenly getting rid of him became so much harder to do.

This is my first book by this author and I am so glad I picked it up! Filled with insightful, heart-wrenching moments it will live on in your thoughts for a long time after turning the last page. I will definitely be reading more from Katherine Center.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

I’m a big fan of Katherine Center’s books! I enjoyed this one, but didn’t love it as I have some of her others. The characters were well developed, quirky and entertaining. The story has an overall light-hearted romance theme with a few deeper real-life references. This wasn’t a “can’t put down” novel for me but it won’t stop me from picking up whatever Center writes in the future.

Katherine Center has amazed me yet again! Enter Samantha Casey, resident school librarian extrordinairre! Sam and her friends that make up the colorful cast of characters that fill the pages of this delightful book. Sam's world is thrown for a loop when someone close to her dies, a long time crush turns back up completely changed. Center's quirky cast comes together to solve their world's problems in a somewhat realistic, yet honest way. This book is guaranteed to leave you with a smile.

Like many others, I was looking for a heartwarming escape read, in the world of Covid-19 where I am consuming too much cable news and a long run of historical fiction books. This novel is certainly a fast read, and did offer some well-needed perspective about choosing joy. Samantha Casey, the angst ridden, lovelorn librarian whose long lost love ends up as her school's new principal is a somewhat endearing character but also more than a little self-absorbed. And the lessons from the school's founders Max and Babette about taking risks, choosing purposeful happiness and seizing the best life has to offer was repeated so much I felt myself wanted to say out loud, 'Okay I get it! Be happy! Live in the moment!' A quick little happy read, but it was just a little too Hallmark sappy for me. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.