I loved so many thing about this book. I like that the MC has a disease that isn’t talked about a lot, but that is so real to so many. The romance was beautiful. The male lead had such a great journey and the development was spot on. Well done, if a little choppy occasionally in the pacing department. I can always count on Katherine Center for an immersive read.

Katherine Center has been crafting heart-felt, heart-wrenching, & binge-worthy stories for the last couple years, and 'What You Wish For' is the Perfect addition to that collection!

I have to say, that this story was extra special to me, as the main character, Samantha (Sam), is a Children's Librarian in a small town...something I am working toward myself. It's always fun to put yourself in the place of the main character and live their life as you read. Throw in a sweet, though troublesome, romance, and I'm hooked!

The main characters of the story were beautifully, and believably, written. They felt real, and I could easily picture them in my own life as people I already know. The story of our love interest Duncan, how Sam knows him, and what he's become were so perfectly executed. Without giving too much of the story away, Duncan, once a fun loving teacher, has done a complete 180 and is suddenly a strict, overly cautious stranger to Sam. Watching how these two characters relate and interact was frustrating and heart-melting all at the same time.

Had this been a physical book, instead of read on my Kindle, I would have (at its finish) closed the cover, hugged it to my chest, and cradled it for a solid 30 minutes as I enjoyed the warm feeling rolling around in my chest.

This was a solid 5 Star read for me. A HUGE Thank You to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for sending me this digital copy to read and review.

I was so eager to read What You Wish For, as soon as I saw the cover I wanted to dig myself in this book and I was so glad that I had the chance to read this amazing story

it is a light read that will make you laugh, and giggle at all times The characters will definitely captivate you and make you want to know more about of each of them.. there is angst, there are tears, joy and so many laughs that make this wonderful book very enjoyable..

What you wish for is the story of Samantha a young woman who was lost, she had a few things that made her feel somehow a shame but people who really love her, embrace every single aspect of her even if that makes her look and show a side that is not that beautiful and peaceful as she would want..

Ducan was a very funny and charismatic man until something took that away from him, changing him into a whole new person, closed off and definitely less fun. Samantha is in shock to find how different Ducan is, she doesn't remember him this way, what happened to Duncan why is he so angry and afraid all the time? why is he changing everything on the peaceful grounds of Max school and legacy?

What you wish for was an amazing ride, I really enjoy getting to know every character, finding out why they were the way they were, what circumstances made them become so closed off or even afraid to speak their emotions out loud and at the same time, it was beautiful to watch all those walls surrounding them coming down and embracing the moment.

The secondary characters were super awesome giving and adding so much more depth to the book and the main characters. I really enjoy Tina, Clay, Babette. Alice, Marco all of them were wonderful.

A story of survival, second chances, hope, and faith, light, and joy everything that makes this story so beautiful was present.

I really recommend this book, it is a book that will leave you with a big big smile.

This book was pure joy- perfect book at the right time. Love, loss, finding hope through tragedy and chosen families.

4.5 Stars

This is a little gem of a book! Katherine Center's previous novels feature heroines who battle personal or physical challenges, but always find a way to live their lives with hope, resilience and love. This sweet story is no exception.

The main character, Samantha "Sam" Casey, is a librarian at a small, non-traditional elementary school in Galveston, Texas. She loves her job and the tight-knit school community immensely, especially the relationship she has with the husband-wife founders, Max & Babette. When something unexpected happens to Max, the school board hires new principal Duncan Carpenter to make big changes and implement stricter rules. The school community is up in arms and Sam is completely stunned. Duncan Carpenter was her secret crush and a much-loved teacher at her old school in California. How did he end up in Galveston, and why is he so completely different from the playful, happy man she knew before?

As Sam interacts with this new no-nonsense version of Duncan, she finds strength within herself to stand up for what she feels is right and motivates her friends to maintain their focus on the students. Just before winter break, however, Sam discovers Duncan had made one change that hit too close to home: he had painted over something she and Babette had worked on all summer. Her feelings towards him turn dark until a chance meeting with Duncan, his sister and her family on the beach one day. She sees glimpses of the old Duncan and her feelings for him return in full force.

Before winter break is over, Sam agrees to give Duncan a ride to/from his outpatient surgery and help him get settled at home. While a little loopy from the anesthesia and painkillers, Duncan lets the truth spill and Sam learns much that he had kept hidden from her both emotionally and physically. His strict school policies and demeanor begin to make sense to her now. Sam is falling hard for Duncan, but she has her own hidden issues which make her feel unworthy of love.

Putting aside her feelings, Sam, Babette, and Sam's best friend, Alice, put a plan together to bring the old Duncan back by "joy-bombing" him. They put a list of daily tasks together aimed at getting Duncan to open up, to relax, to feel feelings and to try forgotten things. He agrees to all the crazy things on the pretense that Babette has the power to fire him if she so chooses. They start out small, but build up to Duncan and Sam going out on Friday nights. When one of their Friday night activities includes an amusement park, Sam is coaxed into riding a roller coaster with Duncan. When realizing there is no shoulder harness, Sam is frightened and confesses the one secret that has dominated her life since childhood. The moment, while embarrassing to Sam, only serves to strengthen their relationship.

As the school year progresses, life around school improves until a particularly nasty board member surprises the entire school community with news that their beloved school will no longer exist as they know it. A new, technologically advanced school will be constructed, but with none of the charm, character and history of the current campus. The school community is devastated, and Sam is irate that Duncan seemed to be in on the awful plans. Can Duncan earn back Sam's respect? Will their friendship survive? And, what will happen to the school?

Now that, fellow readers, is where I leave you. You must read this book. It's just what the doctor ordered right now and may be exactly the spark you need to find your own joy during these crazy times. While we can't control all the things happening in the world right now, we can control how we respond to it. And, of course, a good story is the best way to focus on something other than the news!

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

*sigh* This is the perfect book to read if you're needing a quick literary pick-me-up. Let's be honest- these are unprecedented times right now, with many isolated at home and desperate for an escape. This, my friends, is the book that I recommend you sit down with and I don't think that you'll be disappointed!

Sam Casey is the librarian at a school determined to keep the joy in learning. She loves her library and her school and her little students and everyone is devastated when they lose their beloved principal. Enter Duncan, hired to take his place. Sam used to work with Duncan and is thrilled because he was one of the most fun teachers that she knew. Unfortunately, the Duncan that comes to her school is nothing like the Duncan that she knew. This one isn't fun and is determined to turn her beautiful school in to one resembling a prison more than a school.

As Sam attempts to uncover the Duncan of old, it's hard not to fall in love with Katherine Center's characters as well as the school that she has created. This book was such a joy to read- sweet and sentimental without becoming over-the-top, with a potential couple that I was rooting for the entire time. I devoured this book in a few days and I'm glad that I did. WHAT YOU WISH FOR is an absolute must-read and an asset to Katherine Center's brand.

As a huge fan of How to Walk Away, I was excited to get my hands on What You Wish For. Set in Texas, Samantha is a librarian at an incredible school and is very much satisfied with her life. All that changes when an old crush and colleague moves into town to become the school’s new principal.
This was such a sweet story and what many readers are going to need this summer when it’s released. The characters are wholesome and compassionate. The story is light with romance and self-reflection.
Thank you to Net Galley for the copy!

I received an eARC of What You Wish For by Katherine Center from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I give this book 4 stars. When I received the email to download the book, I couldn't click on it fast enough. It's overall a good read. There is a tragic event that takes place, so that may be a trigger for some. I would definitely recommend this book!

I've loved all of Katherine Center's books and this one did not disappoint. I adored the main character. As a teacher myself, this book was very relatable. Great storyline and great characters!

WHAT YOU WISH FOR - Katherine Center

WONDERFULLY UPLIFTING - 5 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Sam is a school librarian who has been very close to the former principal and his wife. After his death, she is shocked to discover that a former coworker has been chosen as principal, and he's changed drastically since she saw him last, not for the better.

Writing - 5 stars - As always, I am drawn into the story immediately. Center writes in a way that makes sense to me, and I feel comfortable as soon as I begin one of her books. The characters are very approachable. But the best part, in my opinion, is that the story might be sad or even tragic, but there's an underlying sense of hope. The positive message of joy, particularly in this book, feels so good and compels me to continue with the story.

Characters - 5 stars - The characters are particularly wonderful in this book. Sam has suffered through a tough childhood, dealing with epilepsy and spending her life alone. She has learned to be invisible. But when she moved, she was influenced by the principal who encouraged her to embrace joy. She started wearing bright colors and created a warm and magical library space for the children to enjoy. Duncan, on the other hand, was formerly a wild and crazy teacher. He was goofy and always the center of attention, wearing crazy ties and pants and entertaining everyone. As new principal of this school, he has basically switched places with Sam and is now dark and gray and humorless. Both characters have lived through trauma, dealing with it in different ways. But underneath, they are still the same positive leaders, having lost their way. They are totally appealing and easy to relate to. Don't we all have secrets and problems to overcome?

Title - 4 stars - I'm not totally sure, but I'd guess that this title suggests that Sam wished to be with Duncan, but as with the phrase, "be careful what you wish for," she discovers him again but in a very different way than she expected.

Cover - 5 stars - As with all of her covers, Center has chosen a colorful and bright one. In this case it's particularly apt since it represents the colorful life that Sam has created for herself, contrasting greatly with the greyness of Duncan's life.

Overall - 5 stars - Wonderful! Despite the sometimes tragic circumstances and sadness (let's face it--there were several events that were definitely tear-jerkers), the underlying message of the book was positive. And that's what everyone's life is about. In spite of difficult circumstances, if you keep a positive outlook, you'll be able to make changes for the better. I loved the slow and steady relationship that built between Sam and Duncan, without knowing how it would end. And it was wonderful to see such a dedicated group of teachers who cared about the children and wanted to create a safe and happy environment for them. Really a warm and fuzzy book that brought me to tears more than once, in a good way.

Katherine Center simply knows how to tell a story!! This was a fantastic remedy to the craziness in the world today. I wish I had an infinite number of books like this one. Thank you Net Galley for the copy of the book in exchange for a review. If you are KC fan, this one will not disappoint!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Whenever I am asked to give a book recommendation, there is a 90% chance I recommend a Katherine Center book. Her writing style always has the perfect mix of heart, humor and depth. I could not wait to read her latest release, What You Wish For.

We meet our heroine, Samantha (Sam), an elementary school librarian who absolutely loves her job and the people in her life. When the school principal unexpectedly passes away, his replacement is Duncan, Sam's old crush from her past. Duncan used to be a carefree jokester in the classroom, but years later he is a serious, ruthless authoritarian. Sam struggles with her memories of the man of the past, and the new Duncan who is planning to make irreparable changes to her beloved school.

There is great character development in the book, not just from Sam and Duncan, but from many side characters as well. The book does not shy away from hard topics that may be very difficult for some to read, but it addresses those serious issues in a caring, compassionate way.

One of my favorite parts was getting to see a glimpse of character's from one of Center's previous books, Happiness for Beginners. The connection between both books was fantastic.

If you're looking for a little joy right now, I would give this a read!

This was my favorite Katherine Center book to date. She has a deft hand at handling very serious topics with a sympathetic manner..

This was an uplifting romance that tackles some weighty issues but mostly managed to do so deftly, if a little reductively. The protagonists make you root for them, though!

She does it again! Please do yourself a favor and pick up any book by Katherine Center and you won't regret it. Loved the book and characters. Great storytelling.

This book was such a fun read! I almost felt like I was in Galveston when I was reading it. Samantha is the quirky librarian at an adorable elementary school near the beach. When the school's beloved principal, and a friend and father-figure to Samantha, suddenly passes away, everything changes. The new principal is someone from Samantha's past but is no longer the fun-loving person she knew.. He soon tries to change the storybook school into a sterile fortress of safety. Ultimately, this is a story of friendship, love, and healing.

I love Katherine Center's books. Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away were amazing. I did not like this book. It almost seemed like a dofferent writer from her previous books. It was a struggle to finish. Sam was annoying and I had a hard time caring about her relationship with Duncan. Most of the book she was a bit obsessive about him and it was a little much. She was not a very likeable character. I wished for more of Babette and Alice. But I did not get what I wished for.

I need to start this by saying Thank You NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this in one sitting I thought I'd start with a chapter or two before bed(midnight) only to find myself finishing the book at 3 am. This was my first time reading a Katherine Center book and it won't be my last!
OMG was this just the most feel good book I've read in awhile.This book will have you closing the last page with a HUGE smile on your face! I bawled my eyes out and laughed so hard my husband told me to turn off the light and go to bed.

I fell in love with the characters Sam and Duncan are just too cute and so swoon worthy to not root for. You really want them to get together because you just know their better together then apart too. Alice the math friend is the best side character I've ever had the pleasure to meet and I just kept wanting to know more about her too. She needs her own book!

Now I don't want you to get the wrong impression this is not a chick lit romance this is a beautiful story of loss, love, friendship and second chances.

In the past year and a half, I've read three of Katherine Center's new books, and enjoyed them all, but THIS ONE....by far the best. A story of grit, resilience, and the ongoing choices we make for joy in our lives. I rarely give this type of lit five stars, but wow, this one gets them all!!

As a librarian, I loved reading this book about school librarian, Sam Casey. Sam is working at her dream school in Texas, but when the beloved principal passes away she never expected the new principal to be someone she knew. Sam had previously worked with Duncan Carpenter at her past school and had a huge crush on him. He was the kind of fun-loving teacher she wanted to be like. When he is hired as the her new principal she assumes he will bring that same energy, but instead finds a safety-obsessed, closed off man that is nothing like his former self. In the name of safety he tries to change everything that Sam loves about her school. Sam is determined not to let him ruin her school and community and tries to find out if part of the old Duncan she knew and loved still exists.