After reading two of Center’s other books, How to Walk Away and Happiness for Beginners, I was thrilled to get a chance to read this book. I always appreciate her stories that are light and fun but still have a serious element to add to it. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like this book quite lived up to what I expected based on her other books. The characters seemed too over-the-top to feel real and I found a lot of it to be cheesy and predictable. Still, it was entertaining enough and it was a cute little romance with messages about overcoming trials and finding joy.

I was thrilled to receive an early copy of Katherine Center's most recent novel, What You Wish For. I have thoroughly enjoyed her prior books and was excited to dig into this one. In What You Wish For, the main character, Samantha, is a quirky school librarian who wholeheartedly embraces positivity. A crush from Samantha's past, Duncan, re-appears in her life as the principal of her school in Galveston, Texas. However, Duncan is not the Duncan she expected. Instead of the care-free, goofy guy from her past, he is rigid and serious. Sam and Duncan work as adversaries and allies to improve their school (and each other).

While I found the novel to be a sweet, breezy read, I was disappointed with the character development. I typically find Katherine Center's characters to be believable. Unfortunately, the characters in this novel seemed to be caricatures of people; simultaneously predictable and over the top. That being said, I am still a fan of Katherine Center's work and give this book three stars, a solid beach read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy.

I had wished to read this book and what I wished for did come true! ;)

I have loved Katherine Center's writing ever since I read Happiness for Beginners a few years back, and I've loved reading her books everytime a new one come out.

What You Wish For follows Samantha Casey, an elementary school librarian and Duncan Carpenter, the school's new principal. Sam remembers Duncan from the last school that she worked at a few years back and she's a little embarrassed and scared by his arrival as she used to have a huge unrequited crush on him that never went anywhere.

Though she wasn't expecting things to be the same as before, she would have never though that the arrival of Duncan would bring in so many changes to her beloved school. And what is even more surprising to her is the man that Duncan has changed into. Gone is the fun loving, joyful teacher that she knew and he has been replaced by a serious man who is set on imposing new rules and measures in their school.

With a flurry of events, Sam is left with two choices - either to run away like before or to stay and fight for what she loves.

Katherine Center is exceptional at writing realistic and human characters and this book has them too. I loved Sam and her friend Alice along with the late principal's wife Babette! I was also really excited that Duncan, Helen's brother(Helen is the protagonist in Happiness for Beginners) was the main character in this one! I was quite sad to see the changes that time and the events had brought him in, but it was equally fun to see Sam and the others help him get back to his old self.

On the other hand, what I did find a little disappointing was the way the plot moved in this book. It felt more like an inspirational rom-com at times, rather than a usual Katherine Center book. Some things weren't subtle at all and I felt like the author was pushing in one too many things on the characters.

The way the author showcased epilepsy and the after effects that shootings have on one's psyche was really beautiful and deserves appreciation! With all the news that we see and the school shootings that keep happening, it's really important to remember that the victims suffer from long-lasting pain! The theme of 'choosing joy' was also a significant part of the story and I loved that!

Additionally, I also loved Helen and Jake's cameo in this book! Though, I wouldn't say I loved this one as much as I loved Happiness for Beginners or Things You Save in a Fire, it was still a beautiful read that left me feeling happy and content. And if you haven't picked a Katherine Center book yet, what are you waiting for?

If you are looking for a book to leave you with the warm fuzzies this is your book. In a world of uncertainty this book is predictable and comforting. Lovers of the Hallmark channel this is a book for you. The characters were likable and quirky and the moral of the story is one we wall need reminding about. Face your fears. I do have one question though what happened to her bike sculpture?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What You Wish For by Katherine Center
I loved reading about the sheer emotional agony Sam endures over her crush and her decision to choose joy every day. She loves Duncan but can’t have him. It’s torture and delight and she has to literally distance herself from him just to be able to move on. Later in the story we learn more about Sam’s backstory and why she is the way she is and that helped me sympathize with her position. I felt awful for her and hopeful at the same time. Duncan lost himself and even though I was able to guess what circumstances he must have been trying to overcome, it was so sad to hear about his complete transformation in personality. Tragedy will do that to a person I suppose. I loved hearing Duncan’s retellings of the first time they met and his dopey confessions. I was so embarrassed for him!

The pace of the story really picked up in the second half and I was glad they finally got their act together in the end!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I've loved Katherine Center since I read "How to walk away", and was delighted when I received an ARC of this book. This earned a 3 star rating from me because I had a hard time relating to Sam's character, and because it seemed more like a ya romance than a book of literary fiction. While the character development for Sam and Duncan left me wanting more, I loved Babette, Alice, and the adorable Clay Buckley. I struggled to relate to Sam's decisions and responses throughout the book: e.g. leaving her life and moving simply because the man she had a crush on didn't seem to like her back.
I enjoyed the way the story concluded, and was so glad that Duncan and Sam decided to take a chance on love. I especially loved the reminder that despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, cultivating joy is a choice always available to us all!

*I did not want to post my review on my bookstagram account because I didn't want to give a new book a negative review. All I said about it on Instagram was that I didn't like the first half but did enjoy the second half and gave it three stars.

However, for feedback safe:

I really did not like much about this book. The characters didn't have any depth and the plot felt SO contrived. The relationships were not fleshed out well and therefore it lacked any emotional reaction from me whatsoever. I read one other KC book (Save in a Fire) and liked it a little more than this one but I just may not be the right reader for her books.

Thank you so much for my free copy!

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary teacher in Galveston, Texas. When her friend and mentor dies, the school is in need of a new principal. When her former crush is chosen, Samantha is nervous and excited. Until she finds out he is now a stiff humorless man determined to change everything in the name of safety. Although the characters were rather one-dimensional and predictable, I still adored this darling love story. As long as you are expecting award-winning literature, it's the perfect beach read to curl up with on your next vacation.

This was a lovely book and exactly what I needed during these crazy times.

Sam is a quirky librarian working at the Kempner School, founded by Max and Babette. Sam lives in their carriage house and desperately wants to be a part of their family. Max suddenly dies, and Sam’s unrequited crush from her previous school, Duncan Carpenter, is hired to take Max’s place as principal. Sam fell for Duncan’s quirkiness, but he has become robotic and seems intent on destroying everything Sam loves about the school.

With a lovable and quirky cast of characters, including Max’s widow Babette, hilarious math teacher Alice, and precocious third grader Clay, Center takes readers on a journey of love, redemption, and fighting for what you believe in. I devoured this book in one sitting and I was sad to come to the end. These characters (and the Kempner School) will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

As with all of Katherine Center’s books that I have read, this one did not disappoint. The setting is a private school off the coast of Texas. The main characters all work at the school. Sam, the librarian, has had a crush on a former co-worker since she can remember. What a turn of events when her former “crush” becomes the new principal of her school! Sam has mixed feelings about this until she sees him again and realizes he is not the same person she once knew. The underlying themes of friendship, accepting one another’s flaws, and taking time to experience joy make this an enjoyable and uplifting read.

Katherine Center is best at taking us so completely inside a character's voice and heart and mind, we know who our heroine loves and why even before she recognizes the truth. But what I really love is the way she pays off all the buildup to the will-they-won't-they happily-ever-after: With the kind of emotional connection you literally cannot put down. This is the second of her books in a row that I've stayed up way too late reading, because even once I knew how it was going to end, I knew just as certainly that Center would render it in a savor-worthy way that far exceeded anything I could imagine myself. In all these ways and more, WHAT YOU WISH FOR is vintage Katherine Center. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the enjoyable early read.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is absolutely delightful! It grabbed my attention from the start, and I finished the whole book in one sitting. And I did not want the story to be over. Now I admit, the plot is totally predictable, the story is full of cliches and it's overly dramatic at times, but I did not even care. I typically don't love this type of book, but Katherine Center writes such lovely stories. They always find a way to melt my cold, cynical heart.

This book is about Samantha, a librarian at a private elementary school. Her world is shaken when her former crush Duncan shows up at her school as the new principal. Except Duncan is no longer the fun-loving, kind person that Samantha once knew. The new Duncan is mean and strict and on a path to ruin the school.

You can probably guess at what will happen, and you would probably be right. But being able to predict what happens doesn't make the reading any less enjoyable! I loved all of the characters, and I loved the banter between Samantha and Duncan. I also loved the message behind the story about choosing joy even when life is hard. If you want to read something that will put a smile on your face, this is the book to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. What You Wish For will be available on July 14!

In this novel, Sam is a librarian at an idyllic elementary school on the island of Galveston, TX. When the beloved founder of the school dies, a new principal is announced. It’s the zany, fun Duncan Carpenter, a man Sam was so crushed out over when she worked at a different school, she left that school for Galveston when she heard Duncan was going to propose to another woman.

As you could definitely foreshadow, Duncan is no longer the lovable goofball he used to be. You knew he couldn’t be wonderful because then there would be no tension to compel the narrative. You can also easily guess the gist of what happened to change him so dramatically.

But I loved the ending of this book so much, I didn’t care that I could foresee the major plot points well in advance of what was going to happen. This isn’t a mystery, it’s women’s fiction with romantic elements, and the characters are fully realized and the ways in which they’ve been damaged are relatable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JULY 14, 2020.

This is the story of school librarian Sam Casey in the aftermath of the death of the school's popular principal. The replacement principal is someone Sam knew previously, Duncan Carpenter. However he is the complete opposite to how she remembers him, he doesn't even seem to recognise her and seems set on turning the school into a prison. I really wanted to like this one purely because of the description of the school Library.

However, overall What You Wish For just didn't work for me, the plot was fairly predictable and the characters were mostly unrealistic and unlikable. I found Sam to be very irritating. The second half of the book was slightly better than the first as it moved quicker but I just felt annoyed and unsatisfied by this one.

Choose joy. On purpose. This book’s message is very timely. This is the third book I’ve read of this author’s and she has become a favorite. She lovingly draws us into her characters, warts and all, and we root for them until the completely satisfying ending, without straying into snappiness or unbelievability. I can’t wait for this to be published so I can recommend it to all. Thanks St.Martins and Netgalley for the ARC

This is the first Katherine Center book I've read and it won't be the last. What you Wish For is about growing up and figuring out who you are, learning how to love, and knowing when to walk away. Growing up in a family of teachers, I could relate to many different parts of Samantha. Fair warning. This book deals with difficult subjects regarding school safety and how to protect teachers and students. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC.

My first time reading this author's work, I have heard great things about her writing and was gifted a copy by NetGalley.

What You Wish For is a work of fiction that reads like a biography about Samantha (Sam) Casey, an elementary school librarian who loves her life on the historic island of Galveston, Texas. Samantha has had the honor of working for and living in a carriage home that is owned by Babette and Max Kempner. The Principle, Max Kempner returns from Italy to celebrate his sixtieth birthday in style but collapses and dies on the dance floor in front of his wife and Sam. While the little town is grieving their loss, Kent Buckley, the Kempner's son in law, hires a new principle, Duncan Carpenter. Duncan Carpenter was a teacher who Samantha worked with back in California and she crushed on him something fierce but back then she didn't have the self-esteem or courage to approach him. When he started dating someone else, she left California for Texas and now she doesn't want to leave her newfound family.

Duncan Carpenter, gregarious nature had all his peers and students loving and enjoying life with his crazy way of dressing, his love of dancing, juggling, and playing games made everyone feel at home, welcome, and made teaching interesting. However, Duncan Carpenter who showed up was one that was stoic, focus on security, and repressive. Each character is struggling with an issue be it emotional or physical and just trying to get through the day and make the choice to be happy.

I loved that Katherine developed her characters making us (readers) feel connected and have a stake in their well being. That is a true sign of a phenomenal writer. The story had many ups and downs, emotions swing from high to low and back again but isn't that a sign that you are/were invested in the story? Anyway, I think that I might find her library and start reading from her backlist.

Ah, this book gave me all the feels. Though I didn’t like it as well as Things You Save In A Fire, I did love the quirky cast of characters and especially the message of intentional joy. Katherine Center is a master of feel-good stories and though it may be a bit cliche, I did love how everyone helped each other overcome their own traumas by choosing love & deciding to be brave. If more people CHOSE joy every day, the world would be a better place.

I have not met a Katherine Center book yet that did not make me take pause to reflect on the lessons being taught. Full disclosure, since I read this at a heightened time in our country, I was easily triggered by some events that happened. HOWEVER, it made me center myself and focus on things we may often overlook. What You Wish For pushed me to "pay attention to the the things that connect me with joy" and to continue exhibiting grace even when times get tough. After all, you never know what another person is dealing with. Kudos to Katherine for always knowing what is most important in this thing called life.