Joyful

If circumstances were different right now, I probably would be ripping this book apart. The characters are a little bit much and drove me crazy. The cheese factor is through the roof. However, it has a lovely message about finding joy, which is much needed right now. Overall, it served as a pleasant escape during these difficult times.

I absolutely love Katherine Center and all of her books. They are always so heartwarming and feel good. This book does not disappoint. Being a teacher myself, I definitely connected with the characters as well as with the storyline. I loved reading about all of the fun things Duncan did as a teacher and makes me aspire to be like him in my own teaching, and I loved reading about Samantha, school Liberian and her love of books and reading. I would love to work in a library as welcome and inviting as the one Sam created for her children. I love that the message behind this story is to “Choose joy on purpose,” especially since this story also deals with a lot of heavy topics, including school shootings and living in fear due to epilepsy. This book is full of emotion, loss, and heartbreak, love, and happy endings.

"Choose joy on purpose."

I absolutely loved this book by Katherine Center. The plot was great and I thought that she did a great job of developing the characters for the most part. Sam is a librarian at a school in Galveston, TX and Duncan Carpenter is the new principal that they are bringing in after the beloved founder and principal, Max, dies after 30 years of being the face. Sam knows Duncan from California when they worked at another school together and she thought his arrival in TX would be great for the school, but she was wrong. Duncan's joyful spirit had been replaced by one that was killing the fun within the school.

This was a very quick and fun read. It definitely started a little slow for me, but picked up quickly.

I loved Sam and Duncan! Such a heartwarming story! I feel the pace was a little slow in the beginning (not always a bad thing ) and I really got invested around 40%! Then I didn’t want to put the book down. I found myself smiling at a lot of the quirky thoughts Sam. Duncan was definitely a perfect “troubled hero” and I found myself rooting for him the whole time and that Sam wouldn’t give up on him! Parts of the book were 3.5 star and parts were 4.5. I’m going to meet in the middle and give it a 4. I will always trust a Katherine Center novel!

A pretty typical romantic fiction, but with an interesting overall plot and fun characters. A fun beach, or quarantine, read as it is light and has a happy ending.

I've been seeing Katherine Center's beautiful books all over Bookstagram for months, so when I saw her newest was available for automatic download on NetGalley back in March, I jumped on it right away. I'm not a big romance reader, but there's nothing like a worldwide pandemic to make you want to get swept away by your current read. Plus, the main character is a school librarian (heyyooo) and it includes one of my favorite romantic tropes (enemies turned maybe lovers?), so let's give it a go!

First of all, the school library vibes were THE BEST. Our main character Sam works in this magical elementary school that values creativity and joy and curiosity, and her library reflects that. It's a two-story magical land with reading nooks and painted book spine stairs and whimsy exploding from every corner. (Sorry Baby, you're headed to daycare, because Mommy needs to work in this library.) And her explanation of what a librarian does and does not do (you mean they don't just read books all day?) is spot on. I felt very seen by those pages.

Second of all, the romantic trope I was hoping for did appeal to me: after Sam's beloved principal and founder of the school dies suddenly, a new principal is hired and Sam is horrified to learn that it is her former crush from her previous school, Duncan. She had moved four years ago to get away from him when he chose another girl, and now here he is as her boss. To make things worse, the fun-loving, goofy teacher Duncan she remembers has been replaced by a stoic, militaristic, fun-hating principal Duncan. Sam takes it upon herself to get Duncan to back down on all his new changes to the school before he completely kills the whimsy, and their developing relationship kept me sweeping those electronic pages aside through the climax of the story.

However. I felt a huge chunk of this was just fluff and cheese. Like most of the entire first half. I didn't find the characters believable, I didn't really like our protagonist aside from her profession, and there was so much repetitive expounding (this is what Duncan used to be like, blah blah blah, this is what Duncan is like now, blah blah blah, this is why everything is terrible, blah blah blah, oh, and did I tell you I have epilepsy that basically ruined my life?

Plus, and this is a little bit spoilery I guess, there is some discussion of a school shooting (looking back, not in present story chronology), that while was incredibly emotional in those few pages, seemed to then be swept away. I did not like how that was resolved and it felt too happily ever after to me. If you are going to use this incredibly horrifying plot device, I don't think it can end with an HEA.  Make no mistake, I have no problems with HEAs, I am down for a good HEA, but in this case, it made me feel cringey in that one respect.

Okay, so overall, was it a fine read for quarantine time? Yes. Was it wonderful and would I have kept reading it in a non-quarantine stress-free time? Noooooope. I don't know, guys, maybe Katherine Center's just not for me? Have you read any of her other books? Maybe they're better? It just seemed like from the plot/school setting, this would be the  mostly likely Center novel for me, and instead, it was just okay. I think I'm in the minority, but since I read it so far before publication, I guess time will tell!

If you're a Center fan, like so many people are, go for it. If you've read other Center novels and just found them okay, I wouldn't bother with this one either. However, I *would* watch a movie adaptation of this hands-down, if only to see that gorgeous library.

My blog post review is scheduled for closer to publication, and I will update this review with a link to that and my bookstagram post at that time.

Probably my least favorite book by Katherine Center that I've read so far. Something about the characters just didn't work for me. Sam's obsession with Duncan, in the beginning, was a little too intense for me and pretty repetitive. I'm kind of surprised she hadn't been obsessively Googling him over the years and know exactly what had happened to him. I just feel like his actions would have caused anyone to try and figure out what was in his past that made him so obsessed with school safety. I didn't really understand why it was so shocking for her.

I will say, the second half was much better than the first. Once we started moving past how much in love with him she was and started getting into the real story and seeing a hesitant relationship develop between the two, it moved much more quickly for me. There were some cute moments between the two but I also really enjoyed seeing Babette's transformation over the year.

I don't know exactly what it was the kept me from connecting with this one but I think it was just hard for me to get over the intense instalove and obsession she had with this guy she barely spoke to and the martyr vide she put off while they were trying to "fix" Duncan. I get how it can feel when you aren't perfect and don't think you deserve love for some reason, but she went way over the top with it. And for me, it was just too much. Whereas in How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire seemed to deal with some very intense, real-life situations with trauma and death, this one dealt with a 28 yr old who confessed to being completely in love with some she'd barely talked to for 2 years, moved away when he started dating someone, and then deemed her life over when she found out he was moving to her new town. It was all a bit dramatic and almost silly to me.

I think this might be another black sheep moment for me because, based on other reviews, I'm alone with these feelings. And I'm not saying it won't work for you either, it just felt different than her other books and had much less impact on me than they did. But still entirely readable and had some great supporting characters.

Samantha and Duncan are two very capable educators who find themselves connected at a private school in Galveston Texas. Sam is the school librarian and Duncan is the school’s new principal. That in itself is a problem for Sam because only a few weeks before the beginning of school Sam and the other teachers were at a party for the school’s founders when Max, the light that guided the school died suddenly and unexpectedly. Before the dust has settled from that tragedy, the school’s board announces the Duncan’s appointment as Max’s replacement. The kicker is that Sam and Duncan used to work together at a previous school.

The book follows these two troubled individuals as they make their way through the school year. The kicker is that both Sam and Duncan have some major troubled. They are seriously imperfect and cannot seem to connect. As Sam works to “cure” Duncan of the trauma that has haunted him, she becomes more in touch with her own debilitating issues.

I read this book during my “incarceration” related to the Covid-19 outbreak. I was trapped at home, not able to get together with friends and family. Going to the store for groceries was a new and troubling journey.

What I found in What You Wish For was a book is finding courage. Where does one find hope and courage when life takes a new and horrifying turn? The message of this book is that we find it in the love of family and friends—even when we are not able to sit in the same room. We find “joy not in spite of life’s sorrows, but because of them.” And that is a message that moved me immensely!

This is the third book by Katherine Center that I have read and each one impresses me more that the previous. I look forward to reading more of her works. I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review! I highly recommend it!!!

How excited was I to get approved on Netgalley for this? Words can't express...it bumped everything else right off the TBR!

This is the story of Sam, a school librarian who has a quirky little life in Galveston living in the garage apartment of the principle of her school. When he suddenly passes away, the school board goes in a different direction and hires a new young principle dedicated to "fixing" the school. His methods are not appreciated by the staff and are a real surprise to Sam who has quite the history with him, even if it's one mostly made up in her head. In her previous job across the country, she once worked with him and was quite obsessed with him. Back then he was fun and quirky like her, now not only does he seemingly not remember her but he's a serious, dour person nothing like the man she remembers.

As the story progresses we uncover more about each of their back stories and their actions and motives make much more sense. There is a lot of beautiful pieces of history of the area throughout the book. I enjoyed the descriptions of that history as much as I did the unveiling story. I will say generally I don't love a first person novel so it took me a little while to get past that as well as the obsessive aspects of Sam's personality towards a man she barely knew. But the banter and interactions between the two got better throughout and reminded me a little of some of the relationships in the Virgin River series. Like that story, the real life challenges each of the characters are dealing with and how they overcome them reads as true rather than some of the fluffier romances. I'm generally not one to mention trigger warnings but there are lots of them in this work but the growth of the characters in trying to overcome their trauma and embrace their emotions is cathartic. Add it to your TBR it's out in July!

I just finished reading What you Wish For by Katherine Center. I am a fan of her books and have read all that she has written. Her books offer the perfect escape while sitting on the beach! This book takes you right to the beach, as it is set in historic Galveston, Tx and surrounds the life of Sam. Sam is a school librarian of a unique elementary school on the Island. She lives in the carriage house of the schools founders Max and Babette. Sam has a strong connection to the school, the founders and her community in Galveston. Her life takes an unexpected turn following the death of one of the schools founders and a former colleague, Duncan Carpenter, comes to town to be the schools new principal.
While I generally liked the story and concept, I found at times the writer spent too long explaining or describing certain sections of the story leaving me wanting to skim large sections of the book.
There were characters whose stories, I personally found more interesting and wanted to know more about like Tina and Kent Buckley. The truth was, I didn't care for Sam, at all. I didn’t route for her or care exactly what happened to her. I found the character to be a bit whiny and self centered. I understand why the character might be this way but it left me uninterested in her entirely. Basically, I found all the other characters more endearing and interesting.
That being said, the last few chapters involving, Clay Buckley had me on the edge if my seat and riveted. If the entire book had that tone and urgency I wouldn’t have been able to put it down.
I still liked it and would recommend the book to others who like this genre. I was just left wanting so much more.

Thank you for this ARC. This was my very first book to ever receive and I am very grateful. Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors, This book was a lot of fun and a great escape for me personally during this crazy time in the world. Sam was a breath of fresh air. Like in all of Center's books, she takes a character with a tough background and they usually find a way to persevere, find the best in people and in themselves.

Katherine Center has written another great book. It’s full of emotion. You can’t help pulling for all these characters. I cried, smiled. Just a roller coaster of emotions. Really enjoyed it!

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for a copy of this book. Katherine Center writes another winner! Her books are just the best feel good books out there. This is even more perfect of a story to read right now as it is light enough but has some deeper topics in it that make you fly through the pages but never feel weighed down. Her writing is just so accessible and the moment I started reading, I felt part of the story. I loved the school setting and friendships between the characters and of course the love connection. If you loved her previous novels, go ahead and preorder this one. It will be the most perfect summer read! 📚💕Also if you have not read Happiness for Beginners (you will recognize some characters in the book) or How to Walk Away...pick them up to read ASAP too! Review posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads and Goodreads.

I have wanted to read each of Katherine Center’s books and this was the first one I’ve gotten to. The book covers alone are enough to get my attention and the synopsis always seals the deal. And, at least in this instance, the world created inside the book matches the book’s beautiful cover. Ms. Center showed a knack for infusing her words with joy, hope, and color. The bonds between the citizens of the community felt genuine and the pages just oozed with sincerity, family, and love. I enjoyed inhabiting this bright world and community she created, most of the time.

At times the characters and storyline got to be a bit eccentric for me: pink bangs, mismatched bright colorful outfits, and clown socks. Rubber chickens for laughs. Just when I thought it was getting to be too much, the author relented on those details (and ultimately used them sparingly throughout the book). I also had to remind myself that these things may work in a setting centered around small children...something I know nothing about. I haven’t been surrounded by children since I was a child myself. So, that stuff I was able to easily overlook. The storyline was mostly good. I am a sucker for an enemies-turned-lovers trope! However, there were a few moments this story sinks to the level of a Hallmark movie. But, still, I was able to get beyond that, because I can still appreciate some good cheese now and again. And, luckily, these moments were using sparingly by the author. The thing I could not overlook, though, was the main character, Sam/Samantha. She is not someone I would want to be friends with and, at times, I struggled to root for her. First, she uproots her entire life and moves halfway across the country because she believes the man she has a crush on doesn’t even recognize her existence and is about to propose to another woman. Honey, if he doesn’t even know who you are and you have to move to another state because he doesn’t return your feelings, maybe you should talk to someone. Then, to make it worse, later in the book, she tells her love interest to leave her house and then gets mad when he appears to do just that. That. Is. Not. Rational! That was the main aspect to this story I could not overlook. I wish Sam’s reasons for leaving had been a bit stronger to give the protagonist more credibility. It was hard to view her as an adult at times, when such behaviors seemed to lack rationale and logic.

All that said, though, I still liked the book enough that I didn’t want to cast it to the DNF pile. I still thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing style, even if I didn’t love the particular story. And I still found plenty of moments to enjoy. The whole message of the book: “do joy on purpose. Not in spite of life’s sorrows. But because of them.” What’s not to like about that? And it is because of such messages that I still want to read the author’s other works.

This storyline felt very familiar to me. I think it’s a bit formulaic. Katherine Center writes likeable contemporary fiction. But, this one was not a favorite.

I was SO excited when I was able to grab this ARC because Katherine Center is one of my new favorites! This book was so good and had a little bit of everything in it - which I love. Even though you can guess where the story is going at times, the author always added more, and even threw a curve or two in along the way. Highly recommend this read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from the first word til the last. What I like about Katherine Center’s books is that they aren’t just simple silly romances, they are full of meaning about what it means to live authentic, joyful lives, and this one is no exception. I loved our heroine, Sam, from the getgo, as well as our hero Duncan (he doesn’t turn out to be a hero til later, but I digress).

I especially loved third grader, Clay, and the scene with the stranded whale was especially meaningful for me. Just the right amount of spirit wafting through the story. I felt like I was right there in the midst of them all.

As a former elementary teacher, I loved that this love story was set in a school!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book I have read from Katherine Center and it is my favorite! The characters immediately drew me in, I loved the plot, and I love the clean nature of her writing. This book was exactly what I needed and I've already told people to be on the lookout for it when it comes out.

Katherine Center is very good at writing characters that you really root for, and she quickly won me over with the heroine of What You Wish For.

Center does a good job with her signature style of weaving in serious matters that ultimately provide opportunities for the characters to grow and for readers to get insight into serious challenges, but ultimately this is a feel-good, easy-read story.

Thank you to the publisher for an opportunity to What You Wish For as an early review ebook. This is my 3rd Katherine Center novel. I really enjoyed this novel - the setting was excellent (small island life, yes please!) with a really fun female lead, Samantha Casey. There are some really great secondary characters here including Samantha's landlady. I highly recommend this book! Enjoy!!!