Fear and anxiety can overwhelm and overpower you, changing your life completely. But Joy... Making yourself find small, simple things to bring joy and happiness into your life can change your world into something that is truly the best of you! Thank you Katherine Center for this amazing, insightful story that is just what I need at this point in time!

I wanted to like this book but it was just too nice and sweet. Every single character was superficial, rather uninteresting and just too good or too bad to be believable. It tries too hard to be current and trendy and checks all the right boxes - school shooting victim, serious medical issues, guilt, educational issues, even a stranded whale.

Perhaps because I’d just finished In a Field of Blue and What the Wind Knows, both absolutely riveting books, this book came up as little more than a feel good book. Maybe because of the especially trying times today, there is a place for a book like this but I still prefer a more challenging read. I want a book where the author paints a complete picture of a time and place so clearly that you feel like you are really there. I want characters who are fleshed out with intriguing back stories. This story does not come close. It is actually a tiny bit boring and a bit predictable- rather like many of John Grisholm’s books where you can predict the ending almost from the second page. I would not recommend this book unless you want a simple, feel good kind of story to distract you from the hardships currently surrounding each of us. Maybe that’s not a bad thing considering how dramatically our lives have changed over the last few weeks. Perhaps a relatively simple story that is pure escapism might be a good thing under the circumstances. This is such a story and maybe it can be healing in it’s own way. Easy, pleasant book.

5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced digital copy to read.

I love all of Katherine Center’s books and this one is no different. The story flowed well for me and I loved the character development, especially towards the end.
This is a wonderful, fun love story within a tight knit island school community. I especially loved the underlying messages of seeking joy and happiness in everyday life during challenge & difficult times


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51168993

Center's books are a joy to read. You know you're going to get humor. You know you're going to get heartfelt. You know you're going to get real life problems but with hope that life goes on and things work out and joy can always be found! Center creates characters you fall in love with and become invested in. What You Wish For is no different. I absolutely loved it!

I adored this book! Kudos to Katherine Center for writing another book that brings out all the feels. Neither of the two main characters, Sam and Duncan, are perfect, but yet they help make each other better throughout the course of the book. I felt invested in both of them, and was rooting for them both individually and as a pair. I found this book to have a very hopeful vibe to it, despite challenges that the characters are working to overcome. Even though I felt the book was a tad bit predictable, I 100% enjoyed the journey that Center takes you on from beginning to end.

I instantly felt a connection to Sam and her passion as a librarian, falling in love with her honesty, quirkiness, and dedication to her students and reading. Even better, I wanted to be a teacher at the Kempner school! The rawness of the fear and courage shared by Sam, Duncan, Babette and Alice kept me going every chapter. I now want to visit Galveston even more -Katherine Center, you've done it again!

Katherine Center hit the nail right on the head with her novel What You Wish For. It speaks of the challenges teachers face everyday in our schools. Sam and fun interesting activities that motivate and nurture learning and the Duncan side of administration of safety and testing, etc. I loved the. book being a former elementary teacher and now librarian in a world of school shootings, viruses, testing, as well as adorable students to teach. The Book also reminds us to not judge a book by its cover or a person until we walk in their shoes..

Well once again I find myself having to use my "wish I had liked it more" file. I was so looking for a book that could provide me with the old "take me away" mode so needed in the climate we find ourselves in today. Thinking if anyone could do that, make me escape to fun times it would be this author. However, sadly, as much as I wanted it to do just that, it was disappointing.

I think for me it was all those joyfully foolish moments. People acting like clowns really in their everyday lives made me question and wonder if indeed there are people who go over the top to make themselves seen? Perhaps this is not the time for clownish behavior, and of course today's unceasing wave of doom and gloom does impact how one feels about absurdity. The characters, while they did have their "joyous" moments, seemed pretty stilted, almost being forced to be outlandish, ridiculous, and in situations that seemed so implausible.

I did like the theme of keeping our children safe in a school setting and of course this is a totally relevant concept. Covering the topic of epilepsy was also something that added to the story. Unfortunately, for me it was just not enough to make the book flow the way I wanted it to. Presenting these relevant topics was something that did add a bit of seriousness to the tale Samantha and Duncan, however, and for that I continued to read this book and not end it before its conclusion.

I so loved this author's last book The Things You Save In A Fire, where I thought her characters seemed like true to life real people. In this book, they seemed like characticures of themselves, acting more like what might have been expected of them, and not what they really wanted to do or be.

So sadly, this book was not for me. I am not giving up on this author as I have enjoyed other of her stories. I am sure many will love this tale so please do take a look at other reviews. My "wish I had liked it more" file gains another addition unfortunately.

Great read! "What You Wish For" touches my heart because I am an elementary teacher who tries to find the joy in every day with my precious students. The setting near the ocean is also near to my heart because it is a place that I love to vacation to get away from it all.
This is a quick feel good read.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

I am so glad I was able to receive an ARC of Katherine Center's new book What You Wish For. This author is new to me, so I dove in with no expectations. After the first few chapters, I was not sure if I was going to like this book, but I am sure glad I decided to continue on in hopes of changing my mind.

Katherine's character are written to make you feel like you have known them for a long time. You root for the heroes and boo at the antagonists. This really gets you invested in her fabulous storytelling.

This novel is very timely with all the scary realities we are currently facing.
It teaches you that we all must help each other in order to gain our own best life.

I would encourage you to give this heart-warming book a try, you will not be sorry you did. As for me, I will definitely be seeking out some of the other books Katherine Center has penned!

I LOVE this book! It was just what I needed to read. It was fear and joy and laughter and it made me love the characters. I love the exchanges between Duncan and Sam and I rooted for them the entire time. I love how this book made me laugh out loud (Christmas carols)! 😂 I highly recommended this book when it comes out. Katherine Center, you've done it again. 😊

I really enjoyed reading What You Wish For by Katherine Center. It was a delightful story.

I absolutely adored Sam as the main character. She was bold and built up the courage to stand up for her school. She was also cute and lovesick and times. I loved getting to know her and see her go for what she believes in. Honestly, Sam would be a great role model in my life if she were a real person and I can aspire to be more like her. She also demonstrated strength and determination to overcome her obstacles and to always find joy in her life.

Overall, this novel was beautiful and heartfelt. The book was an easy read - perfect for lightening the mood during these gloomy pandemic times. I certainly look forward to reading more of Katherine Center’s books in the future.

It started off a little slow but I enjoyed the subject matter and how well-developed most of the characters were. This was a good read and I’d love to recreate the library stairs!

Thanks to author Katherine Center and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was just the book I needed to read right now. An engrossing story focused on engaging characters with unique personalities, a variety of realistic issues, plus a plot both believable and fresh. If you're looking for a memorable feel-good story, I encourage you to read this ultimately joyful book!

I think we all have those authors whose new releases we wait anxiously for. The authors whose books we feel comfortable recommending just by the author alone, knowing they're all great. Katherine Center is one of those authors for me. Her books always end up on my summer reading guide, they're always among the books that I recommend to friends. What You Wish For will be going on my summer reading guide for sure. While each character has a secret, I appreciate that I didn't feel like their secrets were overly drawn out. Each was revealed at the perfect time. I really fell in love with these characters and would love to read another book set in this world.

Such a sweet story... great book to read to get your mind off of what the world is going through.... a story of hope and finding happiness. This is a story of two educators that worked together previously and have ended up in the same elementary school. This time around Duncan is the principal. He’s had something dramatic happen to him and Sam helps him get to who he use to be.

I really expected to love this book because I read Katherine Center's, Things You Save in a Fire and dearly loved it! This book fell flat for me after it had so many things going for it. The story takes place on Galveston Island, Texas, a place I live very close to. It was about schools and a librarian and I’m a retired teacher/librarian. It had romance in it and I love romance! But, this story did not make me want to sit and read for hours, it didn’t excite me, in fact, I really just wanted it to end! The book had too many characters that I didn't care for and a school that sounded like none I've ever worked in. There was of course, a case of unrequited love that had no sparks or believably. Sorry, it was just not a book for me.

Another must-read from Katherine Center. The story keeps you guessing, and keeps you needing more. A sweet, lovely story that just wants the reader to keep on going. Duncan is wonderful, and Samantha is a gem. As always, worth a buy.

This book touches on school shootings, in a soft way. A new principal comes to a very creative school and totally changes things. New principal knows one of the teachers from another school. There is tension and romance between the two. What You Wish For is absolutely lovely. You will find love!!

As has happened with every Katherine Center book I've read to date, I finished What You Wish For in tears. Katherine has a beautiful style of writing that fully immerses you in the world she has created. I particularly enjoyed her description of the characters' clothing in this book, from crazy hats to knee high socks to sweater sets to ties.

What You Wish For has similar themes to other Katherine Center books, such as dealing with trauma and loss. Katherine is not afraid to write about real issues and pain, but her characters who feel like lifelong friends and hopeful themes are the real star of this book. In short summation, Sam is a librarian at a school that is run by Babette and Max, who she views as parent figures and mentors. When a new principal steps in to run the school, who Sam knows from her previous teaching job in California, things begin to change at the school - and not for the better. Sam's motto of choosing joy each day is a strong theme throughout the book.

What You Wish For is an absolute delight. There is romance, but this is not fluffy chick lit. I heartily recommend that everyone pick up a copy of this book so you can laugh and cry and be moved, which I promise you will be.