I love everything Katherine Center! As a Houston/Galveston girl her books make me love my city even more. What You Wish For was a delightful story where happy endings do come true. Samantha, the quirky librarian will win the heart of readers along with the other characters in Galveston. Katherine Center's storytelling makes me want to visit Galveston again soon just to walk where her characters walked.

I think I've been waiting not-very-patiently for this book for at least a year and a half when I saw on Katherine Center's instagram that she was in Galveston doing research for a book starring Duncan from Happiness for Beginners. I already knew right then and there that I would love this book no matter what, but in many ways, it surprised me and surpassed my expectations in ways I was not expecting. I originally expected lightheartedness and silly jokes throughout but there were some highly serious issues tackled in this book in a very realistic and universal way.

Needless to say, I really had no idea what this was about (aside from Duncan) until a few weeks ago when I read the synopsis here on Goodreads and I was quite surprised that Duncan might not be the incredibly easygoing and carefree character that I'd grown to adore in Happiness for Beginners. Why? How? Ahhh!! I knew there'd be a reason for it, and I knew I'd love it anyway, so when I got the ARC in an e-mail from St. Martin's Press I dropped everything and started it that same day.

This book has some amazing underlying themes of seeking joy instead of sorrow, embracing friendships and relationships and friends becoming your family. There are several health issues that are touched on. I knew (hoped!!!) there would be a tiny mention of Helen and Jake from Happiness for Beginners, and that surpassed all my wildest expectations. I adored the setting including the incredible-sounding school environment. I choked up during several lines of this book and also grinned wider than ever other times. The side characters including all of the other teachers at the school (especially Alice with her math t-shirts!!) and a delightfully inquisitive 3rd grader named Clay were fun and multi-faceted.

Fans of Katherine Center's books will adore this one, I'm sure. I really, really enjoyed the ending, and of course, the epilogue, but there are lines throughout this that I want to underline and remind myself of daily. Steam-wise and romance wise, this falls closer in line with Happiness for Beginners than Things you Save in a Fire in case anyone is curious about that. This book was inspiring, hopeful, funny, realistic, heart-wrenching, beautiful, and so special. I can't recommend it enough. :)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This review is going to be long because OMG. I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. This book has some 90s rom-com nostalgia, for real.. It's like hope floats and Never Been Kissed. I can't pinpoint why it makes me think if these but it does.

Casey is so loveable. She is hilarious and I just imagine her as a fast-talking, unable to shut up, awkward, Lorelai Gilmore. And I love my Gilmore Girls, hence my daughter being named Lorelai. Casey is energetic and her joy is contagious.

I loved the theme of this book. When life knocks you down, make your own joy!

And that's the thing. Life WILL knock you down. It can make the best day ever turn into the worst within seconds. It will throw you curve balls. It will leave you shattered into a million pieces lying on the floor begging to be saved. Life will throw you way more pain than joy. But the best part is leaving that pain behind and finding joy. Life doesn't usually leave joy on your front steps. You have to find it! But it can be found in most places, in the silliest of things. Like being with your family in the middle of the night at Waffle House, and singing Don't Stop Believing, loud and proud. It IS making up silly dances (my husband's favorite is my happy dance. Slightly bend. Put one arm in front and one in back, and start twisting them.) It can be found in children's laughter, or watching a snail crawl. I mean have you ever watched it? It's kind of mesmerizing! It's watching snow fall or hearing the rain. It's choosing to see the joy of things and finding your happiness.

Don't get me wrong this book deals with some heavy things. Some that I worry about everyday with little kids. I am not going to talk about them because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, before it has even come out. I will probably do another review after it is released. Then I will go into more detail.

As you can tell, I love this book. It will be in my top reads for this year.

'Never miss a chance to celebrate.'

Katherine Center's latest novel, like all her novels, is utterly delightful. While I ultimately prefer Things You Save in a Fire, I still stayed up until 3 AM finishing this story. Once it gets going, it's hard to put down.

The theme, choosing joy, really resonates. It's a lesson we should all take to heart. Told entirely from Samantha's perspective, she's a quirky character trying desperately to come to terms with several life-altering events. Enter Duncan--the one who got away several years before, who happens to be dealing with a life-altering event of his own. You're left with two semi-broken characters who eventually find completion in each other.

I love Katherine Center, but after reading three of her books in the past 12 months, I quickly realized they're a smidge formulaic. It's nothing which would prevent me from reading her future releases, but it definitely makes things predictable. As for What You Wish For, the overall plot wasn't entirely interesting to me--set almost entirely in a private elementary school, it's not particularly relatable. And if I'm being entirely honest, for the first third of the story, I intensely disliked both Samantha and Duncan...they were so over-the-top. These are the reasons I opted to rate this book 3.5.

Despite my grumbles, I still enjoyed this book...especially Chuck Norris. And my absolutely favorite part was 'high-on-drugs' Duncan. 🤣

Recommended to those who who enjoy contemporary romance novels or beachy-type reads. Pick up a copy of your own July 14, 2020.

'**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I've debated about whether I should give this book a four-star rating or a five-star rating. I really enjoyed it, but there were a few little things that bothered me. However, I loved the emphasis on choosing joy.

What you wish for? I read to wish this book ASAP and I’m really thankful to my lucky stars and witchy powers. Here I am. I devoured it at one sit. I’m personally in love with those amazing characters. I’m giggling like imbecile teenager (so happy you haven’t met with my 13 years old version, you would like to punch me to wipe my ridiculous smile) seeing the vivid colors of the world that wash my heart with pure joy (See! I started to talk like Anne from Green Gables! This is side effect of reading something so powerful and beautiful)

I think Katherine Center’s books should be sold at drugstore because they’re the best medicines for human souls. You laugh, you cry, you smile, you sigh and as soon as you finish it, the positive energy took control of your nervous system. You want to dance, you want to sing and you want to share your joy with your loved ones.

In my opinion all those shrinks suggest to their patients to read her books instead of prescribing mind-number, meaningless pills.
This book is a little different from her previous works. The characters still deal with traumatic problems, carrying their burdens, and this is amazing self-discovery, friendship, solidarity book like her previous books but I have to admit this is most romantic story that the author wrote. Samantha and Duncan’s are easy to resonate and their longtime love story melts your heart.

Samantha changes her life by quitting her job, starting over at Galveston, Texas, renting a place at lovely 60 year old couple Babette and Max’s house, working at their school. She lost her family (mother died, father is out of the picture) when she was young. So Babette and Max was not only her bosses, but also became her best friends, her real family till the day Max loses his life at their anniversary party.

Samantha deals with her illness since from her own childhood, keeps as secret from everyone which also prevents her to form a romantic relationship. She only fell in love with one man but as she finds out her love is unrequited and the man moved on his life with another woman, she moves to Texas with Max and Babette’s help changes her perspective, bringing more color, joy, love, happiness into her life, getting rid of grey clothes, wearing polka dots, clown socks, flowered hats, sharing her happiness and knowledge with young kids.

Then she finds out, after Max’s death, a new principal will take his place, the very same person she fell in love six years ago, making her quit her job.: Duncan Carpenter is going to be her new boss. When she thinks she has to quit again, she gets shocked with the personal changes of Duncan. The man she fell in love is gone. A strict, serious, business oriented, cold, humorless man took over his place. It feels like he suffers from amnesia or her evil twin took over his place. And new Duncan decides to turn their colorful, entertaining, heavenly school into a grey, soulless prison with his over sensitive, extreme safety precautions. So Samantha has to do something to save her school and learn what happened to playful, entertaining, friendly Duncan.

Samantha lives in the shadows, wearing grey, feeling blue till she comes to Galveston and rediscovers herself, begins to blossom. Now she has a plan to bring the old Duncan back, showing him the real colors of life and pure joy of happiness.
But you know the happiness does not come easily. You gotta put your heart at risk, open your mind and soul to grab it as like Samatha said at the book: “I bite and scratch and claw my way toward happiness every day”

This is beautiful journey about love, grief, loss, friendship, pain, suffer, losing and finding yourself.

Both Samantha and Duncan suffer from their own traumatic pasts, both of them still hurt but as Samantha raises her head to see the stars at the darkest time of the night, Duncan prefers to hide behind the shadows. Now Samantha will teach him find his true colors.

Max , Babette, math nerd bestie Alice (she needs her own book, I loved her sense of humor and taste of outfits!), brainerd Clay are my other favorite characters.

Overall: I truly loved it so much. It’s feel-good, addictive, astonishing, entertaining, inspirational book about love, happiness, second chances and personal growth with memorable characters. Let’s not forget its beautiful cover!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this incredible ARC of one of my favorite authors in exchange my honest review. And dear Katherine Center, please keep on writing your amazing stories.

I was so excited to get the email that I’d been approved to read the new Katherine Center book! I had really enjoyed the last 2 so I knew I had a treat in store.

Aside from being a great romantic story with unique characters, the book also had great things to say about facing fears and moving through obstacles. I recommend this to anyone who likes a romantic story with endearing characters.

I got a surprise email today notifying me that I had been sent an ARC of this by the publisher. What a way to brighten up a Monday.

Kathleen Center's books always have such a great balance of bitter and sweet. This one starts with a tragedy when our plucky heroine, Sam, loses her beloved father figure during his birthday celebration. He was the founder and principal of the school she teaches at, and is the center of the community. In the aftermath, a new principal is brought in with a totally different philosophy and style. Sam knew him in a past life as a fun loving, cool teacher, so to see him acting like a cold robot is baffling to her. The school is coping with their grief while dealing with the changes he is bringing about. Watching them all band together to save their happy little school is truly enjoyable. Watching Sam bloom as a person and deal with her past and current reality with the help of her friends and the new version of the man she used to know makes this a heartwarming read.

I love Katherine Center and her way of crafting a good tale. I couldn't put this one down, it was the perfect antidote for this rainy Monday.