This is a beautiful love story that I couldn't put down. Samantha & Duncan as well as all of the other characters were so much fun to get to know. They had so much depth & life that they leapt off of the pages. I love the realness of the stories for all of the characters, & I think everyone should read this book.

A wonderful book which follows a woman after a health crisis. She chooses to live her life to the fullest, in a world of color instead of neutrals, enjoying all it has to offer. When a man from her past comes to her school, she's shocked to find how he has changed. Little by little, it's revealed why he is different, and with her ebullient influence, he finds his way back to living life. Their journey shows you can get what you wish for.

**Received an ARC from netgalley**

What You Wish For by Katherine Center is my least favorite of her most recent works, but I still really enjoyed the story. The message to choose joy, and to not live your life in fear, is a very relevant and relatable message for this time. So many issues in our lives can keep us living in fear, or choosing to take steps to live in the moment and enjoy the little things while we can.

What brought the story down for me was the multitude of reminders and descriptions of how amazing and silly and perfect Duncan is - it felt just too repetitive to be reminded in multiple chapters.

I enjoyed the journey they took together to find themselves and each other, and of course to find joy. Mentions of trauma they both faced was also important for the story and for their personal growth. The ending has a nice feeling of resolution, but it just fell a little short in the full package for me.

I had just finished reading this one when I was able to get my hands on the audio version and WOW! I recommend both versions. Samantha Casey is the librarian for an elementary school who suffers the devastating loss of their principal. This left the staff floundering until they are notified their new principal will be someone from her past. Duncan Carpenter is nothing like he was before, now he all buttoned up and only worried about security. All his plans for the school will basically take away all the joy and make it like a prison. Sam cannot believe it but will she stand for it? What is behind all of this transformation? This was a very well written story that was not only emotional but also redeeming.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher (both versions) via NetGalley**

As a long time fan of Katherine Center's work, I was looking forward to "What You Wish For." This novel is both heart-wrenching and sweet. At times, I was frustrated with the characters but I loved the opportunity to revisit beloved characters from her previous novel "Happiness for Beginners." This story was also a bright spot in the current pandemic environment. This joyful attack on life was just what I needed.

A wonderful, entertaining romance novel with quirky characters that draws the reader into the story from page one. There's even a subplot about PTSD and how we can choose joy over sorrow! This is the third book that I have read written by Katherine Center and this is by far my favorite! Five stars all the way! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center and this book was just as incredible. Delightful story with emotional plot and wonderful characters. Relished every word and so sorry I finished quickly.

Sam Casey is happy with where life has taken her. She has a cute little apartment, a job she loves as a school librarian, bosses and co workers that she considers family. Sure, she's single and feels like she doesn't deserve to be loved, but that can be managed, right?
After the death of Max, cofounder of the school she works for and beloved father figure, her life comes grinding to a halt. Along with her devastating grief, she finds out that Duncan Carpenter- whom she left another school over- will be Max's replacement. Duncan Carpenter, aside from being her unrequited love, will fit in wonderfully at the school with his love of kids and belief that learning should be fun.
Except, that's not the Duncan that shows up. This Duncan Carpenter, formally sunshiine and rainbows in now Mr Carpenter- humorless and colorless, who wants to change everything wonderful about the school she loves.
I am not usually a fan of romance novels, but if Katherine Center has written it, I am sure to read it. My love of her novels began with 2019's "Things You Save in a Fire," which was one of my first ARCs from Netgalley. "What You Wish For" popped up in an email from Netgalley as one I'd been automatically chosen to review, and I could not pass it up.
"Things You Save in a Fire" made me laugh out loud and sob, but "What You Wish For" hit me in a different way. You see, Sam is epileptic and it's a big part of her character. I'm also epileptic and from the page she mentioned her seizure disorder, I was dreading where Center would take it. But, Center didn't make it weird, she didn't make it a horrible disability that limits what you can do in life.
Along with getting epilepsy right, she got PTSD right. There were just enough details to understand Duncan's change in personality. I did know what was going on and what would happen, but predictability isn't always a big deal for me. I'm more about the character arcs, which Center brings.
This is sure to be a reread for me in the future, as well as one I recommend if you enjoy sweet romance, or crying. Or both.
All in all, I give "What You Wish For" a 5/5. I love Center's writing style, and I loved the story.
(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Stories like this one are exactly what I need during this stay at home order. I loved What You Wish For so much! The plot line is arguably predictable, But the overall story is lighthearted and emotional with characters dealing with change and loss.

Samantha Casey works as the librarian at a well-regarded, progressive elementary school in Galveston. She is happy with her work and friends and the life that she has built for herself after moving to the city about five or six years ago. Sam is such a likable character - quirky and independent, while also displaying vulnerability and relatability. Her own self-reflection and growth resonated with me, and I appreciated the messaging of enjoying oneself and finding joy whenever one can.

This story brought to life how Sam experienced her own personal journey of overcoming obstacles and learning about herself. I think that this ultimately enabled her to help out a former colleague, now new boss, then new love(!!!) to "find himself." Her and Duncan's story is so lovely, and yes, I knew they would end up together in the end. But I was still engrossed and rooting for them with each passing moment.

A sweet and uplifting story that also handles serious themes of death, violence, and trauma. I want to read more from Katherine Center!

Here it is: another 5 star, read under 24 hours, review. I just couldn't help it-- I love the way Katherine Center writes.
When I first heard about her latest book I knew I would need to read it right away; so I would like to thank NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for this Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book made me laugh and cry. It dove into some real-world scary stuff; things that are legitimate dangers in our current world. This could've made for a sad, depressing book. But this story is all about choosing joy, and that is just what this book does as well. The characters are fun, they all have great chemistry together, and their individual personalities and speaking styles came through the pages beautifully.
Another thing I really loved about this book was that, even though it stressed the importance of choosing to find joy every day, it didn't dismiss the real-life, joy-stealing things that happen all the time. It wasn't a fairy tale story that poofed away the sad and scary as soon as the joy was found. The sad and scary were still present, but they weren't the only thing dictating the story line. I love that. The sad and scary in our world will never poof away, but we can choose to find joy, when/where we can, despite that.

Even though this is not a genre I usually read, I decided to give this a try since I’d been hearing about it for a while, and I’m glad I did. It was an easy, quick read and an enjoyable story. The characters were like able and the boy in the story reminds me so much of a boy I know that I could picture him! I liked the banter between the two main characters. I will definitely read more by this author in the future.

I felt like the plot for the book as well as the characters and events were pretty ‘cheesy’. I felt like they were a little unrealistic and annoying at times. But despite that, the writing was very well done as the author is very talented. I read all of the way through and was glad that I did.

Katherine Center has become a want to/will read author. I loved her last novel and I was excited when I got a copy of this. The love story was cute and the approach on PTSD after a tragedy was very well done. Not very often I read about it and even less in romance novels. The novel starts pretty strong but I thought it was necessary for the unraveling of each character. Duncan definitely was my favorite and I rooted for him all the way. I am here for what Katherine Center brings next because I’m sure it’ll be just as amazing!

What a great book! It's so entertained, fun and quirky. It’s a story of the cute librarian Sam and new principal Duncan. A lot of funny situations but also emotional moments and real-life problems. Katherine Center did it again and I can’t wait for her next book.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves everything about her life and job. Max, the founder and principal of the private school she works at dies suddenly and things change quickly. Duncan Carpenter is hired to replace Max. Sam knows Duncan from her previous school. In fact, Sam’s crush on Duncan is the reason she moved on. The Duncan Sam loved was funny in a “life of the party” way. This Duncan is stern and unfriendly. In fact, he doesn’t even acknowledge that he knows Sam when they awkwardly meet again. As Duncan changes the entire set up of the school, memo by memo, Sam and Duncan both have to decide who they are and where the joy is in their life.

Samantha Casey loves her job as a school librarian--until a new principal, Duncan Carpenter, arrives as the new principal and begins enforcing rigid regulations. Sam is bewildered by Duncan because she knew him, in another school. He was funny, charming, a goof--not wearing a suit and tie, or obsessed with safety to the point that it's ruining the school she loves.

I did really enjoy the premise of this book, and the "mystery" of what happened to Duncan and how Sam can help save her school community. This book deals with school shootings (one does not happen in "real time" on the page, but it's discussed as a memory), which is obviously a really tough and heartbreaking topic, particularly in the US. This is actually the first book I've read that handles a school shooting situation, and explores the consequences for the survivors. I quite enjoyed it, and actually wish the book had delved further into Duncan's experiences or PTSD.

As it was, Duncan's behaviour is sort of shrugged off once people figure out the reason behind it all. The rest of the novel was rather fluffy--the predictable romance, the sometimes cheesy dialogue. I think there was an opportunity to add complexity to the story and character development.

Its overarching message, though, is to choose joy, which I think is something many of us need.

I can't get enough of Katherine Center! In each of her books that I've read, she has so perfectly captured the emotions and grief behind different circumstances. In What You Wish For, she brings together two people who are mourning in different ways and whose experiences have drastically changed how they show up in the world. Reading from Sam's point of view was delightful - her heart and passion brought me such joy. I loved following Sam's story as she tried to figure out what had changed Duncan so much. I once again fell in love with Katherine Center's characters and words, and I can't wait to read Happiness for Beginners now that I know Duncan made his first appearance in that book!

What You Wish For By Katherine Center is about a school librarian named Sam who gets a new principal, Duncan, after the sudden tragic passing of the prior principal. Sam knew Duncan previously as they had worked together as teachers at another school. What I like about this book is that the author seemed to really understand the mystifying career of school librarian. Contrary to popular opinion, this is not a job that just involves checking books in and out. Kudos to the author for seeing that! This is a fun read with a predictable romance angle that leaves you with a smile upon your face. Read and enjoy!

After reading and loving The Things You Save in a Fire, I jumped at the opportunity to pick up another book by Katherine Center. This cements it for me: I am a fan. Sam is a librarian who is confronted with a past crush when he is assigned as the new principal at her school. He has changed drastically since she last saw him and it's not hard to figure out what might have happened to him, but this book is about the journey these characters go through. I loved Duncan, and felt his struggles profoundly. I felt more frustration toward Sam and her tendency to cut and run. Her situation hit close to home for me, and perhaps because of that I found myself judging her reactions more, but I still felt empathy for her and rooted for her. What You Wish For had it all: it felt relevant, it was emotional, but also funny at times, the pacing was spot.on, and the characters will stay with me.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Katherine Center’s books and this was no exception. I typically read romance and read a little Women’s fiction. This is definitely my favorite Women’s fiction book I’ve read this year.