I have very mixed feelings about What You Wish For.

I spent the first half of the book questioning a lot. Am I supposed to feel bad for Sam? Am I supposed to think she's kind of immature? Is this kind of school something that actually exists? Is the pacing weird or is it just me?

I felt the entire book got bogged down a bit in the details of Sam's inner thoughts. If those had been cut down by half, so we got back to the dialogue faster, I think it would have been a far more successful effort.

Duncan's backstory was totally predictable but I don't think that was a bad thing. I think it was a subject that was well handled in the end. Sam's health situation wasn't as well handled. I kind of had a hard time believing it. I don't know if that was how it was all written or if it was fictionalized and not well researched.

The second half was better, albeit somewhat silly and rushed. Duncan's evolution seemed too quick. If we had spent less time in Sam's head throughout maybe there would have been more time to deal with this.

The writing itself was fine it just seemed like it needed a bit of fine-tuning. I will say there were definitely some standout moments that made me laugh, swoon or nearly cry, but they were too infrequent and certainly didn't come during the first half when I spent most of my time with one eyebrow raised.
2 stars for the first half and 4 for the second so 3 for the entire book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last summer I devoured Things You Save In a Fire on my vacation and I’ve been saving What You Wish For for this summer’s vacation and it didn’t disappoint. The perfect “feel good”, “find the joy”, “life is too short” type of book to submerse yourself in. Quirky characters, laugh out loud dialogue but poignant topics that hit all the feels.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Center had me pulled into this story and rooting for the teachers, our librarian, Sam and even the prison warden, principal, Duncan. This book had me feeling so many emotions from joy and fun to frustration and anger. The message of choosing joy because sometimes it doesn't happen on it's own is beautiful. Center did a great job of using Max's character to embed little snippets of wisdom and teach the reader life lessons in a sweet and loving way. I, also, loved the imagery of the school in this book. I wanted to visit this place and send my daughter to school there. The library had me dying it sounded so amazing and beautiful with a tunnel of books and reading nooks and a view of the ocean. And the butterflies sounded unreal, but were written in such a way that I felt as though I could see them and I was devastated when they were gone. The school was just so bright and colorful and then Duncan happens and he's very grey and wants to paint the world grey. Sam is also bright and colorful from her pink bangs to her clown socks whereas Duncan is just grey. There is quite the clash between these 2 opposites who definitely attract building into a hate to love relationship where they learn about each other's struggles and weaknesses and help each other to grow. Each of them had their own story and background making them feel real and adding to the story to bring it more depth. The story is so sweet and touching and I was so immersed in it; I was even reading it sneakily while at work.

I discovered Katherine Center's books a little late to the game with Things You Save In A Fire, and have been catching myself up on her delicious novels ever since. You know you are going to get a consistently good story, great characters, and pages you need to turn. I am grateful for an ARC from NetGalley of What You Wish For.
Sam is a funky school librarian, always looking out for her students, as school librarians do, and always focusing on the positive. She is a make lemonade person who wears bright colors, rides her bike everywhere, and has just discovered that the newly hired principal at her private school is a former crush. Duncan, the new principal, hired by the school's trustees when their founding principal dies suddenly, is intensely focused on school safety, to the point that Sam feels he is taking away the school's essence and character. Her whimsical spirit clashes over and over with Duncan's rules and regulations, and the hard line he takes on safety. Things come to a head when the son of the president of the school's Board of Trustees disappears and the entire community searches for him, Sam and Duncan included.

What You Wish For is a great summer read, perhaps a little contrived, but oh so satisfying. Grab a copy for the beach (or backyard) and dig in!

In Katherine Center's What You Wish For, Sam has chosen to embrace joy. She's a librarian at a local elementary school and loves quirky things like polka dots and dying her hair pink. She loves the leadership at her school and has found other teachers who embrace joy just like her.

She moved from another school a few years ago and hasn't really kept in touch with the other teachers she used to work with. She mainly left because of a crush on another colleague who didn't return any of the feelings that Sam had for him and she needed a new start.

When tragedy strikes and a new principal enters her elementary school none of the teachers know what to make of it. But Sam knows Duncan or rather she used to know Duncan when they worked together a few years ago. This is the same Duncan that Sam had a crush on.

Sam knows that Duncan used to be so great with kids! He was funny and kind and was always a shining light. But principal Duncan is not the same Duncan that she knew when they taught together in the past. This Duncan is hell bent on re-doing the schools security. He sees everything that Sam and the other teachers love as a potential hazard and way for intruders to get in to the school and harm children. With the rising amount of school shootings in America, Duncan is out to make a change. And to make matters worse he doesn't seem to remember Sam. Will Sam be able to get through to him and to preserve the school that she loves so much.

Katherine Center is such a talented author. I love her prose and the ability and ease in which I can read her books. But I wasn't clicking with the characters in What You Wish For. I felt for Sam and Duncan respectively, but also felt that at times there was too much going on in the story. The ending felt rushed and I didn't really care much for the side story that was woven in at the end. A lot of character arcs felt incomplete and I didn't feel emotionally connected to them.

What You Wish For was still an enjoyable read, but I wanted to love it more than I did. Overall I would give it 3.5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

Katherine Center never lets me down. She combines real life and medical issues with romance and produces a winner. Sam is a great flaky kooky character who has found her people at Kempner School. Max, Babette and Alice along with Sam have created the perfect school- until Duncan shows up. It took some time to discover why he was so against fun and creativity but he did have his reasons. Between his PTSD and Sams epilepsy, their future seemed hopeless. Leave it to 9 year old Clay and a. beached whale to save the day. A truly delightful read.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy for an honest review,
Katherine Center writes such beautifully flawed characters that take you on a ride of heartache , forgiveness , love and growth. Her novels are so uplifting even during the saddest moments. Great job as usual.

I stayed up late and read this beautiful tome last night! Katherine Center has done it again....of course she has. She has SUCH a way with words; it's like she is talking right to you, and you're both covered up in a soft blanket. She never rushes, but she gets right to the main conflict, which I love. I will forever be a fan!

Katherine Center does it again! I devoured this book, not wanting to put it down after i began. I found myself rooting for the characters and wanting them to love themselves despite their trauma and difficulties. It was a heart warming, feel-good kind of book and I loved it

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel. 5 joyful stars! Katherine Center is a must-read author for me and this book is just as wonderful as her previous ones.

Samantha (Sam) is a school librarian at a very progressive, encouraging elementary school in Galveston, TX. After leaving CA escaping an unrequited love, Duncan, she has fought to become a different person - one who embraces joy, loves bright colors, has pink bangs! This transformation was put into place with the loving attention of her surrogate parents, Max & Babette, owners of the school. But when Max suddenly dies and Duncan is hired as his replacement, it's an unrecognizable Duncan. This Duncan no longer is joyful - he's changing the school into a fortress for protection, wiping away the very fabric of the school.

As in her other books, this author is a master of feel-good novels that make you want to live better! This one is all about joy - how it is something we choose, not something that just happens. A good lesson for all of us! But her writing style just pulls you into the story until you turn the last page. There is a group of fabulous characters in this book - Alice and Clay were favorites! Plus - the descriptions of these teachers and how they made school such a fabulous place to be for students is truly inspirational. I wish I could see that library! Highly recommended!

I loved loved loved this book! Sam screams Jess from the TV series New Girl, and I found myself reading this novel as the transcript of a full season. Being a huge New Girl fan, I gobbled every word and could not read fast enough! It was the perfect read at the perfect time for me and I could not be happier to have read it. I can’t even say enough good things about it; the writing, the characters, the storyline were all spot on perfect. Five out of five solid stars!

An excellent, poignant and heartwarming story that made me smile and think.
I loved the storytelling, the style of writing and the great characters.
Highly recommened.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I did really enjoy this read. At another point in time, I may have strayed to the opinion that this book was too cheesy, but given current circumstances I feel like we could all use a little bit of positive, joyfully cheesy-ness in our lives. I did find a lot of the book to be predictable, but again, that’s part of what made this a great relaxing summer read while I was floating in the pool. While this book wasn’t life-altering for me, it was enjoyable and I flew through it quickly. The banter was fun, the atmosphere was a dream, and I found a good happy ending to whisk me away for a few hours.

What You Wish For is the eighth novel by author Katherine Center. Set in Galveston and revolving around the Kempner School, the main character of this story is Samantha (Sam) Casey, the school’s librarian. Sam has been at the Kempner School for four years and has become an integral part of the ‘family’. She is as close to Max and Babette Kempner as though they were her parents. When Max suddenly dies, the entire Kempner community is devastated. Their leader is gone. When Sam learns that Duncan Carpenter, someone she taught with in California, will be their new leader she is both elated and miserable at the thought of seeing him again.

She remembers Duncan as a happy go lucky educator that thrilled and elated his students, luring them into learning. What arrived on their first day back was a drab, buttoned up authoritarian. Whatever had happened to the man she had known, and loved?

This is a beautifully told story with many twists. It will tug at your heart but also leave you winded at times as the tale unfolds. I did ver much enjoy this book and I do recommend it!!

I’ve loved Katherine Center’s previous books, and wasn’t disappointed with this one. A wonderful story about fun, creative people, enriching children’s s lives, while providing wonderful learning experiences.
Sam loves her job as a librarian at a unique school in Texas. She loves the owners of the private school, Max and Babette and the other wonderful teachers there. And then a co worker from the past shows up, to take over as Principal and everything changes.
This is a story of relationships that can survive the most difficult situation, friendships that endure tragedy and change and affects lives in different ways.
Katherine Centers is a wonderful story tellers with warm colorful characters that just make you wish you knew them too. This was a feel good tale, with its share of pain and sadness, but an ending that made me smile.
My thanks to #StMartin’sPress and #NetGalley for the ARC All opinions are my own! I loved this book!

Having enjoyed the previous two novels I've read by this author, I didn't hesitate to request an ARC of this story. Katherine Center packs an emotional punch with her writing and the topics she chooses. Unfortunately, <i>What You Wish For</i> just fell flat for me. I figured out pretty early on what triggered Duncan's personality change and I absolutely never connected with Samantha. I don't feel like the two actually even liked each other but bam, here's your relationship. I also felt like a lot of Duncan's emotional labor was put on Sam and I just didn't really ever find my groove with this one. I will continue to read Center's work but this one wasn't my favorite.

This is my fourth Katherine Center book - I guess you could say I'm a fan. I've come to know what to expect from Center. There will be a love story, there will be great relationships between friends and family, there will be some heavy subject matter that never seems to weigh the book down, and there will be a happily-ever-after. Given the times we're living in right now, knowing that everything would be fine in the end is one of the reasons I jumped at the chance to review this book.

As with all of her books, Center has filled What You Wish For with humor - Sam's best friend is a math teacher who wears t-shirts every day with math jokes on them, Sam dresses like Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus, and the dialogue often felt like it was straight out of a rom-com movie. It's not all fun - Center tackles divorce, the struggles of having epilepsy, death, and school shootings. But Center never touches on the tough subjects without also offering hope. The message here is that we should all "pay attention to the things that connect you to joy."
"'What does joy have to do with anything?' 'Joy is important.' Was it? I don't know...[j]oy seems pretty expendable. But Max just smiled. 'It's one of the secrets to life that no one ever tells you. Joy cures everything.'...'Joy is an antidote to fear. To anger. To boredom. To sorrow.' 'But you can't just decide to feel joyful.' 'True. But you can decide to do something joyful.'"
Isn't that what we've all been trying to do lately? Having to decide to do something joyful? Center suggests that it can be as simple as wearing fun cloths:
"I wasn't hiding anymore. I was a lady with a flower hat now. Faced with darkness, I had chosen flowers. And polka dots. And light."
I loved that message; I needed that message right now. It was enough to keep me reading even though I didn't entirely buy on to the reason Sam left the school she used to work work and even when, at times, it felt like Duncan's and Sam's relationship went forward and backward a little too much. I cared about these characters and I wanted them to heal and find the happiness. And light.

When I found out that Katherine Center had a new book coming out, I hit up my contact at St Martin's Press right away. I didn't even read the description, I went on blind faith because I read Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away last year and couldn't believe how good they were. I have no idea how Katherine Center keeps topping herself, but her books keep getting better and better with each release. What You Wish For is a poignant, beautiful story of loss, grief, and learning to let others in that everyone should have on their TBR this summer.

What is the book about?

What You Wish For takes place in a small community that is anchored around the local elementary school. Helmed by a beloved principal, the school is known for its passion for creativity and the arts - but when the heart and soul of the school dies, the fate of the school is put in jeopardy. Enter Duncan - a previously goofy, currently authoritarian man hired to be the new principal. His priority for the school is improving the security, even at the cost of the school's signature creativity. Samantha must take the time to figure out what the hell happened to Duncan, and quickly figure out how she can save her school.

Lets talk about Samantha

Samantha was a great lead for this book - she wielded her bright and colorful clothing as armor, loved her job, and was fiendishly dedicated to her little corner of the school. She was the exact opposite of Duncan: optimistic in the face of her medical struggles and experiences. It was this optimism that I loved - it wasn't born out of naiveté, she made the conscious decision every day to not let her medical issues hold her back. Though, through flashbacks, we do get to see who she was before she decided to take control of her life and not let her medical issues control her. She was a genuinely caring character, who loved her friends, and treated them all like family.

The Max of it all

Even though Max, the principal of the school, passed away in the first pages of the book, he is still a massive presence throughout the rest of the story. Almost every character in the book had a Max-ism (or a lesson Max taught them) that influenced the very core of their character. For example, he was the one who helped Sam through the aftermath of her last major medical episode. He helped her learn to take control of her life, and taught her ways to seek out joy (and to stop using a neutral wardrobe as an invisibility cloak). Max left a true void in this book, but he also continued to teach and improve the lives of the people at his school. For not actually having a physical presence for 99% of the book, Max was a hell of a character.

Lets talk about Duncan

Duncan was also an artfully crafted character - in the beginning, he was a ruthless authoritarian, implementing sweeping (and creativity oppressing) changes in Samantha's beloved school. He wasn't always this way: he and Sam had previously worked at the same school, where he was a colorful, fun loving teacher. He was the goofy teacher: the one who spearheaded pancake days and wore crazy outfits, and set a standard for the rest of the teachers at his school. The best part of this book was the exploration of how such a beloved, colorful teacher became a dictator principle obsessed with security. The arc he experiences as he slowly sheds this strict persona is one of the best examples of character growth I've read in a long time.

How cute were they together?

These two had the cutest relationship - and it even began as an unrequited crush. When Sam and Duncan previously worked together, Sam developed a deep crush for Duncan - an unrequited one. Duncan was in a relationship at the time, and when rumors started circulating that he would be proposing to his girlfriend soon, Sam decided to give herself a fresh start and move to Max's school. When the two are reunited, they have no chemistry - Sam was even plotting to get Duncan fired. However, cracks started to show in Duncan's carefully crafted facade, and their (slow burn) chemistry kicked off. I really loved that their chemistry grew organically as they got to know each other - it felt realistic and raw. They slowly discovered truths about each other and fell for each other in a really natural way - they were definitely one of my favorite rom-com couples.

Verdict

What You Wish For is a topical, meaningful contemporary book with a sweet underlying romance. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next - and I would highly recommend everyone who is a fan of contemporary books pick up her previous books (see my reviews for Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away). Do yourself a favor and add this book to your summer reading list, I promise you won't regret it. 5/5

The entire Kempner School community is reeling from the sudden death of principal and school founder, Max. Librarian Sam (Samantha) Casey is equal parts elated and traumatized when she learns Duncan Carpenter will be leading the school. She worked with the charismatic Duncan years earlier, and like most of the school's population, she was in love with him.

But the Duncan Carpenter who arrives in Galveston at the beginning of the school year is not the Duncan she knew years ago. Instead of fun-loving and engaging, he is stern, obsessed with school safety, and determined to suck all that is good out of Kempner School.

She isn't surprised that he doesn't seem to know her. Not only was she beneath his notice when they previously worked together, she was determined not to stand out; now, Sam wears bright, colorful clothing and is unafraid to speak her mind. As much as she hates what he's become, she still finds herself drawn to him, and is unofficially appointed the liaison to determine what's going on.

As Max's widow and other members of the school community cooperate to rehabilitate Duncan, Sam finds herself changing as well, but what is unchanged is her love for Duncan. But will one final betrayal destroy their budding relationship?

A timely and engaging novel, with a strong romantic element that is saved from being too trite by the very real issues Sam and Duncan must address. #WhatYouWishFor #NetGalley

I enjoyed this one,
Katherine Center writes in a very beautiful way.
I particularly didn't connect with the main character, but I still was able to connect with the book,

The book is about living without fear, I loved that...

I recommend this if you are looking for a light summer read!