Do you know that feeling when you read a story and it feels more like a gift than merely a reading experience? That’s how I felt about this beauty of a book. What I Wish For is for Katherine Center to never stop writing such impactful, powerful stories. I’m now adding another to my all-time favorites list.

What You Wish For is an incredibly raw, emotional story about overcoming our fears, choosing joy amidst the hardships of life, and persevering through tragedy and conquering what holds us back because life and love are worth it. It’s a story about friendship, community, and nourishing the love of learning through creativity and wonder.

I devoured this story. Consumed it whole. I really don’t know what it is about this author, but she writes stories absolutely unlike any other author that I’ve ever read before. Her writing is both witty and poignant. It’s conversational, but also quotable. She makes you think deeply about things that are so pertinent but you’ve never really considered thinking deeply about before. I don’t know how it’s possible to make a reader feel every conceivable emotion in one story, but she does it, time and time again. And she writes deeply emotional stories without being manipulative or heavy-handed.

What You Wish For is such an incredible story, so moving, inspiring and heartfelt with rich storytelling and is now one of my new favorites. I will buy absolutely anything Katherine Center writes.

Rated 4.25 joyful stars.

Sometimes you just need a nice, heartwarming, feel-good book. Perhaps now more than ever. What You Wish For is that book.

Samantha (Sam) Casey is a school librarian on Galveston Island. She’s had a difficult upbringing but she’s now happy. She left her last school job because she couldn’t deal with her unrequited love for one of the teachers, Duncan Carpenter. When her school’s founder and principal sadly dies, his replacement is her old crush Duncan. But this is not the happy-go-lucky man she fell for. Gone are his colorful clothes, his fun-loving ways. He has lost his joy for life and his vision for the school will deprive it from all the joy it has. And it breaks Sam’s heart to see this happening to the place she loves.

Sam and her wonderful female friends band together to see if they can help restore joy to Duncan. And through this process, Sam can’t deny that her old feelings for Duncan are still very much alive. But like Sam, Duncan has experienced his own trauma and may be beyond saving.

Katherine Center does a great job giving her characters lots of heart and personality. Each have suffered and are working to cope. Included is third-grader Clay who is a brilliant child and has to deal with the cruelty of his classmates who see him as a nerdy, brainy, non-athletic kid and a father who is too busy to give his what he truly needs. His time.

There are times when the story gets a bit silly and Sam’s action are often impulsive and immature but when an author’s goal is to provide the reader with joy, "joy cures everything,” look beyond and relish it. And if you are new to the author, go back and read all her books.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ms. Center for the opportunity to read this lovely book in advance of its publication.

Will be posted at MicheleReader.com closer to pub date.

Pleasant romantic novel with a slow start but more rapid ending. It explores themes of gun violence, personal vulnerability, friendships, seizures and dealing with an imperfect world. Nice escapism. Received from Netgalley, rounded up from 3.5 for the genre

This is another one of those books that I hoped I would love. I’m a big fan of “Things You Save In A Fire”, but that was a much stronger book with more to keep me interested.

This novel starts very slowly as we get to know Sam, Samantha Casey, just at the time that the principal of her beloved elementary school passes away. He wasn’t just the principal, he and his wife were the life and breath of the school. All of their ideas from many years poured into the school.The school year is going to start soon but when Sam learns who the new principal is, she is frantic.

She has a long history with Duncan Carpenter as she worked with him for two years at a previous position. The Duncan that she remembers was light hearted, loved to play with the kids and made school fun, she had a major “crush” on him but never acted on it. The new Duncan is intent on changing a lot about the school. The staff quickly learns, at their first meeting, that Duncan is here to make major changes. No more field trips, no more bubbles in the yard. He is determined to remake the school into one that is as safe as possible for the students but forgetting that there are many other things that go into making a great school. The enthusiasm of the teachers is soon really quenced when he repaints the walls a sterile gray, along with changing the carpet to a boring neutral color also. Before the school was awash in children’s art, a painted rainbow, and the most unique of all, a wall of butterflies that Sam and Duncan’s wife Babette, had meticulously painted the summer before. Sam arrives one day to find the entire mural painted over.

The story reminded me a bit of the last one, a woman who has a history with someone who now shows up in her new life. Sam has changed but so has Duncan and she is determined to find out why.

Unfortunately the novel is quite predictable and they are both hiding secrets. Turns out they both have a problem with telling the people they love how they really feel and opening up to them, including any physical or emotional trauma.

At times I thought this read more like a YA novel, I didn’t feel as though the characters were particularly likable or relatable.

If you want a light beach read this would be just the ticket, for me it was a disappointment. I still got some laughs out of it and perhaps the reminder to try to find joy in everything around us.
This was a buddy read with my No Rules-Just Thrills friend, Marilyn.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
I will post the review to Amazon upon publication
This book is set to publish on July 14, 2020

I don't like sugary sweet books and I don't like romance, but Katherine Center has a gift for writing gentle sweet romantic tales that suck you right in before you even know it. I love her voice more than anything. Reading her words is akin to cuddling up in an cozy familiar sweater. This is perfect reading for those experiencing covid anxiety.

I love her characters who are all poignant, gifted, suffering, carefully drawn. I love the depth she gives them. But most of all, I love the message of this book, which is that we've all been broken and we must consciously choose to allow ourselves to experience joy.

What You Wish For is a heart-warming story that you will fall in love with. We all go through hardships in our lives and at times live with fear like Duncan and Samantha did. But like them, we too can choose joy in our lives and as Max had told them, "Never miss a chance to celebrate.' What a great reminder to have in the times we now live in!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. This is a terrific book!

Samantha Casey came to Galveston, Texas to escape a one sided obsession. She's made a good life here- she has a great job as the school librarian and made some great friends. The school, the community.... these are her people and she loves them dearly. After the loss of the school principal, everything is thrown into chaos. The community- her friends- are suffering, and to add fuel to her own pain, she finds that the new principal is her past obsession.... but he's nothing like the person he was.
Duncan Carpenter was once Samantha's idea of perfection. Handsome, smart, charmingly goofy... kids loved him and adults wanted to be near him. The man that shows up in Texas? Not her Duncan- in any way. The face is the same, but there's no joy. He no longer jokes and dances, no longer juggles and wears three piece suits instead of funny pants. Everything about him has changed- and he wants to change her school. Viewing every bright beautiful inch of her second home as a "safety risk", he is tasked to bring everything under control- which to Samantha sounds far more like creating a prison than a learning environment. While the two butt heads several questions keeps coming to Sam- what happened to him? Is the man she loved- albeit one-sidedly- still there.... and, most importantly, if she can find him again would there be hope for her school- and her heart?

When I saw this on Netgalley I was so very excited. Katherine Center has a way of creating characters and communities that draw you in. They become your friends- their joy is yours, but their pain also wrecks you. Always have tissues handy. I have such a huge author-crush on Center! The first time I read her book How to Walk Away last year, I knew I would always be watching for her next work. I am a sucker for great character development, personal growth and good character interactions. Bonus points if there is chemistry- not just between the male and female lead, but with others- best friends and family. Sam's relationship with her bestie is kind of goals- there's a lot of love and support here. It's always a bit of a pet peeve with me when the supporting characters are treated like afterthoughts to be used as props instead of their own fleshed out characters- you won't find that here.
As far as the romance between Duncan and Sam... I am kind of on the fence. It often felt forced. I mean, the woman ran away from her home and job when she realized that the intensity of her crush on a coworker- who was seeing someone else- was unhealthy. When they see each other again, he acts like he doesn't know her at all- completely cold. Yet, the people close to him swear he is crazy about her- and was back then too. This only brings up questions- if he was so into her and she was pretty obvious in her attraction from what I gathered.... why was he even seeing someone else? As they spent more time together, I could see the sparks- the interactions between them were really sweet and I could feel the love; the beginning, though, was just so awkward. All said, this was a definite favorite for the spring and summer reading, but not my favorite Katherine Center book. I would give it four stars.
On the adult content scale, there's some language and very light sexual content. It's fairly mild, so I would give it a three.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

Just the kind of book that we need right now with an overwhelming central message of 'Choose Joy on Purpose'.
Sam is the librarian for a whimsical school in Galveston, Texas. The founder of the school dies at the beginning of the story leaving the community reeling. Enter Duncan, a love interest from Sam's past because he was just so much fun and inspiring to be around. Unfortunately, this Duncan wears buttoned-up three piece suits and tries to paint over/fix what isn't broken about the school. Sam and the widow Babette decide to bring Duncan to life.
I loved Sam, Duncan and the whole community depicted here. There were some really silly, over-the-top situations and settings in this book but given the over-arching theme, I was down for it.
Thanks to NetGally and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for my honest review.

In “What You Wish For,” Katherine Center’s upcoming release, Sam Casey is a children’s librarian at an elementary school in Galveston, Texas, known for its creativity and tight-knit community. After the principal and co-founder passes away suddenly, the school culture Sam loves is threatened by new principal Duncan Carpenter. Sam worked with Duncan earlier in her career, and remembers him as a fun-loving and innovative educator, on whom she had a massive crush. But now Duncan is obsessed with improving school safety at the expense of the school’s unique charm. Sam aims to save the school, and maybe find love in the process, too. (*DM me for content warnings*)⁣
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This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It was a very sweet story, and I loved the focus on healing from past trauma and choosing happiness or “joy on purpose,” which is something most of us could stand to remember during difficult times. I also loved the descriptions of the school, and how it almost felt like a character in the story.⁣
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On the other hand, I felt like the first quarter or so of the book was quite slow and repetitive. This is difficult to discuss without sharing spoilers, but I was frustrated at times with Sam, the power that she let her crush hold over her life, and the message that this sends. Also, I never fully felt the chemistry between Sam and Duncan, perhaps because their initial meeting occurred prior to the book’s start.⁣
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This is the second of Center’s books that I’ve read, and compared to “Things You Save in a Fire,” this story lacked the same unputdownable quality and resonance. I’ve seen mostly positive reviews for this one, so I’m likely in the minority here. I’d still recommend picking this one up if you’re a fan of Center’s books, and I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future.⁣
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3/5⁣ stars
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Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advance e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Available 7/14/20.⁣

[Review posted 6/25/20 to my Instagram account, @emily_lovesbooks.]

Sam is a librarian at a wonderful elementary school founded by Max and Babette, whom she also rents a carriage house on their property. When Max unexpectedly passes away at his 60th birthday party, the school is in upheaval as the new principal, Duncan, comes in with some radical new ideas that goes against what the former founder stood for. Sam, unfortunately, knows Duncan from her previous school. Sam loved him from afar and actually left her previous job to get away from him because she was so embarrassed by her unrequited love. Duncan takes the school from a careful, wonderful learning environment, to a school focused on security. His own tragic past shapes his decisions for the school, and Sam makes it her personal mission to save the school and Duncan. Great love story that shows how one moment can change a person completely and that all people are capable of redemption.

**Actual rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4**

The first book I read by Katherine Center was Things You Save in a Fire, and I adored it. I felt the author was a breath of fresh air in the contemporary fiction space, integrating unique points of view and creating characters that felt alive on the page.

I enjoyed What You Wish For, but it wasn't the same caliber as Things You Save in a Fire. Sam, a librarian at an elementary school, squares off with a former crush, Duncan, when he comes back into her life as the school's principal. The former goofball is now obsessed with school safety and tries to turn the school into a prison, taking away the colourful, playful environment the school had created.

The first third of the book was very repetitive. We get it, Duncan used to be super fun and loved to joke around. For me, the turning point of the book happens during the last third. Sam's personality really starts to shine (whereas before we only heard her fawning over past-Duncan), Duncan's walls come down, and the story has an exciting end.

Overall, this book is incredibly timely. The message of the book is to seek joy, even when facing fear. During this tough time, this is exactly the message we need right now. Be joyful, be colourful, and while you can't disregard fear, you also can't let it hold you back.

Sam is a librarian at a warm, beautiful school. When a new principal is brought in, he brings in a lot of changes which go against everything The Kempner School stands for. While Sam and her colleagues come up with a plan to stop these terrible ideas coming to fruition, she realises there's more to this story than she thinks.

If you are an educator, you will love this book. There's no doubt in my mind. Center has portrayed educators, children and schools so well that I'm convinced she was either an educator, knows educators or she has done her research so incredibly well. She portrays the school and it's founders as the heart and soul of this small community and the love they feel for each other comes across so well.

The main theme covered is the notion of joy not being something that we should wait around for, hoping it'll come to us but it is something we have the choice to choose. And we should choose it. Every damn day.

Thank you @netgalley for this arc.

The timing of this book was perfect. There is tragedy in this book, but this book is about finding joy in life wherever you can, and being able to rise through and above the tragedy with the people you choose to love. It often takes me longer to read books instead of listening to them because I can listen to books while I take care of household tasks like doing the dishes or laundry, but with reading, I need to sit and read. So when I find a book that makes me sit down and just enjoy it from start to finish, it's a delight. Sometimes the neuroses of the MC got a bit much, but considering what she had been through, I could understand them, but more to the point, her friends would outright tell her when she was wrong, and I loved that. I don't want to reveal any spoilers in this review because I loved not knowing anything that that was going to happen in this book and just letting the pieces of information come out as the characters discovered them. But what I will say is that this book does not shelter you from the dark side of life--the tragedies and pain that can come when you open your heart--but it gives you a way to live life in spite of the pain, a way to make it just that much better. Even when things seem hopeless and out of control, the one thing you always have control over is how you're going to handle it all.

I absolutely loved this book that brought tears to my eyes, made me laugh out loud and just gave me a lift in general.

Thanks to #KatherineCenter, #StMartinsPress, and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This author writes in an easy to read, want to keep reading format. I honestly would rate this as a 3.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow it. I was sucked in immediately. And like I said I wanted to keep reading the the story because the author is a good story teller. However, the story was very predicable. I knew immediately what was going to be the cause of Duncan's issues. At some points there are just pages of over description. But the characters are likable, cheesy people that you can't help but love. Although they are conflicted-if we work hard to make ourselves better people and love-happiness prevails making this a good read.

When lives intersect or cross paths, again, you never know what will happen. Both characters are navigating a new road. Another beautifully written novel by Center!

Fun, realistically drawn characters are one of author Katherine Center's strengths as she introduces us to a sassy librarian, Samantha Casey. You see, Sam (aka Samantha) is mourning the loss of her close friend who also happens to be her principal. Before she can really adjust to the loss, another big surprise hits her hard and fast. Her crush....the one man that she crushed on so hardcore is now her new boss and his whole personality seems to have undergone a rapid transformation.

Gone are the bright funky clothes that Principal Duncan Carpenter used to wear. Now he is coming across as all business and has his rigid ideas in place of how he thinks things should be... only he was counting on having all these chemical sparks between him and the librarian.

This book carries a strong, solid message that has really touched me. I read voraciously so for me to take the time to say it touched me really means it touched me deep inside to the core. Choosing joy on purpose sounds like such a simple theme for What You Wish For, but it is interwoven in a beautiful story with rich, deep characters that linger long after I have read the last page. For me, that is worth much more than 5 stars! Well done, Katherine Center!!

I requested a temporary, digital advance reader copy from NetGalley to read and enjoy and my review is voluntary offered. As always, my opinions are my own.

When your fears control your life, take control of your fears and live each day to it’s fullest. This book taught me so many lessons. The main one is to find joy in the little things in life. And the way this year has been going, we all need something to be joyful about.

Samantha moved to Galveston, Texas, where she was working as a school librarian. She loved everything about the school, especially the people who ran it. They were like family to her. But when Max suddenly passes away and a new principle is hired, Samantha never expected it to be the man she had a crush on, Duncan, from her old job. But this version of Duncan was not the man Samantha remembered. He was not the fun-loving guy anymore. The new Duncan was a stickler for rules and security. He wanted to change everything everyone loved about the school. But the reasons he wanted to do so were something he didn’t talk about. When Samantha finds out Duncan’s secret, she sets out to bring him out of his shell and enjoy life once again. And along the way, Samantha learns to live and enjoy life again too.

With unforgettable characters and a story line that pulled me in from the very start, I had a hard time finding a place to pause my reading. And then there was the setting of the book, Galveston, one of my favorite places to visit. This story took me through a wide variety of emotions while reading it. The saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is fitting for this book. I would definitely recommend reading this one.

After loving Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire, I was excited to read What You Wish For. I enjoyed Center's writing, her characters, and was looking forward to this book taking place in a school setting. It took me about 30-40% of the book to fully get into the story. I found Sam's previous, utter obsession with Duncan completely unrealistic. Unless I missed some details, moving half way across the country over someone you have barely had a conversation with didn't make much sense; I expected them to have a more substantial back story with each other given how much it seemed that Sam derailed her life due to him.

I enjoyed the school setting and the devotion the teachers had to their students and their school. At times, the teachers come across more as caricatures rather than actual people. As a math teacher, I am always cautious about how math is represented in stories and I greatly appreciated the positive light that Alice's character shined on it (even if at times it seemed a bit random and not quite mathematically sound).

All in all, I would recommend What You Wish For. It was a quick and fun read that does have a good theme of finding and choosing joy in your life. I would rate this book 3.5/5 stars. but since I am relegated to whole numbers, I would round this up to 4 stars.

What You Wish For
Rating: 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a very emotional read for me, but I loved it! I liked how both Sam and Duncan are not your perfect cookie cutter characters. They both are trying to live their life in a way that they don't to depend on others. Sam was lucky to find someone who opened her eyes to live life with no regrets and joy. Her outer appearance changed, but her inner self was still holding back. She learned and accepted that color brought her joy. It allowed for her to things a little more brighter, but she was still holding herself back in trusting others with her illness. An illness that she was able to manage but caused her to close herself off from letting someone get close. It is not until she helps Duncan, who she had previously worked with and developed a crush on, that she begins to work on herself too. Duncan was someone who had lived life to the fullest and not until a tragedy happens to him is that he begins to not live life like he used too. Sam misses that old Duncan and takes upon herself and her friends to help him out. Sam learns that she too needs to change in order to finally be happy. Duncan proved himself to her that he was that person who she could depend on not running away.
Duncan was my favorite character. I would of liked to see more of those scenes of when he was tasked to do happy things with Sam.
I enjoy this author's writing style and I look forwards to more of her books.

A predictable story that dwells way too long on school librarian Samantha Casey’s infatuation with Duncan Carpenter, the new principal at her elementary school. Clearly the two have past history but sadly the author spends way too many pages on Samantha’s obsession and it was annoying. This is a light read, a decent escape but one that never quite pulled me in. Disappointed as I have tremendously enjoyed other books written by Katherine Center.