I loved this author’s previous book and this one did not disappoint! I could relate to the story and the characters because I am a teacher. This is a beautiful story about a lovely school near the water where students are loved and cherished. I felt like the characters and the story were well developed and kept me wishing for the happy ending.

I have enjoyed other books by Katherine Center so I was very excited to receive this ARC copy. I think sometimes that timing is everything. There have been many books that are probably very good I have not been able to read during quarantine, it just wasn't the right time. And on the flip, I do think I liked this book much more now than I would have if I had read it during "normal" times. Center tends to take quirky, likable characters and weaves some serious issues throughout their life. She does that again with Sam and Duncan. Ultimately it's about living life to its fullest and finding joy and it was a welcome message for me right now. Because I have so many friends impacted personally by school violence I do want to provide a content warning on this issue.

I absolutely adored this book. I’m a teacher and this one hit a little bit harder because of the sensitive nature of this book. I love how real and raw it felt. It’s more than just a book about changing a school. More than just a book with a little romance. This book has real emotions, life lessons, and plenty of relatable moments with friends, family, coworkers, yourself, and children. I cried and laughed and found so much joy within these pages. The characters were so endearing. I loved Sam and Babette and the relationships between them and the husband Max. I even loved Duncan the entire book. Alice was one of my favorites being that I’m a math teacher. For teachers, this one will hit a little harder, a little stronger, and a little bit more because of the topics. Highly recommend this one.

I tried to continue with this one but it just wasn’t for me. I have read many of her books but this one just didn’t catch my interest so it remains in my did not finish list. So sorry but since I was given the book for a honest review I felt I had to be honest and not sugar coat. Thank you bet galley for the opportunity to try to read this one.

Katherine Center just does something to me. Her books are like a balm for my weary soul. And my soul is especially weary right now.

Her words just make me JOYFUL. And What You Wish For has a strong undercurrent of joy. Of choosing to do the hard thing, even when you have to fight through it to get to the sweet part.
I adored the love story portion of this novel. Duncan and Sam just had the sweetest chemistry and you couldn't help but root for both of them.

I don't want to spoil anything, but there is definitely a heartbreaking, trigger-warning worthy subplot. It left me more emotional than I expected, but that's not a bad thing. The bitter was definitely worth the sweet.

Katherine Center wins "Most likely to make my heart happy" and that's just what I need right now.

4.5 stars

First I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

When I read Center's "Things You Save In a Fire' last summer, I fell in love. I read the book in 24 hours on vacation and have reccomended it to atleast 20 people since then. When I was scrolling through the books available to request and found her latest novel I was overfilled with joy.

I loved this book. The author has a way of introducing her characters and showing their growth that makes the reader connect. These characters are perfect examples of the scenarios where the characters feel like old friends by the end of the book, and you feel sad that it is over and you cannot see your friends anymore. I loved reading about Sam, and her story both leading up to the beginning of where the story begins, and how she continues to grow and learn throughout it. I wanted to reach inside of the book, grab her out, and sit down for a cup of coffee and discussions on our favorite books. This books takes place in a small community, and features an even smaller and close-knit community of an elementary school. And since Sam is a librarian, some of the book takes place in a library and I felt at home, if that makes sense.

Once the reader dives in, you realize that underneath the colorful library and the cozy community, there is a story of what makes some into the person they are, both positive and negative traits. The reader goes on a journey of how a traumatic experience has forced a character to completely change who he was, and how that can effect both him and his environment, and the village it takes for him to find himself again. This is truly a story of growth, community, and love, and how family is more than blood.

I think I do need to mention that a school shooting does play an important role in this book. While it is not the center event in this book, I do think it needs to be mentioned in case of triggering anxiety for someone.

I am a fan of a Katherine Center and she did not disappoint me with this book. It was wonderful and is such a feel good book. I loved the characters, the story, and the beautiful writing style.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was the big hug I really needed right now-funny, sweet, and filled with reminders to create moments of joy even during the hard times. It is a little over the top at times butI was smiling so hard I could feel it while reading. This is the third book of Katherine Center’s I have read and she has become a need to read author for me.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine is one of my favorite authors and she just nailed this one out of the park! Shes fast becoming a must read author, heck I would enjoy her grocery list she’s that good! Highly recommend!!

This is my third Katherine Center book, and I have yet to be disappointed. I was so excited to get an early copy of this book, and I devoured it. I loved the quirky librarian, and as a librarian, I was thrilled that she represented the library in a warm, welcoming way. So often the fictional librarian is seen as judgy and angry, always shushing people and staring them down. Not in this book! That was refreshing. I always laugh out loud - literally! - at Center's books, and this one was no exception.

Samantha Casey loves her job as a school librarian until your past unrequited crush arrives as the new principal and tries to change everything she loves about the school. As a big fan of the last two books by this author, I was Very excited to be able to read this one thanks to Netgalley. The story is one with a little bit of romance, a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of sentimental feels. The characters were so likable and I felt connected To the heartbreak that Sam experiences. I enjoyed the dynamics of friendships and romance that were portrayed in the book. However, I felt Like the book was a little predictable at times. It wasn’t difficult to guess where the storyline was going. However, as a book with a light romantic storyline and likable characters, it was definitely worth the read and I would Recommend it to my friends.

Thanks to Katherine Center and NetGalley for making this book available to readers far before its release date! Yes, Katherine, What You Wish For brought me immense joy and was just what the doctor ordered.

Our main character is a beloved school librarian, Sam. When her longtime principal passes, his replacement happens to be the one and only Duncan Carpenter: a ghost from Sam’s past. Upon his introductory meeting with the school, he seems to be set on bringing down everyone’s morale. Will Sam be able to fight against him and return the school to its happy state?

Was this book predictable? In some ways, yes. But it was also so cute and fun that I didn’t really care. This was my third Center read, and I need more in my life ASAP.

I had high hopes for this book because I loved Center's previous book, Things You Save in a Fire. Unfortunately, this one was not as good. In fact, I almost stopped reading it in the beginning because I just did not like the main character and what, in my opinion, was her ridiculous behavior. However, the second half of the book is better, so I am glad I stuck with it.

In this book, Sam is a school librarian who was once obsessed with a fellow teacher, Duncan. So much so that she moved halfway across the country to avoid her crush. She finds out very early on that Duncan is now coming to her new school. When he arrives, he is not the same person he once was, and Sam struggles to come to terms with that and to save her precious school from his proposed changes.

The thing that makes this book a mere three stars for me is the character of Sam. She is just too silly and childish for me. I mean, is it really necessary to move out of state just to avoid seeing the guy you have a crush on? And then to decide you have to move again because he is now at your new school? It just seems a bit ridiculous to me. Duncan is a little more realistic a character, but he too annoys me at times. He has experienced something traumatizing, but his drastic change in character seems over the top.

I also found myself frustrated by the portrayal of the school itself. As an educator, I know that many of the things that happen in this book just don't happen in real schools. I won't go into detail due to spoilers.

All that being said, there are things I like about this book. I like the message that people need to choose joy and that joy helps to overcome difficult situations. I also like the emphasis placed on reading and education. There are some good themes in this story.

I wish I had liked this more than I did. I will still read more by Katherine Center because I know I like some of her other writing.

Katherine Center has the ability to develop characters with strings attached to your heart and tugs on them when it's called for. What You Wish For did just that. The opening chapter will get you invested in the story and its progression. You root for the people that you think deserve the perfect outcome, you watch them attempt to overcome the obstacles and then...

I am strictly a thriller-reading, non-romance kind of reader... but Katherine Center is my kryptonite. I love her stories, they are always the equivalent of a warm hug that makes things better after a rough day. This is the story of a teacher who leaves one life behind to start over on a small island. A reminder of her past life appears, and she is torn between the person she was and the person she has become. It's a sweet, feel-good story (with conflict, of course, it's not all rainbows and unicorns!), and was just the kind of book I needed during quarantine. I'm a fan of Katherine's, I'll read whatever she decides to write!

This was a heart-warming story that I finished in a few days--perfect for taking your mind off the news (though it did deal with some surprisingly tough subjects, but in a humorous way). Samantha is a quirky elementary school librarian working at a private school in Texas. Right before the school year starts, their beloved principal dies suddenly. The replacement principal is less than ideal--Duncan is obsessed with school safety and seems to suck all the joy out of the kids' environment. Worst of all, Sam was secretly in love with Duncan when they previously worked together in California, and the school year is off to a very awkward start. You'll have to read this gem to find out if Sam can help Duncan find his joy! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the librarian preview copy.

I had a harder time getting into this book than I normally do with Katherine Center's books. But once I got fully into the flow I couldn't put it down! It was funny yet hear warming and at times sad. I felt for the main character who didn't have a family of her own.

This is exactly the type of book that I needed to read right now in quarantine. It's fun, it's easy, it's happy, and it reminds you of what is most important in life, which I think we all need right now.

What you Wish For follows Samantha Casey, a librarian at a creative school in Galveston. Early in the book, the beloved head of the school passes away and the school board appoints this horrible guy, Duncan to come in a run the school and basically change everything that Sam loves about the school.

But wait....doesn't she know this Duncan? Didn't she used to work with him? and he was amazing back then? Maybe he can be reminded of how he used to be and the school can be saved!

If you need a quick, easy, happy read, then this book is for you. I've read several of Katherine Center's book and they are all very well done. If you have loved any of her other books, definitely read this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy to review. Book comes out in July!!

This is one of the three 2020 releases that I am most excited about. Needless to say, I went in with extremely high expectations... and I was not disappointed at all!!! I started this late at night, intending to read just a couple chapters before bed. Before I knew it, I finished the book and stayed up way too late with no regrets! It felt completely amazing to get so lost in a story with SUCH a great message - I highlighted so many amazing quotes! The characters were so real and going through some very tough problems, which were talked about and handled very well. I loved everything about this book! Definitely my favorite book of 2020 (so far)!!!!

Thanks to St, Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I became completely involved in this story line, and couldn't put the book down. I felt many emotions while reading this book, and it was the best cup of tea I needed at this time.