A really sweet read full of completely lovable characters. Lots of attention to detail, thorough writing, in depth story, and well- just- too many words for me. Everything was described and dissected to excess IMO. That’s the only reason for retracting 2 stars, it just didn’t hold my attention through all the wordiness.

Side note: The authors writing is very reminiscent of Cathy Lamb.

Samantha Casey is the librarian at the Kempner School on Galveston Island. She rents a carriage house apartment from Babette and Max Kempner, who founded the school where she works. Kempner School is a magical place where kids are encouraged to be creative and to enjoy learning, and the decor and art on the walls reflects this. Unfortunately, Max dies unexpectedly, leaving Babette bereft, and leaving her very serious son-in-law in charge. He hires Duncan Carpenter as the new principal, which thrills and bothers Sam. She knew him back in CA, had a crush on him, and was drawn to his positive energy and enthusiasm for teaching. When he started dating someone seriously, Sam decided that it was time for her to make a change, and took the job at Kempner. Four years later, Sam is about to see him again, but his photo looks a bit different from how she remembers him.

It turns out that Duncan is different. After a few fits and starts, Babette and Sam decide to shake him up a little, to try to bring some joy back into his life. Duncan, Samantha, and Babette all end up growing a lot as the story unfolds. They each find new life and joy through the things that they experience over the course of the school year that this book portrays.

This story is beautifully written. Ms. Center captures the spirit of the school, the enthusiasm of its teachers, and the feeling of living on Galveston Island perfectly. She doesn’t shirk away from shining a reflective light on a couple of important issues the world is presently facing, without being preachy. She allows the reader to make his or her own choice. The tension and pacing are even; however, it’s not a high-tension book, but the story does flow nicely and the reader stays engaged. The main characters are lovable, yet quirky. Babette’s grandson steals the show at one point in a beautiful and poignant way!

I love everything Katherine Center writes and this book was no different. I enjoyed the quirkiness of Samantha and how the school was unconventional. While the love story and plot was fairly predictable... I gave it 4 stars because it was light and well written.

I loved this book!! I highly recommend it, and I will definitely be recommending it to our book buyer and our patrons. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

This is such a beautiful book. There’s a lin in th book that has such profound meaning, “choose joy on purpose”. It’s a very important message in this book. Duncan is a scared man physically and emotionally. He used to be a rally fun guy until a school shooting change everything for him. Samantha usd to try to stay in the shadows until sh lard to let color in her life. I was so engrossed into this story. I cried and I laughed. On of th best books I’ve read this year. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Initially I wasn't sure this was the best book to read for my first Katherine Center, after I read that Duncan first appears in another book. It seemed cute and I was interested in the storyline from the very beginning, but I just wasn't totally sold on it right away. Eventually it won me all the way over & I was smiling as I was reading the dialogue and loving it. The setting really came to life, and it was a great overall message- especially to read right now. I look forward to getting into the author's backlist.

I throughly enjoyed this story. It is not my favourite by Katherine Center, I think I enjoyed How to Walk Away more. However, I did overall enjoy the characters and storyline of this one as well.

I am not quite sure if it is the current state of affairs or that I have read several books over the last few weeks, but I just couldn't get into this,
While I love Katherine Center and generally find her books light.
I wanted so much to fall for the characters
Which for me may have made the story fall short
Katherine Center I dp ove your books...

I love anything that Katherine Center writes. Her writing is sprinkled with messages that I want on my coffee mugs or tote bags. While Sam frustrated me at times during the book, I did love her unique, colorful style. I, too, love bright colors and patterns, and they bring me so much joy. I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by it’s cover but COME ON, who wouldn’t buy this book with that cover!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love anything written by Katherine Center! After reading Things You Save in a Fire, I knew I had to read more! What you Wish for did not disappoint! Especially during times like these! The characters are wonderful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Gosh I love this author! Sweet story! Samantha is a librarian for a small community school on a island off of Texas. She lives in the carriage house behind the art teacher and school principal who have been married for 40 years. During the principal's 60th birthday party, he dies of a pulmonary embolism leaving the community crushed and an empty position at the school. In sweeps Douglas. Douglas, whom Sam knew from her last school. Douglas, whom Sam was madly in love with but he had no idea. However, he has completely changed and not for the better. This story was completely predictable but I loved it just the same!! #whatyouwishfor #KatherineCenter #july2020

This was my first Katherine Center book. I know, I know. I have been under a rock apparently according to my book friends.

Many have told me many opinions of which to start with. I chose this one because, well...st Martins press and netgalley gave me an advanced copy. What better way to start a Center book.

The writing style of What You Wish for was so intriguing. I love how Center wrote the book at times as if she were talking to me.

We learn of Sam who lives with a couple who see thinks of as her family, but they arent, as much as she wishes they were.

She is a librarian at an elementary school that suddenly needs a new principal. (I love books about book nerds) The new principal is chosen and it turns out she knows this guy, maybe more than knows them.

We watch as the two navigate a few traumas of their own, while stepping around their own feelings.

While this was a great story I did have some confusing thoughts. I wasnt sure that Sam made wise choices and it turned me off from her character a bit. Also, I would have loved more of her and Duncans love story.

This reminded of a sweet Hallmark movie.

Overall it was a cute story. I will definitely read the other two books I have of this authors that is on my shelf. I give this a solid 3.75 rounded up.

Thank you St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

loved this book! I thought is was well written and hooked me from the very beginning. She is slowly becoming a favorite author of mine

Have you ever read a book and experienced a physical sadness when you closed the book? Katherine Center's What You Wish For was that book for me.

Samantha Casey is the librarian at an elementary school in Galveston, TX known for creative and conscious teaching methods. But when the beloved founder and principal dies unexpectedly, the entire faculty goes into mourning the loss of a man who brought fun to the school.

When Duncan Carpenter is announced as the new school principal, Sam breathes a sigh of relief. No one can replace the old principal, but Duncan is as close as you can get. They taught together years ago and Sam remembers Duncan as the man in the flamingo pants, who would juggle for the kids and excelled at making learning fun.

When Duncan pulls a very real looking gun out and declares his mission is to secure the school, it's evident that the fun Duncan is gone and in his place is a very different man who seems hell-bent on ruining the school.

Can Sam coax the old Duncan out of his drab, grey suit and into his colorful wardrobe and lighthearted ways?

This book will make you laugh and cry and fondly remember all the teachers who made learning fun.

What You Wish For almost felt like a book written for me. There are two good reasons I picked up this book to read. 1. It takes place in Galveston, Texas which is one of my most favourite places to be. My husband I went there for our 20th wedding anniversary. It is a beautiful island. I talk all the time about when I can go back again. If you go - check out the San Luis resort - AMAZING! 2. I'm a school librarian and so is Sam, the main character. Well, a supply now, but still, I can relate. Sam is the librarian I strive to be. She is a super star librarian.

Sam is an 'Islander by Choice' in Galveston. She moved to the island 4 years ago after a love that was not reciprocated. Now she's established a great group of friends and a great job at a school she loves. That is until her beloved principal passes suddenly leaving the whole community shook up.

When it's announced that her old love will be the principal, Sam makes a plan to quit and start over somewhere new. There's no way she can handle that heartache again. But when Duncan Carpenter walks in to the cafeteria it's like he's a totally different man. No longer fun loving, he's become a man in a grey suit that wants to change everything that is loved about their school. Worse he wants to lock it up like a jail. Sam blames the changes on his new wife.

Despite all the changes Duncan has made Sam still finds her heartstrings pulling. Perhaps it's time for her to walk away.

I really enjoyed What You Wish For. I loved the characters and the setting was described just as I remembered it. During this Covid-19 isolation I was happy to head back to Galveston for a few pages. Grab this book and read it pool side at the San Luis with a plate of their yummy food and a cocktail.

I was so excited to be able to read Katherine Center’s new book. I devoured her other two books & thought that this one would be similar. Unfortunately this story & its characters really fell flat with me. I just could not get in to it and I didn’t seem to connect with Sam or Ducan. I really liked some of the supporting characters but it wasn’t enough to make me want to find out more about the storyline. I kept having to push myself to read one more page and when I got to the ending, it really seemed like a stretch. Not a fan of this one but I am a fan of Katherine Center.

Sam is a librarian at an elementary school in Texas and she loves everything about her job - the students, the wonderful principal and his wife, the funky old building. When the school's principal suddenly dies, the replacement happens to be someone from Sam's past, someone she used to be madly in love with. Duncan Carpenter shows up and he is nothing like Sam remembers. Instead of the fun-loving, gregarious teacher she fell for, Principal Carpenter is frigid, obsessed with safety, and apparently doesn't remember Sam at all. Determined to save the one good thing in her life and in the lives of so many of her students, Sam fights Duncan at every turn. She will stop at nothing to keep him from turning her beloved school into a characterless prison.

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me. I love the worlds she creates and the characters she invents. I feel like I am immersed in the town she is describing and the people in the story are my real life friends. What could be considered cliche in other stories just feels SO RIGHT in a Katherine Center book. I always laugh, I always cry, and I always finish the book feeling so full of encouragement and hope.

What You Wish For is especially poignant in this regard. The overall message is to seek joy, to actively look for the good and the beautiful in a world that is so full of evil - to find, as Center calls it, a "deliberate kind of joy...joy on purpose."

Highly recommend this beautiful read, especially during such an uncertain time in our world.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC of this book for an honest review. This was a very predictable story that had a romcom feeling throughout. The main character was likable but also a bit frustrating as she kept (literally) away from the main interest in the story when she questioned her and his feelings. The story itself was on the light side which is probably what many people need at this time.

Thanks to @stmartinspress for a copy of this book! This story is about Sam and Duncan. After the sudden death of the school principal, Duncan is hired to take his place. Sam is surprised to work with him again. They had worked together before but he is totally different now. I am loving @katherinecenter new book!! (All of her books have been amazing.) I love how they all have a sense of healing in them. As a teacher, I enjoy the school setting in this one. I also loved the dog Chuck Norris. This book is full of great characters you can related to.

First many thanks for Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of What You Wish For.
3.5 stars. I did enjoy reading this book very much; however, that said it was very predictible and at times far fetched and as another reader commented a little over the top. But I still liked the story and plan on reading more by Katherine Center. This was my first book by her . If you want a nice feel good story, this is a lovely read. Recommended!