<b>"Joy is fleeting. Nothing lasts . That’s exactly what courage is. Knowing all that going in— and going in anyway.” </b>

In the midst of this anxious scary COVID-19 pandemic, this book is <b>JUST</b> what I needed. The perfect antidote. It's all about finding joy and facing fears, and then just keeping on. Of course, Katherine Center is a marvelous storyteller with characters who jump off the page and into your heart.

Samantha Casey relocated to Galveston and found the perfect job as an elementary school librarian and a home. When her mentor, friend and school principal suddenly passed away. The new principal threatens to destroy everything that made the school special. Except she once knew him and the way he is now is opposite to the man she once knew.

Read this if you need to find some joy or just to escape for a few hours. Highly recommended!

In Katherine Center's book What You Wish For, Samantha and Duncan knew each other in another life. Samantha left that life first and through the help of her new school family has changed her life from dull gray to one that is joyful and colorful despite having to deal with a chronic health condition. Duncan went from being a joyful, fun loving teacher to being controlled by fear that resulted from living through a traumatic experience. They have reconnected at a private school on Galveston Island, Texas and they have a lot to learn from each other.

The writing in this book was good. I was able to picture the characters and the setting in my mind as I read. I love it when I am able to do this. I liked the theme of joy that was woven through the book especially through Sam's character. She admits that joyful living does not always come easily, but must be an ongoing effort. There were some things that I felt weren't very realistic in the way things were done in the school setting. I also thought some aspects of Sam and Duncan's characters were a little too over the top for me even though they were well written.

All in all, I liked What You Wish For. It is not my favorite from this author, but still a good book that I don't mind recommending. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion.

This was my first Katherine Center novel, and I really enjoyed this one! It was not the romance I was expecting when I picked this book up – but I mean that in the most refreshing way. This is a story full of heart and hope.

We meet Samantha Casey, a librarian in Galveston, Texas (my home state!) and Duncan Carpenter, the new school principal who also happens to be a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s. When they meet again for the first time in years, gone is the carefree teacher that Sam knew before, and in his place is a stiff, humorless man obsessed with safety and precautions. Follow them on their journey as they learn to find, and choose, joy again. Of note, a potential trigger warning exists with the discussion of a school shooting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #WhatYouWishFor

Katherine Center's books have a special power for transporting me from reality - allowing me to ignore the horrors of the current pandemic and truly immerse myself in great writing and a fabulous story. What You Wish For follows How to Walk Away & Things You Save in a Fire for me in Center's books that have been knockouts!

WYWF centers on school librarian Sam and the crazy turn her life takes when her former crush, Duncan Carpenter, becomes her new principal, but he is nothing like the fun loving Duncan that Sam remembers from her past. Sam and Duncan are both characters I wanted to root for and I had such a good time following their story and learning what made them who they are.

Thank you to Katherine Center for always giving me exactly what I need in the best way when I open her books. I think it's time for me to make my way through her backlist now.

I really enjoyed this book. Katherine Center does a great contemporary romance, and I feel like this was lighter than her other books. I thought the main character could have been more developed, but overall I liked this book. Thank you for the opportunity to review!

Katherine Center has this lovely, completely effective way of endearing her female protagonist to readers through her continuous, almost manic but quirky manic, totally engrossing way of story telling in What You Wish For. As the above quote suggests, this book effuses joy and compassion. While the story progresses and reveals terrible circumstances the message of hope and making a choice everyday to see light rather than dark shines through and true.

All characters are charming in their own rights. Both male and female lead characters are perfect in who they are now and who they were before these present times. While I will admit, some of the situations were downright silly and slightly hard to believe. However, the uplifting message and the true camaraderie just bleed through that silliness so effortlessly that it really doesn't matter. As with the previous Katherine Center book I've read, this story is more than a romance. It's a woman's journey through change and growth by way of understanding, choice, and courage.

It's a great piece of women's fiction with romance, friendship, and family blended throughout that will leave you pleasantly satisfied for having read it. The storyteller here writes with a finesse that emotes all the feelings being presented through her gift of words. I highly recommend What You Wish For to fans of this author or the genre itself. I look forward to reading the previously published work about a character I met in this book

4 stars!

So so cute, so so positive, so so what we need right now. A quirky elementary school librarian in Texas meets her match in the new school principal.

Romance: ★★★★ 1/2
Setting: ★★★★★
Conflict: ★★★

What You Wish For comes out on July 14, 2020!

So, let's start off with the fact that I'm extremely biased to love Katherine Center. Her past few books have become all time favorites, and her blend of romance, heartfelt healing, and memorable settings made me oh-so-excited to get to this one.

It did not disappoint!

What You Wish For follows Sam Casey, a librarian with epilepsy who has found a haven for herself in Galveston, Texas. Adorning herself with quirky outfits and surrounded by conversation starters in her whimsical school library, Sam's got it good. Her life is filled with laughter and friends, and her found family includes the school principal and his wife, who have taken Sam in to their home.

Then, her school's beloved principal dies suddenly.

Reeling from the personal and professional loss, Sam can't believe what comes next: the new principal coming to town is none other than Duncan Carpenter, a former teacher from Sam's previous school district. The former teacher that Sam had a hopeless, unrequited obsession with. Yeah. That one.

But this Duncan isn't the same as the goofy teacher Sam used to know. This Duncan is hard, stern, and unwilling to see the charms of Sam's beloved school. He seems obsessed with his vision, and a dark event haunts his past.

If Duncan thinks he can just waltz right in and change things in Galveston, he's got another thing coming...

Ugh. Another winner. I laughed, I teared up a bit, I grinned like a loon. I made the mistake of starting this at 9 p.m. and then went to bed at 1 a.m. because that's how long it took me to finish it. If that's not high enough praise, I don't know what to tell you. It's cute, it's positive, and memorable in its adorable side-quests and flirtations between Duncan and Sam.

My only caveat to this story is that it was missing some of the dramatic tension that other novels by this author have had. There was emotional resonance—and an intense commentary on the state of school life in America today—but the romance itself smoothly transitioned throughout. I guess I was looking for more drama? That's most likely a "me" thing.

Regardless, if you're a fan of How to Walk Away or Things You Save in a Fire, definitely check this one out!

Thank you to St Martin's Press via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

My first Katherine Center book and it won't be my last. I enjoyed it. The beginning took a bit long in the build up and I found myself scan reading some of it. But halfway in I was fully invested. I'm not a fan of the tragic "no one will ever love me because of my...." storyline. I think Sam came out looking like a weak female in that. I loved her quirkiness, her love for her friends. But felt she fell flat in other areas. Duncan comes across as an A-hole at the start and we are supposed to see the redemption in him as he grows under Sam's instruction. Maybe... but he gets to remain the strong tough guy (not falling for the "ruse") while Sam is once again made to look dumb. But there were enough laugh out loud moments (Duncan on pain meds!) and sweet moments (ie, Clay) that kept me interested.
3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Many things made this book fantastic, the development of the character Duncan, the overarching theme of seeking joy is a choice, how Center constantly creates complicated characters that are more than "good" or "bad." I enjoyed the descriptions of the school & the magic they were able to create. It made me want to attend this elementary school, even after graduating college. I wish that there was further development between the main character Samantha and Duncan as a couple. Ultimately I adored how Samantha faced her insecurities by trusting others. This book left me with a longing for whimsy, and even to look for a colorful, feathered hat! I would recommend this book to any Sarah Dessen fan (and Katherine Center fan, obviously!)

An endearing book on how to overcome personal struggles and loss, on how to find your family when your biological one is no longer an option, and most importantly, how to celebrate life and find joy even in the small things. Katherine Center knows how to tug on your heart strings while making you laugh. This is definitely a book I didn’t want to end.

I wish I could give more than 5 stars for this fabulous book that gave so much pleasure to me in reading it. I wanted to become Samantha and have a Duncan in my life. To be happy in life and to choose joy is the best we can hope for. The Author gave me much joy in reading this book. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

3.8 rounded 4

It’s pretty hard to describe this book. Cute and heartbreaking? Emotional but also fun? A light read but also relevant? If you read the author’s previous books, you know what I mean. It was a quick read and I really liked it.

Sam Casey lives in a rural town in Texas where she works as an elementary school librarian. The town is small and everyone knows each other. The two people she loves the most are the closest thing she has ever had to a family. Babette and Max are like royalty in their city. The elderly couple founded the beloved school where she works. They are genuinely good people and they always act in the best interest of the community.
When Max passes away, the chairman of the school brings in Duncan Carpenter to be the new principal. Sam almost passes out when she hears his name. She used to have a major crush on him years ago and now he’s going to be her boss.

But Duncan is nothing like she remembered. He is weird and not fun at all. He doesn't understand that the small town values the legacy Max established and he just wants to change everything around. He has an obsession for safety in the school. But their town is so small and safe, why is he so worried about it?

Samantha is trying to understand what the heck happened to the nice guy she once had a crush on. And when she finds out, she’ll try to bring the old Duncan back. Meanwhile, she must figure out her own feelings. Sam is extremely insecure because of a health condition that made her dad reject her. How can she ever be loved by someone if not even her dad could love her?

I really liked the story and the characters are remarkable. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for the chance to read and review this book. I was very excited to read this book. I recently discovered this authors stories and have loved them all up until this one. This one just did not do it for me. It may be all the chaos that is going on in the world right now but the story just didn’t flow the way her others do. It had a lot of parts that were “over the top”. The general story line was interesting. I just feel that some of the reactions in the story were a little unbelievable, like Kent Buckley throwing punches at Duncan during the final faculty meeting...really? Now I know that unfortunately some adults do act like this but it is not something I care to read about because it was absolutely ridiculous. I loved Max and Babette, I enjoyed Sam and her friend Alice. I thought that Chuck Norris and Clay were both adorable. All in all the book was ok...not one I would save to read over but I am glad I finished it and even though it was not my favorite of hers, I will look forward to reading her next story.

Just when I thought I had the characters figured out, a detail or two was thrown in to totally change my mind. So much of this novel mimics the way in which life changes course over and over—sometimes resulting in a happy ending and sometimes not. It took a few pages to get engaged with this novel, but once I got into it, I couldn’t stop reading until I knew how everything turned out.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Samantha Casey adores her job as an elementary school librarian at a private school on Galveston island in Texas. She also adores the couple who run the school, Max and Babette, who are like parents to her. When Max dies suddenly, Samantha is shocked to learn the school board is bringing in Duncan Carpenter to replace him. Samantha left her last job 4 years ago because of her huge, unrequited crush on him. Unfortunately, when she meets him again, Duncan is stiff, uptight, and total focused on destroying all aspects of fun in the school for the sake of safety – the complete opposite of the Duncan she used to know! Sam decides she has to stand up to Duncan to save the community she loves.

This escapist read was exactly what I needed right now. Katherine Center has written another home run. I devoured the book in one day. As usual, with her words, Center makes you feel all the feelings the main characters do. It was funny, heartwarming, and sad at times. Personally, I would love to see a sequel about Samantha's best friend, Alice.

This was just dreadful. The author is my go-to for a heartwarming, lighter read with substance, but this book was so silly and over-the-top I thought my eyes would roll out of my head.

I'm a huge fan of the author's and look forward to her next book.

What a <i>joyful</i> story! Once you've read it, you'll get what I did there ;)

I don't know if it had something to do with being cooped up inside these days, but I DNF'd the last four books I picked up. This was the one to break the streak! Perhaps it was the overall theme, perhaps it was the writing, perhaps it was the characters. Frankly, I think it was all three, but I am super grateful. This didn't beat my favorite of Center's, which was [book:Things You Save in a Fire|41150382], but this was a close second.

A few things felt a little heavy handed about this story, but overall, it was carried through on some great characters, the obvious one being Sam, our sole POV, and a slow burn romance. One thing I love about her characters, Sam being no exception, is that though they have had challenges or struggles in their lives, they never fall into the romance trope of being "tragic." They've experienced some stuff, but they get up and continue living their lives on their terms.

This book is another great example of Center's strong writing and uplifting themes and stories. It features a strong romance, but that is hardly the only thing going on. So if you like a romance with some meat to the characters and their lives, look no further.

<i>arc received from netgalley in exchange for honest review</i>

What a cute, heartwarming novel! I’ve read Center’s two most recent novels and knew I had to read another. Of the three I have read so far, this one would perhaps be my least favorite. But, it this does not mean What You Wish For was any less enjoyable. I feel the beginning was a little overly-descriptive on small matters. It picked up in the latter half, though. I appreciated the character development that occurred throughout and the descriptions of why Sam and Duncan reacted the way they did in certain situations. Overall it was a pleasant read that I definitely devoured!

This is the first book by Katherine Center I've read and I liked it.

When Sam is unexpectedly reunited with her former crush, Duncan, her already shook up world is tilted a little further out of balance. Especially when Duncan is not at all the man she remembers him being. I did not like Duncan when he first appeared in the book but I did end up really liking his character.
The characters were realistic and human and this book provided a positive message while not being sappy.

This may be the best book I’ve read this year. I couldn’t put it down. It is evident the author knows what it is like to work in an elementary school. I will recommend this to all my friends.