This is the story of school librarian Sam Casey in the aftermath of the death of the school's popular principal. The replacement principal is someone Sam knew previously, Duncan Carpenter. However he is the complete opposite to how she remembers him, he doesn't even seem to recognise her and seems set on turning the school into a prison. I really wanted to like this one purely because of the description of the school Library.

However, overall What You Wish For just didn't work for me, the plot was fairly predictable and the characters were mostly unrealistic and unlikable. I found Sam to be very irritating. The second half of the book was slightly better than the first as it moved quicker but I just felt annoyed and unsatisfied by this one.

Choose joy. On purpose. This book’s message is very timely. This is the third book I’ve read of this author’s and she has become a favorite. She lovingly draws us into her characters, warts and all, and we root for them until the completely satisfying ending, without straying into snappiness or unbelievability. I can’t wait for this to be published so I can recommend it to all. Thanks St.Martins and Netgalley for the ARC

This is the first Katherine Center book I've read and it won't be the last. What you Wish For is about growing up and figuring out who you are, learning how to love, and knowing when to walk away. Growing up in a family of teachers, I could relate to many different parts of Samantha. Fair warning. This book deals with difficult subjects regarding school safety and how to protect teachers and students. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC.

My first time reading this author's work, I have heard great things about her writing and was gifted a copy by NetGalley.

What You Wish For is a work of fiction that reads like a biography about Samantha (Sam) Casey, an elementary school librarian who loves her life on the historic island of Galveston, Texas. Samantha has had the honor of working for and living in a carriage home that is owned by Babette and Max Kempner. The Principle, Max Kempner returns from Italy to celebrate his sixtieth birthday in style but collapses and dies on the dance floor in front of his wife and Sam. While the little town is grieving their loss, Kent Buckley, the Kempner's son in law, hires a new principle, Duncan Carpenter. Duncan Carpenter was a teacher who Samantha worked with back in California and she crushed on him something fierce but back then she didn't have the self-esteem or courage to approach him. When he started dating someone else, she left California for Texas and now she doesn't want to leave her newfound family.

Duncan Carpenter, gregarious nature had all his peers and students loving and enjoying life with his crazy way of dressing, his love of dancing, juggling, and playing games made everyone feel at home, welcome, and made teaching interesting. However, Duncan Carpenter who showed up was one that was stoic, focus on security, and repressive. Each character is struggling with an issue be it emotional or physical and just trying to get through the day and make the choice to be happy.

I loved that Katherine developed her characters making us (readers) feel connected and have a stake in their well being. That is a true sign of a phenomenal writer. The story had many ups and downs, emotions swing from high to low and back again but isn't that a sign that you are/were invested in the story? Anyway, I think that I might find her library and start reading from her backlist.

Ah, this book gave me all the feels. Though I didn’t like it as well as Things You Save In A Fire, I did love the quirky cast of characters and especially the message of intentional joy. Katherine Center is a master of feel-good stories and though it may be a bit cliche, I did love how everyone helped each other overcome their own traumas by choosing love & deciding to be brave. If more people CHOSE joy every day, the world would be a better place.

I have not met a Katherine Center book yet that did not make me take pause to reflect on the lessons being taught. Full disclosure, since I read this at a heightened time in our country, I was easily triggered by some events that happened. HOWEVER, it made me center myself and focus on things we may often overlook. What You Wish For pushed me to "pay attention to the the things that connect me with joy" and to continue exhibiting grace even when times get tough. After all, you never know what another person is dealing with. Kudos to Katherine for always knowing what is most important in this thing called life.

What You Wish For was the third Katherine Center book I read (following How To Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire). Of the three, this was my least favorite. However, it was still a great book!

Sam is a school librarian who loves fun, color, and her job. When her principal suddenly dies, the school board brings in Duncan as the new principal. Sam knew Duncan from her previous school and was super excited about this prospect. Until she realizes how much he's changed...

This is a novel about growing up, finding yourself, learning to lean on other people, learning to love and be loved, and knowing when to give up on something. It was a very sweet novel and as a teacher, I could relate to many different parts of Sam. Overall, I would give a 3.75 rating.

Katherine Center knows how to craft a beautiful story. How to Walk Away is one of my favorite books and put her firmly on my “must read” list. Unfortunately, What You Wish For failed to capture that same magic for me. The writing was still excellent, I simply failed to connect with the characters, particularly Samantha). Perhaps it was a case of right book, wrong time for me.

In this weird, weird world where we’re all quarantined away and everything feels uncertain and unstable, something remains true: Katharine Center writes GREAT fiction.

While this wasn’t my absolute-absolute favorite of hers (the plot felt a touch heavy-handed at times) I loved revisiting Duncan, I loved her signature “compulsively readable fiction tackles big topics” turned onto another plot, and most of all, I loved how much this one swept me away, held my attention, and made me feel all the feels about humankind. I’ll forever read whatever Katherine Center writes, and you should too.

My gratitude to Netgalley for getting to read an early copy!

I loved this book. I was also a huge fan of "How to Walk Away" and "Things You Lose in a Fire", so requesting this book was a no brainer. The theme of living your life in fear really hit home and came out in a few different ways throughout the book. The characters were quirky and incredibly relatable and it was a perfect read, particularly right now.

This book gets 5 stars from me - I couldn't put it down,

I enjoyed this book, especially during stressful times. Thank you for allowed me to read this advanced copy. I have also read the last 2 Katherine Center’s novels and liked them. I like that she shows even during stressful times, something good can happen, especially when you allow yourself to let the good in. I liked how it shows we have to let go some of our fears when reasonable, to be happy.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I absolutely adore Katherine Center’s writing. She has the ability to draw you in and touch all of the emotions with her fantastic stories. This Story is absolutely outstanding and just what we all need as we are quarantined in our homes. After you read this book you will want to tell all of your friends to read it as it’s really, really that good!

Another great read from this author. Loved her things you save in a fire book was excited to get this. Great characters and story line. Can't wait for more from this author.


Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release of this book.

Samantha loves her job. She loves her little bright and sunny elementary school and the beautiful couple that owns it. When Max tragically passes though, a new principal is brought in and things are not looking good. At first Sam is excited for the eccentric, fun, colorful man she fell in love with to take over, but when Duncan shows up and is essentially a prison guard, Sam is upset and wants to know when he changed. Not to mention she is finding she is still just a little in love with him.

Katherine Center never disappoints. I was having a really hard time concentrating on reading because of distractions like the news with coronavirus, but this one kept my attention and I flew through it. I had a little trouble with how all over the place Sam seemed to be, but overall I still really enjoyed her. I think security in schools is a huge thing right now, so I enjoyed the look into how you protect your students, but not lose what makes your school amazing and fun to begin with. I also truly loved the meaning behind the word Joy and how Sam and Duncan learned to find joy throughout the book.

Thank you to St Martins Press for my gifted copy of this book!

Thank you for the ARC. Love Katherine Center's books. I have read just about all of them. This one for me started off a little rocky. I thought for sure I wouldn't like let alone finish this book. But I did and I loved it. There were times I just wanted to reach through the pages and shake Sam and say "Wake up". Loved all the characters in the story. Even the ones you don't like. As I said before all books have to have at least one character you don't like. Well that was Tina's husband (his name escapes me at this time). I'm done gushing since there are so many reviews.

Thank you @netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this #ARC of What You Wish For by Katherine Center.

I love, love, LOVE this author. I have read multiple works by her and each one makes me even more happy than the last. Katherine Center’s books have the recipe for a well rounded story. Romance, trauma, highs, lows, a little comedy, and usually an ending that has you in both happy and sad tears.
This novel takes place in a gulf town, where everyone knows one another. Sam moves her four years ago after she lost her mom. She took the librarian job at the local elementary school and was “adopted into the family that owns the school. After tragedy strikes almost immediately...Sam finds herself confronted with memories past, situations that are present, and an unknown future that she must carefully unfold. There are so many engaging plot lines throughout this story, and the author does a phenomenal job at evoking every emotion possible from the reader. I give this a solid 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷/5. Highly recommended for a nice easy read!

Another heartwarming story from the wonderful Katherine Center. This one started off a little bit slow for me, and the descriptions of all the funny things Duncan did at his old school drove me a bit crazy, but a third of the way in I was hooked. I didn’t think the twist was all that shocking and most readers will know what’s coming, but it’s still a powerful story. As a teacher I also really loved the school setting of the book and could relate to the theme of school safety and how far is too far in keeping kids safe.

“Pay attention to the things that connect you with joy.”

Katherine Center has done it again! She writes romance like no one else I've read - they are essentially stories about people finding (or more accurately, choosing) happiness & joy, both with their own self and with other people. But specifically, these are people who choose joy in the midst of real suffering and horrible circumstances in their life. In this instance, Sam is battling an illness that she prefers to keep hidden from others, and Duncan has some serious trauma he's locked away that's made him bitter and cold. Watching Sam & Duncan unlock joy in each other is an absolute delight, and I will most certainly be re-reading this book when I want something both heartfelt and comforting. (OH, this also sparked a re-read of Happiness for Beginners...such a joy!)

Katherine Center knocks it out of the park again.

Center is one of those rare authors who can juggle a ton of elements in just the right proportions to make her novels bubble over with feeling. She creates characters who seem like real, highly relatable people who are dealing with truly traumatic situations. (And boy is she good at writing utterly swoon-worthy romantic leads. Duncan is probably her most appealing romantic lead yet.)

In this novel, Samantha is living her dream as a librarian at a creative, private elementary school on an island off the coast of Texas. When the school’s beloved principal dies, an old crush, Duncan Carpenter, arrives to take over. But his personality has become barely recognizable from his days as a free-spirited teacher. He has become cold and robotic, and he is single-mindedly set on transforming their beloved school into a much different place. As Samantha tries to work with Duncan, she finds that there are good reasons for his dramatic personality change. Samantha, along with her friends and colleagues, wants to save the school, but to do so, she has to work with Duncan. From there, both of them have to stretch to move forward.


For me, this novel started off slowly. But once I was into it, I could NOT put it down. The problems the main characters face are very real, and the way they must open up to each other to grow is super touching.

The only thing I really disliked about this novel is that it ended. I am crushed that I have to wait until the next Katherine Center book comes out.

(On the other hand, I guess we’ll get to see the The Lost Husband as soon as the theaters reopen. I can’t wait!)

I received this book "What You Wish For" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I think this will be a great summer book. "Never Miss the Chance to Celebrate" is one of the themes here. I liked the characters and looked forward to reading the story each day to find out what was going to happen to them. You definitely felt like you were there but without an overwhelming detail of the surroundings.