Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

In the midst of chaos in the world, this was exactly what I needed to read. This book has a great writing style, easy to read, and it's a great book that's just easy to fall in love with.

The characters are endearing, easy to resonate with, and when the town is in mourning, you feel their grief. Love that I received this as an ARC, and this author is always on my authors to follow list. Add this one to your TBR List...it doesn't disappoint.

5 out of 5.

"What You Wish For" tells the story of Samantha Casey, an elementary school librarian on the island of Galveston, Texas. The book centers around the relationship between Samantha and her new boss and the conflicts between them over how the school should be run. What sets this book apart from others in the "women's fiction" category is the superb writing and character development that are the hallmark of all of Katherine Center's books. In this case, she does a wonderful job of drawing out the backstories of the two main characters to help explain why they do the things they do. An added bonus is the description of Galveston--she truly brings this unique location to life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, and it would also be a good selection for book clubs, as it raises interesting issues around PTSD and school shootings that would make for an excellent discussion.

Looking forward to her next book!

"Choose joy on purpose." Another wonderful message from another wonderful novel by Katherine Center! Katherine Center has a way of creating characters that you love and love to hate (Kent Buckley) and storylines that immerse you into her world. This story shares the journey towards grief, healing, happiness, new beginnings, courage and love. I absolutely fell in love with the community in this book! The author's portrayal of how human connection and community can create a catalyst for change is heartwarming. Especially, as I read this during our world's own experience during the Covid pandemic and self-isolation to keep others safe and healthy.

Katherine Center also has a way with words and how she introduces tragic situations, such as a school shooting in this particular novel, and harnesses her words in a way that the reader is able to feel the emotion behind the situation. She did not center her entire book around the actual incident but highlighted the emotions that anyone can relate to.

5-stars is not a high enough rating for this book. This is the 3rd Katherine Center novel that I have read and she is by far one of my favorite authors who is able to make me feel the emotions that she must have felt while she writes her masterpieces. I highly recommend this novel, her other novels and her as an author in general.

A beautiful story of how joy bring people back from horrible situations in life. The reader will fall in love with Sam and Duncan, as well as the school they work in.

This is my 3rd Katherine Center novel and I am a fan! This one was a slow start for me and it wasn’t until almost half way through that I was invested in the characters enough to keep going for their sake. But I am so very glad I did. Sam and Duncan were complex but interesting characters, even when I wasn’t sure I liked them. The author’s story line was very believable and could have happened to anyone, but told in such a way that never felt like you had heard that story a thousand times. I loved this book and I’m quite sure I will read it again!

this book was wonderful. I could not put it down. I felt such a range of emotions while reading - sadness, anger, laughter, joy... the story felt so real, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Like the characters in the story, I too, am seeking joy in my life and having thoughts that better days are ahead through these uncertain times.

This is feel-good book with such depth. The author makes you fell the pain, sorrow, fear and joy of all the characters. I can’t wait to read more of her books

From the first page, I was hooked on “What You Wish For”! As a teacher, I loved reading a story that truly reflected what it is like to be an educator. The character of Sam is such a delight. She made me laugh out loud, and I could picture all her colorful outfits! The story when at a quick pace which I love in a novel. I found myself not wanting to put it down, and I ended up staying up way too late to finish it. I would highly recommend this book to any of my friends!

This book was absolutely adorable. It’s a lovely light read with an extremely likable main character. I want to be friends with Sam and teach music at her amazing elementary school. I could not stop reading and read it in one sitting. I can’t say enough nice things about this book - everyone should read it!

I always love reading books by Katherine Center. This one was a light easy and entertaining read that is perfect for the beach.

Having just finished Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire, I was anxiously awaiting reading What You Wish For, and holy cow, it did not disappoint! I felt a magnetic pull to keep turning the pages and couldn't put this book down! I loved the descriptions and the back stories of all the characters, and I really felt so involved in their lives. Reading Center's novels are always a sweet escape from the world around you, and this book was no exception. Also unrelated to the content of the book, but I cannot get enough of the super cute covers of Center's novels, they are so recognizable and really express the vibe of the book well. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much and just flew through it. I wish I had made it last longer. I have loved all of Katherine Center's books that I've read and this one was no different. I thing she did a great job making the characters relatable. Thank you so much for the early read! I couldn't wait for this one.

I really enjoyed Katherine Center's last book Things You Save in a Fire. This one however, was not my favorite. I did love the descriptions of the school and how inviting it felt. This book just felt too fluffy to me. It seemed more like a chick lit book than a true women's fiction. I never really got attached to the main character, Sam. There just wasn't enough depth to the story for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Aside from the few grammar errors, the book was cute. I think if we were told about his reason for all the changes he wanted to make earlier it could have been better. Also, if we knew more about the husband and what his job was then it could have been a better read. Overall it was a nice read.

What a heartwarming and delightful book from Katherine Center. Sam, a librarian, works at a very special school in Galveston, Texas, when the beloved principal Max passed away.
In comes Duncan, a man from her unrequited crush from her past, who is much different than he used to be.
I loved how this book touched so many diverse topics - violence in school, medical conditions, bullying, all with a little romance sprinkled in. Katherine Center is quickly becoming a must read author for me.
Thank you to netgalley and stmartinspress for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my third Katherine Center book. It is my new guilty pleasure. It’s not a great work of literature. It’s kinda of beach book with a sweet love story. I cared about the characters, even though I knew I was totally being manipulated. Sam had the saddest backstory just to get me to be emotionally invested in her. And Sam loved books. The school at the center of the center was "Teacher Heaven." I would have loved to work there! It is yet another reason why I fell for the book. In these times, we need an engaging story with a happy ending. Katherine Center delivered.

I loved this book! This story was paced well, and kept me wondering what was going to come next. I loved the setting in Galveston, as I have been there many times. The characters were relatable and interesting. I will definitely recommend this book to others!

I received an advanced readers copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I almost feel bad giving this only two stars. It wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t like the main character, she was a bit too self centered for my liking, but I did like some of the other characters. Babette was a pretty cool character and I could have read a lot more about her. I kept seeing her as Babette from Gilmore Girls and I think that’s what made me like her. Alice was also an interesting one that I would have liked to know more about.
But, the plot was predictable and moved really slowly for the first half. As in a lot of romances, the only two characters that had any development and back story were the main character and her love interest. Parts of it felt like a goofy teen movie with hare brained schemes that you really had to suspend belief to think they’d work. It was just not my type of story I guess.

@katherinecenter is pretty much becoming my go to for #romcombooks. Her characters are so real, imperfect, and relatable, filled with heartache and hope. #whatyouwishfor is no different! I’m not going to lie, there’s a point where I was down right crying, with the added cliché of not knowing I was holding my breath until I knew it was going to end okay... (no spoilers, but you will know when you get to this part)!! This book hits the shelves on July 14 (Bastille Day!!) and you are definitely going to want to pick it up!! And thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the #arc!!!

This book by Katherine Center was a quick, engaging read that I did not want to put down. Samantha is a librarian at a private elementary school in Galveston, TX. After the sudden death of the beloved founder and principal at his 60th birthday party, Sam and the staff are thrown off by replacement hired by the board of directors. Duncan was Sam's crush at her previous school in California and the reason she moved there.

At first, it seemed like a good thing, but Duncan had changed a lot since she last saw him four years ago. He used to be the teacher that everybody liked and now he is this stern, strait laced guy. You will want to read how Sam helps reverse this. Also, I liked how epilepsy was woven into the story line.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to review and thoroughly enjoyed it.