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.

This book was exactly the jolt of joy I needed in these uncertain times. The characters had great chemistry, so the swoon factor was definitely high. The perfect book to read on a sunny afternoon when you're sheltering in place.

What a wonderful book! Sam’s contented life is thrown into upheaval when Duncan comes to work at her school. He’s not the man he used to be and Sam is on a mission to discover where her old crush went to.
I recommend! A light, uplifting read!

A light, fun read, full of romance, love, longing for family, loss, and fear. The history of everyone's past wraps into the future.

Sam is afraid to let someone love her because of her medical condition. Duncan isn't the same person Sam knew him as. She wants the old Duncan back. She's not the only one who will take measures to get him back to normal.

A fun quick read and well written. Really liked it! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc.

Most books are either plot driven or character driven. What You Wish For is driven by colors and polka dots and clown socks and stripes and juggling.

I was not the target reader for this book. While it does have an underlying theme of overcoming life's obstacles and finding joy in everything, the narrative and the dialogue are too corny. The last 10% of the book somewhat redeems itself. But, that is a long time to wait for redemption.

Corniest line: Even if I don't remember, I’ll remember.

Because of the circumstances in the world in March of 2020, I am rating this as a 3 star read. I know it will appeal to many. It is an escape from today’s world. But, not really my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.

This book was so well-written! I enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. Thank you St Martin's press for the ARC. I loved the school and Sam, and Clay was a delight! There are a couple of 'dark' things in this book, so just be warned.

Just a feel-good and easy read. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. Perfect distraction during quarantine.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51168993

Fear and anxiety can overwhelm and overpower you, changing your life completely. But Joy... Making yourself find small, simple things to bring joy and happiness into your life can change your world into something that is truly the best of you! Thank you Katherine Center for this amazing, insightful story that is just what I need at this point in time!

5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced digital copy to read.

I love all of Katherine Center’s books and this one is no different. The story flowed well for me and I loved the character development, especially towards the end.
This is a wonderful, fun love story within a tight knit island school community. I especially loved the underlying messages of seeking joy and happiness in everyday life during challenge & difficult times


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51168993

Center's books are a joy to read. You know you're going to get humor. You know you're going to get heartfelt. You know you're going to get real life problems but with hope that life goes on and things work out and joy can always be found! Center creates characters you fall in love with and become invested in. What You Wish For is no different. I absolutely loved it!

I adored this book! Kudos to Katherine Center for writing another book that brings out all the feels. Neither of the two main characters, Sam and Duncan, are perfect, but yet they help make each other better throughout the course of the book. I felt invested in both of them, and was rooting for them both individually and as a pair. I found this book to have a very hopeful vibe to it, despite challenges that the characters are working to overcome. Even though I felt the book was a tad bit predictable, I 100% enjoyed the journey that Center takes you on from beginning to end.

I instantly felt a connection to Sam and her passion as a librarian, falling in love with her honesty, quirkiness, and dedication to her students and reading. Even better, I wanted to be a teacher at the Kempner school! The rawness of the fear and courage shared by Sam, Duncan, Babette and Alice kept me going every chapter. I now want to visit Galveston even more -Katherine Center, you've done it again!

Katherine Center hit the nail right on the head with her novel What You Wish For. It speaks of the challenges teachers face everyday in our schools. Sam and fun interesting activities that motivate and nurture learning and the Duncan side of administration of safety and testing, etc. I loved the. book being a former elementary teacher and now librarian in a world of school shootings, viruses, testing, as well as adorable students to teach. The Book also reminds us to not judge a book by its cover or a person until we walk in their shoes..

Well once again I find myself having to use my "wish I had liked it more" file. I was so looking for a book that could provide me with the old "take me away" mode so needed in the climate we find ourselves in today. Thinking if anyone could do that, make me escape to fun times it would be this author. However, sadly, as much as I wanted it to do just that, it was disappointing.

I think for me it was all those joyfully foolish moments. People acting like clowns really in their everyday lives made me question and wonder if indeed there are people who go over the top to make themselves seen? Perhaps this is not the time for clownish behavior, and of course today's unceasing wave of doom and gloom does impact how one feels about absurdity. The characters, while they did have their "joyous" moments, seemed pretty stilted, almost being forced to be outlandish, ridiculous, and in situations that seemed so implausible.

I did like the theme of keeping our children safe in a school setting and of course this is a totally relevant concept. Covering the topic of epilepsy was also something that added to the story. Unfortunately, for me it was just not enough to make the book flow the way I wanted it to. Presenting these relevant topics was something that did add a bit of seriousness to the tale Samantha and Duncan, however, and for that I continued to read this book and not end it before its conclusion.

I so loved this author's last book The Things You Save In A Fire, where I thought her characters seemed like true to life real people. In this book, they seemed like characticures of themselves, acting more like what might have been expected of them, and not what they really wanted to do or be.

So sadly, this book was not for me. I am not giving up on this author as I have enjoyed other of her stories. I am sure many will love this tale so please do take a look at other reviews. My "wish I had liked it more" file gains another addition unfortunately.