Great read! "What You Wish For" touches my heart because I am an elementary teacher who tries to find the joy in every day with my precious students. The setting near the ocean is also near to my heart because it is a place that I love to vacation to get away from it all.
This is a quick feel good read.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

I am so glad I was able to receive an ARC of Katherine Center's new book What You Wish For. This author is new to me, so I dove in with no expectations. After the first few chapters, I was not sure if I was going to like this book, but I am sure glad I decided to continue on in hopes of changing my mind.

Katherine's character are written to make you feel like you have known them for a long time. You root for the heroes and boo at the antagonists. This really gets you invested in her fabulous storytelling.

This novel is very timely with all the scary realities we are currently facing.
It teaches you that we all must help each other in order to gain our own best life.

I would encourage you to give this heart-warming book a try, you will not be sorry you did. As for me, I will definitely be seeking out some of the other books Katherine Center has penned!

I LOVE this book! It was just what I needed to read. It was fear and joy and laughter and it made me love the characters. I love the exchanges between Duncan and Sam and I rooted for them the entire time. I love how this book made me laugh out loud (Christmas carols)! 😂 I highly recommended this book when it comes out. Katherine Center, you've done it again. 😊

I really enjoyed reading What You Wish For by Katherine Center. It was a delightful story.

I absolutely adored Sam as the main character. She was bold and built up the courage to stand up for her school. She was also cute and lovesick and times. I loved getting to know her and see her go for what she believes in. Honestly, Sam would be a great role model in my life if she were a real person and I can aspire to be more like her. She also demonstrated strength and determination to overcome her obstacles and to always find joy in her life.

Overall, this novel was beautiful and heartfelt. The book was an easy read - perfect for lightening the mood during these gloomy pandemic times. I certainly look forward to reading more of Katherine Center’s books in the future.

It started off a little slow but I enjoyed the subject matter and how well-developed most of the characters were. This was a good read and I’d love to recreate the library stairs!

Thanks to author Katherine Center and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was just the book I needed to read right now. An engrossing story focused on engaging characters with unique personalities, a variety of realistic issues, plus a plot both believable and fresh. If you're looking for a memorable feel-good story, I encourage you to read this ultimately joyful book!

I think we all have those authors whose new releases we wait anxiously for. The authors whose books we feel comfortable recommending just by the author alone, knowing they're all great. Katherine Center is one of those authors for me. Her books always end up on my summer reading guide, they're always among the books that I recommend to friends. What You Wish For will be going on my summer reading guide for sure. While each character has a secret, I appreciate that I didn't feel like their secrets were overly drawn out. Each was revealed at the perfect time. I really fell in love with these characters and would love to read another book set in this world.

Such a sweet story... great book to read to get your mind off of what the world is going through.... a story of hope and finding happiness. This is a story of two educators that worked together previously and have ended up in the same elementary school. This time around Duncan is the principal. He’s had something dramatic happen to him and Sam helps him get to who he use to be.

I really expected to love this book because I read Katherine Center's, Things You Save in a Fire and dearly loved it! This book fell flat for me after it had so many things going for it. The story takes place on Galveston Island, Texas, a place I live very close to. It was about schools and a librarian and I’m a retired teacher/librarian. It had romance in it and I love romance! But, this story did not make me want to sit and read for hours, it didn’t excite me, in fact, I really just wanted it to end! The book had too many characters that I didn't care for and a school that sounded like none I've ever worked in. There was of course, a case of unrequited love that had no sparks or believably. Sorry, it was just not a book for me.

Another must-read from Katherine Center. The story keeps you guessing, and keeps you needing more. A sweet, lovely story that just wants the reader to keep on going. Duncan is wonderful, and Samantha is a gem. As always, worth a buy.

This book touches on school shootings, in a soft way. A new principal comes to a very creative school and totally changes things. New principal knows one of the teachers from another school. There is tension and romance between the two. What You Wish For is absolutely lovely. You will find love!!

As has happened with every Katherine Center book I've read to date, I finished What You Wish For in tears. Katherine has a beautiful style of writing that fully immerses you in the world she has created. I particularly enjoyed her description of the characters' clothing in this book, from crazy hats to knee high socks to sweater sets to ties.

What You Wish For has similar themes to other Katherine Center books, such as dealing with trauma and loss. Katherine is not afraid to write about real issues and pain, but her characters who feel like lifelong friends and hopeful themes are the real star of this book. In short summation, Sam is a librarian at a school that is run by Babette and Max, who she views as parent figures and mentors. When a new principal steps in to run the school, who Sam knows from her previous teaching job in California, things begin to change at the school - and not for the better. Sam's motto of choosing joy each day is a strong theme throughout the book.

What You Wish For is an absolute delight. There is romance, but this is not fluffy chick lit. I heartily recommend that everyone pick up a copy of this book so you can laugh and cry and be moved, which I promise you will be.

Author Katherine Center grabbed my attention with Things You Save in a Fire. She has a knack for thoroughly developed characters, and her latest novel is no exception. Both the characters and the world they inhabit are impeccably crafted. Maybe too well, as it sent me virtually house hunting in Galveston! It may or may not have made me regret every decision that has led to me not being a school librarian at this utopia of a school three blocks away from a beach.

School librarian Sam is confronted with the past she fled four years ago when a former colleague begins teaching at her school in the aftermath of a personal tragedy. When he begins transforming their beautiful haven of a school with over the top security measures, Sam must overcome her past to stand up to him.

This novel is a light hearted read with more serious undertones touched on. Though tragic and heart-wrenching events have taken place prior to the novel’s timeline, they serve to provide emotional strife the characters must work through. Hard issues are tackled, but not in an overly heavy way.

I didn’t connect as deeply with the protagonist Sam as I did with the protagonist in Things You Save in a Fire, but an author deserves for their work to be evaluated on its own and not constantly compared with their prior work, so that’s more on me than anything else. I loved the secondary characters in this new novel, and hope a full novel about Babette or Alice is in the works!

The world these characters inhabit is lovingly crafted and feels realistic. From their beloved school to the unique cast of characters that make up the staff, I loved this fictional environment. It’s always enjoyable to watch characters learn and grow, even when they don’t realize its what they need.

The story is well paced and engaging; I wouldn’t be surprised to see the film rights optioned soon as well, as I think it would translate well to the screen. Warning: a side effect of this book is that you’ll be mentally shopping for clothes just like Sam’s. I loved her brightly colored ensembles and the metaphor that she had to believe in herself to transform from her old, beige and navy self into the colorful butterfly she was meant to be.

With a story full of growth, an adorable dog, and a precocious nine year old, Center’s What You Wish For is an enjoyable read that will leave you longing for a coastal lifestyle.

What You Wish For will be released July 14, 2020.

I’m grateful to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advanced reader’s copy such that I could write this review. Thank you!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Katherine Center for my gifted copy of What You Wish For. Netgalley and St. Martin’s made it available during the Covid-19 quarantine, which brought joy to a lot of readers.

Quick synopsis: Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.
When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

I have a lot of thoughts on this book. Overall, I thought that What You Wish For tackled difficult issues with the right amount of depth, substance, and grace. School shootings, epilepsy, death, and seizures all come up, and Center gives each topic the respect and depth it deserves within the plot. They don’t detract from the plot, they add to it. It’s very impressive, and adds to a plot that draws you in, and hooks you from the beginning.

Educators will enjoy the fact that the setting and much of the plot revolves around a school. What teacher hasn’t had an administrator that tries to change everything, awesome coworkers that become close friends, and a student that you absolutely adore? I love Sam’s character development, along with her backstory. She’s a delightful, well rounded woman.

The drawback to this book, for me, is that Center’s writing started to come across as formulaic for me. The last third of the book, in terms of events, reminded me of How to Walk Away. In addition, the ending seemed very rushed. It didn’t leave the best taste in my mouth.

If you liked Katherine Center’s prior books, you’ll love What You Wish For.

I absolutely loved Katherine Center’s new book, What You Wish For. I’ve come to expect a fun, delightful read, from Center, that somehow will also cover very dark, heavy topics. This was a feel good book, that will make your heart very heavy, at times. The characters are absolutely lovable. I wish I knew a real life Duncan, Max, or Alice! Until then, I’ll have to settle for rereading What You Wish For.
Thanks NetGalley for the early copy! It was absolutely my pleasure!

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.

Thus was a sweet book that was heartwarming and perfect for these times. Well written. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!!

Cute, fun romance that was slightly predictable. What bumped it up for me was the lovely life lessons:
Don't let fear ruin your chance to live.
Be brave.
Choose things that will cause joy (like flower hats).
Very enjoyable read.

Wow! This book was fantastic! I had never read a book by Katherine Center before this book, and now I’m hooked!
I loved that this book was about a teacher and a school. I loved that this book discussed some serious topics that educators, and people in general, are dealing with right now.

I quickly fell in love with the characters and felt many emotions while reading this book!

I highly recommend this book and will suggest it to many of my teacher friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the advanced copy of this book!

OMG.....this story was just what I needed right now.....it was sheer book nirvana ......I did in fact receive an ARC from Netgalley but I have would gladly payed for this one.
Thank you so much Karla for putting this author on my radar. I still need to read "Things You Save in a Fire" but that title has just skyrocketed up my list of books that I want to read after finishing this delightful story.

I LOVED THIS AUTHOR'S WRITING SO MUCH.

A MOST HEAVENLY READ INDEED.

5 "shining" stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is my first novel by Katherine Center and honestly I was a little surprised by how strongly her writing hit me squarely in the "feeling good and loving it" department.
I guess, that I had no "real" idea what to expect from this writer but I have to say that she has the most amazing and "positive" effect on your psyche....this book was an absolute joy to read and a total mood elevator for me...not only was I positively beaming after I finished reading but thoughts about this sweet and engaging storyline continued to make me smile and keep me going throughout the rest of the day....which is a very good thing in this current climate of fear and unrest.
Stay healthy and safe - my dear book friends and fellow readers.

Synopsis:
Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.

When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

This story was perfectly interwoven with humor and generosity, love and romance, joy and sadness....the writing was seriously wonderful.....I will be reading a lot more by Katherine Center