What You Wish For was a sweet story with some characters you really want to root for. This is my third Katherine Center book and I think she managed to pull off, again, her signature sweet story that deals with some really tough subject matter along the way.
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Isn’t this a beautiful cover? Whoever is doing her covers for her books these days is really just killing it with the designs.
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Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC. It was a delightful moment when I was able to download this one. Certainly a good quarantine read. Just plowed through it in 24 hours.

I was so delighted to get my hands on an early release of this book, having thoroughly enjoyed the author's two most recent works -- How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire. Like its' predecessors, What You Wish For was a light read romance with a HEA.

The protagonist has a great back story of struggling with a medical issue, and I enjoyed reading about how she went from wanting to be "invisible" to a woman of confidence. Samantha is a librarian at an idyllic school in Texas, and she is quirky without straying into "manic pixie dream girl" territory, and the author does a great job fleshing out her character and her motivations. The same can be said for our leading man in the novel -- Duncan, and many of the supporting characters.

However, there is one supporting character who is almost cartoon-like in his villany. I half expected to encounter a chapter where he was tying a maiden to a railroad track and twirling a mustache. A line uttered by this character pulled right out of my book cocoon, and had to go back and read it several times again to make sure I hadn't misread.

It is a small misstep in an otherwise utterly charming and delightful book. I was earnestly rooting for several of these characters by the end of the book, and was overall satisfied with the ending, The best part about this book is a message imparted by the character behind the inciting incident -- beloved school principal, Max. His message of "choose joy" is a beautiful sentiment, and I found myself thinking about it for days after I had finished reading.

I encourage anyone who enjoys the romance genre to pick up a copy, and fans of Center's other works certainly will not be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC,

I absolutely adored this book!

Katherine Center writes my favorite kind of romance - sweet and not too steamy, with some sort of lesson or deeper meaning within the book. The lesson in What You Wish For - choose joy on purpose! This was an excellent reminder that I think everyone can use from time to time.

The main character, Sam was extremely lovable. Duncan from Happiness For Beginners (my favorite of Katherine Center's books) is another character, one I rooted for throughout the whole story.

Read this book. You won't regret it.

I enjoyed this uplifting book. It is about a woman who moves away from a man who she obsessed over years ago, to have a fresh start. She works in a job that she loves, as a school librarian at a truly wonderful school, run by her friend. When that friend, who is like a father to her, passes away, she and the rest of the school staff are grief stricken. The head of the board of the school unexpectedly hires the man who Samantha was obsessed with years ago, she is both elated and terrified. But it turns out that Duncan is nothing like how he was before. Instead of being a playful, warmhearted man, he appears cold, stand-offish, very serious, and oddly obsessed with changing the school and making it more secure, with no care about what the school is all about.

This a wonderful and warmhearted look at how people change and why, and whether and how armor can be lifted and trauma can be healed. It is a love story at its heart. Ultimately it is somewhat predictable, but it is enjoyable and immensely readable just the same. I am a fan of Katherine Center's (this is the third of her books that I've read), and this book gave me more of what I've come to expect from her writing.

I loved this book! The main characters were fabulously created and made you really like them and root for them the entire book. I enjoyed the beginning, middle and end! The events that transpire are “real-life” happenings in our world right now…. So the story REALLY hit home for me! I really enjoyed reading this early copy! Thank you to all that made it possible!

This is a book about Sam, an elementary school librarian, and how a new principal takes over her beloved school and changes her life. She has to learn to stand up for what she believes in before everything she loves about her school comes crashing down. The characters in this book sucked me right in and I was totally invested in what happened to them. Alice, Sam's best friend, fills the book with humerous math jokes. There's a little bit of mystery, humor, romance, and drama in this wonderful book.

4.5 ⭐️s rounded up! This is the third Katherine Center novel I’ve read, and I do believe this is her best yet! This story gave me all the feels, plus a few more I didn’t know existed! The storyline sucked me in right from the beginning. At first I found both lead characters almost too eccentric to root for, but that was quickly dissolved within the first few chapters. By the story’s end, I found myself laughing out loud, cursing at Sam, and welling up with tears. At a time when our country is experiencing a global pandemic, this story gives hope, joy, and love to those who choose it. Three of my favorite things from this story are (in no particular order): Alice’s math t-shirts, naming a pet Chuck Norris, and choosing joy on purpose! Thank you Katherine Center, Netgalley, and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!!

Sam (Samantha Casey) is living her dream life as a librarian at an innovative and creative elementary school, where her style of injecting fun and color into every day is accepted by all--the entire faculty feels more like family.

But at a birthday party for one of the school leaders, tragedy strikes. A new principal has to be found--and as happens in the World of RomCom, the replacement, Duncan Carpenter, is her former crush. Only this isn't the creative, amazing Duncan who never noticed her. This new iteration of Duncan is unsmiling, repaints the murals gray for obscure reasons having to do with school safety, which is his obsession. Duncan now notices her, but with the deadly fish-eye of RomCom Conflict. . . until she discovers that she's listed as his ride after a medical procedure.

We know what's going to happen, and it does with plenty of heart and appreciation for joy. For a romance novel, this book packs in a lot of dark stuff--school shootings, abusive marriages, epilepsy, bullying, a missing child being just a few. But Center deals with these issues with compassion and at times a very broad brush; the resolution of the missing child turns into one of the book's best scenes.

This was my first encounter with this author. Won't be my last.

“I’m not happy because it comes easily to me. I bite and scratch and claw my way towards happiness everyday.”

In Katherine Center’s new novel, What You Wish For, we encounter Samantha “Sam” Causey, a plucky, colorful, joy-seeking school librarian. She’s young, she’s whimsical, she’s in love with her school, her life, and her lovely island town. When an unrequited crush named Duncan Carpenter comes crashing into her school, a place that Sam’s entire life revolves around, you would think it would be a wonderful, miraculous time of joy. But Duncan is different. And Sam is different too. Is there room for people to grow, to change? What if they change in a way that is completely unexpected?

Sam and Duncan appear to have somehow swapped places in life: the once vibrant one is now clad in gray and is as serious as a cinderblock, while the wallflower, mousey librarian is now a rainbow incarnate. Will this work? Will they find their way to each other? What painful secrets are they keeping from each other? What hurts keep them guarded?

“The world keeps hanging on to this idea that love is for the gullible. But nothing could be more wrong. Love is only for the brave.”

Yes, the essential plot of this is a love story, but the true heart is about the courage it takes to be vulnerable with someone. To trust someone. To love someone. And even more so, the courage to choose JOY when things are dark are hurtful and raw and frightening.

Center has this wonderful style of writing that sets the reader right in the middle of the action. I don’t find myself sitting in the audience, watching it all unfold before me. I am on the stage, in the scene, experiencing every moment of the character alongside her. In What You Wish For I find myself laughing and relating to the over-analytical thoughts of Sam, full of truth and folly simultaneously. I cheer for her even when I know she is making false assumptions because I can soooooooo very much relate to that runaway train of thoughts that a woman can experience, especially in those years of new adulthood.

I loved seeing Duncan Carpenter appear, though I must admit I didn’t imagine this life path for him after his appearance in Happiness for Beginners. I wished there was more, but loved what was given, seeing each reveal as a gift.

This was a beautiful, sweet little postcard/ode to Galveston as well. Being a ‘local’ girl, I loved the inclusion of some of my favorite places and historical stories.

Center has once again filled my heart and found yet another way to encourage and inspire me.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for dropping this ARC to bolster our spirits.

Wow, where to begin. Sam is a wonderful librarian that has moved to Galveston because of a man that she can't watch fall in love with someone else. Due to the man, Duncan, she ran from and health issues she struggled with finding JOY in her life. Thanks to Max, the school principle, he was able to help her find JOY in the little things in life. Then the next thing she knows the man she ran from is back in her life. But what she doesn't know is the past he is coming from that can change them both. Can she over come her feelings or give in?
This was such a good book that I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. You will be in love with this book and how the characters come together.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Another day in lock down and another book finished 🙌 thanks to #Netgalley I received #katherinecenter #whatyouwishfor you may remember she also released #thingsyousaveinafire well this cute little love story of two people is just the recipe you need to forget the world. #Sam who has left her previous school. Met a family who has taken her in. Then. #tragedy and #Duncan arrives. Is he the same as she remembers? Will he remember her? Be ready to take a ride and follow these two to see what happens when old crushes reunite. #bookreader #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #reader #netgalleyreview #arc #thisisfortyone #covid_19 #lifewithautoimmunediseases

In light of the recent pandemic, this ARC comes as a welcome happy surprise. This book is about leaving pain behind and choosing joy.
It isn’t quite the typical love story but that just makes Duncan and Samantha’s romance sweeter. Samantha the quirky librarian afraid to share her medical condition and Duncan Carpenter afraid of loss like that in his old job. You can’t help but cheer them on as they come together.
My only regret is that this reads a bit more young adult than true romance but still a touching story.
This ARC provided through Netgalley for a candid review

WOW! What a powerful story. Be Joyful, always pick joy. Joy is always an option everyday. Duncan has such a good reason to give up on joy. But he has lost himself in fear. Sam fights through fear every day. The story covers so many of the headlines in recent days. Yet there is humor and love. I like the cast of quirky characters...okay not that awful father. I like the blend of past personalities and what brought on change. I like the book from beginning to end.

I have not read this author before. You can be sure I will be reading more of her books. Her writing is fantastic. She pulls you end and keeps you entertained. A great book!!

I've really taken a liking to Katherine Center's novels. Each of them vary greatly but are fabulous in their own right. This book was no exception. I found the beginning to be a little wordy and repetitive, but once you come to a point of understanding the characters it really unfolds and moves quickly. A lot of the imagery was really powerful and stuck with me. I will absolutely continue to read her books - they're such a treat!

Samantha Casey enjoys her job as school librarian under the leadership of an amazing principal Max and his wife Babette. When Max suddenly dies during his birthday party a new principal is needed. Duncan, who was a much loved principal at Samantha's previous school is hired on. Samantha was also in love with Duncan all though Duncan never knew it.
When Duncan comes on board as principal Samantha is amazed that the previous much loved and amazing principal has now changed into a cold, hard , depressing man. The staff decides to bombard Duncan with love and fun in hopes of changing him into his previous persona.
This book is engaging as you read to find out what changed Duncan, can he become "himself" again, will Samantha and Duncan find love this time. The characters of Duncan and Samantha were well developed and you find yourself rooting for them to come together in their relationship and for the sake of the school.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC.
I love Catherine Center. I've read two of her pervious books and just devoured them. I was really exited for this one. I'm sad to say that I didn't love it. I'm not sure if it's because I work in a school and some of the details just seemed really unrealistic for a school setting or that the main character was not relatable to me. It definitely dealt with a heavy topic of school safety and I think that was done well, but honestly, I missed the romance. It needed more in my opinion, so much more!

A breezy, cheesy fast read that touches on too many serious issues from school safety and bullying to chronic disease and saving the whales. Sam, the protagonist is an intelligent young school librarian who isn’t very smart. She was happy in her job and town, but fell madly in love then quit her job and moved away when it became obvious he didn’t know she existed. When the book starts, she has settled into a new town, home and job that she loves. However she is still mourning the unrequited love and the mourning has stymied her emotionally. This “light RomCom that isn’t” was not for me.

This book brought 2 firsts for me. The first book by this author whom I am sure, it is not going to be my last, and my first book review by Net galley. I am new to Net galley and when I joined and was given the opportunity to read it before it's publication I grabbed the opportunity and I am glad I did. Samantha Casey is the woman who has the best job ever. She is a librarian in a school. She faces fears in her life due to her past but still she encourage others to look ahead and never back. It is a romance, light reading which for some time I could forget the life we are living at the moment. Duncan is the man she always loved and always thought he didn't give a damn for her..... Well it is a beautiful story, a light read to read after a psychological thriller maybe???
I would like to thank Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just what I wished for - an easy-to-read, fast-paced, feel-good story. Although one that does feature some sensitive plot elements including grief and trauma.

There was so much to love (warning there is a spoiler or two ahead).
- A sensitive, but realistic portrayal of epilepsy, a condition which doesn’t get a lot of attention but one which I have a lot of experience with since my husband developed it 20 years ago.
- Clay. I had a quiet, nerdy boy so I have a bit of a soft spot for them.
- The Kempner School. I homeschooled my four but if they’d gone to school this would have been the sort of school I’d have wanted them to attend.
- The moment when Tina kicked her useless husband to the curb. I just wanted to cheer and shout “You go girl” and “About time”.
- The whole community uniting together for a common purpose, greater than itself. And taking the lead from a child. The fact that it was connected to the natural world was another plus for me.
- The emphasis on choosing joy is one I think we could all use right now, which is why I posted a picture of this quote rather than the book cover. Which is gorgeous by the way.
- It has some interesting things to say on the issue of school shootings and school safety.

If I was so inclined there were definitely things I could criticise. There was nothing subtle about many of the characters or plot developments, especially early in the book. Some were a little too obvious and over-the-top for my taste. And the plot was reasonably predictable. Sure there is romance so you always know how that aspect is going to end, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out why Duncan changed from when Sam first knew him, or how a major difference between the two of them would resolve.

But for me this didn’t matter. The book is not meant to be literary fiction. It’s positive, warm-hearted contemporary fiction with a strong romance element and I was more than happy to enjoy it on those terms.

Katherine Center is becoming one of my favorite authors and I fall in love with her one book at a time. This was a book I didn’t know I needed at a time in my life I needed some joy.

At the beginning I was not 100% on bored with Sam. There was something about her at the start that felt like she was trying to be the perfect person. But after the announcement that Duncan was coming back into her life, I was completely on the Sam train. I saw her vulnerable side, related so much to her desired to be loved, and it felt like I was reading my own diary when she was describing the crazy things we experience with unrequited love.

Duncan came in guns blazing. It took me a while to finally understand him and to find the heart hidden beneath the scars of an unthinkable past. There were times early in the beginning where we saw little snippets of the old Duncan and in those times I appreciated the laughter and joy he brought to a room, but the new Duncan annoyed me. The way he commanded a room and demanded actions through scare tactics. I was dying to know his story.

To be honest, I struggled with the first half of this book. Both characters were stronger willed and would not compromise. There was no leeway for anything and their interactions drove me crazy, it was like watching two dictators fighting for power. It wasn’t until halfway through the story where I started to see softer sides of each of them I started to enjoy the story. I also didn’t like how Sam put Duncan on a pedestal. She idolized Duncan too much. She put too much pressure on Duncan to live up to that ideal version of him in the past, instead of learning about the person standing in front of her today. I feel like this book could have really benefited from a dual POV just to get a better sense of his feelings and his story.

This is the type of book I needed right now with a wonderful message to find the light in darkness. With the combination of Alice’s use of math humor displayed through t shirts and jokes with Max’s joyful wisdoms and calm energy, it all gave me a different way to approach the heavy material in book. Also when can I review her Alice’s autobiography? The title alone makes me wish she was real and we could be best friends.

This book is poised with all the essential elements I love about Katherine Center books. The writing was emotionally imaginative and sprinkled tastefully with humor and heart. The charters were strong with complexity that were detailed and well thought out. She made this situation in the story relatable while providing hope and encouragement. She took Dumbledore’s words “happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” and made a wonderful story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC.