to say i had sky high expectations of this book would be an understatement. happiness for beginners is one of my all time favourites and how to walk away just blew me away. i did love things you save in a fire, but not as much as those two. this is when star ratings are hard. because i would give happiness for beginners like, 100/100 but things you save in a fire 99/100. same with this one, 99/100. small difference, but a difference nonetheless. it's impossible to do with stars because they don't allow half or 3/4s. so 5 stars it is. because i did love it.

it was very readable - as katherine center's books always are - and realistic. it was funny and adorable. i laughed and i got super teary. i adored the characters. duncan on pain meds is the funniest thing in the entire world. her side characters are always fabulous and fleshed out as well, alice and clay were definitely stole the show out of all the side characters. that whale scene! i cried.

i'm going through a tough time and recently reread happiness for beginners. so many 'i feel seen' moments in that book. this book was the same with all those feelings. Center just hits all the nails on the heads when it comes to grief and loss and pain and life. she balances the real life heavy stuff with the lighthearted silly stuff perfectly. she writes such realistic characters and stories.

it is definitely more of a 'romance' than her others and by that i don't mean the others don't have romantic plots, but that this one seems to be more of the focus of the book than the others? and perhaps that is where i had a teensy bit of trouble (spoilers!) - the characters both supposedly really liked/loved each other in the past, so when they meet again in the present, the feelings are there already.... so i didn't get to feel them. i felt them a little as they reconnect, sure, but i didn't fall in love with them like i did with helen and jake, for example. it's not a super complaint, i just wanted a wee bit more development or backstory especially since it is such a big portion of the story. i felt like i might have connected with the characters a wee bit more if i had more of that.

i think her books are fantastic in general and even if you live a perfectly happy life, you will enjoy them, but i think they are most important and amazing when you are struggling. they are uplifting without being preachy, realistic without being depressing. i cannot wait for this to be published so i can basically underline the entire thing. this book left me feeling inspired and ready to claw my own way through happiness. if only i had a duncan or a jake to help me through lol.

of course the main reason this gets 5 stars is that we see helen and jake. ha!! kidding. but not really.

This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Her slowburns are EPIC! I usually prefer a bit more steam in my books, but hers are so well written that I really don't even miss it.

This book was so engaging and I read it in one sitting. The heroine is so vibrant and like a breath of fresh air., I absolutely adored her. I cannot wait to see what Katherine Center publishes next!

My love runs deep for Katherine Center and this book may be my new very favorite of hers. It is so beautifully written with wonderful character development. Read in 24 hours because I could not put it down. HIGHLY recommend.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Things We Save In A Fire so I was excited when I got an advanced copy of What You Wish For. Unfortunately, not my favorite by Katherine Center! I found it so repetitive that I skimmed through most of the book.

This is one of those books that you are so very delighted to read and so very sad to be over! And the moment I finished the last word, instantly wanted to start all over again!

Honestly, Katherine’s books bring me so much joy and laughter! They are a gift to read and I devour them while blocking out the real world, because her fictional worlds are just to good! Her books lift me up and make me want to live more fully.

There was so much to love about this book! Duncan captured my heart in Happiness for Beginners when he drove to see Helen with her dog in a cooler. From that moment on I was 100% invested in him, and I wanted to know more!

I loved peeling back the layers of who Duncan is now and all that had happened to him in the 10 years or so since we last saw him! It was truly painful at times to witness all that he had become, but that made the his reappearance just that much more stunning! Oh and high on pain meds Duncan is amazing!!! I just loved all the things that came out of his mouth!!!

Sam was the reverse of Duncan, someone who had been hiding in the shadows, but had now become the light that people looked too! Sadly that didn’t mean that her pain and hurts were healed, but as Katherine pointed out, sometimes helping others out, brings healing to us too. “At no point did it occur to us that we might be doing any of this for ourselves. But of course it helped us too.”

I loved Sam and Duncan as individuals and as a unit. Even though this is written from Sams POV, I never felt that it I got less of Duncan because of this, in fact through her eyes we see Duncan as he is meant to be seen, not as he is!

This book wouldn’t be possible with out my favorites and let’s just say that I got teary when Helen showed up on the beach, and then Jake and Duncan’s banter... I just started laughing and crying. I felt all of the emotions!!!

I'll definitely be adding to this review as I ponder it more and reread it! I miss them all already!

I was so honored to received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange in for an honest review!

Sometimes you get what you wish for. I sure did when I got an ARC of What You Wish For from St. Martin's Press. Katherine Center has become one of my favorite authors and one that I enjoy reading because her books are so real and personable. In her new book, What You Wish For, Sam and Duncan both have issues they need to overcome. Sam has a head start, and she must help Duncan. Sam is such an infectious character - she wears bright colors and kooky patterns and accessories. I just love her and her joyous spirit, and can her joy wake Duncan up? A wonderfully delicious novel, one not to be missed!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

So, I loved Katherine Center's previous title "Things You Save in the Fire". However, I found myself annoyed by the main character in this book. I found her to be whiny and always throwing herself a pity party because of her seizure disorder. Maybe I need to be more empathetic, but I don't see how its that big of a deal to share that with other people. I am also a "deal with your shit" type of person, so when people are stunted by trauma, I wish they would seek mental counseling instead of doing a complete 180 and act like a moron in every aspect of their life. I found myself skimming the story. Also, as an elementary school teacher, I found the school at the heart of the book to be very unrealistic. Students have time to just lay in the library and read...what school is that possible because I'd like to go there. Not her best; not my favorite.

As per usual, Katherine Center has done it again - given us a story that is funny, thoughtful, and endearing.

My only criticism is that, unlike in her previous 2 releases, I was left wanting a little bit more from the two main characters. Specifically, a little more of their backstory. I also struggled a tiny bit understanding the motives for some of Sam’s decisions, which hasn’t happened with one of her main characters before either. I’m not sure what went wrong this time, but I didn’t feel like I was in her head as much or as fluently as I have with Katherine’s other main characters.

So while I loved it, and definitely highly recommend it, I have to give this one 4/5.

***Thank you so much, St. Martin’s Press, for the pre-release digital copy!***

Four and a half stars for What You Wish For by Katherine Center.

There’s nothing like a Katherine Center book to pull you out of a reading rut! I loved How to Walk Away and enjoyed Things You Save in a Fire, so I was very excited to receive a copy of Katherine Center’s newest novel. It certainly didn’t disappoint - I absolutely adored this contemporary romance-with-a-soul.

Sam is a quirky school librarian who wears bright colors to help encourage the world around her to remain cheerful and positive. Duncan is her former-crush-turned-boss who seems to have lost everything that gave him life. It’s romantic with a side of heartbreaking, which is just how I like it!

The only thing missing for me was a beach chair and a cocktail to drink while I read this book. I can’t wait for its release so I can recommend it to friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read her last two books, which were stunning and so is this one. Her books make you not just happy, but joyful and give hope. Sam is the librarian in an elementary school. The school itself is quirky, fun and a little magical. But the owner dies and the Board hires Duncan to be the new principal. Sam knows him from her previous school when he was fun-loving and quirky, and she was just a little in love with him. But this Duncan she does not know, he is serious and tries to turn the school into a prison. This is such a fun read and I so enjoyed watching the romance blossom.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Katherine Center and considered How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire to both be 5 star reads. That was not the case with What You Wish For. Overall it was just very unrealistic. Duncan's behavior when he first arrived at Sam's school was very far fetched - and the reasons behind his actions were very predictable and still didn't quite reconcile the complete personality change. I struggled with Sam... To change jobs and move to a new state just because a guy you have a crush on has a girlfriend seems incredibly immature and silly. I trudged through the first half and skimmed a great deal of the second. I will pick up the next book by this author but this one just wasn't for me.

When I got the email that I was selected to read and review this book, I did a little happy dance, which was a very appropriate theme for this story! This story, as with all of Katherine Center's books reminds you that there is bad in the world, but it can be overcome by choosing to remain positive and look for the light. To celebrate successes and wins and take control over your happiness. I loved Sam and Duncan and I loved learning Duncan's story. Its a reminder that people arent always what they seem, unless they are Kent Buckley. I love Tina empowering herself for her little nugget Clay. This book was such a feel good read! I can't wait for everyone to experience it in July!

I usually live Katherine Center books. Her characters are usually engaging and the plot is thought provoking. This novel didn't live up to my expectations. I felt the story was improbable and disnt hold my interest.

I loved this book. It had a little bit of everything and told a great story. Duncan was a great teacher and years later is coming to Sam's school as principal. She remembers his colorful shirts, crazy socks, funny demeanor and the way he had all of the children and teachers awaiting his next move. However, when he shows up, gone is the color and the happy go lucky personality. He is going to destroy the fun and creative behavior all the teachers embrace and the children enjoy. Sam learns why Duncan is concentrating on keeping the children safe rather than having fun. Duncan learns about Sam's fears as well. The characters are great and Clay, the smart third grader who loves to read, manages to bring everyone together and show just how brave he can be.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3215220160 Review on Goodgreads

Kathleen Center is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She handles a serious topic but weaves it into a beautiful story with a great ending . This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Casey is a librarian at a small school on an island where she is known for her colorful outfits and her big heart towards her family. When she was a new member of the community, Samantha is '"adopted" by the school principal and his wife which further engrains her in the community. Samantha's life is rocked when her former crush Duncan becomes the new principal at her school. However, gone is her semi-crazy, humorous past love and in his place is a new principal who is obsessed with school safety. It is up to Samantha to try and bring Duncan back to his old self.

I was a huge fan of Katherine Center's novels and her newest work did not disappoint! Although I was nervous that I did not read Happiness for Beginners first, I was completely engrossed in this novel and I do not believe that it needs to be read in order to keep up with this plot.
Thank you to St, Martin's & Net Galley for the ARC of this novel!!

What You Wish For doesn’t hit shelves until July but when an invite to read it popped into my inbox last week, I dropped everything and dove in! I absolutely LOVED this book and sat with a cheesy grin on my face the entire time. I adore Katherine Center’s writing. It’s so down to earth, joyful, witty, and relatable! She has an uncanny ability to tap into human emotions and translate them into amazing stories. What You Wish For features lovely characters that will capture your heart. The witty banter will have you giggling and the conclusion will warm your heart. As someone who works in a school, this book resonated with me on a deep level. It invigorated my love for my students and inspired me to add more color to their world. I absolutely LOVED this book and think it may be her best yet. I give What You Wish For the full 5⭐️. My extreme gratitude to @stmartinspress for sending me this advance copy.

So excited to read an advance copy of Katherine Centers latest book.Ive been a fan since I discovered her. This was another lovely read warm characters I loved Sally the quirky librarian and all the characters who come alive.Another wonderful book by one of my favorite authors.

As soon as I saw that Katherine Center had another book available, I began reading right away. Just like always, Center has authored another fantastic book! The main characters, Duncan and Samantha, pull at your heartstrings and bring you into their journey as they learn to let go of their fear and reach for joy. I read this in one sitting and greatly enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

Sam is a librarian at a private elementary school in Galveston, and she has crafted a life for herself that is the very definition of stable: no drama, no heartbreak, and plenty of predictability. She's protecting her heart, yes, but also her health. She has epilepsy and stress of any kind is a major trigger for her seizures. She thinks she has things pretty well in hand, until life throws her a whole slew of curveballs in a row. A dear friend passes away, her new boss wants to change just about everything she loves about her school, and oh, by the way, she used to be in love with him and now he doesn't even seem to recognize her. Four years ago, Duncan was the FUN teacher, the one who wore silly ties and juggled in the hallway and made school a place kids actually want to be. But now he wears a severe 3-piece suit every day, never smiles, and seems to want to turn their warm, colorful school into a grey prison. What happened to the guy Sam used to know? And how on earth is she going to handle this new version of Duncan turning her life upside down?

Katherine Center, man. I love her books so much. Her characters are vibrant and real and, as cheesy as this sounds, she writes them in such a way that they seem to jump off the page and be ALIVE...people you want to get to know and grow to care about. I couldn't tell you exactly what it is, but her stories just draw you in and surround you. It's impossible not to be immersed and invested.

This one isn't quite as strong to me as "How to Walk Away" and "Things we Save in a Fire" because it felt a little bit like the characters and story were built to fit around the themes and the traumas rather than the other way around. It just didn't feel quite as natural somehow. "Things we Save in a Fire" came from a place of deep understanding because Center's husband in a firefighter so she had insight that made the story feel true. This one struck me as being a little more removed from her experience, maybe (and I hope so, considering some of the dark subject matter), so it didn't resonate quite as strongly. It felt more like fiction than something a friend experienced and is telling you about over dinner. Everything tied up a little bit too perfectly. And none of that is BAD. I loved this book. I just couldn't buy into it as entirely as I did her previous three.

Aside from that vague critique which might just be a "me" thing and not be relevant to anyone else, this is another wonderful book from this author. I want to hang out with the characters, I want to see them on-screen (HOW have her books not been optioned for movies yet?), and I already need the next Katherine Center book ASAP. Please???

**Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this lovely ARC in exchange for my honest review!**