Story rating: 4/5 stars
Audiobook rating: 4/5 stars

POV: Samantha
Pacing: average
Narration: female narrator
Tropes: small town, opposites attract, women's lit, quirky characters, heartfelt stories

Audiobook:
The audiobook was great and I didn't miss having a male narrator for once as it focused on Sam's story.

Overall Story:
I really enjoyed this contemporary romance that revolved around a quirky, school librarian and set in Galveston, Texas. While it was more women's lit than romance, it did have a good opposites attract love story within between Samantha, the sunny school librarian and Duncan, the new grumpy principal. I really enjoyed their interactions and getting to know each other again. This story just had so much heart and real life moments that made you feel good even though these characters were going through it. Overall, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a story more on the positive, sunny side of life with a bit of romance in between the pages.

Wonderful story with interesting and entertaining characters. Well told by the narrator. Was easy to listen to and follow along in the book. There were a few unexpected events. Really enjoyed this book. I think I will read the hard copy!

What You Wish For by Katherine Center was a great read! Center is the master of writing complex relationships and emotionally charged events with care. I can always count on her ability to write stories with well-developed characters who I cheer on. Characters that are flawed (like all of us) with interesting backstories that tug at your heart. This book did not disappoint; it was all of these things and more. But it was also hopeful and had a light-hearted, feel-good quality to it.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I’m sure no one cares for my opinion on this now, but I did not expect it to center around school shootings. I was expecting something much more lighthearted especially with the sunshiney FMC. Unfortunately, the school shooting aspect felt like it wasn’t handled with respect and was too much of a caricature for me.

This was such a great audiobook. I was able to listen to it all in one day and the journey the author took me through was excellent. I wanted to yell at Sam right along with Ducan. I'm such a huge fan of Katherine Center's books.

I tired to finish this book but I wasn't in the right place for the content. I am sure in a different headspace I would have really enjoyed this book.

I read this after a trip to Galveston Island and loved all of the local sites in the book! Samantha had a history with Duncan Carpenter, but when he comes to work with her, he’s totally different and doesn’t remember her. This was a really touching story and it made me tear up a few times! Well done.

This really hurts me to say, but my goodness I hated this book. I made it 30% in before I finally decided to not finish. I felt guilty about it but talking to a lot of friends who have also read and disliked this book made me feel better about this decision.

I love Center as an author but this one was definitely her weakest. It had such a strong subject, school shooting survivors!! Its a topic that needs to be talked about! But the main characters were insufferable and read like they were 12 and not their late 20s/early 30s. I'm all for enemies to lovers romances , especially the bickering, but their bickering was like children yelling at each other for no reason. Plus the guy spray painting a water gun to look like a real gun and waving it around at a teacher's meeting? That...... that is not how you handle things.

I'll def be reading more from this author because I have enjoyed her previous work.

I enjoyed this far more than I expected to - especially considering that there is no steam at all. I liked this way more than Things You Save in A Fire. I think I might be pretty stoked about reading her other books now. The narrator was superb - she embodied all of the characters (even the male ones) so well and conveyed a myriad of emotions with perfect pitch.

I love audiobooks and this one did not disappoint! I love librarians and all things books, and Katherine Center did a lovely job on that one too!

Samantha has reinvented herself! She has become the bright and bubbly librarian she has always wanted to be. Then Duncan becomes the new school principal and she worries she may become invisible to him again. In another life, Duncan was the fun teacher, the one who skirted the rules when necessary. Now he is the no-nonsense principal who can't see anything outside of his black and white world. Can Samantha fight her feelings for Duncan, or will Duncan finally break some of his own rules to allow feelings for Samantha to creep in?

What You Wish For did not start out in the usual way for of a Katherine Center book. It is slow; mind-numbing slow, to the point where I checked the reviews here and saw I was not alone. (I bought it the day it came out, so no reviews then). When I start skimming pages to get through repetitive redundant mental blah blah blah descriptions of Samantha's crush on Duncan, I know there's a problem. BUT ... hang in there! Around 30% into the book, it finds its way and picks up. At that point, the story becomes interesting and I find the Katherine Center I have enjoyed reading.

Katherine Center is the Queen of Joyful Reading. All of her novels hit all the right emotional notes and What You Wish For is no exception.

Beautifully read by the narrator and including a note from Ms. Center herself. You will enjoy this read from start to finish.

5 out of 5 stars

I'm truly sorry for not reviewing when given the chance.
Had no idea they got sent to a no download file!
Thankfully I have bought most of them!

Katherine's book are so well written and I absolutely love her style.
Her characters that are always relatable, lovable, and full of joy I always feel.connected to them
Terese Plummer narrates the audiobook and her amazing narration couldn't have been beat!
Very enjoyable relatable lovely book!.

I was given an audiobook from Netgalley, but also ended up winning a free print copy for this book as well. I read the print copy because I LOVE Katherine Center books. Just from an esthetic point if view her books are always such good quality and the cover art is unparalleled. That is all backed up by the fact that she is one of the most fun and exciting authors of this generation. I cannot get enough of her little love stories! 10/10 recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book for an honest review. And thank you to Katherine Center for being the best ever.

I ended up shelving this audio book and not picking it back up. I was not able to get in to the story or the audio narrator. If I pick this up again, it will have to be with a physical copy of the book; however, I am not sure that I enjoyed the story enough to attempt it again.

I will likely the buy the book for the library but not the audiobook as I don't know if it will be popular enough to warrant the cost and space in the library. But I will suggest this audiobook to others. It was well done.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 4.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I adore Katherine Center. This is my third book from this author and I loved it as much as "Things You Save in a Fire" and "How to Walk Away." As someone who works in education, I very much enjoyed the storyline surrounding Sam's and Duncan's school. Sam is the librarian every child dreams to have! "What You Wish For" is a beautiful romance with substance. Light, yet serious. Dreamy, but smart. Five stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook.

I've always been a huge Katherine Center fan!! I have to admit, this one grabbed me from the get go - and then made me HATE one of the main characters - DUNCAN - dunnn dunnn dunnn. He was HORRIBLE. I could not stand him. I figured out his back story (sorta) prior to the reveal and I did eventually come around to sorta liking him, but not fully lol. I really appreciated the comeuppance of a certain ummm jerk face - would have thoroughly enjoyed a little more fleshing out of his misdeeds, but generally pleased with the conclusion. Very loveable characters and a great feel good moment at the end . Would DEF recommend :) Honest review given in exchange for a digital copy of this book from Netgalley.

PS - LOVED the narration!! Therese Plummer is one of my faves!!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. You can really tell that the narrator made a connection with each character on a personal level and took the time to share that through their voice.