“The story’s message, that people should choose joy even (and especially) in difficult and painful times, seems tailor-made for this moment. A timely, uplifting read about finding joy in the midst of tragedy, filled with quirky characters and comforting warmth.”–Kirkus (starred review) From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel full of heart and … a stunning new novel full of heart and hope.
Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living.
But she wasn’t always that way.
Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen.
But he wasn’t always that way.
And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before–at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him–but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school–and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.
As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love–which is the riskiest move of all.
With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.
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Katherine Center’s latest novel is just what the world needs right now. Did she know we were going to need a novel about finding joy in the hardest of times? Is Katherine Center psychic?? I only wish the rest of the world didn’t have to wait so long to read this thoughtful and sweet story. But, looking on the brighter side–you have something to look forward to this summer!
Once again, I was not disappointed in Center’s characters. I love that she creates uniquely beautiful and flawed characters. Each one–even the smallest character–has a backstory. Samantha (Sam) is a breath of fresh air and Duncan is a compelling puzzle. While I had his story figured out from almost the beginning, it was still touching to watch it unfold. I was mostly excited about What You Wish For because it’s set in my home state of Texas. I visit Galveston almost every other summer. I love that little beach town, and I was so excited that she chose it for her setting. I only wish I could have read it while I was there, listening to the waves, soaking up the sun.
While What You Wish For doesn’t quite reach the five-star status I gave How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire, it was still delightful. And a great reminder that we can find joy in the most unlikely places.
What an amazing book! It is moving and emotional. Funny, sad, upbeat, romantic, all the good stuff you look for!
Without worrying about other reviews or stars, I faced the challenge of reading this novel with an open mind.
It is different from what is in fashion today.
The characters have hearts, flaws and qualities. Nobody is just kind or bad, but the combination of the two according to their life experiences.
Here, a school in mourning, faces a new Principal, bringing new ideas that are soon rejected by the teachers who work there. Among them, Samantha, who recognizes Duncan, the new Principal, as someone from her past.
Years earlier, Sam had a crush on Duncan, but he never saw her. Would he see her now?
And discovering the reasons that led Duncan to become that person, could Sam continue with the plan to get rid of him?
4 stars
What You Wish For
By Katherine Center
Joyful
Magical
Special
I really had fun with this book. It brought me that fuzzy warm feeling of being hugged and loved. Yes, this book hugged me and it felt good. When I was reading this book, my husband said to me, “That must be good – you are smiling while reading”. I didn’t even realize how engrossed I was with the story and the characters while I had a full smile plastered on my face while reading this magical story that Katherine Center gifted her readers.
I highly recommend this uplifting read that is fun, heartwarming and completely uplifting. Everybody needs to read this book.
I really like Katherine Centers books
Really keeps your interest and different topics
Recommended: sure
For teachers, for those who like Center’s writing style, for a blend of teaching pedagogy and medical/personal self-discovery, for a book where you know exactly what to expect, for something uplifting and quotable if you’re having a bad day
Thoughts:
The writing was very familiar to Center’s other works. The MC was very self-aware, and did a good job at calling herself out in cliche situations with clear-eyed bemusement. Overall, I was entertained but not enthralled. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but I’ll try.
There were points that felt unecessarily drawn out; like descriptions that didn’t add to the story, or musings that we had already heard several times before (“I can’t believe how different Duncan is”). I rarely skim in stories, but I was here every now and then.
My main issue was with the characters. The MC didn’t seem to put much empathy or thought into what could have made Duncan change so drastically, and was unable to recognize that something that severe is usually based in trauma. Perhaps that’s due to her inward focus of her own feelings. Duncan provided some issues for me as well, as the descriptions of what Old Duncan was like was pretyt much cringeworthy for me. He sounded… exhausting. And over the top. Having taught, I definitely have known people and specifically teachers like him. They can be fantastic at their jobs, but reading about one was just tiring and overwhelming. Personal issue, maybe? Either way, I didn’t particularly like him in his old or new form.
The story was a bit of a slow build. I expected Duncan to be taking over relatively quickly, as the key conflict in the story was him taking over the school and sending it in a different direction. In reality, I feel like that was a very small portion of the story in terms of length. Once he showed up, the school year passed in a few chapters. There was a lot of setup to everything that telegraphed quite clearly what could be expected for character and story growth.
It was entertaining and had some really great quotable lines, but it probably won’t be one that sticks with me for very long.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was the perfect read at the perfect time for me. I didn’t want to put it down, and, for the most part, I didn’t have to, as we travelled across country. I was able to curl up and immerse myself in this novel.
WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Katherine Center had quirky, flawed characters who had to figure out how to deal with life that wasn’t perfect or what they expected. I found myself cheering on the main characters as I fell in love with them and their school. There were some sad parts to this one as we learned how each got to this point, but, overall, I was left happy and glad that this book came into my life at the time it did. Find a cozy spot and curl up with it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
#WHATYOUWISHFOR #KATHERINECENTER #STMARTINSPRESS
All the stars! Happiness for Beginners remains my favorite Katherine Center book because I’m a huge sucker for a travel romance, but this is my second favorite for sure. I adored Samantha and Duncan, and I loved how they both evolved during the course of the story. The last 15% had me in tears – not b/c it was sad but because it was so damn uplifting. I can’t think of anything that would have made me love this more.
Samantha restarted her life in a small school and after losing one of the most important people in her life she finds herself facing the past to which she fled. Although sad and apprehensive about the arrival of the new school principal, she finds support in her friends Babette and Alice.
Duncan is a man marked by tragedy who receives a tempting proposal to be the director of a school and to be able to organize and improve this school.
Samantha already knew Duncan but now he is very different from the fun and sweet man she met. This two get into a real cat and mouse fight over his behavior until the day she needs to help him in a post-surgery period.
I had already read a book by this author and I fell in love with her writing but this time the story didn’t captivate me so much. Some moments I loved others not so much. I thought she put too much drama. Samantha’s breakdown near the end was crazy. Really needed that? Wasn’t it enough what happened before this episode? I was very surprised and in shock
3,5/5 stars
Another wonderful book by Katherine Center. I was rooting for the quirky and flawed characters from the beginning and the great pacing kept me reading until I finished in two sittings. A fun, quick read.
What You Wish For by author Katherine Center is about friends, secrets, and looking to the future as a renewing experience. What You Wish For is a bit different than her previous book, Things You Save In A Fire.
Samantha Casey is happy in her life as a librarian at a private school. Sam feels devastated when Max, her best friend, and the principal of the school dies suddenly. Sam has loved Max and Babette as if they were her own family. Even more disturbing for Sam is when she discovers who is named the new principal, Duncan Carpenter! Yes, she knew Duncan at the previous school where she worked and had a secret love for him. They were younger, and even though Duncan may not have known of her big crush on him, she has never forgotten that time in her life. Now, what will she do?
Duncan has aged and changed. He has a son, Clay, a dog, and Duncan has changed from the guy she had known before. He seems harsh and wants to make big changes at the school. Personally, I don’t forgive him for having the butterfly wall painted over!
I won’t post spoilers, but it is a book about human emotions. The story is about coming to an understanding of friendships in your community and acceptance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
What You Wish For focuses on Sam, a quirky school librarian who boasts pink bangs, an eclectic wardrobe, and an infectious love of books. She ensures that the school library is a welcoming place where all students feel accepted and safe, and delights in guiding them to select books they will enjoy. Sam’s father left when she was eight years old, and her mother died when she was ten. She has found a home with Max and Babette, the founders and administrators of the school, who are more than employers. They are like surrogate parents and she resides in their carriage house. The couple are “beloved” — “the kind of people other people just want[] to be near.” As the story opens, Max is celebrating his 60th birthday in his typical fun-loving style, savoring every moment that he joyfully interacts with the guests. Until tragedy strikes.
Suddenly, the school needs a new principal and Sam is shocked when Kent Buckley, Max and Babette’s son-in-law, who serves as chair of the school’s board of directors while, ironically, virtually ignoring his own son, Clay, a highly intelligent third-grader, announces that Duncan Carpenter has accepted the position. Duncan was the impetus for Sam leaving her position at a California school and relocating to Galveston. She remembers how charismatic, joy-filled, and exuberant Duncan was — characteristics that endeared him to students, parents, and colleagues. Sam fell hard, but Duncan never noticed her, instead dating another faculty member. Eventually, feeling completely invisible and knowing that Duncan was seriously involved with another woman became too difficult for her. She admits that she was the worst version of herself when she was around Duncan. But in Galveston, she has found her voice and become empowered to reveal her authentic self to the world, even though her long-dormant epilepsy resurfaced and caused her to discontinue driving. Still, seizures are rare and she recognizes the warning signs that permit her to get to a private space where no one can observe her as she endures them. As a child, she was tormented and ostracized by the children in whose presence the seizures sometimes overtook and embarrassed her.
Sam is stunned when Duncan arrives and bears no resemblance to the man she knew. His colorful clothes and silly socks? Gone. His infectiously gleeful approach to education? Gone. His happy, outgoing demeanor? Gone. The man who is introduced at the first faculty meeting of the year wears a drab suit and has a frightening disposition. He is obsessed with school safety, and determined to transform the historic campus that is decorated in bright colors and boasts a floor-to-ceiling butterfly mosaic in the cafeteria designed and painted by Babette with Sam’s assistance over the course of an entire summer. Duncan plans to replace the school’s security guard, install additional locks, cover windows, paint the walls gray, and essentially turn the school into a fortress. What Sam doesn’t know at the outset is why Duncan has undergone such a dramatic personality transformation. But she is determined to stop him from remodeling the school and, in the process, destroying its spirit and traditions.
What You Wish For is thoroughly predictable, but that doesn’t detract from its charm. Like Center’s other protagonists, Sam is endearing and believable. Readers may recognize traits San shares with enthusiastic librarians in their own lives who inspired them to love literature. She is loved not only by her colleagues, but by her students, and since moving to Galveston she has been learning to love and accept herself. Duncan’s arrival threatens to derail her progress as she becomes increasingly angry and frustrated by his grim determination to turn her beloved school into a lifeless, joyless institution, complete with a guard dog named Chuck Norris. Sam, Babette, and Alice conspire to not only stop Duncan’s actions, but to turn him back into the affable, fun-loving man he once was. They embark on “Operation Duncan.”
Fans of Hallmark movies will love What You Wish For, the theme of which is, according to Center, “joy on purpose.” It is a story about overcoming loss and meeting challenges head-on while finding and relishing the delights that life offers. Employing her recognizable style, Center has created a memorable cast of characters, each eccentric and quirky in his/her own right, but never boring. In addition to Babette, the adored co-founder of the school and Alice, who is constantly attired in shirts bearing math-related quips, there is Kent Buckley. He’s “the kind of guy everybody always called by his first and last name,” who is perpetually talking on his cell phone using a Bluetooth device. He’s intent on making a power grab and turning the school into a state-of-the-art model of safety, even as he makes his own wife, Babette’s daughter, Tina, and son, Clay, miserable. He has ensnared Duncan to assist him. Young Clay, who wants to read for fun as well as knowledge, plays a pivotal role in the story and Duncan is the damaged man of Sam’s dreams. Center’s crisp, frequently hilarious dialogue and her characters’ wry observations propel the story forward at a steady pace.
Center is adept at crafting characters who must overcome tragedy, hardship, or obstacles, and What You Wish For is no exception. In Sam’s case, she must keep her unrequited feelings for Duncan in check, manage her epilepsy, and overcome the emotional damage the disease and losing her parents have inflicted upon her. Center reveals what happened to Duncan and brought about the dramatic change to his personality long after savvy readers will have guessed what transpired. Nonetheless, the manner in which Center weaves the revelatory moment into the story is flawless and moving, and the tale takes on an urgent tone at the point. As “Operation Duncan” gets underway, Center deftly illustrates that Duncan has reached a crossroads. The path he chooses can easily shape the trajectory of the rest of his life. Again, even though readers already know how he will ultimately choose, Center’s expertly-crafted story is enjoyable and emotionally satisfying.
Center says that “sorrows don’t cancel out the joy” and she actively strives to make her stories “funny and wry and wise.” With What You Wish For, she has again achieved her goal. The one surprising thing about the story is the crisis that ends up bringing the community together in a united effort to do a very good deed. As a result, some characters finally make pivotal decisions, while others’ beliefs are validated and they recommit to them. The incident ends up healing not only individual characters, but the community itself.
What You Wish For is a fast-paced, escapist romance — the kind of book you read simply for the pure pleasure of reading. It’s success is due to Center’s intriguing, lovable, and empathetic characters, especially Sam and Duncan, and the sweet evolution of their relationship that will have readers cheering. It is about empowerment and making a conscious decision to seek out joy in one’s life. It’s an uplifting story about managing loss, sorrow, and challenges, and Center gives her characters an unabashedly happy ending. What You Wish For is an ideal easy read for a day spent at the beach or by the pool.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Great story of a woman who finds her courage to fight for the school she teaches at and loves. Even though, the person she fights against is the new principal, who is her former crush at her last school. As always, Center shows her knack of writing about a realistic heroine’s journey to finding happiness.
“We made a choice to do joy on purpose. Not in spite of life’s sorrows. But because of them.” Those three lines from Katherine Center’s latest sum up the heart of this glorious novel about finding joy and community–through the darkest moments and debilitating fear. WHAT YOU WISH FOR is the perfect read to distract you from COVID angst. It will make you smile, laugh, cry, cheer for the quirky characters who form their own big, messy dysfunctional family. I adored Sam with her clown socks and Duncan with his labradoodle security dog called Chuck Norris, but the supporting cast was equally wonderful. Do yourself a favor: read it. Read it now. Thank me later.
Embrace. Joy. Life will give you a crap hand sometimes, but there is always SOMETHING that will bring you joy. This was my takeaway from What You Wish For.
Sure, people die, and some people don’t like you. People will back stab you and try to make you miserable. People in your past will change and might even paint over your mural. Your job is to find a way to make your life joyful no matter what you must face.
Sometimes, a perceived tragedy just might make all your issues so small that when you look back on them, you realize they were nothing at all. A child’s words can make you understand how to move forward and accept what you must do.
Although this book began very slowly for me, I quickly got caught up in the story. Four stars because I thought the end was a bit rushed, but I found joy when reading this book, and that is what matters.
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
JOY !!! Just three little letters but when put together are so important. Max was someone who believed that JOY was everything and lived his life to the fullest. He had the “joie de vivre” and “he shares it. You can’t be around him without catching some.” But what happens when everyone’s focal point of joy is gone. How do you get it back? Is it really as simple as choosing joy? Samantha was the librarian that every school should have. Crazy socks. Bright colors. Polka dots. Hawaiian shirt day. But what happened to Duncan? He used to be that way when they worked together at Andrews Prep years ago. But now as the new principal at The Kempner School, he was all about his grey suit and security, security, security. He did not even seem to remember Sam.
However, through a series of run-ins, the two slowly learn what has changed. And why each and every day you need to choose JOY. Remind yourself what It feels like to be happy. We all have trauma to overcome but we also need to “scratch and claw“ our “way to happiness everyday.”
This book was a JOY to read. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an unbiased review.
Samantha Casey is the librarian for the Kempner School on Galveston Island living with Babette and Max Kempner, the school’s founders. Her mother died when she was 10 years old and didn’t really know her father. She worked hard to break free from her mundane past to allow her colorful, quirky side to shine. The school thrived with its unique teachers who loved their jobs. Everyone’s life is dramatically altered when Max collapses at his 60th birthday party. No one expected the lively, beloved principal to leave them that night especially not Babette.
While Babette was struggling through the grief of losing Max, Sam tries her best to help and support her. This upsets Babette’s daughter, Tina who seems to resent Sam for living in the Kempner’s carriage house. Trouble begins when Tina’s husband, Kent Buckley decides to replace Max with Duncan Carpenter as new principal. Everyone wanted Babette to take over but her loss was too great to take on such a responsibility. Everyone pitches in to resume school while grieving for Max.
No one knows what to expect when Duncan Carpenter takes over. Samantha realizes that she knows him from a prior job where his care free nature enamored her. She felt her infatuation with him to be unhealthy that she moved to Galveston Island. She tries to allay everyone’s fears by explaining the Duncan she worked with was fit to run the school. The Duncan she knew was light hearted and fun.
Samantha is horrified when Duncan Carpenter introduces himself and begins to change everything that made the school special. His main focus was safety at all cost. What happened to the Duncan she knew? Will she be able to remind him how to enjoy life like he once did for her?
What You Wish For by Katherine Center is a truly poignant book, oddly full of death and misery, but oddly uplifting. It is Max’s 60th birthday and Sam(antha) has been tasked with throwing the party with a budget of $67 while Max, and his wife, Babette are on a second honeymoon in Greece. (It was a really good price!) When the town found out, everyone offered to help so there was a huge party in a wonderful venue, all for free because they all loved Max. Max was the principal of a private school, which served the area and he was the most well-loved man in town. Then tragedy struck and Max died, right on the dance floor of a pulmonary embolism. He hadn’t gotten up and walked around on the plane ride home from Greece, apparently.
Sam is an interesting character, someone who had been an introvert but forced herself out of her shell and into joy, partly because of Max. She was heart-broken but had to be strong for Babette, and for the school. So she forged ahead. A new principal had been hired, Duncan Carpenter, coincidentally a man she had known at another school. The most fun guy ever, the best educator around. She was excited except that she had had a huge crush on him and she was not looking forward to seeing him and his wife and family. It was going to hurt. This was such a sad book but so upbeat at the same time. There are so many part of the story that the only way to get the full picture is to read it. You will love it. You will laugh. You will cry. I recommend it. Read it now.
I was invited to read a free ARC of What You Wish For by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #whatyouwishfor
Katherine Center continues to write books that just tug at my heartstrings. I love books that touch my heart and make me feel a myriad of emotions. She again succeeded with this latest book. I loved Samantha and Duncan’s characters. Sometimes life throws something at you that changes the core of who you are simply out of fear. I loved that Sam after finding out what happened to Duncan wants to help him get over his fears and to live life again but realizes she too has been living out of fear in one particular area of her life. I love books that show humans loving each other unconditionally through things and supporting and helping each other even in the dark.
I have many emotions and thoughts after listening to this book on audio, many of which are competing. I’ll start with my thoughts on the narrator of the audio. First, the narrator is an EXCELLENT voice actor. There are so many emotional conversations and dramatic moments in this book requiring a multitude of inflections and moods, which the narrator conveys perfectly. She also did an excellent job in doing this all in the voices of different characters, including men of varying ages, children, multiple women–just so many characters. That’s certainly a challenge, and she excelled. However, I believe the narrator has what I think is a Midwestern accent, which just really didn’t seem to fit her character? I believe she was California? I found it so confusing. And maybe I’m wrong, but there was just something there, that didn’t seem to fit.
Moving on to the protagonist. I found her extremely difficult to relate to. She’s extremely eccentric, obsessive/stalkerish, and just generally fairly strange with her choices. Her level of obsession with Duncan was honestly just bizarre and troubling, and if Duncan hadn’t secretly felt the same one, would have been a little disturbing. I just don’t understand so many of her choices (not talking to what Duncan said on meds, jumping off the pier, not telling Clay’s parents he was taking him to the library?????).
Setting aside the protagonist, I actually really enjoyed the plot. All the characters except for the protagonist were extremely lovable (Max, Babette, Alice, Duncan, Clay–I love them all. I even kind of love Tina). The plot is fascinating story of PTSD, education, modern America, grief, education, finding oneself, and love. There is so much there, and it really hooks you in after a slightly slow start. The pacing was a little strange, given how far into the story we met Duncan (I wish it had been sooner), but once we got past that, it was a truly excellent story. By halfway I was truly hooked, and powered through the last couple hours in one sitting. Overally, I genuinely enjoyed this book, and am curious as to what it would have been like to read it. It makes me excited to try other work by this author!
Trigger warning re. school shootings and missing children.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!