“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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Unexpected Story of Love
This book weaves an unexpected story. Having spent some time on Galveston Island, this author truly captured the spirit of the town. She also really captured the spirit of a modern, nurturing elementary school. The story featured the growth and healing of many of the characters. It is a very enjoyable story that hit home a bit too often. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
What I wish for is that Katherine Center will just keep on writing amazing books like this. The blurb describing What You Wish For sounds so average, just a normal love story about choosing joy. But come on, the author is Katherine Center after all, so you know you will get something more than that. But a few chapters in I had the “Aha!” moment again as I always do with one of this author’s books and started to realize just how much more I was getting – and it kept on like that, one more amazing thing after yet another amazing thing. I was oh so hooked.
Katherine Center populates her novels with people that are unusual, uncanny, quirky – but quirky isn’t really the right word. Somehow she makes them seem average so that we are able to connect with them, to feel their pain, and their joy, but at the same time they are so much more than average. They are everyday people in everyday circumstances but they’re not. Turns out they are just the most amazing characters you’ve ever met, with traits and behaviors and qualities, and yes, quirks, that keep revealing themselves layer after layer, like peeling back that proverbial onion.
Samantha is a young woman who is bright and sunny and happy and bold and quirky, loves her job as a school librarian, loves the kids, loves the principal and his wife. Samantha loves life, except some of that is a façade and she works hard each and every day to be sunny and bright.
Duncan could have been the love of her life except that he didn’t know it. She remembers him from her previous school as bright and sunny and happy and bold and quirky. She left that school when Duncan got engaged and used him as her inspiration to be bright and sunny and happy and bold and quirky, to choose joy even when her heart was breaking over Duncan.
So when tragedy strikes at Sam’s school and she learns Duncan is to be the new principal she believes that that might be the silver lining in the tragedy of the death of the former principal. But this Duncan is not her Duncan. This Duncan is rigid and harsh and seems afraid to break any rules. What happened??
There is tension – and a mighty attraction – between them every single time Sam and Duncan are on the page together. The chemistry jumps out at you. What Samantha has been through in her life, and the huge secret she keeps, and what Duncan has been through and is afraid to reveal, and what’s in store for the school and its already joyful children is a wonderful story skillfully crafted by the author. There is always a point in one of Center’s books when I am almost overwhelmed with sadness, both for what has happened to these people I’ve come to love and also for what I’m afraid is about to happen – or won’t happen – to them. What You Wish For is just like that.
The characters are strong, deep, surprising and the plot so smoothly and flawlessly developed that you turn page after page after page, enjoying every word, looking forward to and afraid of what will happen all at the same time.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of What You Wish For, and thanks even more to author Katherine Center for writing another marvelous book that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend without hesitation. Read this one and everything else she has written. Note: All opinions are my own.
This book is the perfect read for 2020. Katherine Center has created an engaging story that held my attention and left me feeling so good afterwards. There were so many thought provoking lessons for the protagonist that I could glean from for my own life. But overall, it had me laughing and loving and I had a book hangover when it was finished.
It’s not often a book puts a stamp on my heart, meaning it has all the feels, love , hope , fear , anger , sad , happy .It makes you feel! I love the characters , esp Sam , her attitude and Joy lifts your spirits. I loved the concept of this read , it could realistically be a part of my world or anyone reading it .I predict this will be one of 2020 top reads !
I needed this! I was thoroughly entertained by this book. In these trying days, this is the perfect book to spend time with to help lift your spirits and learn to live normally again. The premise of the book lends itself in a different way to this very theme as Samantha (Sam) learns to embrace herself even as she tries to heal others. There are a lot of bright colors in this multi-layered story about discovering ourselves and figuring out how to navigate through our lives even though we are scared sometimes. Meanwhile, these lessons are learned in a very pleasant way due to Katherine Center’s entertaining storytelling skills, and most especially, the way she writes the personal interactions between characters. I loved the crazy labradoodle, a failed guard dog, that peppered the story here and there. And I appreciated the various rescues that occured throughout the book in different ways and circumstances, involving adults, kids, and animals. I’m a new fan and will be reading more of her books. I would highly recommend this book at any time, but especially now when we can use all the uplifting stories we can get. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for making this advance readers’ copy available to me. And thank you to Katherine Center for making my day so much better.
The synopsis covers the story quite well, so I’m not going to recap it in the review. This is a quiet story that is more women’s fiction than contemporary romance, although it does have some romantic elements as Sam and Duncon navigate their lives and everythig that happens to them.
This is a story of Sam and Duncan’s search for joy. If that sounds basic, well it is, but often those basic emotions aren’t all that easy to come by. Both Sam and Duncan have had situations that have changed and defined them, and really left them adrift in a sea of lonliness. It’s up to them to find their way back, with the help of some very good friends. That was one of the best parts of this book — how friends helped each other at those critical moments.
There aren’t a lot of surprises in this as it is really about these characters and their personal growth, but that was okay by me as Katherine Center does a good job of telling this story in a way that keeps you glued to the pages. I read this in about a day, and I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it was all going to work out (or not- no spoilers !) for Sam and Duncan.
The secondary characters of Max and Babette and her family, Duncan’s family, and Sam’s friends were a treat in this book. I loved how they all came together, even when Duncan was at his worst. There was such a commitment to the students at the school and its values were an integral part to the story. It made me feel good to know they wanted to save something good. And Clay was totally adorable and a super likable part of this story.
And that’s What You Wish For — it’s a feel good tale that has a message for everyone about what it takes to find your joy, even when it seems impossible. I absolutely loved this message and for that reason, the ease of getting caught up in the story and some extremely likable characters, I’m giving What You Wish For 5 stars. It’s a quiet story, but impactful. This is my second book from this author and I will be looking for more.
An ARC was provided for review.
WOW! What a story. This book is so good. It will have you laughing so hard and crying such big huge tears that you won’t know if you are truly happy or sad. I laughed so hard at Samantha’s(Sam) antics. She is truly a funny, delightful, serious, feeling, librarian, that you will fall in love with. She is probably my favorite character. I love this book. The tears will flow and heartache will be there, but this book is totally awesome. This story, told from Sam’s words, is exceptionally light and carefree. She’s such a likable person that we can all relate to in ways. She’s serious also when she needs to be.
When Sam finds out who is replacing Max as the principal of the school where she is a librarian she can’t believe it. Of all the places for her first crush to show up it is there. From the bottom of her heart she is not happy with this news. Will she survive and be able to continue to work here? Will her heart be able to stand seeing him again?
Duncan starts out as a very unlikable character in this book. As Sam thinks back on how he use to be though you will start to like him a bit better. After you get to know him and know exactly why he changed so much you will love him. You will shed some serious tears when he finally tells his story though so be warned. He’s a hard man who has had a very hard time of it. But with Sam, Alice and Babette there to help, he just might stand a chance again.
This book will touch you in many ways. It’s got all the feels. Happy tears, sad tears, laughter, seriousness, lost and found, beached whales even. It has a lot going on and to me it’s the best book I’ve read by Katherine Center and I have read some very good ones by her. This is my favorite though. It’s a quick read with very likable characters. Likable settings that you will feel like you are in the middle of. So many things that will give you the kind of feels you like in a book. It’s just an all around great one to lose yourself in.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #KatherineCenter, #StMartin’sPress for this ARC. This review is told from my heart in my own words.
A big 5/5 and a high recommendation to all.
This is the book the world needs right now. Katherine Center’s What You Wish For is all about choosing joy. Especially in the face of hardship. Samantha is a school librarian who loves her job and does her best to love her life…even after recent loss. Along comes Duncan, the new principal at her school, and Sam’s former crush. When Sam knew Duncan he was everything she loved…fun, positive, energetic, kind. She, as well as the other school staff, are more than surprised when Duncan comes along and is nothing like Sam remembered. He’s cold and distant….almost mean-spirited. And wanting to completely change the school they all love so much. The one good thing about this new Duncan is that it has effectively killed Sam’s crush on him…or has it? As the story progresses, secrets come out as well as past experiences that have Duncan and Sam seeing one another in a different light.
This book is so so so good. It’s fun, witty, romantic, and just so full of so many amazing messages on the theme of choosing joy. The writing is so well done and kept me captivated the entire way through. What You Wish For is one of those books that was hard to put down and will stick with you well beyond the last word. Very highly recommended and a definite future re-read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
I love the covers of all of Katherine’s book. They are so colorful, fun, and inviting. The stories inside these amazing covers are just the same. They are always feel good stories with memorable, caring people.
What You Wish For is centered around an elementary school and the main character is the school librarian. Right off the bat, I was in love with this story—school and libraries! Win, win!
When one of the founders of the school dies unexpectedly, a new principal is hired. Duncan has some definite ideas of how things are run and are completely different from the way Max ran things. The fact that Sam knew Max in the past, when his personality was completely different from today, pits the two of them together as they try to do what they feel is best for the school and the children. I loved watching the two of them go head-to- head as they tried to resolve their differences.
As it always is with Katherine’s books, in What You Wish For, the writing is so easy to get lost in, the characters are wonderful, and the story is satisfying. This is the perfect summer read!
“What You Wish For” by Katherine Center is a fun and entertaining book. It totally held my interest and made me laugh out loud and giggle several times. Who doesn’t need that during these trying times in our country? If you want a book to get you out of your head, this should be your next read. You won’t be disappointed.
There is some predictability to her story but, it is okay because the dialog, situations and the characters make up for it. The author made me love and care for her characters and what they were each dealing with in their lives. There were a few heavy subjects in the story but the way they were handled with empathy and humanity gave me hope.
I love a story that teaches me a few things and because the narrator was a librarian, there are some interesting things to learn. One of her friends was a math teacher and has a lot of cute little math jokes. So, I learned something new with this book.
Katherine Center is new author for me and I am excited to read more from her. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, give her a try. You might find a new author to add to your list of favorites. I know I did!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
In Katherine Center’s What You Wish For, Sam has chosen to embrace joy. She’s a librarian at a local elementary school and loves quirky things like polka dots and dying her hair pink. She loves the leadership at her school and has found other teachers who embrace joy just like her.
She moved from another school a few years ago and hasn’t really kept in touch with the other teachers she used to work with. She mainly left because of a crush on another colleague who didn’t return any of the feelings that Sam had for him and she needed a new start.
When tragedy strikes and a new principal enters her elementary school none of the teachers know what to make of it. But Sam knows Duncan or rather she used to know Duncan when they worked together a few years ago. This is the same Duncan that Sam had a crush on.
Sam knows that Duncan used to be so great with kids! He was funny and kind and was always a shining light. But principal Duncan is not the same Duncan that she knew when they taught together in the past. This Duncan is hell bent on re-doing the schools security. He sees everything that Sam and the other teachers love as a potential hazard and way for intruders to get in to the school and harm children. With the rising amount of school shootings in America, Duncan is out to make a change. And to make matters worse he doesn’t seem to remember Sam. Will Sam be able to get through to him and to preserve the school that she loves so much.
Katherine Center is such a talented author. I love her prose and the ability and ease in which I can read her books. But I wasn’t clicking with the characters in What You Wish For. I felt for Sam and Duncan respectively, but also felt that at times there was too much going on in the story. The ending felt rushed and I didn’t really care much for the side story that was woven in at the end. A lot of character arcs felt incomplete and I didn’t feel emotionally connected to them.
What You Wish For was still an enjoyable read, but I wanted to love it more than I did. Overall I would give it 3.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Kathrine Center books never disappoint. This one is no exception. Perfect read during a pandemic lockdown. Samantha and Duncan remind us to look for the joy in life. Sometimes it only takes something simple to make you smile. Full of ocean breezes and salt water taffy moments.
I don’t have enough words too describe how much I enjoyed this book…so I’m just gonna say it was .excellent. Really, really excellent. The characters are fun and engaging, and the storyline is interesting and intriguing.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author (Things You Save in a Fire was the first one), and I am in love with her writing style.
I definitely look forward to reading her next book.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
The story has a light hearted feel to it. The book is written from Sam’s point of view. She’s an interesting character. She’s a mix of daring and shy. The dialogue was witty. The characters were all a little odd. The story was good and there is a satisfying ending. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another fabulous book by Katherine Center. It has been awhile since I’ve read a book in one day but once I started reading What You Wish For, I just could not put it down, so I spent a glorious Sunday totally absorbed in this book. As always, Center’s characters are so lovable and relatable. I loved all the characters in this story, well except for Kent but there’s always one, right? I love her writing style, so witty and humorous and touching. This story made me laugh and it brought back memories of when my boys were in elementary school. They had the best principal ever but after a few years she retired and a not-so-likable replacement was brought in making changes that made parents, staff, teachers and students angry. The outcome in this book was WAY better. What You Wish For was just fantastic and adorable. A story about death, friendship, forgiveness, and, of course, love. I was sad to have it end. As with all of KC’s books that I’ve read, I will be recommending this one to everyone!
I received an e-galley review copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley, but I ended up adding this as one of my Book-of-the-Month selections as I knew I’d want a physical copy to add to my Katherine Center book collection.
Elementary school librarian, Samantha (Sam), loves her job but after the unexpected loss of her beloved principal, Max, she is shocked to discover that his replacement is none other than her former crush, Duncan. Will the feelings she’s worked so hard to squash return as well?
“Pay attention to the things that connect you with joy.”
I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure about this story line or characters Sam and Duncan at the beginning of this book but boy, did they grow on me! So much so that the more I learned about them, the more my rating grew from a 3 to a 4 to a 5. This author never disappoints and her books are infused with joy, whimsy, humor, and always big emotions at unexpected times. I absolutely loved this story and it brought tears (of joy and sadness) to my eyes quite a few times. I loved the author’s previous book Things You Save in a Fire very much, but this is definitely my new favorite!
“Joy was cumulative… it wasn’t about finding one big thing—but about collecting as many tiny pieces as you could.”
If you loved the whale part of this book as much as I did, then I would highly recommend Keep Me Afloat (5 stars) by Jennifer Gold.
Location: Galveston Island, Texas
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Inspirational, romantic, and incredibly absorbing!
What You Wish For is a moving, intimate tale that sweeps you away to Galveston, Texas and into the life of Samantha Casey, a young, school librarian who after finally finding her groove, confidence, and a place to call home has her life unexpectedly turned upside down when her former colleague and old crush, Duncan Carpenter moves to town and takes over as the new school principal with an obsessive focus on safety and security and none of the joviality he was previously known for.
The writing is tender and fluid. The characterization is well-developed with a wonderful cast of characters that are kind, caring, eccentric, and endearing. And the plot is a lovely blend of heart, hope, angst, and drama.
What You Wish For is, ultimately, a story about life, love, expectations, loss, trauma, grief, trust, forgiveness, friendship, community, second chances, and discovering one’s true self. It is a whimsical, addictive, immersive read by Center that does an exceptional job of highlighting the importance of always finding a little joy in everything you do and is a wonderful reminder that there’s no perfection in humanity, we are all wonderfully flawed.
I really enjoyed this book. Katherine’s writing draws you in and keeps you entertained. The characters are adorable and I enjoyed their difference in personality it made them more relatable. The plot was unique for me I tend to stay away from super sweet school romances but it really was a pick me up in these crazy times.
I really enjoy this author so it is not a big surprise that I really enjoyed this title. Katherine Centers style of creating wonderful characters, places and situations that are all in some way relatable and plausible never cease to draw me in and ultimately offer some much needed hope. We start out meeting Sam. She is in Galveston because she ran away from an unrequited love and has built a mostly lovely life for herself. She is a passionate librarian who loves her books, her school and the wonderful principal of the school and his wife. Max (the principal) and his amazing wife Babette have all but adopted her and shown her the love and stability she has craved for most of her life. Then Max unexpectedly passes away and in a moment everything on their charming island and in her world changes. So begins a struggle between a new regime, a power struggle with people so intent on “saving the school” that they almost destroy it, hidden agendas, power hungry people filled with anger and hate wanting it all no matter the cost to anyone around them even their own children, old friendships tested, secrets. possibilities, realizations that blood isn’t always what makes a family, broken trusts, lies, learning to stand up for ones self, to take risks no matter how scared you are, trust, terrible husbands, divorce,
realizing that sometimes being alone doesn’t mean being lonely and when you least expect it and let go a little good things can happen. I’ve never been disappointed by this author and can’t wait for what comes next.
What can I say? Katherine Center’s books make me happy and this one is no exception.
In What You Wish For, Samantha Casey is an elementary school librarian whose life revolves around the school where she works. After fleeing her last job because of an unrequited crush on a fellow teacher named Duncan, she’s made a new home in Texas and her co-workers have become like family. But when tragedy strikes, a new principal takes over and Sam not only finds herself suddenly working for the man she ran away from – he’s also changed from the free-spirited educator she fell for into a fun-smothering tyrant who threatens to destroy the place that means everything to her.
Like all good romances, you know how this is going to end but the fun is how you get there and this story takes you on a truly heartwarming ride. I loved the colorful cast of characters and Center’s writing makes even some far-fetched moments feel authentic. I especially love her dialogue, like the way she has Sam describe her attraction to Duncan – “You know those people? Those very rare, very special people who just play a kind of counterbeat to yours? It was like the way we talked had a rhythm, like he was the bass drum and I was the snare. He was doing his thing and I was doing mine, but the two of us together were just super danceable.” I mean, who doesn’t want that?
The overall message of this book is about finding joy which feels especially relevant with everything going on now. This book brought me joy and I’m sure it will do the same for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for an advanced copy of this book to review.