What You Wish for - by Katherine Center (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 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.

Review Quotes

Praise for What You Wish For:

One of:
People's Book of the week
Refinery29's 17 Brand New 'Beach' Reads For Summer 2020
Parade's Best Beach Reads of 2020
Real Simple's Best Books of 2020
PopSugar's 30 Best New Books to Dive Into This Summer
She Reads' Best Beach Reads of Summer 2020

"This charming, often lighthearted novel touches on serious issues and celebrates the power of joy to trump fear and despair." --People

[A] fast-paced tale steeped with whimsical plot points. This is one for the beach bag. -- Publishers Weekly

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)

Katherine Center excels at writing gentle, beautifully crafted romances.-- PopSugar

"What You Wish For is a bona fide explosion of happiness packaged in book form. A compassionate story of grief and resilience, What You Wish For is also a vital reminder that joy is not just something that happens to us but also something we have the power to choose... Center has created for her readers a quirky confection that celebrates life in all its imperfect glory and delivers a much-needed dose of optimism." -- Bookpage

What You Wish For has Center's signature sprightly style and is a bubbly tonic to chase away the blues. --Augusta Chronicle

About the Author

KATHERINE CENTER is the New York Times bestselling author of over a half dozen novels, including What You Wish For, Things You Save in a Fire, and How to Walk Away. Katherine has been compared to Nora Ephron and Jane Austen. The Dallas Morning News calls her stories, "satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way." Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach empathy. Her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, The Atlantic, Real Simple, and more. She lives in Houston with her husband and two kids.