What You Wish For
By: Katherine Center
Published Year: 2020
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 320
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this book.
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.
When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.
First Impressions
Center is one of my favorite authors and I absolutely love the style of covers for her books. I requested to review this book without even reading the summary because of how much I have enjoyed Center’s previous novels. I’m also always a fan of blue covers.
What I thought
While this may not be one of my favorite of Center’s books, it was still a wonderful read that I couldn’t put down.
Sam is a librarian at a progressive school in Galveston Texas. A few years ago, she left her previous school because of her unrequited crush on fellow teacher Duncan. When Duncan shows up at the Kempner school in Galveston to replace the recently passed and beloved principal, Sam is not excited. When he shows up as a completely different person than she remembers and starts to crush the spirit that is the Kempner school, she goes from not excited to determined to stopping him from the one thing she loves.
I love Sam. She is exactly what you expect an elementary school librarian to be. Center did a wonderful job of getting the school environment right. She wrote about the start of the school year and how some of the teachers felt about getting things ready as well as the passion good teachers have for their kids and it all resonated with me, as someone who works in an elementary school. I often feel like authors can write a cartoonish version of an elementary school and this is one of the few times that I felt as though I saw my school and my experience in writing. Even when the book started to touch on such heavy topics as school shootings and school security in our current climate in America.
One of the main themes of this book is to “choose joy” and I felt that at my core. I often feel that half the battle of being a positive person is choosing to be positive. The way that Center wrote about Max and his thoughts behind it as well as how Sam put this into practice really resonated with me and I feel like it is something everyone needs to be reminded of.
I always enjoy that Center manages to balance stories with serious issues with love stories. Duncan and Sam’s chemistry was undeniable and I loved reading about them. In the past, Center has managed to stump me when it came to little twists or hidden secrets in a character’s past, but this book I was able to easily predict. I think that’s why I didn’t love it as much as some of her previous novels, but it didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment. The writing still sucks you in and, like I said, the topics that she covers really resonated with me.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance balanced with the seriousness of life, Center’s books are definitely for you. I think this book will especially connect with people who have experience working in a school, but I honestly think anyone will enjoy it. It’s a delightful book and an easy read that will really make you think.