WHAT YOU WISH FOR - Katherine Center

4 stars!

So so cute, so so positive, so so what we need right now. A quirky elementary school librarian in Texas meets her match in the new school principal.

Romance: ★★★★ 1/2
Setting: ★★★★★
Conflict: ★★★

What You Wish For comes out on July 14, 2020!

So, let's start off with the fact that I'm extremely biased to love Katherine Center. Her past few books have become all time favorites, and her blend of romance, heartfelt healing, and memorable settings made me oh-so-excited to get to this one.

It did not disappoint!

What You Wish For follows Sam Casey, a librarian with epilepsy who has found a haven for herself in Galveston, Texas. Adorning herself with quirky outfits and surrounded by conversation starters in her whimsical school library, Sam's got it good. Her life is filled with laughter and friends, and her found family includes the school principal and his wife, who have taken Sam in to their home.

Then, her school's beloved principal dies suddenly.

Reeling from the personal and professional loss, Sam can't believe what comes next: the new principal coming to town is none other than Duncan Carpenter, a former teacher from Sam's previous school district. The former teacher that Sam had a hopeless, unrequited obsession with. Yeah. That one.

But this Duncan isn't the same as the goofy teacher Sam used to know. This Duncan is hard, stern, and unwilling to see the charms of Sam's beloved school. He seems obsessed with his vision, and a dark event haunts his past.

If Duncan thinks he can just waltz right in and change things in Galveston, he's got another thing coming...

Ugh. Another winner. I laughed, I teared up a bit, I grinned like a loon. I made the mistake of starting this at 9 p.m. and then went to bed at 1 a.m. because that's how long it took me to finish it. If that's not high enough praise, I don't know what to tell you. It's cute, it's positive, and memorable in its adorable side-quests and flirtations between Duncan and Sam.

My only caveat to this story is that it was missing some of the dramatic tension that other novels by this author have had. There was emotional resonance—and an intense commentary on the state of school life in America today—but the romance itself smoothly transitioned throughout. I guess I was looking for more drama? That's most likely a "me" thing.

Regardless, if you're a fan of How to Walk Away or Things You Save in a Fire, definitely check this one out!

Thank you to St Martin's Press via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.