What You Wish For, Katherine Center
What You Wish For, Katherine Center
5 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

What You Wish For
A Novel

Author: Katherine Center

Narrator: Katherine Center, Thérèse Plummer

Unabridged: 11 hr 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/14/2020


Synopsis

"Joyfully and warmly narrated by [Therese] Plummer, this is a beautiful story about grasping happiness and joy alongside immense sorrow and pain...This warm-hearted listen with an energetic narrator is sure to please." -- Booklist

This program includes an author's note, read by the author

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

"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)

“This charming, often lighthearted novel touches on serious issues and celebrates the power of joy to trump fear and despair.” -- People Magazine, Book of the Week

About Katherine Center

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and What You Wish For. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Her books have made countless Best-Of lists, including RealSimple’s Best Books of 2020, Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2019, Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and many more. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls her summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, “a shot of pure joy.” The movie adaptation of Katherine’s novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is now a Netflix original starring Ellie Kemper. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Katherine on February 27, 2020

I tried not to click on the stars this time. I really did. But HOW CAN I NOT click on them? They're just lined up there, all sad and empty, just . . . LONGING to be clicked. I blame the stars. And now I've just found the title of my autobiography: I Blame the Stars......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer on June 20, 2022

What you wish for? I wish to read this book ASAP and I’m really thankful to my lucky stars and witchy powers. Here I am. I devoured it at one sit. I’m personally in love with those amazing characters. I’m giggling like imbecile teenager (so happy you haven’t met with my 13 years old version, you wou......more

Goodreads review by Meredith (Trying to catch up!) on March 22, 2020

Joyful If circumstances were different right now, I probably would be ripping this book apart. The characters are a little bit much and drove me crazy. The cheese factor is through the roof. However, it has a lovely message about finding joy, which is much needed right now. Overall, it served as a p......more

Goodreads review by Terrie on February 13, 2022

"What You Wish For" by Katherine Center is a story with a meaningful message! Samantha Casey's and Duncan Carpenter's paths have crossed before. Yep! They worked at the same school together several years ago. In fact, Sam had a secret 'crush' on Duncan. She had it bad for him. He never knew it though......more

Goodreads review by Jayme on July 28, 2020

3.5 rounded up You know that song by Lee Ann Womack called “I Hope You Dance” ? 💃🏻 This book reminds me of that song... It may not be the “love story” you are expecting when you pick up the book. It’s not steamy and sexy...(though in a way that was refreshing!) Sure, it has Samantha Casey...a quirky lib......more


Awards

  • Amazon.com Best Books of the Year