Author of Things You Save In A Fire
Description
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.
Details
- Title What You Wish For
- Author Katherine Center
- Publisher St. Martin’s Press
- Publication Date July 14, 2020
- Pages 320
My Thoughts
I was anxious to read this book since I loved Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center. But I have to say this one didn’t really meet my expectations. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. One minute I’d think the story was going great, then just as fast I’d shake my head and decide things weren’t going well at all.
Though there is a nice message and sometimes it sneaked out and was conveyed nicely, too much of the story was exaggerated. And by demonstrating over-the-top actions, the characters’ believability took a nosedive for me.
I might have expected some of the actions by Duncan, who was stepping in as a new principal. But when he was cool toward Sam, insensitive toward teachers and what they’d become accustomed to, plus obsessed with school safely, I had to roll my eyes. I even wondered if it was going to be a comedy. Nope.
That being said, as I continued to read the writing did improve. But not enough. About the time I would think the story was shaping up, another exaggerated reaction by one of the characters would pop up. I never bonded with any of the characters of felt they were developed.
What Concerned Me
Much of the story was predictable and the actions by the characters felt unbelievable. Plus Sam and Duncan acted more like teenagers or early twenties most of the time. The maturity level just wasn’t evident.
Final Thoughts
The message was good and as the story progressed it did get better. But it still had the rollercoaster or yo-yo effect for me. It bounced back and forth between good and then silly. And while rom coms can be both humorous and silly, it didn’t work for me.
Again, I did like the message and it is a good one to take to heart. People should choose joy, especially in difficult and painful times.
Rating
About the Author
Katherine is always looking for reasons to be hopeful, and opportunities to laugh, and ways of getting inspired—both in real life and in fiction. She believes that the only compass you can follow as a writer is to write the story you, yourself, long to read.
from her website
