Call It What You Want

by Brigid Kemmerer

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From the author of the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series comes an emotionally complex, romantic story about two teens struggling to unpick the grey area between right and wrong, perfect for fans of John Green and Jennifer Niven
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Rob had it all – friends, a near-guaranteed lacrosse scholarship to college and an amazing family – but all that changed when his dad was caught embezzling funds from half the town. Now he’s a social pariah.

Maegan always does the right thing. But when her sister comes home from college pregnant, she’s caught between telling their parents the truth about the father and keeping her sister’s trust.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a project, they form an unexpectedly deep connection. But Rob’s plan to fix his father’s damage could ruin more than their new friendship …

• ISBN10: 1526605341
• ISBN13: 9781526605344
• Publish Date: 27 June 2019 (first published 25 June 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Imprint: Bloomsbury YA
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kat @ Novels & Waffles]

Reading Call It What You Wantis like having your soul scrubbed clean with a handful of steel wool – it rubs you raw and leaves your heart totally ravaged. But in a strangely cathartic way.

As I've come to expect from Brigid Kemmerer, this was an emotionally-charged coming-of-age story filled with evocative scenes that had my heart aching and my tears flowing. Heavy topics such as suicide, loneliness, teenage pregnancy, and abortion were all discussed with a transparency that brought a realistic element to the narrative.

Every character, even the supporting ones, were fleshed out and complex. They were broken, flawed, and emotionally scarred, but together they helped each other heal and become better people. This seems to be a recurring theme in many of Kemmerer's books, and the way she weaves into her stories is so earnest and layered.

All in all, if you're looking for a cute and fluffy contemporary romance, this book might not be for you. But if you're looking for a heartfelt, real-to-life story that shows both love and life can be messy – yet hope-filled – affairs, then consider picking this one up.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating:—> 4 Stars

A GREAT YA Contemporary. Thank God for Brigid Kemmerer! I loved this story. So many powerful moments that covered a pretty wide spectrum of emotions! So many times especially where I was just like... YES!! DON’T TAKE NO SH*T!

[Rowena]

This was an emotional read that I wasn't expecting since I hadn't read anything else by Kemmerer but considering the crappy books that I've been reading lately, I'll take this emotional and angsty YA. Kemmerer did her thing while writing this one because though I wasn't in the mood for such an emotional read, I couldn't stop reading and was glad to have finished it by the time I was done. This was good.

[Kelly]

Contains mentions of abortion and suicide which may distress some readers.

Maegan Day is an intelligent and articulate young woman, overwhelmed by the immense expectations she places upon herself. The daughter of a police officer, Maegan understands the need for rules and regulations which is why nobody expected her to cheat on her standardised school testing causing countless students to resit their tests after being deemed invalid. Her older sister Sam is the golden child, a star lacrosse player on a scholarship, beautiful, academically gifted and an elite sportswoman. Over the years the Day siblings have shared a competitive relationship, not always seeing eye to eye but now Sam has returned home, fickle and pregnant, disappointing her parents while she's contemplating what to do about her pregnancy.

I loved their sibling relationship and seeing it morph into a genuine and caring friendship. Although Maegan has always been proud of Sam's achievements, it's not without resentment. Sam is their father's golden child and Maegan has always felt the weight of expectations which drove her to cheat. Unlike Rob, Maegan has the support of her long time best friend Rachel, pity about her boyfriend Drew who continuously makes snide comments about Maegan's mistake which Rachel never pulls him up about, allowing Drew to kick her best friend while she's down.

Rob Lachlan was popular, a champion lacrosse player and a hit with the ladies until his father, a financial adviser, mismanaged and stole funds from even the most vulnerable members of the community, leaving Rob a social pariah and accused of being a part of his father's con. He's lost his friends, the respect of his peers and now he's been saddled with the girl who cheated on the SAT exam for a school project.

High school can be so unforgiving and Rob is an example of being guilty merely by association. His father stealing investment funds from friends, family and the parents of Rob's school peers. Abandoned by his best friend Connor, who's father alerted the authorities, Rob is tormented and bullied, branded a liar and criminal. Rob's story is harrowing. He remembers the man who attended his lacrosse games, who taught him humility and to treasure each moment, he was an excellent father and a stark contrast to the criminal and villain of the wider community. Rob cannot escape. When it became too much for his father, Rob senior tried to take his own life which has left him unable to care for himself, brain damaged and immobile. Once living an opulent lifestyle, Rob's family now barely makes ends meet, his mother working long shifts to provide for their family while Rob cares for his father.

The only aspect Maegan and Rob have in common is that they're both social pariahs but working together on their project allows them to connect with someone in a similar situation without the fear of being judged. Their tentative friendship isn't easy, Rob finds it difficult to trust after he's been abandoned by his peers but slowly he begins to explore their connection and finds solace in their quiet moments of peace and understanding. Rob also develops a friendship with Owen, a young man who's mother was also a victim of his fathers dealings. My heart ached for Owen as he sits alone each day with his school issued cheese sandwich, breaking it into pieces to fend off his growing hunger. He was still able to put aside his anger and befriend Rob, understanding that Rob isn't his father and shouldn't be treated as such. Owen deserves his own story and I hope Brigid Kemmerer revisits his character soon.

Touching on sensitive issues such as poverty, teen pregnancy, abortion and suicide, written with compassion, Call It What You Want is an honest and genuine portrayal of the pressure and complications of those adolescent years. Often you hear adults telling teens, to treasure those years in their life before adulthood as though being a teen was a simpler time. With kids forced to grow up too soon and the expectations adults place upon teens, often parents living vicariously through their teens, it's one of the hardest periods we go through. It's an aspect that Brigid Kemmerer captures so wonderfully and even if you've never cheated on an exam or heaven forbid your father has never stolen money from his investors, I think most teens will find both Rob and Maegan's journey relatable and find comfort in how fickle these years can be, especially when it comes to our peers and being judged.

Beautifully written, edgy with authentic and flawed characters, Call It What You Want is Brigid Kemmerer's best contemporary to date. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Both Maegan and Rob were social outcasts. Rob, because his father stole from members of their community, and Maegan, because she cheated on the SAT. The two were paired together for a calculus project, and this led to friendship and more, as they found solace and support from one another amid their family drama.

I am just so in love with Kemmerer's contemporary novels. Once again, she has gifted me with a story packed with great characters and a multitude of feels. There are way too many things I loved about this book, so I am going to talk about five fabulous things in Call It What You Want.

1. The characters in this book were all so wonderfully complicated and flawed. I found myself simultaneously frustrated and proud of them. Regardless of the highs and lows I experienced with them, I always cared, and I was amazed by their resilience and personal growth.

2. Rob, my dear heart, Rob. Both main characters were dealing with some major fallout, but Rob's story was much more painful for me than Maegan's. He lost everything. He was paying for crimes he didn't commit, AND he had to care for the person, who caused all these problems. My heart broke over and over again for him.

3. I love a good unlikely friendship and was treated to several in this book. Rob and Maegan were an odd enough pairing, but the friendship between Rob and Owen, one of his dad's victims, was a favorite of mine, and it fit really well with some of the other themes featured in the book. I also adored the bond that formed and grew between Meagan and her sister. It was wonderful seeing them be there for one another, and they made quite a formidable team.

4. From super complex family dynamics to the exploration of morally grey areas, Kemmerer dug in, and really did a fantastic job conveying her characters' struggles with the various issues and situations. All the topics were approached thoughtfully, and I have to admit, her treatment of the many issues packed quite an emotional punch.

5. I am known for being super greedy and super needy when it comes to endings. That said, I have nothing, but high praise for the ending of this book. It was amazing, how well Kemmerer tied up those loose ends. Some parts were sad, while others were wonderful, and ALL were resolved to some extent.

I adore reading Kemmerer's books and getting to write fangirl reviews, because she consistently produces stories that are heartbreaking and thought provoking, while also be heartwarming, sweet, and endearing. Here, she gave us a wonderful story packed with friendship, family, romance, atonement, and forgiveness.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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