Call It What You Want

by Brigid Kemmerer

[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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