Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

SYNOPSIS

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

**Thank you Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this digital Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've been on a massive Brigid Kemmerer reading binge lately, basically catching up on her YA contemporaries after reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely. When I found out she had another book coming out this year, I immediately asked if it would be possible for me to receive an ARC to review,  and I'm so happy I was gifted it! Call It What You Want​ is another beautiful story about a boy and girl who are both going through personal difficulties and are luckily able to lean on each other.

Excellent POVs 
I really liked that Kemmerer has continued with her strength of writing through different point of views. With so many personal problems for these characters, it was great that we had the chance to delve deeper into Meagan and Rob and develop a more full impression of who they are. They are both struggling with a lot of personal issues, many of which are way beyond what a teenager should have to deal with, and it was important for readers to get inside each of their heads to develop that empathy for them.

Great Storytelling 
Kemmerer is a strong storyteller and once again proves this in Call It What You Want. This story moves well as two isolated teens learn to lean on others, and how opening themselves up to new relationships can help them to heal. Although Rob and Meagan are dealing with really heavy problems, they are also very relatable ones that are easy for readers to connect this. There is a smooth transition between POVs and towards solving these problems and I really enjoyed reading as it all unraveled. 

​Characters Felt Real 
Beyond Rob and Meagan, I love that we are introduced to excellent secondary characters. Reading about Mr. London made me so happy, because as a teacher, I hope that I'm able to provide the same safe space that he does for his students. I often find that teachers can easily be written off as the "enemy" or just another adult that's making the protagonists life hell, so it was refreshing to read about a teacher that genuinely cares about his students and is there to support them. Also...OWEN! Sweet, sweet Owen. Like Rob and Meagan, Owen is going through a lot of personal stuff and his humanity comes through in how he and Rob defend their actions (also, Owen's mom. She's a boss. Love it). 

Call It What You Want is a strong YA Contemporary that anyone who has enjoyed Morgan Matson, Jenn Bennett, or Alexandra Bracken will want to pick up. Heck, if you liked A Curse So Dark and Lonely, you'll definitely want to give Kemmerer's contemporary novel a read!! It's probably a coincidence that this book shares a name with on of my favourite Taylor Swift songs, but either way, I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait for it to be published on June 25th!! 

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FINAL RATING: 4/5