Review: Call It What You Want

Title: Call It What You Want

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Publication Date: June 25, 2019

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Summary

After his dad was found stealing funds from his clients and attempted suicide, Rob goes from social star to social pariah. After all, everyone thinks he was in on his dad’s scheme, even his former best friend Connor. He’s alone, with no one else to lean on.

Maegan is considered the brains of her family, but she feels like she can never live up to her sister, the lacrosse star. The pressure got to her, and now she’s known as the girl who cheated on the SAT. But when he sister comes back from Duke pregnant, maybe the heat will be taken off of her.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, neither of them wanted it. But as they talk, they realize that they might have more in common than they realize.

Review: Call It What You Want

I’ve been hooked on Brigid Kemmerer ever since I read A Curse So Dark and Lonely last year. Thank you to Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of her latest book, because I basically devoured it in a day! Like, once I got into the story, I didn’t want to put this book down.

Told in alternating points of view, we get to learn a lot about both Rob’s and Maegan’s life. The strongest aspect of this book is the way that both of them struggle with morally grey situations. Rob is trying his best to make up for the crimes of his dad, and Maegan is trying to protect her sister from her parents and herself. They both have secrets and issues that weigh on them heavily, and they don’t really have anyone to work through it with until they meet each other.

There was also a lot of diversity included within the book. And not just diversity for the sake of diversity. A lot of it is included in a way that feels realistic, and there’s even a discussion about how race factors into Rob’s father’s crimes. All in all, it really makes you think.

My only complaint might be that the pacing was a little slow at the beginning. I just wanted Rob and Maegan to get together already. But once you get into it, you definitely won’t be able to put it down.

Kemmerer’s latest book, Call It What You Want, will dig its claws into you and won’t let go until you reach the end.

4.5/5 stars