I absolutely loved this Book! It blew me away, and after reading a number of mediocre stories I was thrilled to discover this one. Excellent writing, unusual plot (think Bernie Madoff with a twist) and characters that will tug at your heartstrings, I don't mean to sound sappy, but this book is one of the great ones, You will not be able to put it down!

Rating 4.5 Stars

I read my first book by Brigid Kemmerer earlier this year when A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY released. I loved the mix of fantasy and contemporary in that novel, actually I just loved it in general. Since Brigid's other books are contemporary, I decided to to give her next release a try. I feel like Brigid just *gets* the human condition. She portrays so many large issues in this book and does it in such a profound and thought provoking way.

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT is told from dual points of view. Maegan and Rob have both been ostracized by their peers for various reasons. When they are paired on a Math project, each of them get a glimpse of the others suffering and form and unlikely alliance. The book shows that things aren't always as they appear. That what you *think* someones life is like, is rarely true. This is a lesson everyone can use a reminder of. I feel like this is an especially meaningful and powerful read for teens.

Like I mentioned above, I would caution readers because there a lot of "triggering" topics in this book. If you're interested in knowing what those are, I'll list and hide them below. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends with teens in high school. I'm looking forward to reading more of her "back-list" contemporary books (while I anxiously await the sequel to ACSDAL).


*** TRIGGER WARNINGS BELOW ***
Attempted suicide, abortion discussions, cheating, professor student relationship, infidelity, pregnancy, bullying, and theft

This book felt very familiar to others written by this author each chapter changing point of view between two characters a male and a female that end up together. The classic formula of this book works just as well as all the others. It is enjoyable to see each character develop and work through their emotional issues and personal struggles. They story of each character is not initially apparent and is parceled out slowly and as a reader this makes it difficult to put the book down. I especially liked the dynamic between Maegan and her sister, Samantha. How they were able to support, stand up for and learn from each other.

Rob used to be the quintessential all American guy, the money, the sports, the girls, the popularity, but after his father was caught embezzling money from many of the adults in town, Rob lost everything. However, it got worse. His father couldn't handle the fallout, so he attempted to commit suicide, but didn't succeed. Now, Rob and his mother must take care of his father, who is unable to care for himself or talk. Everyone thinks that Rob was in on the crime and deserves everything he gets. Rob just wants to fix what his father does, so he attempts to help where he can and stay invisible.

Maegan is also dealing with her own social fallout. After getting caught cheating on the SAT, no one sees her in the same way. She can certainly never be as good as her lacrosse scholarship older sister, until her sister comes home from the first year of college pregnant. Maegan's sister needs to figure out what she is going to do with the pregnancy and decide what she wants for her future, as Maegan's parents constantly put in their own two cents.

When Rob and Maegan are paired up for a math project, they have a hard time connecting at first. However, they soon find themselves opening up to each other after checking their preconceived notions. With their hearts open, they both might be able to begin healing and asking for what they need.

I enjoyed this book. It was challenging for me to read at different times, because I felt that the story picked up Rob's plot line too soon. Rob was, at times, like a modern day Robin Hood, but this arc didn't work for me. It didn't sit well with me. Rob had some serious soul searching to do and it was jarring next to the budding romance between him and Maegan. All in all, it worked because Kemmerer is a master at telling a story, but the overall plot of this book was not my favorite.

Though this is a very entertaining, fast read, the main characters pose some thought-provoking questions that many real-life teenagers struggle to answer. I really enjoyed this book by Brigid Kemmerer.

When Maegan and Rob, each a social pariah (Maegan for cheating on the SAT and Rob because his father embezzled money from the poor and vulnerable), are forced to partner on a calculus project, they first form an uneasy friendship and then a tentative romance. But will Rob's downward spiral in the wake of his father's crimes tear their new bond apart?

Call it What You Want was a quick, enjoyable read, but the main characters' relationship never really clicked for me. Oddly, their relationships with their friends and family were just much more interesting (and more believable) than Maegan's and Rob's relationship with each other. Maegan's relationship with Sam, her pregnant sister, and Rob's relationships with new friend Owen (gay son of a single mother that Rob's father stole from), and his ex-best friend were particularly compelling. I'll still buy the book for my YA collection and recommend it to teens, but I found Ashley Elston's The Lying Woods, which has a similar concept, to be completely unputdownable, and this didn't have quite the same quality.

I'm a huge fan of Kemmerer and this book didn't disappoint in any way. I was actually worried if the shift back to realistic ya fiction would be tough after the phenomenal A Curse So Dark and Lonely, but she was right back on track in this genre. A lovely, emotional story of Maegan and Rob, two teenagers dealing with very different life situations, both of which are forcing them to evaluate their identity and figure out who they are as a result of the circumstances of their lives. This story is told in alternating point of view and I loved the way the relationships were developed. The friendships that were both old and new, the discussion of pregnancy and how lies can eat away at us are just a few of the things that Kemmerer touched on. I can't wait to see what Kemmerer brings us next (maybe a story for Conner or Owen?) and I look forward to whatever she comes up with. I also loved the many references to Wegmans! and Tahir's fantastic series! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I did really like this book, it did end up being my least favorite that I have read from Brigid so far.

I really loved the plot line of Rob's dad stealing from the poor so he want's to steal from the rich to give back to those people his dad stole from. I loved how it brought up the big question of, is it ok for him to steal from the rich who, quote unquote, don't need it? Where is the line with stealing and is it ever ok? There are characters who agree with different sides of it, and I liked that it wasn't a clear answer of it is fine for Rob to do it or it is not fine for him to do it. The only ling that ended up falling flat for me though was the ending. There was just so much happening all at once and so many things that were uncovered that a month after reading I still don't know how I feel about it all.

Then there were are main characters Rob and Megan, who I have kind of meh feelings about. I didn't dislike them, and I did like them together, but I just didn't have that connection to them that I have with the characters in Brigid's other books. Megan specifically for me just never clicked, I felt like I would have her character down then she would say or do something that didn't feel like the character I though she was.

I would definitely still recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of Brigid's other books, but if it is someone who has not read any of them, I would recommend a different one first.

This author hits another one out of the park. Great characters, great plot, great back and forth POV. Cannot wait to get this in my library!

This is a Young Adult contemporary book. It is my first book by this author.

There are two narrators: Rob and Maegan (1st person POVs).

Rob and Maegan are high school students who are both struggling.

Rob's dad did something terrible. And everyone at school thinks that Rob knew about it. Rob was a popular sports star at school and now he is an outcast.

Maegan cheated at school. And now many people dislike her.

This book deals with some heavy topics. Both narrators have interesting stories. And I enjoyed reading about their struggles.

Both of these teens have a lot going on at home. Each of their family dynamics played a big part in the overall story.

A key question in this book is: Does one choice determine your whole future?

There is some romance in this book. But it is not the main focus.

There were many things to like about this story. I loved Mr. London the school librarian. I liked Owen, a kid at school. This is a YA that deals with a lot of serious topics.

I was disappointed that they never showed the teens working on their school project. I feel like that should have been an important part of the book.

This was a thought-provoking story. These are not light topics. But it was an interesting read.

I really enjoyed the beginning with the introduction of the characters and their life situations. The middle not so much. I felt like they went from friends to kissing without much build up and the end seemed a bit rushed. Overall, a great book. I am a fan of this authors and always buy her books for the library.

RATING: 4/5 STARS

*Warning* - mild spoilers below.

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT is a captivating story about two young adults forming an unlikely friendship that develops into a romance. Maegan and Rob feel like they don't fit in because they are constantly judged by their pasts - Maegan cheated on a standardized exam and Rob's father committed a financial crime that Rob is also blamed for.

I liked Rob and Maegan's dynamic and thought their relationship was realistic. They're not perfect but they learn from their mistakes.

This book had interesting themes that separate it from other YA novels I've read. There is some moral ambiguity about whether doing a bad deed is justified if it is done for a noble purpose. Rob is conflicted about this and it leads to him going down a questionable path, but I like how this was ultimately resolved in the end. I feel like he came to an ethical conclusion - stealing from the rich to give to the poor is not the right thing to do because one person cannot be the judge of the value of an object to another person.

Pregnancy and abortion are addressed in this novel. I respect the character's choice, but I would have liked more discussion about her decision. I wanted that choice to be considered in further detail, especially since the pregnant teen (Maegan's sister) consumes alcohol, but the potential ramifications of this on the baby are not really explored.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with some heavy themes.

A sincere thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Interest Level: YA

What if you went from most popular kid in school to one of the most outcast kids in the school? Imagine you go from walking up to school and everyone wants to hang out with you to sneaking in the back of the school and becoming invisible. Rob was an extremely popular lacrosse player who walked around like he owned the school. His dad had a great job and Rob's family never wanted for anything. Rob had it all until it all came crashing down on him. His dad was arrested for embezzling money from most of the people in town and when he couldn't handle the pressure he attempted to commit suicide. He now spends his days in a wheelchair unable to do anything for himself. Rob and his mom were able to keep their house but lost everything else. His mom now has to go to work and Rob is lucky if he has $5.00 in his pocket. Since Rob's dad stole money from most of the kid's parents at school, Rob has become very good at becoming invisible. Maegan also attends Rob's high school and she is dealing with problems of her own. Meagan is a top student in the school so when she is caught cheating on the SAT, her score and everyone else's scores are invalid. Maegan is having to deal with hateful stares and ugly comments at her as she walks down the halls. Her home life is not that great either. Her sister has just come home from her freshman year at college pregnant and in jeopardy of losing her lacrosse scholarship. The tension in her house is extremely bad. So when Rob and Maegan are paired together for a math project, needless to say, neither one of them is very excited. Both of them have secrets that want to hide but both of them are in desperate need for a friend also. When they begin to lean on each other it causes lots of friction with friends and family. Will Rob ever find out the secrets that his family has hidden? Will he ever forgive his father and learn to trust again? Will Maegan be able to deal with her sister's drama and help Rob at the same time? Read this amazing book to find out what happens.

This was an absolutely incredible book. From page one to the very end there is so much action and so much drama that you will not want to put this one down. Brigid Kemmerer does such a fantastic job of pulling you into the lives of Rob and Maegan. Once you are pulled in you feel every emotion from both of these kids. Your heart will break when theirs break, your heart will race when the romance amps up, and your heart will stop when the truth comes out. Do not miss this 2019 release!!!!

From the author of A Curse So Dark and Lonely comes a breathtaking contemporary novel about two teenagers trying to find their places in the world. I adored this book much more than I thought I would. I haven't picked up a contemporary for a long time, but this book made me want to only read contemporaries for the next month! So beautifully and thoughtfully done.

I loved the two main characters, Rob and Maegan. Both Rob and Meagan have their issues (like a father's failed suicide after being caught embezzling money and cheating on the SAT, respectively), and both are social outcasts. So when they are paired together for a AP Calculus project, they discover that they have more in common than they thought. To me, their relationship was the best part of the book. I loved watching it grow and develop, and even struggle at times. They felt so real to me, and I felt like I was a part of their world.

Brigid Kemmerer's writing is astounding. I'm shameful to admit that this is my first read by her, but already I know I want to read everything she writes. The pace of this book was engaging and well done. Even the premise grabbed me. It has everything a YA contemporary should have: realistic relationships (romantic, friends, and otherwise), diversity, secrets, truth, real-life problems, and hope. And I appreciated that the swearing was kept to a minimum and that I didn't have to skip any sex scenes.

Overall, Call It What You Want was a wonderful, quick read for me. It's on my list of favorite YA contemporaries, and definitely one I would reread and recommend.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4.5
Overall: 4

Pretty good. It’s very contemporary, modern financial issues. Very different from the author’s last book.

It's about teenagers dealing with the decisions their parents make. It's hard to be a young adult when your parents are screwing up your life, but no one is immune. It reminded me that everyone has problems that others do see.

**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!!

Rob and Meagan both have secrets. Rob's dad is caught money laundering and decides that suicide is the answer. He tries, and fails, to kill himself, leaving Rob and his mother to care for him for the rest of his life. Meagan's sister Samantha comes home from her freshman year at college pregnant. Not only that, but Sam begs Meagan to keep the pregnancy a secret from their parents. When Rob and Meagan are paired together for a project, they become close, but they feel that their secrets are too much for their new friendship to handle. Kemmerer fans will love this heartfelt novel.

Perfect for fans of Katie McGarry, Simone Elkeles, and Sarah Dessen, This is an emotional story where two teens are dealing with the fallout of bad choices mad both by themselves and their families.

Call It What You Want is so good that once I started it I didn't want to stop reading. Unfortunately I started reading at work and had to stop but I literally thought about this book the rest of the day. I went home and devoured the rest of the story. Rob and Maegan were two teenagers trying to find their way after life changing events. They are throw together for a school project and so realize that they are both lonely and hurting. Together they find their way to happiness and friendship. I really loved Rob. He was so flawed and vulnerable. He desperately wanted to be a better man than his father. Maegan was dealing with her mistakes as well as her families. I loved watching their bond and friendship blossom. Call It What You Want is a beautiful story about love, loss and friendship. I loved every page of this charming book!

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Call It What You Want is the second book I’ve read by Brigid Kemmerer. While it is vastly different from her book, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I loved it just as much.

My favorite thing about this book is the way that Kemmerer’s characters have to navigate choices that aren’t black and white. Some are their own choices, and some are the choices made by those around them. Portraying characters facing tough choices and navigating their way through all the shades of gray in what it means to “do the right thing” is such a valuable find in YA literature.

I also appreciated the way the pregnancy issue was handled. Kemmerer is fast becoming on of my favorite authors!