~ ARC provided by NetGalley ~

I heard about "Call It What You Want" via the author's TikTok, and I was so excited as someone who has also been through the torturous experience of being in situationships with emotionally unavailable men. I think from a thematic standpoint, this novel holds a lot of value for women. It captures the sort of mind games and self gaslighting that comes with dating in your 20s. The main character, Sloane, can easily become a stand in for a situationship survivor, while the chapters in Ethan, the male love interests, point of view give the other side of the story. However, I feel like the writing was not totally up to par. There was a lot of telling and now showing, which could have been fixed by a good editor. There were multiple chapters where we would get 3-4 paragraphs describing what was happening, followed by some action that could have showed everything that the author was explicitly telling us. Ultimately, I think that this book suffered from this too much for me to recommend it to readers.

I binged this book. Started off slowly chipping away at it and then after the 40% mark I stayed up until 4am reading this.

For starters - the “almost” in situation/humiliationships is truly an awful and difficult thing to grieve. A part of me deeply resonated with Sloane & Alissa. It was sad to read this and look back realizing how little we allowed ourselves while giving so much. In a way almost healing? If not, a good assessment that we’re out of the trenches.

However, this book was heavily wattpad coded. The characters felt two dimensional, Ethan’s POV hardly contributed? Sentence structure was very simple. It was monotonous but that’s pretty accurate to how things go. There are some grammatical/structural errors in here but what can you do.

I’m looking forward to future releases & books! Overall not terrible but very raw and relatable.

This seemed so immature. I had a hard time finishing this. The FMC was so cringe.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an early copy of this in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Call It What You Want" by Alissa DeRogatis.

This book had an interesting plot but I dont think I am the target audience. I would be interested in reading the authors next book though.

DNF, the writing style was not my taste. Maybe I’m just not a contemporary fiction fan, but this definitely wasn’t for me.

It’s not a traditional romance with a tidy arc or a guaranteed happily-ever-after. It’s more of a reflective, sometimes painful look at the kind of relationship that’s hard to define and even harder to forget. If you’ve ever been in a situationship or struggled to let go of someone who was never really yours, this book might hit home—or hit a nerve. Hit a nerve and killed me dead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc.

Call It What You Want by Alissa DeRogatis is a raw, emotionally charged debut that explores the pain and confusion of a “situationship:” the kind of almost-love that lingers long after it ends. Told through the perspectives of Sloane, a college senior with big dreams, and Ethan, her emotionally distant neighbor, the novel captures the thrill and heartbreak of an undefined relationship set against the backdrop of college parties and late-night tension.

DeRogatis writes with vulnerability, portraying the highs and lows of loving someone who can’t love you back fully. Sloane’s journey is deeply relatable, and while Ethan’s side lacks the same depth, their story reflects how easy it is to romanticize someone who only gave you pieces of themselves.

For anyone who’s ever struggled to let go of someone who was never fully theirs, this book offers a mirror, and maybe even a bit of closure. It’s not a perfect story, but it’s an honest one.

I loved this book. It wasn't necessarily the happy ending that we're used to in the rom com world. I'd also consider it one of the most relatable that shows how situationships tend to cause more heartache than a traditional "break-up." But, they also help us find our worth in the end - what are we willing to put up with or let go when we are in a relationship. It's a book that makes us think!

I read this one before it was signed with a traditional publisher, so it was great to see the progression of Alissa DeRogatis' journey and how it shifted her career. It also shows just how many relate to this topic! I enjoyed her writing and storytelling and look forward to her next book that she's been working on.

This book wasn't for me at all, I guess. The FMC wasn't very likable or relatable at all. She seemed quite childish, if not for the egregious amount of wine she consumed. The book also felt very rushed - and I don't mean the plot, I mean the writing in general - word choice, grammar, sentence structure, etc. Lastly, there was no spark between the characters whatsoever. They felt very flat. I felt TOLD rather than SHOWN about their relationship. All the way around, I just didn't mesh. I'm thankful it was short.

I really have no Idea why I didn't give feedback on this the first time around. I honestly think I felt bad giving negative feedback on a book I did not enjoy, but now that I am no longer an ARC rookie and know how netgalley works, I came back in to paste my initial review. This book was a near perfect representation of first loves. First loves can be messy, toxic, and detrimental in so many ways and I really related to that concept. However, this book in itself was not for me. I did not really like the writing. I thought it felt underdeveloped and like it just wasn't quite ready to be put into the hands of readers. The chemistry between Sloane and her love interests was simply non-existent. I felt like she had no self respect for herself and acted quite foolishly throughout the entire book. I get that love can blind you, but this was next level. Ethan needed therapy, Sloane probably did too, and their relationship was an absolute dumpster fire. A hard read for me, but I was still able to see why it resonates with so many people!

As someone who was involved in a situationship in high school and college, this book felt personal. Despite the fact that I was pissed off the majority of the time, I really resonated with the FMC. I used to settle and make excuses when the guy would treat me like the scum of the earth. Leaving him was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. As painful as it was to give up on him, I applaud myself for doing what is in my best interest.

'Call It What You Want' is het debuut van Alissa DeRogatis en biedt een eerlijke blik op de complexiteit van moderne relaties, met name 'situationships'. Het verhaal volgt Sloane Hart, een laatstejaarsstudente die vastbesloten is haar diploma te halen en haar droom na te jagen om schrijfster te worden in New York City. Haar plannen worden echter gecompliceerd wanneer ze Ethan Brady ontmoet, haar mysterieuze bovenbuurman met een gesloten verleden. Hun relatie, zonder duidelijke labels, ontwikkelt zich tot een intense band die zowel opwindend als verwarrend is. ​

DeRogatis slaagt erin de emotionele achtbaan van een 'bijna-relatie' vast te leggen, waarbij de chemie tussen Sloane en Ethan zowel meeslepend als frustrerend is. De afwisseling tussen de perspectieven van beide hoofdpersonen biedt een diepgaand inzicht in hun gedachten en gevoelens, waardoor de lezer begrip krijgt voor hun keuzes en onzekerheden. ​

Toch heeft het boek gemengde reacties ontvangen. Sommige lezers prijzen de herkenbaarheid en emotionele diepgang, terwijl anderen kritiek hebben op de herhalende plot en het gebrek aan karakterontwikkeling. Zo merkt een recensent op dat het verhaal soms repetitief en oppervlakkig aanvoelt, wat de betrokkenheid bij de personages vermindert. ​

Al met al is 'Call It What You Want' een gedurfde verkenning van de grijze gebieden in moderne relaties. Het boek biedt een rauwe en eerlijke weergave van liefde en zelfontdekking, wat het tot een waardevolle leeservaring maakt voor degenen die de complexiteit van menselijke connecties willen begrijpen.

This book had potential, but ultimately fell flat. While it realistically portrayed the toxicity of Sloane and Ethan’s on-again, off-again situationship, it lacked depth, chemistry, and engaging storytelling. The writing felt surface-level, with minimal inner monologue or emotional exploration, making it hard to connect with the characters. The constant repetition of breakups, hookups, and excessive drinking made the story feel stagnant. Additionally, the dual POV often rehashed the same scenes without adding much insight.

On the positive side, Lauren was a standout character, and the Taylor Swift references were fun. However, the book’s normalization of unhealthy behaviors and lack of a compelling plot made it a frustrating read.

⭐️⭐️/5 – Wouldn’t recommend.

I just could not get into this book. I really wanted to like it. I don’t know if I can recall a book that I just could not get into like this book. That’s a bummer to say but it’s the reality. I don’t even know if I’d go back to try to finish.

I did not enjoy this book for various reasons. First, it is NOT a romance. It reads more like journal entries, and I don't mean that as a positive. The alcohol consumption and descriptions of what the characters are drinking is shocking. I have been a college girl, I have drank my far share of drinks in solo red cups. This work glorified overconsumption of alcohol and the need for alcohol to have a good time. I could have cared less about Ethan and Sloane. Be together, don't, I don't care.

I had a tough time getting into this one. The plot felt a bit repetitive and the main characters lacked development and growth. I wasn't able to finish this one...

What I liked: The author didn’t stick to the same old romance tropes. Instead it’s about a woman who can’t let go of a one-sided relationship.

What I disliked: Not much of a plot and very repetitive.

Call It Wat You Want is NOT a cutesy romance. It is, however, a good February read. Our lead gal pal Sloane Hart meets Ethan Brady her senior of college in 2016 because they are neighbors. The connection is instant, but try as she might, Sloane can't make Ethan settle down with her. At the end of the day, they never advance from sex to boyfriend and girlfriend. Still, Ethan is her first love: the man she can never get out of her head even when she moves to a different city. Even when she finds a boyfriend who loves her more than anything. Sloane's heart is Ethan's, but will his ever be hers? Before I get mean to Sloane in my review, the author Alissa DeRogatis herself has said that this book is inspired by her own situationship in college. To that, I say that I am sorry and guys can truly suck.


Alright. The thing about on again/off again romances in books is that they make me want to hit the MC over the head a million times over. Sloane is no exception. She keeps crawling back to Ethan and accepting terrible treatment. He says she ruins good nights by asking to be more. He strings her along. He gives his number to other girls. She accepts it every time. When she finally gets a boyfriend that treats her well, she knows it. She says in her narrative that this guy is the one she should be with. Does that stop her treating him badly? God, no. Because she has been treated poorly, she now treats this poor schmuck badly, and it is all because of some loser who will never commit to her. Sloane needs to take a break from dating and be single. It is okay to be alone. You should be comfortable with yourself. Of course, she lives in a book and needs a character arc that shows transformation from the beginning to the end, so she does have to be flawed.


Something I truly liked about DeRogatis's writing is that it did feel true to life because of the details she employed to date the story. Some people hate when books date themselves, but I love it because they feel real. The characters are graduating in 2016. They listen to The Chainsmokers and wear chokers. It feels like 2016 in the most cringey way possible. We were all there. We all lived through it. Now we get to read about it. That is so fun! Then, we get to see the music and background change as time goes on. Great.


Overall, I liked this book and it is a quick read. My favorite? No. If she were with me right now, I'd tell Sloane to sit down and watch He's Just Not That Into You. It's a great movie with a good lesson. You need to know your worth to find the love you deserve and have the courage to leave when you are not loved.

Call It What You Want is a gripping, emotional rollercoaster about love, mistakes, and second chances. DeRogatis crafts a compelling story with complex characters you can’t help but root for.

⭐⭐⭐ (2.5/5 stars)
🌶️ (Low spice)

Tropes:
💔 Situationship
🎭 Damaged hero
✍️ Aspiring writer FMC
🎵 Taylor Swift references
🚩 Red flags everywhere

Quick Take:
A raw, honest look at modern situationships that will have you screaming "GIRL, RUN!" at the pages. While the story perfectly captures the frustration of wanting someone to be "the one" who just won't commit, the repetitive narrative and underdeveloped backstories hold it back from being a higher rated read.

Why You Might Pick This Up:
- Painfully realistic portrayal of toxic almost-relationships
- Perfect for processing your own messy dating experiences
- Strong Taylor Swift vibes
- Quick read that hits close to home
- Sometimes you need a book that chooses reality over romance

Best for recovering delulu girlies and anyone healing from a situationship. Not every love story needs a happy ending to be worth telling! 💭

*If you're looking for a book that validates rather than romanticizes modern dating struggles, this might be your read.*