Written in verse, this quick read tackles a very difficult subject: abuse in a dating relationship. Clare and Zari are best friends who enjoy hanging out and writing music together, even though they come from different socio-economic backgrounds. When Zari meets Dion at her internship and they begin to date, Clare accepts that she won't see Zari as much, but then things get complicated when Zari starts coming to school with bad bruises. The friends will both have important decisions to make as things progressively get worse.
Though this was difficult to read and very short, I think the message was strong and effective. The author conveys the story, the perspectives of the characters, and their emotions in a powerful way through skillful writing. I recommend this book to anyone who might be going through a situation like this and to anyone who might have a chance to help someone going through a similar problem.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is an interesting collection of poetry that tells the story between two friends and how their relationship changes after one of the friends starts dating. It is a strong testament to the power of friendship and how we should help others when in need, especially when the evidence is visible on the body.

And We Call It Love is a story of love and abuse told in verse narration. It's unique and definitely a topic we need. but I wasn't a fan of the verse bit, which is odd because I LOVE poetry. I think, for me, this story lost some of its depth in place where straight up prose or more impact lines would have done the job.

This ended up being an okay read. In this short novella, we follow two teenage best friends who begin to drift apart when one of them enters into a new relationship. Soon it becomes clear to Clare that something is wrong, as Zari is acting less and less like her usual self. She realizes that there may be some abuse taking place in her friend’s relationship. Clare knows she has to help her friend remove herself from this horrible situation. I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t hate it either. This narrative deals with very serious issues that can take a while to fully understand, so while this was decent, a longer format suits this topic much better.

And this brings us to an opinion that is going to sound a bit silly given the type of story this is supposed to be. This is what is considered “hi-lo” fiction—short books that are designed to encourage young, reluctant readers to read more. This one seems like it is aimed for a late middle school to early high school audience, so basically early young adult. This story definitely fits into the short format better than some other books of this type that I have checked out. However, I still ended up feeling that it needed just a little bit more to it. It is harder to connect with the characters given the small amount of information we get on them.

That being said, I do think this is one of the more decent examples of hi-lo fiction that I have come across. It is quite hard for me to put myself in the shoes of a potential reader of this novel as I want to read every book in sight. With this one, though, I did get into it a bit more. While these are topics that are hard to fully portray in this limited format, I think the author did an okay job. Domestic abuse and speaking up about it is such an important and timely topic, and I love the fact that Vink is contributing this work to an audience that needs to learn this information.

"And We Call It Love" is a story written in poetry/prose about two best-friends Zari and Clare. The main theme of the book is about what happens when a friendship is tested by families and significant others. I found the bond between the two girls was very authentic and heartwarming. Both girls have hardships and tough situations throughout the story. Clare struggles with the loss of her father as well as trying to help her mother make ends meet, and Zari also deals with the pressure of upholding the "perfect daughter" title her parents have pushed upon her... and an abusive boyfriend during the end of the book!

The story is told through the girls points of view and switches back and forth. At first, this was a little confusing...but once I was able to get into it the rest flowed very easily. This was a really touching and honest look at some of the pressures teens can face from the people they hold most dear.

📚 Thank you to NetGalley and West 44 Books for this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
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📚 Clare and Zari, though from different walks of life, are close friends who understand one another and are there for each other during the tough times.  When Zari gets an internship to work under Irving Mallory, a fellow professor of her father whom he very much admires, little does she know his son Dion will become the boyfriend that your mom warns you about. Dion is abusive, controlling, and demanding of Zari's time, effectively pulling the friends apart. How will Clare be able to intervene when she keeps getting pushed away from the one person she is trying to save?
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📚 I loved the concept of this book. While it is a middle grade novel, it broaches a topic that unfortunately kids as young as middle-schoolers are having to encounter and are not prepared for. If only more books reached out to that age-group, maybe the kids would know how bad it is, how bad it can get, and how to get help.
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📚 I had trouble discerning who was speaking with each poem. It constantly switched between Clare and Zari's point of view, but there was no way to tell (different page, different font, name at top, etc.) or pattern to follow, to know immediately that there was a change. This created a confusion as I read and I kept getting the points of view mixed up. Context clues helped, but I had to re-read most of the poems after figuring out I had read it in the wrong girl's voice, time and again.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher West 44 Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.



This is another book where I went out of my comfort zone to try a new style of book, as well as to not read any other reviews or spoilers, if you will. I think that if I had done that, I may have seen that the entire book was written in verse and not just parts of it. That being said, I am trying to not take that into consideration in regards to my review. I was a little confused at first with the verse going between points of view, but once I established the pattern and who characters were, I definitely got more into the book. I read through this one quickly, and found myself a little perplexed at the end. I was left wanting more. I wish somehow there was a little more depth and a little more background. The following is to avoid a direct spoiler alert: With the story material, I felt as though the plot was wrapped up a little too neatly, and too quickly.

Much thanks to NetGalley and West 44 Books for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.

📚 Series: No
📚 Genre: Young Adult Poetry

⚠ Content Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Friendship Problems, Family Problems

And We Call It Love is a story told through poetry/verse about two friends Zari and Clare. They are two best friends who write music and do everything else together but is faced with trials when Clare starts dating and they encounter parental problems.

This book is very promising but I think felt short in so many ways. The theme is very timely and important but I was looking for more impact, considering that the sensitivity of the theme. I was looking for more feeling. I was waiting for the goosebumps, unfortunately there were none.

This poetry book still sent a great message and it is a very quick and easy-to-understand read.

☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐

☁FINAL VERDICT: 2.8/5 ☁

This book was.. different. As it was written in verse style I had a bit of a time actually getting into it since it’s not the kind of book I usually gravitate towards. The reason as to why I kept reading it through the end is because of the message behind this story which I believe is so much more important in this current climate than ever. I couldn’t help but think that not every survivor of abuse is fortunate enough to have a Clare in their life, or an older brother willing to fight for their sister and friend. These two characters were able to help Zari realize that she did not deserve the abusive relationship that she was in and that there was a life beyond the one she had fallen into.

I have read many books done in verse, but I didn't care for one. The writing style seemed strange and chaotic. There did not seem to be a rhythm that was comprehensive. The plot was lacking and broken.

This 200-page book told in verse tells the story of Clare and Zari. They've been best friends for years when Zari starts an internship with a famous author and gets enamored with his son. Everything gets complicated from there.

As much as I like books told through verses, I have to stop requesting books from this collection. I always feel like those are way too short and can't transfer feelings properly. It all feels rushed...
Anyway this was ok but I couldn't care all that much. it speaks of interesting topics but since it was so short, I felt like it was brushed over. Like it couldn't really convey how important these topics actually are.
I do not know if I make sense but that's how I felt.

I have a love/hate relationship when it comes books written in verse or through poetry. They can either be extremely effective, or kind of a waste. And We Call It Love had a great premise, but I think it never should have been written in verse. The poetry was lackluster, when it had the potential to be powerful. The darker parts of the plot could have been way more intense if they had been flushed out and explored more. 

Another thing that got lost in the story's format was the change in perspectives. half the time I had a really hard time figuring out who was narrating. If I could have this story written in prose, I would have enjoyed it much more. 

I was sent an e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young adult story told in a series of short, free form poems, And We Call It Love by Amanda Vink is a powerful and memorable book that tackles dark and difficult situations head on.
Best friends Clare and Zari do everything together, from schoolwork to writing and performing music and are as close as sisters, but when Zari is pushed by her ambitious parents into taking a prestigious internship and falls for the charismatic Dion, the relationship between the girls begins to feel some pressure. It's not helped by the fact that Zari's mother does not approve of Clare, especially when she begins dating her son, but when Zari beings distancing herself from everyone, and starts showing up at school with bruises, Clare knows that she must help her friend no matter what.
One of my favorite things about this book was the way the author built the relationship between the girls, their voices felt real and the way they spoke to and related to each other seemed very genuine, which is important since without believing in this relationship the rest of the book would not really hold up. I also liked that a book aimed at teens was willing to look at abuse and violence within a relationship, something that I haven't really seen before in books aimed at this age group, but something that sadly does happen in real life. While upsetting to read about, the subject was well handled, it never felt gratuitous or overly dramatic, just chillingly and disturbingly real. Giving us both Clare and Zari's perspectives worked really well to show how sometimes people on the outside looking in have no idea what goes on behind closed doors.
I ended up reading this book in a single sitting, partly because of the format, the flowing nature of the writing made it easy to just keep reading, but mostly because as a reader I was invested in these two young women and their story, and I was eager to see what would happen.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A verse novel, which I have just been introduced to as of recently. Turns out it is a style of book that I can really appreciate!

Vink offers a back and forth story telling between high school best friends. It navigates between friendship, first love, abuse and the general woes of young adults. I would recommend this book to my younger self, proof that I was definitely not alone and my experiences were not uncommon. Thank you for shining light on the hard stuff and giving voice to those who feel alone. 3 stars (and probably 5 if I was 15 reading this).

Thank you to West44 and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Very different from what I used to but And We Call It Love is a beautiful book about female friendship. It depicts the best and the worst about it. For some reason, I had all the feels - be it happy or angry or sad - I could feel it all while reading the book. Everyone should a try reading it.

And We Call It Love is a book of poetry that brings us a history of friendship, toxic relationships and inner strength.

Claire and Zari are best friends. They write songs together, they know each other better than anyone and they are inseparable.

Claire is a girl with some difficulties so the money she earnes playing guitar on the street is to fill the needs that exist at home. Zari comes from a family with money and is constantly on the pressure to realize the dreams that her parents idealized for her.

The problem is that Zari's parents don't like Claire ... nor her recent boyfriend, Dion.

When a boyfriend does not like our best friend, this is already a sign that something is wrong. Of the two of them: or our friendship isn't really the best, but we already know that - and there we are, we insist on this toxic relationship too - or this is a warning to pay attention to our partner. But Zari ignored all the signs.

I got very involved with this book because I once was Zari in some situations and, mostly, I was Claire trying to rescue a friend from a situation like this. I know how hard it is to see people push us away and we don't know why, but it requires a lot of patience and time to be there for that friend no matter what, even if we do not agree with the direction the person is taking.

"It's difficult for a tree to survive without its support system."

We're going to think that she knows very well the situation she is into and maybe we will think that she does not get out of the situation because she doesn't want it, but it's more complicated than it seems. For those in the situation it is very difficult to feel that you can leave, there is always fear of the consequences of ending the relationship. What Dion did was to get Zari's support system, and the parents, whether they wanted to or not, also contributed to it. He began with small things that put her self-esteem down, and then inflated her again with the typical words "I love you", "I need you" and she even thinks that the problem of seeing something wrong with his behavior is purely her fault.

I learned from Dion that normally abusers are boys unsatisfied with themselves, that have to be the center of the universe at all times and when they find their target they will not rest until they break the person at their will.

With this book we think a lot about how often we do not tolerate some attitudes like the ones that Dion has, how often do we blame ourselves for something the other has done because "it was a consequence of our actions", how many times we erase ourselves so the other can shine because if we shine we will have repercussions, whether physical or psychological? And I'm not just talking about love, I'm talking about friendships and family. We have to stop canceling ourselves for other people. We have to stop romanticizing what is toxic.

The book is so well constructed that the poems look like prose and the story of the two friends is told in such a fluid way that we get lost in time. I loved the fact that the narrator changes, allowing us to see the situation from two perspectives: from the victims and from the perspective of the friend who feels powerless.

That is why I strongly recommend reading this book because it tells us a story that we may have passed through at some point in our lives, or that we have seen someone pass by and shows us that we must act, even doing the small great act of being there for the other person.

For those who are starting to read in English this book is a good bet, since its language is very simple, the author says what she has to say and the message is very clear.

I would like to thank author Amanda Vink, West 44 Books publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. One of the best I've read so far in 2019!

Enjoyed the storyline and the main character immensely. Some of the secondary characters were a little annoying and grated on my nerves, but the writing was lovely and the story was interesting.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

claire & zari are best friends... inseparable. until zari starts dating dion. claire tosses it up to it being a new an exciting relationship and waits it out... until she starts seeing some hidden bruises on zari... and she knows things have changed.

this book is written in verse and beautiful.

There has been a considerable amount of thought and emotion in this poetry book. The poet introduces us to her life so gently and in such a wholesome way that one feels like they are sitting there in her room with her thoughts. It felt like being invited into her home. I appreciated the effort and thought, it led me to her house and mind. I was hoping for a little more exploration of her emotional states and her mind. I look forward to it in the next collection!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I love the theme of the different sections broken up onto the four seasons. This collection is a beautiful and personal telling. I found myself relating to a lot of the poems. Her style is very lyrical. I enjoy all the different subject matters that were talked about throughout the entire collection. I really enjoyed the different perspectives from Zara and Clare.

Finally! A hi-lo novel in verse about REAL THINGS! Thank you!!!

As a librarian of many reluctant readers and English language learners, my hi-lo collection is well-worn and a constant area of development. You know what it's missing? A novel-in-verse. Hi-lo books have a rhythm all their own. Plots are often simpler while the content is gritty. For some, they find these books skim the surface and to those people I say:
EXACTLY.
That's what hi-lo is for. It's like a gateway chocolate before you eat the rest of the bag. It gets the kids reading! Then, if they come back and ask for more books like that, you go crazy and show them all the amazing things you have.

I adored the formatting, how accessible the language was, and the characterization. I feel like I know exactly who these girls are (and the boy I'd rather NOT know). The overwhelming message of friendship, support, and getting out of a violent situation are messages our teens need to hear.

If I could change one thing about this book, it would be to label each page clearly with the name of who is speaking. It is labelled whenever the narrator switches, but if I put the book down and came back later, it was sometimes a struggle to remember who was talking. If we're talking maximum accessibility here, I would love to see this changed before the actual printing. (I read an ARC version from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.)

I have a very good friend named Zari. She's older than me, and 7 years ago got married to a guy who, let's say, was bad news altogether. I will not get into details, but after 18 month of marriage they filed for divorce. Needless to say, when I read the premise about this book, it hit home and very hard.

Zari meeting Dion was fateful enough to predict bag things happening. Just as in many, many teenage stories, once BFF gets a boyfriend, the other half BFF is thrown to the side and in this particular case, since Zari's parents didnt approve of her friendship with Claire, it was more than obvious that a very wide breach would open, until the day Claire noticed Zari with bruises.


it's hard to talk about teenage relationship abuse cause many don't even believe it's a thing. But newsflash: IT IS REAL. and not only that, it's a disease our society tries to hide in order not to unleash the pandemic. it's more common that you think and it affects many teenage girls (and boys, for that matter) around the world. Just cause you have a teenage boyfriend it doesn't mean he's automatically prince charming, right?

it's important we spread the word among our youth. The way this book is written is fantastic IMO, and it should be an optional read for young High Schoolers who are experiencing the throws of teen love.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the privilege of granting me this ARC.

This is a sad, yet heartwarming book about friendship. It's written in verse, but has a continuing (sp?) story, which made it an interesting read, but it got the message out in a way that one couldn't do with "regular" prose.

A noble attempt at fiction in verse but the domestic violence subplot felt contrived and the friendship between the two friends suffered from a lack of complexity. Much too "after school special."

Very good book. I found the poems short and very easy to understand. This book is all about teenage relationships, the good and also the bad and the ugly. I originally thought that this book was going to be about something completely different but I was pleasantly surprised when I started to read the book that it was every more interesting than I originally thought it would be. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the constant switch in perspectives it made it very hard to follow even though the author did a great job of stating who was speaking and when they switched. I just found it a little jarring. Very simple book but worth the read.

3 Stars!

I think this was a more of a it's me not you kinda thing, I wasn't as engaged as what I would of liked, however I can see why other people would enjoy this more than I did!

I loved the writing style in this book! It was very interesting the way Amanda was able to write the novel in verse. However, with the little graphics replacing some of the letters in the words it got confusing! Also, it needs a trigger warning for domestic violence so the audience will be able to know before hand if they can handle the content.

And We Call It Love tells a heart-warming story about friends who drift apart under pressure from the people around them.
I found the story interesting, the characters and plot compelling and well paced. The poetry was decent, written in a tone that reflects the characters' states of mind and experiences. The tone of the poems was used throughout to reflect on the development of the two main characters which I thought was smart.
I really enjoyed this book, I think most fans of YA will do too.

And We Call It Love by Amanda Vink is a heartbreaking story about abuse in teenage relationships. A lot of people don't think this stuff truly happens but it does and it is so sad to watch. Most teenage girls have low self-esteem so they just accept whatever guy shows them attention, even if that attention lands them with bruises and black eyes. This book had a somewhat better ending that most other abuse stories I have read. The ending had hope.

This was another one of those broken format Galleys, but aside from that, it was a wonderful collection of poetry that told an emotional story.

it was pretty average...
I was honestly expecting a LOT more from this, some are pretty but lack something...
the ideia its great but unfortunately she did not go deeper, wich I would have really appreciated...

I received And We Call It Love as an ARC from NetGalley. This title was not what I expected. I was expecting a novel and it was basically a poem or very short story. I thought the idea of the story was good but it should have been expanded.

I love this style of storytelling and I love love love stories about female friendships. There aren't enough good stories about female friendship and this was one. It also does a really good job of discussing abusive relationships.

This was interesting to me I never read something like this. It felt like a book and a poetry at the same time. I would love to read more books like this. I am curious to see if Amanda’s Vink will write more like this.

I received a e arc from netgalley inexchange for an honest review.
I was excited for this one however, I hated the writing style. I was interest to see how it would go since verse is not something I typically read. I discovered it wasn’t for me. I had trouble keeping up with who was talking and it seemed very choppy. Unfortunately I did not enjoy.

This was the fastest time I have finished a book. The format of this book was something i haven’t read in a long time so I was able to breeze through the book really quickly. I feel like maybe I would have enjoyed this book more if it was in paragraph form. I did enjoy how the author discussed topics such as abuse in relationships, how once friends get into relationships they don’t care about anything else, loss of a parent, etc. but I wish it was explored more I felt like the plot went ENTIRELY too fast and not a lot of things were talked about enough for me. Quick read though.

Although I am not into poetic stories, this did have a flow that I could comprehend. Regardless of the fact that the story is a bit of a rehash of others, it still may be worth your while. Enjoy!

Many thanks to both the Publisher and NetGalley for a close view at today's issues.

This book AHHHH!!! FEEELLLSSS. This hit me right in the heart. A beautiful story of 2 best friends who outstood the odds that tried to obliterate their friendship. It also deals with the sexual assualt and the author portrayed it crisply. I loved how wilson was protective of his sister. And yes this book mainly deals with rich people stereotyping the poor and how they treat them. My heart went out to Clare and Zara, i grew very much fond of them.I really didnt expect this book to exceed my expectations but boy did it exceed!!...LOVED THIS BOOK ON A WHOLESOME LEVEL

This book hit home for me only because I have gone through it not the entire thing (None of my friends mothers treated me as bad as Zari's mother treated Clare) . The story played out in poetry and there were a lot of lines I was able to hightlight and remember.
Wonderful read and the book stayed on topic! There was no filler and no fluff.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

*I received a pdf review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

**TW// DATING VIOLENCE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, DOMESTIC ABUSE, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, VERBAL ABUSE**

I’m not sure when I requested this one on NetGalley so I was kind of surprised when I got the email.

I also found myself surprised to find out that this book is written in more of a poetry/prose form. I have never liked poetry and I’ve never really read a book like this so I had no idea what to expect and was also hoping my dislike of poetry wouldn’t immediately sink the book for me.
My last surprise came in the fact that I actually found this book decently enjoyable. It was easy to work past the writing style and get immersed into the story of Zari and Clare.
The basic premise of this book is that it explores the friendship between Zari and Clare while tackling forces that threaten their bond.

For Zari, her parents have worked hard to get where they are and they are constantly hoping and pressuring her to achieve a similar result. The big way they do this is to push her into an internship with a professor her father really admires and works with. She’s not into it at first but actually begins to enjoy it and she also meets Dion here. Dion is the professor’s son who Zari connects with and soon begins dating. But the relationship goes sour (tw//domestic abuse, violence) when Dion becomes physically abusive and eventually threatens to kill Zari if she chooses to break up with him.

Clare is a girl who lost her father and feels partially to blame. In addition to her guilt, she’s also dealing with not having money and not being able to afford what I think her moms cafe. Her mom is attending school so she is trying to make ends meet and support her mom both through playing guitar on the street and through words.

The forces that come between them? Zari’s parents and her boyfriend Dion. Both seem to think Clare is off limits because she is poorer and doesn’t look like them (she’s got pink hair and plays guitar on the streets). This causes a rift between all of them and also a wedge into the possibly blooming Clare/Zari’s brother romance.

To my surprise, I got all of that from poetry (I’ve struggled to understand it my whole life) and actually really enjoyed this one.

The only real issue I have with this one is that everything is wrapped together for the end in like 20 pages. All the serious issues we have had throughout the book are wrapped up in some way just like that. It felt like we definitely needed more to make sure everything was properly fleshed out and dealt with. Some of the most serious issues in the book are wrapped up way too soon, which feels like a disservice to their severity.

I only had one issue with this book but wasn’t a dealbreaker! This is a good book that deals with some heavy and relevant topics through a poetry style in a way that even people like me who may not like/understand poetry will enjoy.

I LOVE how the story is written in poetry.

So creative to form a full novel/story from many pieces of poetry. I've got to hand it to the author because already writing a novel you have to be so intentional with your words but with poetry it's even more so. This was done really well

The poetry is beautifully crafted
Talks about: the pressures of choosing a college/career path at a young age, the joy of friendship, the loss of a loved one, abusive relationships and much more.

Abuse is such a huge issue in our world today, especially in teenagers, and this book addressed that. It showed inside the victim's head as well as those around her who are concerned for her and her safety. It was such a difficult topic and I feel the way it was approached in poetry form in this book was a perfect way to bring this problem to light. Poetry is a good outlet for emotions and thoughts and so with that it fit perfectly in this book. As heartbreaking and sad as it was, it just worked.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an earc copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. Some of the poetry made me feel some feelings. The pressure from parents, and the domestic violence made me feel so much too. I didn’t connect with the poetry but I liked it because it caused me to feel a lot of things. I gave this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Nothing that hasn't already been written. To be fair, I am biased against books written in verse-- just not my cup of tea. But I thought I'd try this one out just in case I changed my mind. I didn't. I didn't like it and the bad verse just made the juvenile book that much worse.

And We Call It Love is a story about two best friends, written like poetry. It read beautifully. The stories are heartbreaking, and wonderful. Clare and Zari are relatable and flawed. Each of their stories are unique, they are navigating their own lives while trying to keep their friendship strong. I loved everything about this book. The way it was written made And We Call It Love have an even bigger impact as I was reading it.

The Next
Three Hours

I spend filling up
my entire notebook
with truth,
and
something
inside me
goes back
to where it feels right.

*Thank you Netgalley and West 44 Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I actually didn’t know what I was getting into when I started this book. It’s just that one day I’m requesting a copy on Netgalley and next thing I know I’m loving it.

Initially, I though this poetry book will be the same as others with lengthy descriptions or so-many-spaces but this one is told in verses. Alternating between Zari and Clare, we can follow the story of these two bestfriends and how they maintain their friendship despite some obstacles. The first few pages were a blur, the pages flying by and I wasn’t actually sure who was narrating what that I had to backread a couple of times. But further into the book it was much easier since I already knew which is which.

I love how this book tells us issues about friendship, family, social class, abusive relationship, etc., and how it felt realistic because these things really happen. It also made me really happy knowing that Clare was there for Zari and how strong she was for the both of them. Because sometimes we really just need someone to never give up on us no matter how much we push them away.

Love is like

an invisible string,
and no matter
where you go
or what you do
or how long
it is between talks,

it never breaks.

And We Call It Love by Amanda Vink is a story written entirely in the form of verses.  I was a little thrown at first as it took a few pages to get the flow, and be able to decipher who (Zari or Clare) was narrating.  I enjoyed "living" the story as there are no pauses and the book is easy to read.

The story itself is about two best friends and the strength of bonds despite obstacles.  It is powerful, and realistically covers relationship abuse.  You are able to feel the characters change throughout the verses, as the story unfolds.

I haven’t read a verse-novel in quite a while, so I was really pleased by it being a super quick, straight-to-the-point and easy read. It tackled issues of acceptance and friendship, abuse, not taking things for granted as well as the importance of all living things needing a support system in order to thrive. “It’s difficult for a tree to survive without its support system.”

I liked the idea behind the story better than the actual story? I think it could have been a really good poetry collection, especially because you can tell a story in so much depth with such fewer words with poetry, but this one just didn't hit the mark. The poems were choppy and read a little more like a children's book than what I was expecting.

I did like the idea, and the way Zari and Clare looked out for one another, how Wilson knew something was wrong even when their parents didn't. The characters and the idea and the general story were all great, the execution, not so much.

Trigger warning: Abusive relationship

I didn’t realise when I requested the book that it would be written in verse. I’m not a poetry fan so it was offputting to me at first. But I persevered and I am so glad I did.

The book is about two friends, Zari and Clare. Zari is from a wealthier family and Clare lives with her widowed mum. Zari’s parents are very judgemental and want Zari to have a brilliant job and not waste time hanging out with unsuitable people.
I loved the friendship between the two girls because they didn’t care how different their circumstances were.
I thought the abuse plot was done well but I wish the book had even just 50 more pages because it seemed too short. I think the book could have gone deeper into things if it had been that much longer.