Another fantastic contemporary by Brigid Kemmerer with complicated, broken characters navigating high school and life, past mistakes and rumors the best they can. Maegan and Rob grapple with so many intense questions in this book. I enjoyed their connection and just wanted to give them both a hug. I also adored the friendships in this story. Especially between Rob and Owen and Rob’s complicated relationship with former friend Connor. I do feel like everything came together so quickly at the end. I wanted a bit more there, but overall this was excellent.

**So far I have just reviewed this on Goodreads. I will post a longer review on my blog loveisnotatriangle.com and Amazon, when we are closer to the publish date.

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer (June 24)
TW: suicide attempt discussed
Overview: Rob's father robbed the town. He lost everyone's money at his financial planning company. He took their money to make himself rich. Then he got caught and attempted suicide but survived in a somewhat vegetated state. Now Rob is a social pariah at school, and he has to take care of his dad who can't even acknowledge his presence. Maegan is still fighting the dirty looks from last year when her cheating got everyone's SAT scores cancelled, but, at least she still has her best friend and a sister. But then her sister comes home from college pregnant, and her house dissolves into a mess of anger and confusion. When a calculus project brings them together, they find that their complicated lives might not be something they have to face alone. Overall: 4

Characters: 4 I really enjoyed the characters. Rob is sweet, understanding, respectful, and confused. I loved reading about him, and especially his relationship with Maegan. He begins to explore the morally grey areas with stealing, and he struggles to understand why some people live in mansions while others are on free lunch. His family losing its fortune makes him reassess his position in the world.
Maegan is also a great character. She's confused about who she even is anymore. She takes 5 AP classes, gets straight As, and never really does anything wrong. And then she cheated on the SAT. Because her sister got a scholarship to Duke, she felt like she couldn't measure up without cheating. The problem with Maegan, though, is that she's not very well developed. Ya, her dad is a cop and seems serious, but it doesn't seem weighty enough to make her spontaneously cheat. Also, she faced no more repercussions than dirty looks, which I don't understand. From everything I've read from the College Board, they don't just cancel the group's scores, there's an actual punishment. They also never really said how she cheated which just left a strange questioning void.
I do love her relationship with her sister and their super close bond through thick and thin. That relationship is great and well developed.

Plot: 4 The story is a mix of an interesting thriller and a cute romance. Rob is trying to uncover what really happened with his father, and he does unearth some corruption in the town. He also has a great relationship with Maegan and a good dynamic with her sister Sam.
My only issue with the plot is that its based around their calculus project, and they meet up under the pretext of the calculus project more than a couple times (where they never actually work on it) and then the calculus project disappears. I wish the school part had been followed through more.

Writing: 4 This is a super cute book, and I loved getting to read it. The characters are great, and there is plenty of complications to drive the plot. If you're looking for a book featuring great sisters relationships or a cinnamon roll boy, definitely pick up this book!
My only little issue is that it's not fleshed out entirely. The story feels like it hasn't entirely been brought to life yet. The bones are there and super strong though.

Thank you for the chance to review this title.

This book makes you remember that we are all human and that we make mistakes. It's a humble reminder that we do not see much in YA.

I loved this book. despite the content (it's not light and fluffy and deals with real-life stuff) The characters have it tough and the author does not skimp on the realness. But what really drew me in loving this book is the fact that we see the human connection and the love in all types of relationships, not only lovers.

I gave this book five stars, based solely on the fact that I could not put this book down. It hits some really intense places and made me feel things. Bridgett writes such compelling characters that jump right off the page. I cannot wait to see whats he does next.

I enjoyed this book and loved that romance was important. I enjoyed how they slowly came together to have a relationship. I loved that while they were both outcasts for different things that they found a way together. I enjoyed the friends in this book too. He is dealing with his dad stealing money from others and she is dealing with cheating on a test. She has become an autoread author for me.

This book was super compelling and emotional read. I really grew attached to not only the main character and was so invested in POV. I also grew to really enjoy the various side characters that we met. I also really enjoyed this book focused on male friendships and how complex those relationships can be. I see so many books focusing on female friendships but this was refereshing read. This book was super emotional and I really was captured from page one. I really thought this book tackled so many harder issues and just made it compelling read that did not make it choppy to read. I really am excited to see what happens in future books in this series and who those books will focus on.

Another great book by this author. Rob & Maegan are both lonely high schoolers. Maegan because of something she has done and for something his father has done. A school project puts the two together as the learn new lessons about themselves and others.
Goodreads & Facebook

Brigid Kemmerer has become one of my favorite authors in a very short amount of time. Her ability to handle serious situations in an empathetic, understanding way is extraordinary. If you have not ready Letters to the Lost and More Than We Can Tell, RUN right now to find them and read them, as they are very similar to this one.
Rob and Maegan have become social outcasts. Rob because his father embezzled millions of dollars from almost everyone in his town. Maegan because she cheated on the SATs. got caught, and invalidated the scores of everyone in the testing room with her.
Both are trying to keep their heads down, and make it through the last year of high school without causing any more waves.
When they get paired together on a homework assignment, they begin to realize they really have no idea what the other is going through, and maybe together they can begin to heal.
A realistic romance about the secrets we keep, and the building of lies that become very difficult to keep straight.

I would say the first 3/4 of this book were a solid 4 stars but I had some major problems with the way the topic of abortion was handled. It seems like she was trying to handle it in a pro-choice way, but it did not end up seeming like the option was considered anything other than careless or reckless, and that is absolutely not okay - especially for the intended audience. We need to normalize this and stop using terms like "get rid of it" to characterize it. Then the last 1/4 was rushed and the conclusions seemed really contrived. That was disappointing but overall an enjoyable read, if heavy handed in the “moral lessons.”

After reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely earlier this year, I wanted to try out other books by Brigid Kemmerer. Her newest release, Call It What You Want, is a contemporary, so it's quite different from A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which was a fantasy-based retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but I really enjoyed it. It falls into my favorite contemporary subgenre, messy misfits making out.

Rob used to be the king of the school. Then his financial advisor father embezzled money from half of the town, and Rob became persona non grata because everyone assumes that he was in on the embezzlement scheme because he interned at his dad's office (I understand people's ability to assume the worst, but does anyone really think a 17-year-old would be a good partner-in-crime for an elaborate financial scheme?). Maegan is also an outcast because she cheated on her SATs, which meant that everyone who took them with her had their scores invalidated. The two are brought together when they have to pair up on a calculus assignment because no one else wants to work with them.

Rob and Maegan both have a lot of stress in their lives. Rob's father tried to kill himself, but he survived the attempt and now requires round-the-clock care, which Rob and his mother have to handle. Maegan's parents don't trust her anymore, and her sister has just arrived home from college, pregnant and in danger of losing her athletic scholarship.

I really liked both Rob and Maegan. Rob is in a terrible position through no fault of his own. He's just trying to keep his head down and get through senior year, even though everyone is really awful to him. He makes some not so great choices, but they make sense, given everything he's going through. Maegan made a mistake, and now she wonders if she can ever live it down. They both have walls up, and initially, having to work on the project together doesn't go well. But as they let their guard down and get to know each, a bond grows.

I found this book really engrossing, I loved the growing closeness between the two main characters, and I was dying to know how it would all work out. My only complaint (and it's a minor one) is that everything wrapped up a bit too quickly. There was a lot of buildup to the climax, and then it was over and there was just a short epilogue. I would have liked a little more.

This author can do no wrong! She writes characters so real they just jump off the page into your heart. This book explores the grey areas...in business, family, friendship, relationships, trust, and ethics. It is so easy to see the black and white sides of issues but to live them is a whole different story.

4,5 “moral choices” stars

“Other people don’t have the challenges we have, Owen. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own.”

This is my fourth Brigid Kemmerer’s book and to this day she has never disappointed me.

What I like above all else is her knack to draw us into nuanced stories. Her characters always come in shades of grey with inner conflicts, moral choices to make. They are beautiful but flawed and have to grow up, become wiser.

Brigid Kemmerer writes about real life!

In “Call It What You Want” you’ll be asked what’s right and what’s wrong. Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons? If you do it to “right a wrong”?

Robin Hood stole money from the wealthy to help poor people. We all see him as a hero. But at the end of the day he was still stealing!

And if your parents have committed a crime are you guilty by association? Were there signs you did not see? Could you have prevented it? Does it fall on your shoulders to compensate the families who have been wronged? And does it make them bad parents? Are you still allowed to love them? To admire some of their facets?

I am aware that I begin with the big guns here but truly that’s what this story does: make you wonder! Make you think!


Let’s roll back and get back to the plot now.

The two protagonists are seen as pariah in their schools.

Rob because his father embezzled millions from the town’s people and Maegan because she cheated on her STAT forcing her classmates to retake the test again as all results were invalidated.

No wonder none are Mr and Miss popular right now!


Both have currently a hard family life.

Rob because they became poor as the FBI seized everything to compensate people and because his father tried to kill himself but missed. He is now like a living plant inhabiting their house and forcing Rob and his mom to care for him. Brigid has a way to make us grasp her character’s reality! The opening lands you right in the middle of Rob’s current life:

“I eat breakfast with my father every morning. Well, I eat. He sits in his wheelchair and stares in whichever direction Mom has pointed him. If I’m lucky, all his drool stays in his mouth. If he’s lucky, the sunlight doesn’t fall across his eyes.”

Maegan because her sister is back home pregnant from college. She does not say who the father is and does not know if she should terminate the pregnancy or not. The atmosphere at home is heavy and Maegan can’t wait to escape for some hours and just breathe.

They should never have shared the same air as Rob was a former lacrosse star and rich kid while Maegan was a nerd. Yet everything has changed now and they will be paired to work on a calculus project. They have to meet but at first their walls were all up!

Rob because everyone is wondering if “he knew” making him an outcast. Maegan because everyone resents her and see her as a cheater. They both expect the other to share these preconceived views.

Unexpectedly they will bond and share their secrets and feelings.

I loved that their relationship did not feel “forced” but unraveled naturally. Both feel lonely and need someone to talk to. How the mighty have fallen as Rob would probably never paid attention to Maegan “before”! His downfall helped make him a better person. He was not a bully or bad but his predicament helped open his eyes to what is truly important in others. And that’s certainly not the size of their wallet. He got a huge dose of reality.

Rob was the most conflicted of these main characters. I really admire how Brigid Kemmerer entered his mind making us walk in his shoes and feeling that huge pit of boiling emotions. He began as the virtuous boy in the beginning, being shunned by everyone when he had done nothing wrong. Then he made a bad choice. Then a second. And it grew exponentially making me grip my kindle and swearing. No Rob! Don’t do it! This is a very bad idea!

You’d think being a mom he would have listened to me but noooo! He did his “thing” and I was really stressed and disappointed. Fearing the worse for him. It was like witnessing a car collision in the making. You want to prevent it yet you know you are too slow or too late. Powerless.

Even if I wanted to stop Rob I could understand his reasoning. His motives. And that’s why I say Brigid Kemmerer is brilliant, making me empathize with him while reproving what he did.

Maegan was a truly lovable heroine. Yes she had done a mistake. But one mistake does not define who you are or your whole future. She was burdened with many secrets. Others secrets. Stressed as she did not know what to do with them. Should she tell someone to help. Should she just keep her mouth shut because they were not her secrets?

“As usual, I have more secrets in my head than I know what to do with.”

Everyone knows some secrets are heavy to bear when they concern your loved ones and the only thing you’d like is help them.


Mainly a character driven story, the plot is not to be underestimated as there is a twist to that story. Something not really hard to guess (I guessed and I am not the best at this game) that will add a layer of drama to the story.


To sum it up: this is an excellent YA contemporary packed to the brim with moral choices, inner questioning, personal journey and supported by an engaging cast of flawed characters.

Brigid Kemmerer is one of my favorite writers! I love all her previous books and this newest novel of hers didn't disappoint. The characters and their voices were very much alive, it's one of the most important things to me as a reader because I can't get myself invested in a story where the characters feel flat. I also love the family dynamics and how the romance progressed. This is definitely a 5/5 stars for me.

I'm really hoping the author writes more, I'll read whatever she writes.

Brigid Kimmerer has a gift in making the reader care about her characters. Rob found his father with his brain half splattered in the Wall after being found guilty of stealing 7 million dollars from the people in the community. He is ostracized and called a thief himself. Meagan got caught cheating on the SAT, and all100 people have to retake it. Both loners are forced to work together on a calculus project. Can they get past their own preconceived judgments and forge a bond that goes beyond math? This book explores the theme of judgement whether you are judging a person it their actions, and how judgements are made depending on your point of view. Much like her other books, Kimmerer shows that adults can be unreliable, but you have to find those who will listen and support you. I love the librarian in this book! And..I love the references to Saba Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series!

Everything a YA novel should be. Big issues, a cast of well-developed characters assembled from an economic tier of backgrounds showcasing diversity. Real life is sliced and served, humanized and focused on a person's ability to change and rise above. One mistake can change your life, but it doesn't define you. Your choices from there on out . . . that's where it matters. Call it what you want, but I'm calling it good.

This book sucked me in from the introduction of our MCs and had me racing to finish. Call It What You Want takes a normal romance and turns it upside down. This was nothing that I expected in all the best ways. The characters in this novel are amazing and each one has a specific purpose.

We see two teens reeling with the consequences of what they've done or what people think they've done. I loved the exploration of life after a big mistake because a mistake doesn't define your life. We get to see these characters mess up and mess up again but the most important part is how they use what they've learned to be better versions of themselves.

The only thing I didn't really like was Maegan forgiving someone who was horrible to her throughout the book and the end. Maybe I'm more of a grudge holder than Maegan but I certainly would no longer have someone like that in my life.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bloomsbury YA through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Another great book by Brigid Kemmerer. Call It What You Want is a great story about dealing with the aftermath of making a mistake. I loved this story and was hooked on it from the start. Rob and Maegan are great characters that you'll actually care about and want to see how their story unravels. Great Book and a Must Read!!

Call It What You Want is a coming of age novel that grapples with the complexities of life that blur the lines between right and wrong.

Rob has been designated an outcast when his Father’s embezzlement crimes that have impacted half the town come to light. People believe that he was involved and the shift from begin the lime light to finding ways to disappear at school has left him guarded and lonely. He doesn’t realize just how isolated he’s felt until he and Maegan are paired for a project in calculus.

Meaghan is less than thrilled when she is forced to work with Rob. She has enough problems to deal with in her life like pressure to succeed in school and finding out her older sister is home from college because she’s pregnant. She cans barely keep herself together and would prefer not to deal with the moody boy from from school. As they spend more time together Maegan finds herself opening up to Rob unexpectedly. When she discovers his plan to help others affected by his Father’s crimes Maegan must determine what is right and whether she can hold onto their new friendship.

This is a weighty young adult novel that examines serious issues and the impact of one persons actions on others. Brigid Kremmerer has created characters who felt real in a Rob and Maegan. They stumbled, made mistakes, challenged themselves and questioned whether doing the wrong thing for the right reasons was morally acceptable. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to individuals who would like a deeper YA read that features a bit of romance and topics that will make you think.

<b>Heartbreaking, surprising, and ultimately hopeful.</b>

Another incredible book by Brigid Kemmerer. Generally, I'm not a huge fan of contemporary YA, but Kemmerer has always been an exception. Beautifully broken characters, heartbreaking family secrets, and a sweet love story. Call It What You Want will make you question what you know about right and wrong, heroes and villains, friends and enemies.

I loved this book and everything it represented. Kemmerer taught us a lesson in making assumptions, doing what's right, showing compassion, and the importance of consent, and she did it in a way that felt natural and not at all preachy. This book is everything we need in YA lit. 5/5 stars.

This is my first time reading something by Brigid Kemmerer and it did not disappoint! You can definitely see the character development of the book, and I also liked the romance quite a bit

Just like Letters to the Lost and More Than We Can Tell, this book is strong in its character driven plot deliverance. While the romance is an important element of the story, it does not rely on it to tell a good narrative. Relationships other than romantic ones hold just as much weight, especially parental bonds and friendship. The importance of this makes the story feel realistic and true to life.