Book Review : Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

You know what?

I read this book just for fun. Recently, it’s so hard for me to find a good book. Therefore, I do not expect much from this book and just read it through.

And oh my god. 

The best decision ever.

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Genre : Contemporary, Young Adult
Page : 384 pages
Published : 25th June 2019

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When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship…

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

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“One choice doesn’t determine your whole future.”

I don’t even remember when is the last time I feel so enthusiastic about reading!

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Call It What You Want—  Rob and Maegan are struggling with their downfall when one day, they’re paired up for calculus project.

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I don’t even know where to begin because my love for this book is MASSIVE!

It all started as a random pick for me. It’s been too long since I last read a truly good book, so I just go “meh, another one. Let’s see how it goes.” and BOOM!

I. COULDN’T. STOP. READING

Rob is a popular lacrosse player turns social pariah when his father is caught embezzling money from half the town. The thing is, everyone thought Rob knew and begin to shun him out.

Things do not get any better with Rob’s father failed suicide attempt. Now, Rob has to survive school and take care of his disabled father.

The first thing I love about this book, is how they do not beat around the bush. The problem emerged right after in the very first chapter. Waste no time and get to the point almost immediately. 

And the most amazing thing is, despite getting into the issues very soon, I do not feel detached or stranged at all with the characters I just know minutes ago. I love the directness this book gives without making the characters estranged.

Definitely a big plus point from me.

There’s also Maegan who is keeping her own struggles and pressure whilst trying her best to take care of her pregnant sister and to maintain her family’s good image.

All of the issues are handed to readers almost immediately. Both from Rob and Maegan side. All these troubles happened directly in the first few chapters. I’m so glad this book skip the preamble of the past and pick up the troubles immediately.

The rest? well, this book gets better everytime I flip a new page.

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WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT

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THE LIFE LESSONS

1. Obscure truth

There are way more of a person than the way they showed. Meaning, everyone has back stories. Nobody can judge anybody presicely. There’s always sides of a person that we might have never known of. Everyone has a side they choose to showcase and with that, comes another side that are kept securely inside oneself’s.

2. Mistake and Downfall

We all make mistake. With every mistake, there comes a price. Some mistake might be easy to handle, some might be hard yet manageable and some might be impossible. With this unredeemable mistake, comes a much bigger price.

Downfall.

Which changed one’s life tremendously. This book shows life ain’t always sweet. Everyone make mistake. But we could always go on ahead, even though it might be hard.  

3. Solitude

I think this book perfectly written what teenagers these days are suffering. Loneliness and solitude life. Where society these days are so judgy that shun whoever it is that they deemed not fit to join in the community circle.

And teenagers mindset that agrees with the society judgment, that unconsciously closing in the teenagers world. Giving no chance for teenagers to prove themselves.

4. Pressure

Teenagers pressure to always be the best and to made everyone proud, by living in other standards. If one’s exceed expectation, everything else is good. But if one’s failed or think that they failed, a gray veil will slowly lowered and before they know it, they’re trapped inside their own doubts and dark thoughts that could probably cloud their decisions.

5. Communication

This book show how strong the power of communication is. Whatever the hurdles, whatever happened, if one is willing to share, confide and communicate to the source of burden, which hopefully, with both sides making the effort, there’s a high chance those issues might be solved. Misunderstanding cleared and no damaged are done. It might even strengthen one’s bond.

6 Trust

In relationship, one of the most important thing is the ability and willingness to trust. Both in friendship and romantic relationship. How one’s trust could strengthen one’s bond and how one’s broken trust could shattered one’s heart.

7. Perspective

Oh my god. I was spent dizzy deciding which was the right thing to do and which was the wrong thing to do. There are so many gray areas and scenarios in the book that render me confuse, which sides to take.

There are no wrong, no right. Basically it’s a gray area.

But enough to made you ponder hard, look at things from different perspective and from all sides.

8. Unfairness

Life is unfair. That, all we know. And this book creates a heartfelt story that involves unfairness, how one’s free and easy to have whatever they want while others struggle and in pain.

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WHAT I LOVE

1. Rob and Maegan

Oh my god. They’re just so cute. They’re like drive force that keep me staying up all night reading. So fragile, so kind, so cute, so sweet, so worth it. The type of couple that will made you go through everything to protect them.

2. The Story-Telling Skills

It’s SO GOOD. It has been a long time since I binged-read a good book. Guys. I finished this book in two days. The story is so easy to read, it flows right through your eyes. The way they delivered the story is so easy-going. Also, this book is a massive page turner!

3. No Drama

I am so happy and utterly blessed to read this book. This is one of those books that did not steer away from what it promised in the blurb. It focused on the characters and their problem with their development along the way but there are NO drama in between. Literally straight on point. Blessed this book.

Even though the problems emerged right after I read the book, the rest of the stories that follow feels so natural. It moves forward, still carrying the burden and problems without adding too much information or useless paragraphs and drama to prolong the story. 

4. Well Balanced Plot

Everything about this book is beyond average. However, every aspect of this book is being organized in a neat and balanced proportions. For me, this book do not harbor way too much hard feelings inside but it’s not underwhelmed either. With this book, it felt right and perfect.

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It is so hard for me to find across a complaint for this book. The only thing cross my mind is perhaps, the conclusion. Don’t worry, it’s not bad conclusion. I am very satisfied with how this book ends and I like it a lot. Like, a lot.

But perhaps, I would love to read a strong ending. You know, the kind of ending that’ll made you squeal, hug the book and just lie in your bed thinking nothing but every moments in the book.

Either way, this book is literally so good. I think it’ll made a perfect escape read because it’s not too dark and it’s not too light either. This book is utterly enjoyable and oh my god, I don’t know how many times I’m repeating it already but this book is just so good.

“Other people don’t have the challenges we have… but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own.”

Author: Celine