From the author of the Zoella Book Club-pick Letters to the Lost comes another emotionally complex, romantic story about two teens struggling to unpick the grey area between right and wrong, perfect for fans of John Green and Jennifer NivenRob had it all – friends, a near-guaranteed lacrosse scholarship to college and an amazing family – but all that changed when his dad was caught embezzling … was caught embezzling funds from half the town. Now he’s a social pariah. Maegan always does the right thing. But when her sister comes home from college pregnant, she’s caught between telling their parents the truth about the father and keeping her sister’s trust. When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a project, they form an unexpectedly deep connection. But Rob’s plan to fix his father’s damage could ruin more than their new friendship …
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YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT. I CALL IT AMAZING! FIVE PERFECT STARS!
This profoundly moving story of friendship and agonizing choices grabbed me from the very first page and carried me to a stunning conclusion that took my breath away! I absolutely did not expect that ending, and OMG–it was perfect! I’m still smiling as I write this.
No spoilers or plot summary this time; the blurb is sufficient for that. The compelling, true to life characters almost leap from the pages: Maegan and Rob, whose unlikely friendship matures into an unshakeable bond; Samantha, Maegan’s sister, who must make a life or death decision; Connor, Rob’s former best friend, who redeems himself with a shocking revelation; Owen, the poor kid everyone ignores–except Rob; and Mr. Landon, the school librarian, who helps Rob despite having been victimized by Rob’s father. (I won’t mention the bad guy, but he’s there.)
Above all, this is a story of right and wrong, and the vast gray area in between. Who gets to say what’s right and what’s wrong? Maegan finally decides that “doing the right thing really does mean different things to different people. Nothing is clear-cut, and maybe that’s okay.”
No one writes Young Adult novels like Brigid Kemmerer. If you loved Letters to the Lost (and I did), you’ll relish this engrossing story. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Brigid Kemmerer’s writing. This one – Call It What You Want – sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. So well written with characters that pop off the page. I loved the pacing, the development, the realism. I loved how there are never clear lines because being human is like that. This is a wonderful story.
I. Can’t. Breathe. What a book.
Full disclosure, I was actually really nervous to read this book because of how much I loved Letters to the Lost. It was in my top 3 favourite reads from last year. Sequel books are always a gamble. But this one really delivered for me!
Keep in mind, if you’ve read Letters to the Lost (and I 100% recommend you read it before More Than We Can Tell), you’ll know that Kemmerer writes about very serious subject matter. If you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, this book is not for you. Kemmerer takes a heavy subject and turns it into something beautiful and relevant. I cried no less than a dozen times reading this.
Rev and Emma were highly enjoyable characters. I’m so glad we got to know more about Rev’s past. It turned out to be even darker than I ever could have imagined. I wished I could have jumped through the page and given him a hug. Again, if you’ve read Letters, you’ll be aware of the abuse in Rev’s past.
While Letters dealt with grief, More Than We Can Tell deals with varying degrees of abuse – physical, psychological, cyber-bullying… and it’s done in such an excellent way. It doesn’t feel forced or inappropriate. It feels real.
The climax of this book left me shaking and sobbing. Kemmerer is a magical wordsmith and she has definitely become an auto-buy author for me now.
I’m hoping we get a Matthew novel next!
Brigid Kemmerer’s books are always a must-read for me; I’ve loved every single one, including CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT. Brigid makes me care deeply about her characters, hoping so strongly for the best for them. In CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT, Rob’s father was caught embezzling funds and tried to kill himself; now he’s in a vegetative state, and Rob has to deal with everyone hating him. Maegan was an overachiever until she cheated big time, and had to face the consequences. Both are social pariahs at school. When the two of them are paired together in math class, they slowly become friends, and then more. I grew to care about the characters so much, rooting for them, even the side characters, and I love that she included two queer characters. I also love how Brigid wove in some social commentary and awareness into the story, including about one’s moral compass; being poor; and so much more. This is a fantastic, gripping read. Highly recommended!