Curious about Call It What You Want and whether it’s the right book for you? This guide gives a clear, spoiler-light overview of the novel, its major themes, and the reading experience it offers.
Written by Brigid Kemmerer, the book is a contemporary young adult novel that blends romance, family conflict, and questions of identity, responsibility, and healing. If you want to know what the story is about and what makes it resonate with readers, you’re in the right place.
What is Call It What You Want about?
Call It What You Want is a contemporary YA novel about two teens whose lives have been shaped by public judgment, private pain, and difficult choices. At its center are a girl trying to rebuild her life after family scandal and a boy facing his own isolation, and the story follows how they slowly begin to trust each other.
Premise and tone
The novel opens in the aftermath of a family crisis that has left the main characters socially damaged and emotionally guarded. Rather than focusing only on romance, the book explores how shame, reputation, and survival affect everyday life.
The tone is serious but hopeful. It balances emotional tension with moments of connection, making it a good fit for readers who like character-driven stories with a strong emotional arc.
Why readers pick it up
- It combines romance with deeper family and social themes.
- It focuses on healing rather than instant resolution.
- It offers a realistic, emotionally grounded YA voice.
Who wrote Call It What You Want?
Brigid Kemmerer is an American author known for writing young adult fiction that often features emotional intensity, moral complexity, and strong character relationships. Her books frequently examine how teens navigate family pressure, trauma, loyalty, and self-worth.
Brigid Kemmerer’s style
Kemmerer’s writing is generally accessible and fast-moving, but it does not stay superficial. She tends to build stories around internal conflict as much as external plot, which is one reason her novels appeal to readers who want both page-turning momentum and emotional depth.
What are the main themes in the book?
The strongest themes in Call It What You Want involve the gap between public perception and private reality. The novel asks what happens when people are reduced to rumors, labels, or mistakes, and whether they can still be understood on their own terms.
Reputation and judgment
One of the book’s central concerns is how quickly communities decide who deserves blame. Characters are forced to live under assumptions that shape how others treat them, even when the truth is more complicated.
Healing and emotional recovery
The story treats healing as a slow process. Instead of offering easy fixes, it shows how trust can be rebuilt through patience, honesty, and small acts of care.
Family responsibility
Family is not presented as simple support or simple harm. The novel looks at the pressure of caring for others, the weight of inherited problems, and the way family choices can shape a young person’s future.
Identity and self-worth
Both central characters struggle with how they see themselves. The book suggests that identity is not determined by gossip, failure, or one painful chapter of life.
Who are the key characters?
The novel’s emotional power comes largely from its two central characters and the contrast between their experiences. Their relationship develops through shared vulnerability rather than dramatic spectacle.
The female protagonist
The female lead is a smart, guarded teen who has been pushed into a painful social position by her family’s circumstances. She is defined not just by what has happened to her, but by how hard she works to stay in control of her life.
The male protagonist
The male lead is similarly isolated, though for different reasons. He carries his own burdens and lives with the consequences of a life that has often been misunderstood by others.
Supporting characters
Secondary characters help widen the novel’s emotional landscape by showing different responses to pain, loyalty, and forgiveness. Some characters reinforce judgment, while others create space for empathy and change.
How does the romance work in the novel?
The romance in Call It What You Want develops gradually and is rooted in emotional recognition. Instead of relying on instant attraction alone, the story lets the relationship grow through conversation, shared experience, and mutual understanding.
Why the relationship feels meaningful
What makes the romance memorable is that both characters see parts of each other that the outside world has ignored or distorted. Their connection becomes a way of resisting the labels placed on them.
Is it only a romance?
No. Romance is important, but the novel is equally concerned with recovery, family strain, and the long process of learning to trust again. Readers looking for a purely lighthearted love story may find it heavier than expected, while readers who enjoy emotional realism may find that depth rewarding.
What symbols or literary devices stand out?
Although the book is straightforward in style, it uses familiar literary techniques to reinforce its themes. The most effective of these are contrast, repetition of social labels, and the tension between what is visible and what is hidden.
Public image versus private truth
This contrast functions almost like a symbol throughout the novel. The world sees a simplified version of the characters, while the narrative reveals their private fear, tenderness, and complexity.
Silence and communication
Silence matters in the book, both as a defense mechanism and as a sign of emotional distance. When characters begin to speak honestly, it marks important movement in the story.
Ordinary spaces with emotional weight
Everyday settings take on symbolic meaning because they become the places where characters either hide or begin to heal. The novel uses familiar spaces to show how private pain can live inside ordinary life.
What kind of reading experience should you expect?
Call It What You Want is accessible, emotionally direct, and character-focused. It is written for readers who prefer intimate storytelling over elaborate world-building or highly complex structure.
Narrative style
The prose is clear and contemporary, with an emphasis on emotional immediacy. The pacing supports a steady unfolding of character relationships and personal stakes.
Best for readers who enjoy
- Young adult contemporary fiction
- Slow-burn romance
- Stories about family conflict and recovery
- Emotionally grounded character arcs
How does it compare with other YA contemporary novels?
Readers who enjoy Call It What You Want often like other YA novels that combine romance with serious emotional or social issues. The book belongs to a broader tradition of contemporary teen fiction where relationships are shaped by trauma, class pressure, reputation, or family instability.
What makes it distinctive
Its strength lies in the balance between tenderness and pain. The novel does not treat emotional damage as a shortcut to drama; instead, it shows how people live with consequences and gradually make room for hope.
Similar reading moods
- Contemporary YA with emotional depth
- Romance shaped by real-world problems
- Stories about rebuilding trust
Should you read Call It What You Want?
If you want a YA novel that mixes romance with serious emotional stakes, Call It What You Want is a strong choice. It is especially appealing if you like stories about misunderstood characters, difficult family dynamics, and the possibility of healing without pretending pain disappears overnight.
If you prefer lighter romantic fiction, this may feel heavier than expected. But if you enjoy books that pair tenderness with real emotional complexity, it is worth picking up.
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