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A review by emmm626
Call It What You Want by Alissa DeRogatis
2.0
While this story was compelling, and I’m sure relatable for many, it just wasn’t right for me. We follow Sloane from the tail end of college into post-grad life as she spends time with a guy named Ethan. This is a textbook situationship: he’s emotionally unavailable but strings her along with crumbs that she gobbles up because she cares way more for him than he does for her—or she cares for herself.
Honestly, this was a tough read. I think I was expecting a romance with a happily ever after, but this is not that. It’s definitely more of a “personal growth/self love journey with a romantic storyline” type of book but I had a really tough time rooting for either of these people. The whole point of the story was that Sloane learns to love herself enough to let Ethan go, despite how painful it is. However, the years she spent letting herself be strung along got tiring. The story felt overly repetitive: they’d hook up, he’d do something or she’d ask a question, she didn’t like his response, they’d fight, make up, he’d break it off, they hook up again…lather, rinse, repeat. I wanted to shake the main characters, but also their best friends who just completely enabled this behavior. Despite half of the book detailing how they “got together,” I felt that Sloane and Ethan lacked history, chemistry, and any connection beyond the physical. Sloane thought she loved Ethan, but to me, he really didn’t give her enough of himself TO love. She just romanticized him based off the very little he offered her. But, the whole point is that to Sloane, it was love—you can call it what you want.
This reads much more like a diary than a well-developed, thought-out story. The time and mistakes it took Sloane (ie: cheating on her boyfriend—boooooooo!!!!) to get to a place of self respect were just sooo tiring. I know that many will feel seen and inspired by this story and I love that for them. But truthfully, it was just a bummer for me and not what I was expecting/hoping for. Yes, it’s a “happy” ending, but not a “romance” happy ending if that makes sense. While it holds a mirror up to toxic dating culture, I likely would not recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Even though I didn’t love the book, I appreciate the opportunity.
(1.5 chilis, suggestive closed door)
Honestly, this was a tough read. I think I was expecting a romance with a happily ever after, but this is not that. It’s definitely more of a “personal growth/self love journey with a romantic storyline” type of book but I had a really tough time rooting for either of these people. The whole point of the story was that Sloane learns to love herself enough to let Ethan go, despite how painful it is. However, the years she spent letting herself be strung along got tiring. The story felt overly repetitive: they’d hook up, he’d do something or she’d ask a question, she didn’t like his response, they’d fight, make up, he’d break it off, they hook up again…lather, rinse, repeat. I wanted to shake the main characters, but also their best friends who just completely enabled this behavior. Despite half of the book detailing how they “got together,” I felt that Sloane and Ethan lacked history, chemistry, and any connection beyond the physical. Sloane thought she loved Ethan, but to me, he really didn’t give her enough of himself TO love. She just romanticized him based off the very little he offered her. But, the whole point is that to Sloane, it was love—you can call it what you want.
This reads much more like a diary than a well-developed, thought-out story. The time and mistakes it took Sloane (ie: cheating on her boyfriend—boooooooo!!!!) to get to a place of self respect were just sooo tiring. I know that many will feel seen and inspired by this story and I love that for them. But truthfully, it was just a bummer for me and not what I was expecting/hoping for. Yes, it’s a “happy” ending, but not a “romance” happy ending if that makes sense. While it holds a mirror up to toxic dating culture, I likely would not recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Even though I didn’t love the book, I appreciate the opportunity.
(1.5 chilis, suggestive closed door)