Say What You Will

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern, 343 pages

Amy has Cerebral Palsy.  She doesn’t speak or walk very well and one side of her body doesn’t work very well either.  She doesn’t really have any friends but for her senior year of high school, Amy asks to have peer helpers instead of adult aides.  Even though these teens will be getting paid, she will have the chance to interact more with kids her own age.  Matthew is one of the aides.  He and Amy actually start to become friends.  Except, Amy thinks she might want to be more than friends.  Will Matthew ever want the same thing?  Although this is definitely a romance, it’s really more about Amy and Matthew navigating the world and learning who they are.  This was a really good book that I would give to teens, especially girls, who like realistic fiction.

Say What You Will

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern, 343 pages

When the first sentence of your book's blurb says that it's Eleanor and Park meets The Fault in Our Stars, you've got lofty boots to fill (wait, what? why are the boots up there?). Say What You Will doesn't quite live up to those expectations, though it's obvious why the comparisons fit. And it comes darn close - it matches them in terms of how engrossing it is, how interesting and endearing the characters are, and how quickly you'll burn through the pages. I suspect some will actually appreciate it more.

This is a friendship/romance story between two misfits both of whom have their own types of illness that contribute not only to their ostracization, but also contribute to their kinship with one another. See the comparisons? Despite the similarities, though, Say What You Will stands on its own. It's similar without being an imitation. It has its own statements to make, and its own insight to bring. It dips a bit in the second act, when it tries to cram a bit too much drama where it doesn't fit, but by the end it comes full circle and makes up for its faults.

I feel like it's a bit unfair to review a book exclusively by comparing it to other books, but they are pretty perfect read-alikes. If you're looking for a touching story of misfit love (whether it's your first dose or your third), then look no further. It may not be 100% laser-refined, but it's got great, multifaceted characters, and a brisk, engrossing story.