Description

“A unique and unforgettable love.” —Teen Vogue

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel.

Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear.

Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.


One girl who can’t speak. One boy who can’t stop the thoughts in his head.


  • A Powerful Friends to Lovers Story: She needs help navigating the halls of high school; he needs a reason to get out of his own head. Neither of them expects to fall in love.
  • Honest Disability Representation: Told from the dual perspectives of Amy, who has cerebral palsy, and Matthew, who is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • YA Mental Health Focus: A compassionate and unflinching look at life with OCD, anxiety, and the courage it takes to reach out for help.
  • For Fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell: A perfect read for anyone who loves heartfelt, character-driven stories that are equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful.

About the author(s)

Cammie McGovern is the author of Say What You Will as well as the adult novels Neighborhood Watch, Eye Contact, and The Art of Seeing. Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children, a resource center that runs after-school classes and programs for children with special needs. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband and three children.

Reviews

“In Cammie McGovern’s debut novel Say What You Will, Amy and Matthew will break your heart and then with their resiliency and wit and ardor put it back together. This is a book to read, savor, and pass on and on until it has gone around the world twice.” - Ron Koertge, author of Stoner & Spaz

“Exhilarating and heartrending. With a smart, proud, and capable protagonist eager to take her life by the reins, this novel is stunning.” - ALA Booklist (starred review)

“McGovern avoids gooeyness or condescension by making Amy and Matthew individuals, not diagnoses, and their relationship not just plausible, but suspenseful, as they try to figure out what they can be to each other. Watching Amy and Matthew grapple with big questions—Is love possible for them? What about sex? What do they want after high school? Can mistakes be forgiven and loss survived?—readers will be surprised, moved, amused, worried, hopeful, and grateful to have spent time with them.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“McGovern avoids gooeyness or condescension by making Amy and Matthew individuals, not diagnoses, and their relationship not just plausible, but suspenseful. Watching Amy and Matthew grapple with big questions, readers will be surprised, moved, amused, worried, hopeful, and grateful to have spent time with them.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“McGovern’s triumph is how well she normalizes and highlights the variety of disability experiences among teens and their often circuitous journeys toward claiming their voices and right to self-determination. Ultimately, a deeply engaging and rewarding story.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Cammie McGovern crafts a story that takes a realistic look at people who have disabilities but who are not their disability. It is a bit of a roller coaster ride as you laugh, cry and feel the pain that these characters do. And while many stories like this would be about someone saving Amy, this story isn’t about rescuing anyone. It is about setting aside fears, limitations, and appearances, and taking a chance at opening up. Overall this book is a must read for fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell. Say What You Will is an important book to share and everyone should meet Amy and Matt.” - Hypable.com

“It’s a little bit ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ a little bit ‘Eleanor & Park’ and a lot of something else entirely. A young adult book with grown-up lessons.” - Metro US

“A unique an unforgettable love.” - Teen Vogue

“Cammie McGovern crafts a story that takes a realistic look at people who have disabilities but who are not their disability. This story isn’t about rescuing anyone. It is about setting aside fears, limitations, and appearances, and taking a chance at opening up. Everyone should meet Amy and Matt.” - Hypable.com

“What this book does best is move beyond the typical concerns and stigmas people with disabilities inevitably encounter to present an honest portrayal of the difficulties of growing up faced by these particular characters. Matthew’s apprehension about his future (with or without Amy) is poignantly balanced with his crippling fear of being left behind, while Amy’s insistent drive toward independence pushes her abilities and loneliness to the breaking point.” - Horn Book

“What this book does best is move beyond the typical concerns and stigmas people with disabilities inevitably encounter to present an honest portrayal of the difficulties of growing up faced by these particular characters.” - Horn Book

“Cammie McGovern channels her knowledge and passion for special needs kids in Say What You Will. Like the deservedly best-selling Wonder by R.J. Palacio—required reading for every family—this doesn’t just get you talking, it gets you thinking, feeling and rejoicing” - Family Circle

“Cammie McGovern channels her knowledge and passion for specialneeds kids in Say What You Will. Amy is trying to break out of the con!nes of her cerebral palsied body. Matthew is secretly trapped by the rituals of his OCD. Brought together, they push each other to overcome their fears and embrace life and love. Like the deservedly best-selling Wonder by R.J. Palacio—required reading for every family—this doesn’t just get you talking, it gets you thinking, feeling and rejoicing.” - Family Circle

“A beautifully written story about two teens who find each other in spite of what might seem like insurmountable problems.” - Examiner.com (Five star review)

More by Cammie Mcgovern

More Contemporary

More Romance

More Young Adult Fiction

More Disabilities & Special Needs

More Friendship

More Social Themes

More Pregnancy

More Girls & Women

More Coming of Age

More Mental Illness

More Family

More Dating & Sex

More Class Differences