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Say You Will
A funny, heartfelt novel about one high school boy's quest for a prom date, perfectly time for the surge in realistic YA.
Sam is not exactly what you'd call a regular guy: while his IQ is stratospheric, his social skills don't quite rank as high, and his dating history: well, there's no history to speak of . . . yet. But Sam has set out to finally fit in. He's resolved to get some answers wrong in class; to stop getting perfect marks on his assignments; to get to know some people other than Ian and Brooke, his two closest (okay, only) friends--and find himself a prom date. And the prom is on everyone's mind: Sam's school has become swept up by promposals--in other words, very elaborate, very public scenes in which someone is asked to the prom. Sam thinks he might have found the inspiration he needs to ask the girl dreams out for a perfect night at the prom--as well as the unforgettable way to do it.
Sam is not exactly what you'd call a regular guy: while his IQ is stratospheric, his social skills don't quite rank as high, and his dating history: well, there's no history to speak of . . . yet. But Sam has set out to finally fit in. He's resolved to get some answers wrong in class; to stop getting perfect marks on his assignments; to get to know some people other than Ian and Brooke, his two closest (okay, only) friends--and find himself a prom date. And the prom is on everyone's mind: Sam's school has become swept up by promposals--in other words, very elaborate, very public scenes in which someone is asked to the prom. Sam thinks he might have found the inspiration he needs to ask the girl dreams out for a perfect night at the prom--as well as the unforgettable way to do it.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2015
12 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
157 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 4, 2015
Say you will is an adorable offering from Eric Walters, about an awkward boy creating a “promposal” for the girl he likes. As usual Mr. Walters writing is smooth as butter and his characters are realistic and lovable. For me personally, I did find the length of the novel a bit awkward, and felt it might have worked better as a short story. However for a middle grade book the length is probably ideal. Overall this is a fun and sweet story that will definitely leave you with a smile on your face.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict:Buy
Note: While this book is being marketed as YA, to me it felt a little young. I think kids between grades 6-9 would enjoy this the most.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2015
won an ARC from Goodreads Firstreads:)
more like 3.5 stars. Cute, funny and sweet. A bit predictable but worth reading to see how things happen, even if you've already figured out what will happen. I also liked how realistic characters and relationships were (cheerleaders weren't mean, cliques weren't ridiculously segregated, etc).
more like 3.5 stars. Cute, funny and sweet. A bit predictable but worth reading to see how things happen, even if you've already figured out what will happen. I also liked how realistic characters and relationships were (cheerleaders weren't mean, cliques weren't ridiculously segregated, etc).
May 13, 2015
I would say more of a 3.5 for me. I have never read Eric Walters before but he has a really great pace. Although the story is simplistic and predictable, I was never bored and I really enjoyed the idea of writing about promposals. I will say the last four pages were probably the most dynamic part of the novel, but it did not disappoint. Thank you Penguin Randomhouse for the ARC! This is a fun summer read.
February 21, 2015
For those old enough to remember the wonderful John Hughes movies of the 80s, you'll love this story.
June 14, 2015
Sheldon Cooper meets Pretty in Pink. Loved it!
May 29, 2025
(3.5 stars)
It was a good book but, for me personally, it was really predictable. I mean, at first, I thought it was going to be this one girl he would ask to be his prom date but then halfway through I thought it was going to be either that one girl or his girl best friend and, later on, I went with the second option. And you'll never guess what. I was correct!! *half sob half laugh*. And, AND the best friend thinks it's going to be that other girl!
*slow clap* WOW.
just to clarify, I'm not hating on the author, though that may be how it seems, because this is the first book I've read from them.
I hope, if you've never read this book and are reading my post, that you'll enjoy this book much more than I did.
It was a good book but, for me personally, it was really predictable. I mean, at first, I thought it was going to be this one girl he would ask to be his prom date but then halfway through I thought it was going to be either that one girl or his girl best friend and, later on, I went with the second option. And you'll never guess what. I was correct!! *half sob half laugh*. And, AND the best friend thinks it's going to be that other girl!
*slow clap* WOW.
just to clarify, I'm not hating on the author, though that may be how it seems, because this is the first book I've read from them.
I hope, if you've never read this book and are reading my post, that you'll enjoy this book much more than I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2018
I was expecting more of this; my other experience with this publisher was phenomenal, but this one was mediocre in a An Abundance of Katherines kind of way (I think I actually rated that book five stars, but I've read more now so shush). I would be lying, though, if I said Ian and the entire concept of CLOWN TOWN didn't make me extremely happy.
May 19, 2015
With prom season approaching, Eric Walters' Say You Will is the latest YA contemporary novel to get you excited about everything related to prom! I've come to expect Eric Walters' books to be more focused on generating interest in heavier social issues, so I was pleasantly surprised that his new novel was about a lighter subject. Say You Will definitely encourages you to get into the prom spirit!
Sam is the smartest student in his grade, but he can be totally socially awkward. Sometimes he just doesn't know the right words to say in a conversation, especially when his vast knowledge of random facts and trivia make him stand out amongst his peers. So now he's resolved to fit in better his junior year by dressing more casually and making a few mistakes in class instead of scoring the perfect marks that he normally easily achieves.
When a football player asks one of the most popular girls in school to be his prom date, Sam's school is swept into promposal fever. Who will be asked next to prom? And how much personal effort will they put into their promposal? As the promposals become more and more elaborate, Sam becomes determined to make one of his own to the girl of his dreams, and he'll need the help of his two best friends, Ian and Brooke, to make it possible.
While I don't remember any promposals during my own high school days ever having the potential to go viral online, it made Say You Will all the more amusing and entertaining to read. There's a mix of nervousness and anticipation in asking anyone out on a date, and always a chance of feeling embarrassed or humiliated if their response is negative, especially if it's done in a very public way. Sam hopes his promposal will be a success, but he's not all too confident that the girl he likes will agree to be his date. He only knows he'll regret it if he doesn't at least try, and the amount of thought he puts into his promposal is just so sweet!
I wish Say You Will was a little longer though, because at just under 200 pages, the novel is on the short side for a fast reader like me. I really did enjoy Say You Will, but I think it needed some more drama and conflict to make me fall in love with the book. I was never really worried or doubtful that Sam wouldn't win over his dream girl since he never seemed to face any setbacks, but I did remain ever curious to know what form his promposal would take!
Sam is the smartest student in his grade, but he can be totally socially awkward. Sometimes he just doesn't know the right words to say in a conversation, especially when his vast knowledge of random facts and trivia make him stand out amongst his peers. So now he's resolved to fit in better his junior year by dressing more casually and making a few mistakes in class instead of scoring the perfect marks that he normally easily achieves.
When a football player asks one of the most popular girls in school to be his prom date, Sam's school is swept into promposal fever. Who will be asked next to prom? And how much personal effort will they put into their promposal? As the promposals become more and more elaborate, Sam becomes determined to make one of his own to the girl of his dreams, and he'll need the help of his two best friends, Ian and Brooke, to make it possible.
While I don't remember any promposals during my own high school days ever having the potential to go viral online, it made Say You Will all the more amusing and entertaining to read. There's a mix of nervousness and anticipation in asking anyone out on a date, and always a chance of feeling embarrassed or humiliated if their response is negative, especially if it's done in a very public way. Sam hopes his promposal will be a success, but he's not all too confident that the girl he likes will agree to be his date. He only knows he'll regret it if he doesn't at least try, and the amount of thought he puts into his promposal is just so sweet!
I wish Say You Will was a little longer though, because at just under 200 pages, the novel is on the short side for a fast reader like me. I really did enjoy Say You Will, but I think it needed some more drama and conflict to make me fall in love with the book. I was never really worried or doubtful that Sam wouldn't win over his dream girl since he never seemed to face any setbacks, but I did remain ever curious to know what form his promposal would take!
July 20, 2016
**spoilers**
I read Eric Walters, Say You Will. I wanted to read this book a little bit before I went to bed but I ended up reading it all because it was so good. Eric Walters has been one of my favourite authors for a long time, Say You Will was a really great book!
The characters are quirky and likeable; the three main ones are somewhat social outcasts or at least lower on the hierarchy, Sam the “freaky” smart kid, Ian who can’t control what he says and Brooke, the social activist.
The book centers on Sam wanting to do a promposoal.
This book at times was laugh out loud funny, there were parts where I just burst into laughter, it is a really good feel good book, specifically these parts, when Sam and Ian cheat on the multiple choice test with Morris code (the answers were A B B A) Ian covers it up by saying (about the promposal) “Well most of them come with musical accompaniment, and before class I asked Sam to tell me which group he thinks should be featured.....During the test he told me which group he wanted. It’s ABBA.” (page 91) and when Ian says, “remember when you think of me you should think of chocolate- the world’s best- come and find me” for some reason that was just such a bizarre thing to say, it made me laugh.
The ending was so unexpected. I didn’t see Sam proposing to Brooke coming. It made sense though they are really close. It is funny that she was helping him plan the entire thing when all along it was her.
I read Eric Walters, Say You Will. I wanted to read this book a little bit before I went to bed but I ended up reading it all because it was so good. Eric Walters has been one of my favourite authors for a long time, Say You Will was a really great book!
The characters are quirky and likeable; the three main ones are somewhat social outcasts or at least lower on the hierarchy, Sam the “freaky” smart kid, Ian who can’t control what he says and Brooke, the social activist.
The book centers on Sam wanting to do a promposoal.
This book at times was laugh out loud funny, there were parts where I just burst into laughter, it is a really good feel good book, specifically these parts, when Sam and Ian cheat on the multiple choice test with Morris code (the answers were A B B A) Ian covers it up by saying (about the promposal) “Well most of them come with musical accompaniment, and before class I asked Sam to tell me which group he thinks should be featured.....During the test he told me which group he wanted. It’s ABBA.” (page 91) and when Ian says, “remember when you think of me you should think of chocolate- the world’s best- come and find me” for some reason that was just such a bizarre thing to say, it made me laugh.
The ending was so unexpected. I didn’t see Sam proposing to Brooke coming. It made sense though they are really close. It is funny that she was helping him plan the entire thing when all along it was her.
August 29, 2015
Say You Will follows Sam and his friends as they try to put together the perfect 'promposal' for a mystery girl of Sam's choice. He has seen the elaborate 'promposals' put together by other boys and he wants to do one for a special girl that he wants to take to prom.
This was a short novel but I really enjoyed it. Fans of John Hughe's teenage drama movies will love this book! It evokes a lot of the same nostalgic feelings that Hughe's movies do. But at the same time I felt like it was a very original heart warming story. I think what really gave the story that 'oomf' that pushed it from just okay to a good story for me was the cast of characters. Sam's friends really made the story for me. They were funny and quirky and weren't just cookie cutter characters.
Overall this was a great read and I'm glad I won this one from Goodreads!
*An ARC copy of this book was provided through Goodreads First Wins in exchange for an honest review
This was a short novel but I really enjoyed it. Fans of John Hughe's teenage drama movies will love this book! It evokes a lot of the same nostalgic feelings that Hughe's movies do. But at the same time I felt like it was a very original heart warming story. I think what really gave the story that 'oomf' that pushed it from just okay to a good story for me was the cast of characters. Sam's friends really made the story for me. They were funny and quirky and weren't just cookie cutter characters.
Overall this was a great read and I'm glad I won this one from Goodreads!
*An ARC copy of this book was provided through Goodreads First Wins in exchange for an honest review
March 23, 2025
Week 1 - Choosing a book:
When I’m looking for a book to read, I tend to choose books on the subject of teenagers since I like being able to somewhat relate to the characters. I also like to read the summary on the back because it's pretty much a dealbreaker for me if I find the first few sentences in the summary boring. My book is about a kid in high school trying to fit in, and it’s about the struggles of an “outsider," so I thought it might be cool to read it since it might give me a better idea of what other people may be going through and will give me a chance to see from their perspective. And finally, the cover of the book stood out to me because it's nothing too fancy, and I find that books with the simplest covers and little doodles are usually the best ones.
Now that I’ve been reading my book more and more, it's starting to become interesting. I normally don't read too much at home unless I need to for school, but I have a feeling that I may have a different experience with this book. Of course I aim to complete my book in the 12 weeks, but if I'm not able to, I'm sure that I will continue to read in my free time so that I can finish it and know how it ends.
Week 2 - Determining:
Sam, an extraordinarily smart high school student, is the main character in my book. He tries his best to fit in but struggles as everyone just thinks of him as a nerd. He and his two closest friends, Ian and Brooke, have been best friends since kindergarten and always have each other's backs. They're all in their junior year and are just trying to make it through high school. Sam is determined to ask out a girl to the prom by creating an unforgettable “promposal." Ian and Brooke are helping him come up with a way to ask out a “mystery girl” who has not been revealed yet. They're all trying to figure out how to pull it off without Sam getting rejected and publicly humiliated in front of the whole school.
“Say You Will” by Eric Walters is set in Toronto, Canada. The majority of the story takes place in a high school, and while the exact time period is not mentioned, it is likely that this story takes place in the 2010s since it was written in 2008 and the trends seem very modern. I think that Eric set this book in a high school setting so that he could show the downside of being abnormally smart as a teenager and how it might affect your social life. In my opinion, the time period can also show how nowadays being smart isn't always the best thing for your reputation. This shows us that the book is probably going to be about the struggles of fitting in and making friends.
Week 3 - Predicting:
Sam really wants to ask a girl to the prom. Although we don't know who, the hints given throughout the book imply that Sam most likely is going to ask a girl named Taylor. Usually, you're not supposed to be able to predict the rest of the story and how it's going to end halfway through the book. That's just not how it works. I've read enough books to know that the author wants you to believe that you know how it will end, but then they'll add a random plot twist later. Since the author wants me to believe that Sam is going to be asking Taylor to the prom and I can envision exactly how the book would end if that were to happen, I have a feeling that quite the opposite is going to happen. By the way that the story is written, I can tell that something unexpected is going to happen; otherwise, the story would be too predictable and boring to read.
The story takes place in a high school—which is normally perceived as a pretty judgy place. Sam is taking a big risk by publicly inviting a girl to the prom in high school, and the author wants you to think that something is going to go wrong. Again, it would be too predictable; therefore, I know that it's going to go well.
Week 4 - Connecting:
The book is centred around a group of three friends—Sam, Ian, and Brooke. They are a generally quiet friend group, and they like to keep to themselves. I find that these three high school students are very different from me. I'm more of an extrovert, whereas I'm assuming that they are introverts for the most part. In this story, the author adds quick hints as to how other students treat their friend group. Reading this book helps me look at their situation from another perspective, and it shows me how certain aspects of the story would be very different if it were to be characters with a more outgoing personality.
The three friends want to be seen as more than quiet kids. They often try to socialize with the more popular students but seem to remain feeling as if they are lower than the others on some made-up scale. As they try to make their "big" entrance as more extroverted kids with Sam supposedly asking the most popular girl in the grade to the prom, it is clear that they just want to fit in like everyone else. When I was younger, I always looked up to girls that had more stuff than me, that were popular, and that were just cooler than me in general. I used to want to be like them. I understand how it feels to want to be more than just a normal kid and want to be seen as some really cool role model that people my age look up to. Mines and Sam's situations are, of course, very much different from one another, but we both just want to fit in and seem normal in different ways.
When I’m looking for a book to read, I tend to choose books on the subject of teenagers since I like being able to somewhat relate to the characters. I also like to read the summary on the back because it's pretty much a dealbreaker for me if I find the first few sentences in the summary boring. My book is about a kid in high school trying to fit in, and it’s about the struggles of an “outsider," so I thought it might be cool to read it since it might give me a better idea of what other people may be going through and will give me a chance to see from their perspective. And finally, the cover of the book stood out to me because it's nothing too fancy, and I find that books with the simplest covers and little doodles are usually the best ones.
Now that I’ve been reading my book more and more, it's starting to become interesting. I normally don't read too much at home unless I need to for school, but I have a feeling that I may have a different experience with this book. Of course I aim to complete my book in the 12 weeks, but if I'm not able to, I'm sure that I will continue to read in my free time so that I can finish it and know how it ends.
Week 2 - Determining:
Sam, an extraordinarily smart high school student, is the main character in my book. He tries his best to fit in but struggles as everyone just thinks of him as a nerd. He and his two closest friends, Ian and Brooke, have been best friends since kindergarten and always have each other's backs. They're all in their junior year and are just trying to make it through high school. Sam is determined to ask out a girl to the prom by creating an unforgettable “promposal." Ian and Brooke are helping him come up with a way to ask out a “mystery girl” who has not been revealed yet. They're all trying to figure out how to pull it off without Sam getting rejected and publicly humiliated in front of the whole school.
“Say You Will” by Eric Walters is set in Toronto, Canada. The majority of the story takes place in a high school, and while the exact time period is not mentioned, it is likely that this story takes place in the 2010s since it was written in 2008 and the trends seem very modern. I think that Eric set this book in a high school setting so that he could show the downside of being abnormally smart as a teenager and how it might affect your social life. In my opinion, the time period can also show how nowadays being smart isn't always the best thing for your reputation. This shows us that the book is probably going to be about the struggles of fitting in and making friends.
Week 3 - Predicting:
Sam really wants to ask a girl to the prom. Although we don't know who, the hints given throughout the book imply that Sam most likely is going to ask a girl named Taylor. Usually, you're not supposed to be able to predict the rest of the story and how it's going to end halfway through the book. That's just not how it works. I've read enough books to know that the author wants you to believe that you know how it will end, but then they'll add a random plot twist later. Since the author wants me to believe that Sam is going to be asking Taylor to the prom and I can envision exactly how the book would end if that were to happen, I have a feeling that quite the opposite is going to happen. By the way that the story is written, I can tell that something unexpected is going to happen; otherwise, the story would be too predictable and boring to read.
The story takes place in a high school—which is normally perceived as a pretty judgy place. Sam is taking a big risk by publicly inviting a girl to the prom in high school, and the author wants you to think that something is going to go wrong. Again, it would be too predictable; therefore, I know that it's going to go well.
Week 4 - Connecting:
The book is centred around a group of three friends—Sam, Ian, and Brooke. They are a generally quiet friend group, and they like to keep to themselves. I find that these three high school students are very different from me. I'm more of an extrovert, whereas I'm assuming that they are introverts for the most part. In this story, the author adds quick hints as to how other students treat their friend group. Reading this book helps me look at their situation from another perspective, and it shows me how certain aspects of the story would be very different if it were to be characters with a more outgoing personality.
The three friends want to be seen as more than quiet kids. They often try to socialize with the more popular students but seem to remain feeling as if they are lower than the others on some made-up scale. As they try to make their "big" entrance as more extroverted kids with Sam supposedly asking the most popular girl in the grade to the prom, it is clear that they just want to fit in like everyone else. When I was younger, I always looked up to girls that had more stuff than me, that were popular, and that were just cooler than me in general. I used to want to be like them. I understand how it feels to want to be more than just a normal kid and want to be seen as some really cool role model that people my age look up to. Mines and Sam's situations are, of course, very much different from one another, but we both just want to fit in and seem normal in different ways.
February 8, 2016
3.5 stars. Loved this little gem. It's so cute, such a feel-good read. Brought me back to high school wishing I had known a boy like Sam. Eric Walters did a great job at setting up the perfect promposal without making me scoff at it's cheesiness. I loved how endearing this book was.
June 13, 2015
A heart-warming easy and quick read. Enjoyed this book very much.
February 3, 2024
4.5 stars
O my word. Soooooooooooooo cute I'm gonna die.
O my word. Soooooooooooooo cute I'm gonna die.
September 25, 2019
:(
Say You Will is the story of somewhat awkward high school junior Sam, who wants to create his own promposal to ask a girl to prom. The identity of this girl isn't revealed until the end, to ensure the surprise isn't ruined. Featured in the story are Sam's childhood best friends Ian and Brooke, popular cheerleaders Taylor, Ashley and Brittney, and others who don't follow stereotypical archetypes.
Even saying this is almost a spoiler, but the story is very predictable. The girl was predictable.
The actual promposal wasn't, thank goodness, but the main plot was unfortunately too easy to guess. The whole book revolves around the promposal - from Sam's first exposure to one to when he finally does his own. Not too much else is written about, and the main focus is on Sam and his family (none of the other characters).
Some of the 'humour' or 'wit' wasn't that great. It was overall a kind of interesting group (Sam/Brooke/Ian) but other than them, a lot of the characters were simplified and cardboard ().
I don't regret reading the book or anything, it was pretty fast to get through and it was kind of a cute story, but the plot, characters and story in general wasn't the best. This is less like a novel and more like a novella almost, due to how short the story spans and how brief the book is.
For how intelligent Sam is supposed to be, he sure is stupid:
"'Meat is murder,' she added.
I slowly swallowed the bite I was chewing. 'I'm just eating it. I didn't kill it.'" (22).
>> Yes, he did not literally kill the meat with his own hands. However, his parents purchasing that meat and him consuming it requires the killing of the animal, which = murder (in Brooke's opinion). So if he refused to eat that meat, then he had no part in the killing of the animal. Otherwise, he did have a role in the death of the animal he was eating. He also has such a dumb response of "I'm just eating it! I didn't do anything!" YEAH YOU DID DUDE. SHUT UP. Your actions contributed to it dying. LOGIC! If everyone stopped buying meat, the amount of animals being killed for meat would decrease... jeezus sam
Overall, I would recommend to young teens maybe? Ages 12-16 perhaps. It's a light summer read (or school year read) that might be enjoyable.
Say You Will is the story of somewhat awkward high school junior Sam, who wants to create his own promposal to ask a girl to prom. The identity of this girl isn't revealed until the end, to ensure the surprise isn't ruined. Featured in the story are Sam's childhood best friends Ian and Brooke, popular cheerleaders Taylor, Ashley and Brittney, and others who don't follow stereotypical archetypes.
Even saying this is almost a spoiler, but the story is very predictable. The girl was predictable.
The actual promposal wasn't, thank goodness, but the main plot was unfortunately too easy to guess. The whole book revolves around the promposal - from Sam's first exposure to one to when he finally does his own. Not too much else is written about, and the main focus is on Sam and his family (none of the other characters).
Some of the 'humour' or 'wit' wasn't that great. It was overall a kind of interesting group (Sam/Brooke/Ian) but other than them, a lot of the characters were simplified and cardboard ().
I don't regret reading the book or anything, it was pretty fast to get through and it was kind of a cute story, but the plot, characters and story in general wasn't the best. This is less like a novel and more like a novella almost, due to how short the story spans and how brief the book is.
For how intelligent Sam is supposed to be, he sure is stupid:
"'Meat is murder,' she added.
I slowly swallowed the bite I was chewing. 'I'm just eating it. I didn't kill it.'" (22).
>> Yes, he did not literally kill the meat with his own hands. However, his parents purchasing that meat and him consuming it requires the killing of the animal, which = murder (in Brooke's opinion). So if he refused to eat that meat, then he had no part in the killing of the animal. Otherwise, he did have a role in the death of the animal he was eating. He also has such a dumb response of "I'm just eating it! I didn't do anything!" YEAH YOU DID DUDE. SHUT UP. Your actions contributed to it dying. LOGIC! If everyone stopped buying meat, the amount of animals being killed for meat would decrease... jeezus sam
Overall, I would recommend to young teens maybe? Ages 12-16 perhaps. It's a light summer read (or school year read) that might be enjoyable.
December 20, 2017
This book was exceptional! It was amazing. It was fantastic. It was fun. And most importantly of all, it blew all my stress away! I had a whole lot of fun reading this book, getting to know Brooke and Sam and Ian. I liked that they were their own characters. And I liked how natural and flowing everything in this book was. From the way they talked to the way they moved, it was a breeze to read in a laugh out loud way. Eric Walters is a natural story teller, and you can tell that he writes stories because he's inspired and he has fun writing them! This I believe. I like that he doesn't jam pack a whole lot of information. He creates the characters and he lets them talk in a setting. I really like that! I can't praise Eric enough! I have to go and read the rest of his books. Ta Ta! By the way, I think the title "Say you will" totally suits this book, and the ending was short but sweet. Awwww. I can't wait to read it again. La di da. Farewell, until the next book Eric! I absolutely loved the way the characters talked together 💗
May 19, 2015
It is in true fashion that I finish this book the day of it's release. However, I actually did not read this book in one day. I received it several weeks ago from a First Reads giveaway. Actually, if it hadn't been for the multitude of tests and quizzes, and not to mention sports competitions, projects and traveling, I totally could have finished this book in a day. It is not mind-boggling long, but it still contains a decent amount of character development and I actually appreciated how it wasn't 500 pages of dragged out events. The length of this book actually fits very well with the timeline of the plot.
But enough about the length of the book, let's talk about the actual book itself. First of all, the characters.
Can we just talk about how awesome Sam and his friends are? I literally love all of them. Brooke is so edgy and she stands up for what she believes in- something that I (and Sam) admire immensely. She is brave and strong and not afraid to say what she thinks. These trait are difficult to find in characters in contemporary novels. Ian is a completely unique character and I so enjoyed laughing at the things he says (and taps out). Sam's mom reminds us of our own- pushy nervous-wrecks who only want the best for us. And although Sam's father is not in the novel as much, it is evident that inside his icy anti-social shell, he truly does care about his family and Sam's friends. Sam himself is a extremely loveable character, he has trouble picking up on social cues and his intelligence and vast memory may be tedious at times but he is so caring and quirky that you can not help but to relate with him. Sam and his gang are all a little awkward and different in ways, they have all been classified as having something "wrong" with them, but what is wrong about them is what makes them so right for each other.
The plot of this story was so adorable and sweet. I loved how current-aged it is, unfortunately, this means it will . And I really liked learning that I have some of the same frustrations and confusions as some of the characters, with all of this new technology and how fast word spreads nowadays. Okay, that made me sounds really old. I'm just saying that, does it not bother anybody else how there is literally no sense of privacy or intimacy today? If you are going to ask someone to a prom, it has to be public, expensive and it better be amazing because it will become a viral video no matter what happens. I was relieved to see that many of the characters thought on this topic a little bit too. How for some reason, big huge promposals are necessary these days. I loved how Walters told an honest truth of the way that things work today in society. I definitely related to Ian as he talked about how nothing is real until it is online.
I really liked who Sam asked to the prom. No spoilers, but may I just say I was really glad when we found out who he was going to ask. I had a strong feeling it was going to be her, but I was so glad I was right- not to mention, his promposal was so sweet and personal.
Walters writing is very fluent and complete. I really loved reading from Sam's point of view and Walter pieced that together wonderfully. I have two other books by Eric Walters (Alexandria of Africa and Beverly Hills Maasai), but I have not read them yet. Reading Say You Will definitely encouraged me to pick them up though.
Can we just talk about the cover for a second? I love how the cover ties into the story and the title is adorable. I really wish that the title could have been incorporated into Sam's promposal someway though.
Now you are probably thinking, "wow, she is being pathetic, raving about a book that she won, how can we even trust her opinion?" But trust me, I'm telling the truth that this is a really good book. It is not the new Moby Dick or Hunger Games, but it is a very enjoyable fluffy and easy read. Is it my favourite book of all time? Of course not, but I do not in any way regret reading it nor did I ever think to stop reading it before I was finished. I am very grateful to have won this book and I consider myself extremely lucky. However, that does not sway my opinion in any way- let's just make that clear. This book has faults, as all books do. Let's talk about those for a second.
One thing this novel lacks is major conflict. There is certainly conflict throughout the book but Sam never gets in a fight with any of his friends, he never has to make an impossibly difficult decision between right and wrong. This is a contemporary novel, so I wasn't expecting him to save his whole town from evil promposing aliens, but I feel like it really would have added more to the book if there was a bit more of an external struggle.
-In more, the ending was slightly predictable. Maybe it is just because I have read so many books that I can pick up clues easily, but I had a really good feeling what the end of this book was going to be. I know Walters tried to keep us guessing, but I pretty much knew exactly who Sam was going to ask to prom.
This book has relatable characters, a compelling story line and a short list of improvements. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me. If you want to get technical about it, I would probably give this book a 4.8 or a 4.9, simply because it lacked depth. With that being said, I really did enjoy it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Rainbow Rowell, Sarah Dessen, Ally Condie, Gayle Forman or Sarah Gruen's novels. I highly recommend that you pick it up and thank you again to First Reads for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. And to anybody reading this, enter giveaways, you never know when you might win.
But enough about the length of the book, let's talk about the actual book itself. First of all, the characters.
Can we just talk about how awesome Sam and his friends are? I literally love all of them. Brooke is so edgy and she stands up for what she believes in- something that I (and Sam) admire immensely. She is brave and strong and not afraid to say what she thinks. These trait are difficult to find in characters in contemporary novels. Ian is a completely unique character and I so enjoyed laughing at the things he says (and taps out). Sam's mom reminds us of our own- pushy nervous-wrecks who only want the best for us. And although Sam's father is not in the novel as much, it is evident that inside his icy anti-social shell, he truly does care about his family and Sam's friends. Sam himself is a extremely loveable character, he has trouble picking up on social cues and his intelligence and vast memory may be tedious at times but he is so caring and quirky that you can not help but to relate with him. Sam and his gang are all a little awkward and different in ways, they have all been classified as having something "wrong" with them, but what is wrong about them is what makes them so right for each other.
The plot of this story was so adorable and sweet. I loved how current-aged it is, unfortunately, this means it will . And I really liked learning that I have some of the same frustrations and confusions as some of the characters, with all of this new technology and how fast word spreads nowadays. Okay, that made me sounds really old. I'm just saying that, does it not bother anybody else how there is literally no sense of privacy or intimacy today? If you are going to ask someone to a prom, it has to be public, expensive and it better be amazing because it will become a viral video no matter what happens. I was relieved to see that many of the characters thought on this topic a little bit too. How for some reason, big huge promposals are necessary these days. I loved how Walters told an honest truth of the way that things work today in society. I definitely related to Ian as he talked about how nothing is real until it is online.
I really liked who Sam asked to the prom. No spoilers, but may I just say I was really glad when we found out who he was going to ask. I had a strong feeling it was going to be her, but I was so glad I was right- not to mention, his promposal was so sweet and personal.
Walters writing is very fluent and complete. I really loved reading from Sam's point of view and Walter pieced that together wonderfully. I have two other books by Eric Walters (Alexandria of Africa and Beverly Hills Maasai), but I have not read them yet. Reading Say You Will definitely encouraged me to pick them up though.
Can we just talk about the cover for a second? I love how the cover ties into the story and the title is adorable. I really wish that the title could have been incorporated into Sam's promposal someway though.
Now you are probably thinking, "wow, she is being pathetic, raving about a book that she won, how can we even trust her opinion?" But trust me, I'm telling the truth that this is a really good book. It is not the new Moby Dick or Hunger Games, but it is a very enjoyable fluffy and easy read. Is it my favourite book of all time? Of course not, but I do not in any way regret reading it nor did I ever think to stop reading it before I was finished. I am very grateful to have won this book and I consider myself extremely lucky. However, that does not sway my opinion in any way- let's just make that clear. This book has faults, as all books do. Let's talk about those for a second.
One thing this novel lacks is major conflict. There is certainly conflict throughout the book but Sam never gets in a fight with any of his friends, he never has to make an impossibly difficult decision between right and wrong. This is a contemporary novel, so I wasn't expecting him to save his whole town from evil promposing aliens, but I feel like it really would have added more to the book if there was a bit more of an external struggle.
-In more, the ending was slightly predictable. Maybe it is just because I have read so many books that I can pick up clues easily, but I had a really good feeling what the end of this book was going to be. I know Walters tried to keep us guessing, but I pretty much knew exactly who Sam was going to ask to prom.
This book has relatable characters, a compelling story line and a short list of improvements. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me. If you want to get technical about it, I would probably give this book a 4.8 or a 4.9, simply because it lacked depth. With that being said, I really did enjoy it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Rainbow Rowell, Sarah Dessen, Ally Condie, Gayle Forman or Sarah Gruen's novels. I highly recommend that you pick it up and thank you again to First Reads for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. And to anybody reading this, enter giveaways, you never know when you might win.
June 23, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!
*3.5 star rating*
Eric Walters remains one of the coolest authors out there, especially since he's Canadian (WOOO) but mostly because he writes in different genres. He skips between some fantasy, mostly contemporary, some dystopian and even tweaks of romance, like Say You Will had in store for readers. I believe that any reader, young or old, is able to find something they like about his novels, and they will never forget about that quick read that stole their hearts and left them obsessed. This was a pure example.
Looking at my borrowed copy of the novel right now, I smile. It's 192 pages long, and actually turned out to be one of the quickest reads of the year for me. I love short books, but of course, yet again, the amount of reviews that I need to write pile up eventually, haha. Walters writes about the wonders of high school, along with some issues that teenagers go through, like: anxiety, prom, peer pressure and the pressure and need to do well in school. Especially since he has experience and even taught at an elementary school, he writes this exactly like from the perspective of a teenage boy, like one of my friends who I know in school.
This all begins with the craze of prom being right around the corner, though in this case, Sam is a junior and most likely still has one more year afterwards to go to prom again. In my school, WE ONLY GO WHEN WE'RE SENIORS. WHAAAAT!? (Some Canadian school boards do stuff differently, I guess.) Sam is a guy whose never had his first kiss, watches the girl of his dreams like someone else, and has a high IQ. He's the kind of guy who doesn't like to brag and show off of his talents, so he even pretends to not know the answer when writing a test. And then... he wants to prompose to the girl of his dreams in an unforgettable fucking way. Seriously.
If I spoil the way Sam asks his crush out, you'll die. The whole book would be spoiled for you. It's amazing on how Walters created an easy-going story that actually was incorporated with so much depth that boys and girls will love. YOU KNOW BOYS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO IMPRESS A CHICK FOR PROM, READ THIS BOOK. It's mutual advice, written by a man who surely knows what he's doing. Imagine if this story actually occurred! *dies* This would hit the news, I'm sure of it.
The pacing was absolutely perfect. Why do we need an everlasting super-long story with nothing much occurring? That would've been such nonsense and the planning process wouldn't even take half as long. I saw the whole plot as just something short, sweet and simple to satisfy readers. And hey, I know I was superbly satisfied from start to finish. 5/5 for sure, as well as the plot. Walters' writing never disappoints, and I continuously find myself seeing so much depth in his words that I just can't let go of what I'm reading. Is this a sign from the bookish heavens that I deserve more of his writing and a trip to his wonderful mind again and again? I'm pretty sure that you're thinking of a plain "YES" in your heads right now. Let's hope that I'm correct instead of making a fool out of myself.
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Although this was pitch perfect (no, not the movie reference) all throughout, the characters are who stunned me. Everyone seemed to be too perfect. Sam had that perfect reputation where he was so smart and has social anxiety at the same time although people do speak to him. I liked him, but I certainly cannot admit that he's better than Walters' other protagonists. He seemed a little too stuck-up and confident for my liking. And then Brooke and her friends? They all seemed bitc*y to be honest. There wasn't any character who had a mean reputation or wasn't your average person. Walters added too much significance into every character and it actually grew to a disliking of some. That was a pure weakness.
AND BOY DID I ADORE THE ENDING! That was the perfect finish. It didn't leave us with suspense or take readers into a blast into the future where we see Sam and his lover at prom—no, we don't need that. From the start, readers had been anticipating the perfect promposal which the author had in mind especially from the summary, and we all knew that it would occur then. This isn't supposed to be unpredictable, it's all irony anyways. We're the readers, the audience, and we know what's going to happen but some of the characters don't. That's the best part, and what I know I won't forget about.
Just like how everyone deserves quiet and quality time in their lives, people deserve an easy, good read. This is the case, actually, and I know that many in the future will just pick this up for an hour or two and enjoy, devour and have a good time, trying to imagine what it's like to be a teenager again, finding a date and your first kiss, a huge milestone. This would be a huge milestone for me, anyway. First—fall in love with the cover, and then move on to the book, despite the lack of interesting characters.
*3.5 star rating*
Eric Walters remains one of the coolest authors out there, especially since he's Canadian (WOOO) but mostly because he writes in different genres. He skips between some fantasy, mostly contemporary, some dystopian and even tweaks of romance, like Say You Will had in store for readers. I believe that any reader, young or old, is able to find something they like about his novels, and they will never forget about that quick read that stole their hearts and left them obsessed. This was a pure example.
Looking at my borrowed copy of the novel right now, I smile. It's 192 pages long, and actually turned out to be one of the quickest reads of the year for me. I love short books, but of course, yet again, the amount of reviews that I need to write pile up eventually, haha. Walters writes about the wonders of high school, along with some issues that teenagers go through, like: anxiety, prom, peer pressure and the pressure and need to do well in school. Especially since he has experience and even taught at an elementary school, he writes this exactly like from the perspective of a teenage boy, like one of my friends who I know in school.
This all begins with the craze of prom being right around the corner, though in this case, Sam is a junior and most likely still has one more year afterwards to go to prom again. In my school, WE ONLY GO WHEN WE'RE SENIORS. WHAAAAT!? (Some Canadian school boards do stuff differently, I guess.) Sam is a guy whose never had his first kiss, watches the girl of his dreams like someone else, and has a high IQ. He's the kind of guy who doesn't like to brag and show off of his talents, so he even pretends to not know the answer when writing a test. And then... he wants to prompose to the girl of his dreams in an unforgettable fucking way. Seriously.
If I spoil the way Sam asks his crush out, you'll die. The whole book would be spoiled for you. It's amazing on how Walters created an easy-going story that actually was incorporated with so much depth that boys and girls will love. YOU KNOW BOYS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO IMPRESS A CHICK FOR PROM, READ THIS BOOK. It's mutual advice, written by a man who surely knows what he's doing. Imagine if this story actually occurred! *dies* This would hit the news, I'm sure of it.
The pacing was absolutely perfect. Why do we need an everlasting super-long story with nothing much occurring? That would've been such nonsense and the planning process wouldn't even take half as long. I saw the whole plot as just something short, sweet and simple to satisfy readers. And hey, I know I was superbly satisfied from start to finish. 5/5 for sure, as well as the plot. Walters' writing never disappoints, and I continuously find myself seeing so much depth in his words that I just can't let go of what I'm reading. Is this a sign from the bookish heavens that I deserve more of his writing and a trip to his wonderful mind again and again? I'm pretty sure that you're thinking of a plain "YES" in your heads right now. Let's hope that I'm correct instead of making a fool out of myself.
[image error]
Although this was pitch perfect (no, not the movie reference) all throughout, the characters are who stunned me. Everyone seemed to be too perfect. Sam had that perfect reputation where he was so smart and has social anxiety at the same time although people do speak to him. I liked him, but I certainly cannot admit that he's better than Walters' other protagonists. He seemed a little too stuck-up and confident for my liking. And then Brooke and her friends? They all seemed bitc*y to be honest. There wasn't any character who had a mean reputation or wasn't your average person. Walters added too much significance into every character and it actually grew to a disliking of some. That was a pure weakness.
AND BOY DID I ADORE THE ENDING! That was the perfect finish. It didn't leave us with suspense or take readers into a blast into the future where we see Sam and his lover at prom—no, we don't need that. From the start, readers had been anticipating the perfect promposal which the author had in mind especially from the summary, and we all knew that it would occur then. This isn't supposed to be unpredictable, it's all irony anyways. We're the readers, the audience, and we know what's going to happen but some of the characters don't. That's the best part, and what I know I won't forget about.
Just like how everyone deserves quiet and quality time in their lives, people deserve an easy, good read. This is the case, actually, and I know that many in the future will just pick this up for an hour or two and enjoy, devour and have a good time, trying to imagine what it's like to be a teenager again, finding a date and your first kiss, a huge milestone. This would be a huge milestone for me, anyway. First—fall in love with the cover, and then move on to the book, despite the lack of interesting characters.
November 16, 2017
3.5/5
Full review is here: http://www.allcharacterswanted.com/bo...
A really cute story. There's nothing particularly intense or overly-emotional about this book at first glance, but I do love the characters that Walters creates and their relationships and interactions with each other.
My favourite is probably Ian, but Sam and Brooke are pretty great too ;)
Full review is here: http://www.allcharacterswanted.com/bo...
A really cute story. There's nothing particularly intense or overly-emotional about this book at first glance, but I do love the characters that Walters creates and their relationships and interactions with each other.
My favourite is probably Ian, but Sam and Brooke are pretty great too ;)
October 15, 2018
3.5
I liked Ian, Brooke and Sam's characters but I could predict the ending so early! I would've liked to know more about Taylor, Ashley and Britt. Also, there wasn't a clear moment when the "action started". I realized I was halfway through the novel and I was still searching for a conflict. Overall, a cute story but it would've benefited from a clear conflict and a slightly extended conclusion (I wanted to see Ian's promposal and how Brooke would go to prom).
I liked Ian, Brooke and Sam's characters but I could predict the ending so early! I would've liked to know more about Taylor, Ashley and Britt. Also, there wasn't a clear moment when the "action started". I realized I was halfway through the novel and I was still searching for a conflict. Overall, a cute story but it would've benefited from a clear conflict and a slightly extended conclusion (I wanted to see Ian's promposal and how Brooke would go to prom).
May 14, 2017
This book disappointed me after the last Eric Walters book I've read, Power Play. I started this filled with excitement because this author's storytelling striked me in the last thing I read of him, but I was deeply disappointed by this one. Very predictable denouement, typical and overused character of the awkward boy with impressive IQ but horrible social skills. The only good thing I have in mind after this book is the character of Ian, because he actually added something interesting in this for me. Brooke had a boring and typical anti-prom, SJW attitude that failed to portray that demographic properly, but Ian was a real, raw teenager with no filter who communicated in Morse Code, and that really enthralled me.
I will be reading more Eric Walters books, but this one just wasn't for me. I'll try Safe as Houses and We All Fall Down next.
I will be reading more Eric Walters books, but this one just wasn't for me. I'll try Safe as Houses and We All Fall Down next.
February 3, 2022
All I need to say is if there were 100 stars, it would get 101! This book was so good I enjoyed reading it so much. I loved how the best part of the book was at the end so you have to go through the whole book to get to the part you are waiting for. It is perfect if you are not a big reader but want to get into it. :)))))
October 7, 2021
i thought it was a really cute book I really like how the book flowed and it added some of the parents and it was just not at school it was also at his workplace and it told us more about the character.
August 31, 2022
A quirky promposal story told through the eyes of super smart Sam, who is working on improving his people skills. There were a few sentences about children at the restaurant Sam worked at that read as fatphobic to me.
April 5, 2025
Cute idea with using promposals as the big theme, and hearing about the students ideas for theirs was fun, but FUCK I hate a book where a guy is in love with the hottie he has no chance with, then settles for his nerdy cutesie best friend that’s been there all along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2025
I LOVED IT
I read romance alot and all of them hv a similar touch and its always so focused on unrealistic touchy romance
THIS ONE was unique and it was so sweet and not spicy. I loved it. I literally was tryna slow down reading it so that I wouldnt finish it..
I read romance alot and all of them hv a similar touch and its always so focused on unrealistic touchy romance
THIS ONE was unique and it was so sweet and not spicy. I loved it. I literally was tryna slow down reading it so that I wouldnt finish it..
May 31, 2017
The story was boring and predictable.
October 13, 2017
The feels! Where do I find a Sam?
August 10, 2018
This wasn't one of the best I have read as it seemed to be more of a fluff book which is more love then anything else.
Not bad but not really my style of book but wanted to read it .
Not bad but not really my style of book but wanted to read it .
September 17, 2019
Such a cute story about a teenager who struggles in social situations and tries to learn how to just fit in...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews