Call It What You Want

Call It What You Want critiques the romanticized notion that one person’s love can heal another’s trauma. The novel presents this idea as a fallacy, showing how Sloane’s attempts to “save” Ethan from his past lead only to her own heartbreak and self-abandonment. Through Sloane’s painful journey, the narrative argues that internal change cannot be forced on someone and that relationships built on one-sided emotional labor are ultimately unsustainable. This critique is established from the outset, with an epigraph framing the story as a cautionary tale for any woman who has believed she can “be enough to change him” (i).

Sloane’s relationship with Ethan is defined by her unwavering belief that her love can be the antidote to his emotional unavailability. She consistently rationalizes his commitment-phobia, viewing his trauma not as an insurmountable barrier but as a problem she can help him overcome. This dynamic creates a recurring cycle of heartbreak: Ethan pulls away, overwhelmed by his past, and Sloane waits, convinced that her patience and affection will eventually lead to a breakthrough. This pattern reinforces her role as a hopeful savior, but it also traps her in a state of emotional limbo, waiting for a change that Ethan is not equipped to make.