Not If I Can Help It (Scholastic Gold)

By Carolyn Mackler

Willa's world is upended when her dad dates her best friend's mom. Can she stop the changes?

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,682 ratings

256 pages· 53,894 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Willa's life thrives on predictability, but her father's secret relationship with her best friend's mom shatters her carefully managed world. As Willa grapples with the idea of her best friend Ruby becoming her sister, she faces a challenge that tests her limits. Can Willa navigate these unexpected changes, or will she find a way to keep her world from turning upside down? With her Sensory Processing Disorder adding to the chaos, Willa is determined to resist the upheaval. Will she accept the new family dynamics, or fight to maintain her familiar life?

From the publisher

From award-winning Carolyn Mackler, the story of Willa, who has been living with Sensory Processing Disorder but is thrown for a BIG loop when her dad announces he’s dating Willa’s best friend’s mom.Willa likes certain things to be certain ways. Her socks have to be soft . . . and definitely can’t have irritating tags on the inside. She loves the crunch of popcorn and nachos . . . but is grossed out by the crunch of a baby carrot. And slimy foods? Those are the worst.Willa can manage all these things – but there are some things she can’t deal with, like her father’s big news. He’s been keeping a big secret from her . . . that he’s been dating the mom of Willa’s best friend Ruby. Willa does NOT like the idea of them being together. And she does NOT like the idea of combining families. And she does NOT like the idea of her best friend becoming her sister overnight. Will she go along with all of these changes? NOT if she can help it!

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