Are Say What You Will and Amy & Matthew the same book?

Yes. Say What You Will is the title used for the North American release, while the book was published as Amy & Matthew in the UK and some other international markets.

Do you need to read Chester and Gus before Frankie and Amelia?

No, you do not. Frankie and Amelia is a companion novel featuring different animal and human protagonists. While they share the same school universe and minor characters, the plot stands entirely on its own.

What is Cammie McGovern's non-fiction book about?

Her 2021 book, Hard Landings , is a memoir and investigative look at the transition to adulthood for individuals with autism, inspired by her experiences raising her eldest son, Ethan.

Is Cammie McGovern's debut novel a YA book?

No. McGovern initially wrote adult fiction. Her debut novel was The Art of Seeing (2002), followed by the adult psychological thrillers Eye Contact and Neighborhood Watch , before she transitioned to YA and middle-grade fiction.

Which Cammie McGovern book features a service dog?

Chester and Gus is written from the perspective of Chester, a service dog who assists a ten-year-old autistic boy named Gus.

Cammie McGovern Books in Order

Where to Start with Cammie McGovern

For most readers, the best place to begin is with her breakthrough young adult novel, Say What You Will (published internationally as Amy & Matthew). This novel perfectly showcases McGovern’s signature style: deeply empathetic, realistic character development, and a spotlight on young people navigating life with physical or neurological differences. If you prefer middle-grade fiction, start with Chester and Gus, a heartwarming and insightful story narrated by a service dog in training.

Publication Order of Cammie McGovern's Books

McGovern’s career spans adult psychological suspense, young adult contemporary fiction, middle-grade novels, and non-fiction. While most of her books are standalones, they are best enjoyed in their publication order to see how her focus shifted from adult thrillers to advocating for disability representation in youth literature.

The Chester & Gus Companion Books

Chester and Gus (2017) – Introduces Chester, a yellow lab who fails his service dog test but becomes a companion to Gus, an autistic ten-year-old boy.
Frankie and Amelia (2021) – A companion novel focusing on Franklin, a cat looking for a home, and Amelia, a girl with sensory processing issues who is Gus's classmate.

Standalone Young Adult and Middle-Grade Novels

Say What You Will (2014) – Follows the intense, life-changing friendship between Amy, who has cerebral palsy, and Matthew, who struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A Step Toward Falling (2015) – A YA novel exploring guilt, growth, and disability advocacy through two teens volunteering at a center for adults with developmental disabilities.
Just My Luck (2016) – A middle-grade novel centered on fourth-grader Benny Barrows, who navigates family trials, his own self-doubt, and his autistic older brother's unique talents.
Just Breathe (2020) – A YA story exploring the unexpected connection between a class president battling cystic fibrosis and a sophomore dealing with clinical depression.

Adult Fiction and Suspense Novels

The Art of Seeing (2002) – Her debut adult novel details the complex relationship between two sisters—one a famous actress, the other a photographer—as one faces a blinding eye condition.
Eye Contact (2006) – A psychological mystery about a mother trying to decode the behavior of her autistic son, who is the sole witness to a classmates' murder.
Neighborhood Watch (2010) – A gripping thriller about a woman exonerated of murder by DNA evidence who returns home to find the true killer in her former neighborhood.

Non-Fiction Memoir

Hard Landings: Looking Into the Future for a Child with Autism (2021) – A moving and researched memoir about preparing her autistic son, Ethan, for adulthood and navigating the realities of the disability cliff.

Key Reading Caveats & Companion Details

There are very few continuity worries when reading Cammie McGovern's work. The primary connection to note is between her middle-grade novels, Chester and Gus and Frankie and Amelia. While they share characters—Amelia is Gus's classmate and Chester makes a brief appearance—the narrative shifts from Chester the dog to Franklin the cat. You do not need to read Chester's book first to enjoy Franklin's story, but doing so provides a warmer, more complete picture of the kids' community.

Additionally, international readers should be aware that Say What You Will was published in the United Kingdom and other territories under the title Amy & Matthew. They are the exact same book, not a sequel or a spin-off.

What to Know Before You Start

Cammie McGovern’s fiction is heavily inspired by her real-life role as a parent. Her oldest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with autism at an early age. Frustrated by the lack of community resources, she co-founded Whole Children in Hadley, Massachusetts, a center providing recreation and social skills training for children and teens with special needs. This firsthand advocacy shines through in her writing. She avoids the common pitfall of treating disabled characters as symbols of inspiration for others, choosing instead to write them as complex, flawed, and fully realized individuals with their own agency, desires, and challenges.