The Way I Used to Be

This book is beautifully written. The plot can be really heavy, so I recommend it for people 18yrs or older. Gives the reader a great understanding trauma and resilience. Have a box of tissues next to you.

"The Way I Used to Be" by Amber Smith is a poignant and powerful exploration of trauma and recovery through the eyes of a young woman named Eden. After a devastating incident with her brother’s best friend shatters her sense of safety and identity, Eden's once straightforward life becomes a complex web of confusion, anger, and silence. As she grapples with the emotional fallout, she buries her pain and struggles to adapt to the changing landscape of her adolescence. Told across four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—Smith intricately weaves Eden's journey through the challenges of growing up, including the realities of first love, heartbreak, and the often tumultuous nature of friendship. While the narrative dives deep into the scars left by trauma, it also highlights Eden's resilience and the gradual realization of her own strength. As she learns to confront her past and embrace her survival, "The Way I Used to Be" serves as a powerful testament to the complexities of healing, making it an essential read for anyone seeking understanding and hope in the face of adversity.

10/10 SOOO GOOD!!! beautifully written and many people will find resemblance in their own stories and share it with the main character. finished it in one sitting!!!

For anyone who has experienced any type of sexual assault this book may be very triggering, but I knew that going into it. I am very amazed by this book and how I instantly felt like I was the fmc going through this journey.

written from the viewpoint of a freshman to senior in high school, Eden’s experiences and how they change her into the kind of person she couldn’t ever imagine being; angry, lonely, pained, secretive, and not being able to tell anybody what happened to her, makes her want to be a hard, unfeeling, uncaring, hurtful person. As I read through this book I just wanted to hug Eden and yell her “it is okay to tell”. And the last line of the book is memorable and beautiful.

i haven’t read a book since i was like 7, i finished this book in one day. it’s absolutely amazing and beautifully written, there were jumps in the story that were a bit confusing but it still was an amazing book. the change in eden throughout the years is shown perfectly and it’s very relatable as a junior in high school.

I enjoyed the pace if the book, it was hard to read in some points, but I made it through. I read things that I have heard and witnessed myself before so it wasn't that. It was just the turmoil, Eden’s struggles with the reality she was tossed into, things she thought about that went through mind, the hardship she endured and how she struggles with little things, such as sleeping in her own bed. The understanding of what happened, the who, the why, and never speaking up about it until someone else came forward first. It's sad it took that long, but for some it takes even longer with terrible trials and outburst from the person suffering from SA. The mental and physical harm some do to themselves before they can find the light through the pitch dark, finding help and wanting the help. I am kind of pissed at Megan for her treatment without talking to Eden first, sadly that is high school for you though. I will read the second book because like most people I need to know, will she turn it all around and strive to thrive and be an advocate like most end up doing or will she climb back into the dark and suffer more?

Absolutely loved this book!! Was super hard to put down, finished it in 3 days!!! I never ordered the second book so fast!

This book!! Oh my goodness it's fantastic. I got invested so fast and I couldn't stop reading it. I really love all the characters, especially Eden. I really love Josh too and I love them together. They support each other so deeply, they care about each other so much. I cried so many times while reading, I was afraid I was going to stain the book with my tears. And it was a library book. I cried even more when the book ended, I really wanted Eden and Josh to be together. So guess my reaction when I learned the second book is coming soon??? Feral. I can't wait to read that one so bad. I love this book so much, I had to buy my own copy. Can't wait to reread it again and cry myself to sleep.

i read this book almost a month ago and it's still on my mind! the way i used to be touched me in so many ways. to see Eden not only lose her relationships with her friends&family, bcs of what happend, but most importantly LOSE HERSELF just tore my heart out of my chest. to see the indistinct changes she went through that were such an subtle cry for help but that nobody near her noticed made me so angry and sad for her </3 she. deserved. better. it was honestly surreal how Josh noticed something was up WAY before anyone else did. i loved the fact he was the one she ended up confiding in. he was exactly what she needed in that moment. i just started sobbing when Eden said: "i had been waiting for thee years for somebody, anybody, to say those magic words" after Josh asked: "did something actually happen?": this girl just needed somebody to simply ask. but sadly it's never that simple. i'm honestly glad that in this book she and Josh didn't end up together. she's in need of a friend atm and i'm happy he's okay with being one and doesn't pressure or guilt trip her into something more. BUT nevertheless i'm super excited to see what ,the way i am now' has in store for the both of them!! i'm def rooting for them🩷 i would 100% recommend this book to everybody !!!! BUT !!!! look up trigger warnings pls

Broke me. So much. And I loved every single page

Muy buen libro, pero me hizo llorar mucho!!

Didn’t like the ending but I liked the emotional roller coaster this book gave me.