Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The way I used to be by Amber Smith

44 reviews

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

5.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

lnperkins1's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

this book basically obliterated my heart. you should read it.
very crushing, but a necessary read

thoughts while reading

1%: 3 pages in and already i want to scream and punch someone. and she was literally in the house with her parents right? i hate the fear freeze reaction so much right now cause they would have stopped him 😭

2%: stop 🥺 of course her mom thinks that but i’m still hurting

19%: number 12 must be josh 👀

23%: amanda clearly thinks eden

coerced kevin

or something

30%: more underage sex doesn’t fix anything hun

39%: oh no, she did have a little crush on kevin…of course that asshole would use that against her 😡

82%: no hunny 🥺 you were just a baby

Content Warnings

lanassreadinggg2025's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This is one of those instances where I truly and wholeheartedly believe five stars does not do this book justice.The book genuily hurts to read The Way I Used to Be is a story about trauma and life after it. Eden is raped by her brother's long time best friend after he sneaks into her bedroom one night. the author to force reader's inside Eden's head during every single second of the few minutes that would change her life forever.Eden's story then goes on to follow her downward spiral from freshmen to senior year.She starts off with her usual friends, meets a boy and bases their entire relationship on lies to guard herself, and by senior year is completely self destructive to escape the trauma she still has told no one about.

Content Warnings

marisa27's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

vickeyreads's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book left me sad!!
Warning spoilers (probably)

This book is filled with many heavy topics. I feel like the ending didn’t give me the closure I wanted it and that many things go unresolved her friendships and her relationship with her parents. I’m not 100% sure if I’ll read the sequel. Her journey was a hard read she had many many low points so at times it was hard to like her a bit especially when she dismissed those who seemed to care about her the most yet at the same time everything that happened was so tragic and I am glad she grown from those points in her life. I would def recommend depending on how you deal with harsher topics such as trauma and after trauma

Content Warnings

marciaavivas's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

brooks3012's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

yazzie01's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

One of my favorite reads this year! Author did an amazing job

Content Warnings

its_sam383763633773's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy slow book. Good hook, a rape scene definitely gets my attention and makes me want to read more. The character is relatable and understandable. It’s a sad story and made me cry a few times ngl. Very slow moving but had a good ending. Overall, a good book with a difficult to read message about but it’s a good message. I don’t know if I’m going to read the next one, I’m wondering where they’ll take it from here.

Content Warnings

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