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A review by nm_young
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
4.0
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNING(S): PHYSICAL ABUSE (CHILD/TEENAGE)
SEXUAL ASSUALT (CHILD)(OFF PAGE)
RAPE (MENTIONED)
PARENTAL NEGLECT
VIOLENCE
MURDER (IMPLIED)
MENTAL HEALTH
POV: Single, First Person
Series/Standalone: Series
First in series: Yes
Safe or Dark: Darkish (see trigger warnings)
DISCLAIMER: I'm a 35-year-old woman writing a review for a young adult book. Do with that information what you will.
I'm not really sure where to start with this review because when I read books, I usually jot down notes as I go and as I stare at the screen on my phone titled "Book/Reading Notes" I seem to have very little written down. However, that might be a good thing because I've noticed that the more notes I scribbled down about a book, the more I disliked it.
So, hats off to you, Tess Sharpe, for surviving Nicole's book/reading notes rage! *golf clap*
This book did one of my favorite things ever. Started off with a BANG! We are tossed right into the action on the very first page. We are introduced to three teenagers: Nora O'Malley (and the girls of her past), Iris Moulton (Nora's girlfriend and Wes's best friend), and Wes Prentiss (Nora's ex-boyfriend/best friend and Iris's best friend). The relationship situation, albeit confusing, is glorious. When we are introduced to this trio, we are given very vague details about a bit of a dilemma they have gotten themselves into, and damn if that just doesn't suck you in right away and make you want to know more! We start to find out more about what's going on once the teens find themselves hostages in a bank robbery.
We learn about Wes and Nora's relationship, break up, brief separation, reconciliation, and ultimate formation of the "Fraken-friends". Just wait until you learn why they call themselves that. It will catch you right in the feels. If it made my cold soul feel something, it will do the same thing to you.
We find out how Iris and Nora meet, how there relationship develops into something more than friendship, and for a while we are caught hanging in the air as we try to figure out if Nora's secret past will tear the couple apart or bring them closer together.
While all of this is happening we are shifting between the past and the present gaining knowledge about each of the girls Nora had been. Rebecca, Samantha, Haley, Katie, and Ashley all play a part of making Nora who she is today. Each girl (or con) slowing chipping away at her before building her into a stronger version of herself.
Oh, we also get meet Nora's older sister Lee, and let me tell you she is a trip! I loved her character. Hell, I loved just about all the characters. There were a few I wanted to punch in the face but only because they deserved it.
I expected this book to be a fun read (which it was) what I didn't expect was for it to deal with such heavy and deep subject matter. It touches on some dark situations. So, just make sure your are in the right mind set to handle them.
This story also teaches you something. It teaches you to accept each and every part of yourself. The good and the bad. It teaches us that all of the things we love about ourselves and all of our flaws make up who we are. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of that. While all of our pieces might not be perfection the puzzle they build to form us is.
Sadly, this book also shows us that sometimes the people who are supposed to love us the most, don't, the people who are suppose to care for and nurture us, won't, and the people who are supposed to have our best interests at heart might have a hidden agenda.
Nora's story continues in the next book in the series, The Girl in Question. However, I don't think I will be reading it. As much as I enjoyed this book I liked where the story ended here. It answered a lot of questions and left me feeling satisfied. I personally just don't have the urge to dig any further into Nora's story.
I don't know what is left for me to say, so, I will end this review here. If you do decide to read this book I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNING(S): PHYSICAL ABUSE (CHILD/TEENAGE)
SEXUAL ASSUALT (CHILD)(OFF PAGE)
RAPE (MENTIONED)
PARENTAL NEGLECT
VIOLENCE
MURDER (IMPLIED)
MENTAL HEALTH
POV: Single, First Person
Series/Standalone: Series
First in series: Yes
Safe or Dark: Darkish (see trigger warnings)
DISCLAIMER: I'm a 35-year-old woman writing a review for a young adult book. Do with that information what you will.
“We're all gonna die because I waited for the bacon donuts”
I'm not really sure where to start with this review because when I read books, I usually jot down notes as I go and as I stare at the screen on my phone titled "Book/Reading Notes" I seem to have very little written down. However, that might be a good thing because I've noticed that the more notes I scribbled down about a book, the more I disliked it.
So, hats off to you, Tess Sharpe, for surviving Nicole's book/reading notes rage! *golf clap*
This book did one of my favorite things ever. Started off with a BANG! We are tossed right into the action on the very first page. We are introduced to three teenagers: Nora O'Malley (and the girls of her past), Iris Moulton (Nora's girlfriend and Wes's best friend), and Wes Prentiss (Nora's ex-boyfriend/best friend and Iris's best friend). The relationship situation, albeit confusing, is glorious. When we are introduced to this trio, we are given very vague details about a bit of a dilemma they have gotten themselves into, and damn if that just doesn't suck you in right away and make you want to know more! We start to find out more about what's going on once the teens find themselves hostages in a bank robbery.
“There is no normal. There is just a bunch of people pretending there is. There's just different levels of pain. Different stages of safe. The biggest con of all is that there's a normal.”
We learn about Wes and Nora's relationship, break up, brief separation, reconciliation, and ultimate formation of the "Fraken-friends". Just wait until you learn why they call themselves that. It will catch you right in the feels. If it made my cold soul feel something, it will do the same thing to you.
We find out how Iris and Nora meet, how there relationship develops into something more than friendship, and for a while we are caught hanging in the air as we try to figure out if Nora's secret past will tear the couple apart or bring them closer together.
While all of this is happening we are shifting between the past and the present gaining knowledge about each of the girls Nora had been. Rebecca, Samantha, Haley, Katie, and Ashley all play a part of making Nora who she is today. Each girl (or con) slowing chipping away at her before building her into a stronger version of herself.
“You know, you hit enough girls, eventually you'll find one who hits back.”
Oh, we also get meet Nora's older sister Lee, and let me tell you she is a trip! I loved her character. Hell, I loved just about all the characters. There were a few I wanted to punch in the face but only because they deserved it.
I expected this book to be a fun read (which it was) what I didn't expect was for it to deal with such heavy and deep subject matter. It touches on some dark situations. So, just make sure your are in the right mind set to handle them.
This story also teaches you something. It teaches you to accept each and every part of yourself. The good and the bad. It teaches us that all of the things we love about ourselves and all of our flaws make up who we are. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of that. While all of our pieces might not be perfection the puzzle they build to form us is.
Sadly, this book also shows us that sometimes the people who are supposed to love us the most, don't, the people who are suppose to care for and nurture us, won't, and the people who are supposed to have our best interests at heart might have a hidden agenda.
“You don't have to just be taught to trust, you have to grow up in a life full of people who are worthy of it.”
Nora's story continues in the next book in the series, The Girl in Question. However, I don't think I will be reading it. As much as I enjoyed this book I liked where the story ended here. It answered a lot of questions and left me feeling satisfied. I personally just don't have the urge to dig any further into Nora's story.
I don't know what is left for me to say, so, I will end this review here. If you do decide to read this book I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
“the best con has a seed of truth”