Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by readswithgab
The Way I Am Now by Amber Smith
5.0
This book was like, the perfect sequel/ending to [b:The Way I Used to Be|23546634|The Way I Used to Be (The Way I Used to Be #1)|Amber Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433883455l/23546634._SY75_.jpg|43145997]. It felt so realistic to the point that it made my stomach hurt, and I feel like I was crying the entire time, whether it was for happy reasons or for sad ones.
When I first finished the book last night, I was angry. I was pissed. But I was also so happy, and so, so freed. This was such a beautiful story about the "aftermath", about what it's like to be a survivor, about all the ups & downs that come with healing. Because healing isn't linear, and I'm so glad Eden was portrayed as someone who still had her ups & downs.
I also really loved how Amber Smith portrayed Josh, and what it's like to be in love/date someone who's been through something so terrible. Obviously it would take a toll on them too, and I really enjoyed how Amber Smith didn't paint Josh as some kind of "perfect saint" who could take on all of Eden's feelings. He was flawed too, and personally, that one of the most beautiful things about him.
I was so excited to see Josh's POV inside this book as well. My heart ached for him too with everything he went through, and at some points I just wished I could reach through the pages and hug him so tight.
Eden & Josh, for lack of better wording, are what I would call two broken halves of a whole. They deal with so much, go through so much, but in the end, they are there for each other as much as they can be, and I think that's what matters most.
Finally, I adored Eden's growth from the end of book one to the end of this one. I have never been so proud of a fictional character in my entire life, honestly. I just love her & hope she lives the best life she can.
When I first finished the book last night, I was angry. I was pissed. But I was also so happy, and so, so freed. This was such a beautiful story about the "aftermath", about what it's like to be a survivor, about all the ups & downs that come with healing. Because healing isn't linear, and I'm so glad Eden was portrayed as someone who still had her ups & downs.
I also really loved how Amber Smith portrayed Josh, and what it's like to be in love/date someone who's been through something so terrible. Obviously it would take a toll on them too, and I really enjoyed how Amber Smith didn't paint Josh as some kind of "perfect saint" who could take on all of Eden's feelings. He was flawed too, and personally, that one of the most beautiful things about him.
I was so excited to see Josh's POV inside this book as well. My heart ached for him too with everything he went through, and at some points I just wished I could reach through the pages and hug him so tight.
Eden & Josh, for lack of better wording, are what I would call two broken halves of a whole. They deal with so much, go through so much, but in the end, they are there for each other as much as they can be, and I think that's what matters most.
Finally, I adored Eden's growth from the end of book one to the end of this one. I have never been so proud of a fictional character in my entire life, honestly. I just love her & hope she lives the best life she can.