A review by tomesandtash
The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne

challenging emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This book will always have a special place in my heart because I relate so heavily to Amelie and what she goes through in her relationship with Reese. This book is beautifully written and so incredibly senstive and respectful of the topics it discusses, though that is to be expected when it comes to Holly Bourne. We follow Amelie as she recounts her abustive relationship with Reese, a boy she fell hard and fast for and who broke her down methodically. It discusses toxic and abusive relationships in terms of emotional and psychological abuse, and every step from pulling her away from her friends to the more severe, is touched on here. I truly believe that this book read by the right person at the right time could prevent so many young girls from going through relationships like this. I wish I had been able to read this book at 16 so I could have known better how to protect myself. This book makes me angry but in all the right ways because it's so truthful and accurate. I will always reread this book every couple of years because it has truly helped me heal from my own experiences as a teenager and I feel like I have been heard and listened to when I read this. 
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