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Book 32 of 2024! This one was a pretty heavy read, but so good! Deals with the SA that a teenage girl experiences. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel is heartbreaking. It dives headfirst into the psychological impact that a traumatic event has on a person - particularly a young one. It's a heavy read, but well written and endlessly insightful.

The hype is correct for this novel. By all means, be cautious as it is mentally straining, and may be triggering due to content.
This started off as a fast read, but then I became confused. Edy's behavior is typical teen, until it's not.

Even though this book was phenomenal, it gave me so much anxiety to read. Nothing bad that I didn‘t already know was going to happened, but for some reason this was one of the most mentally straining books I‘ve read. I loved Josh with my whole heart and his dynamic with Eden was something so different than anything I‘ve ever read. Would highly recommend, just prepare yourself.

Next up 🤓

Just finished this and it was sometimes hard to read, just because of some of the things that happened to Eden. Because of the subject matter I highly recommend anyone who might want to read this to check trigger/content warnings if you‘re sensitive to some stuff

This was pretty painful to get through, but I mean that in the most emotional way.🖤 My heart was broken for Edy, while also being so infuriated with her decisions even if I could understand completely why she made them. This book made me teary and helped in my own self-reflection. I‘d love a continuation of Eden‘s story, I kind of need it actually.🥺

Definitely making this quote into a decal for my room.🥰📖☕️

I really enjoyed reading this book. It really hits on some important topics about SA and the lasting effects that it has on victims.

I heard about this book through social media and I knew I needed to read it. This book was just so heartbreaking. One night Eden‘s brother‘s best friend rapes her and her world is turned upside down. The sad reality is this happens to so many girls and women. The author wrote this book so well and I had to keep reading it. I‘m so excited there will be a sequel and I can‘t wait to find out what‘s next for Eden.

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." -Cicero

Another tough read. I seem to be drawn to very emotional reads this year. Subject matter could be triggering for some.

The cadence of the story made me often frustrated, but on purpose? It was definitely meant to draw a reaction. But ultimately I really felt myself really sympathizing with the narrator.

This gets me my first #bookspin bingo of the month!

This was a tough but important read. The book starts with Eden who is 14 being raped by her brothers best friend. Eden doesn‘t tell anyone what happened because she is afraid of what her attacker may do. As Eden struggles with what happened to her she doesn‘t know what to do. She starts to found different ways to escape the truth. I am glad that Eden had a person that she finally felt comfortable to tell the truth too.

The book begins with Eden McCrorey, a fourteen year old girl, describing the sexual assault she endured from her brothers best friend. This experience shakes Eden and suddenly she feels as though she can‘t tell the truth from the lies. She feels trapped and confused. Eden doesn‘t tell anyone about what happened. All she wanted was to escape what had happened and try to feel normal and she doesn‘t think she can do that if she tells anyone.

4/5 This book was so sad but it was also a very believable story about someone who has been sexually assaulted. I really enjoyed it even though the subject matter was depressing. Read October 2020

✔️Last paper submitted
✔️Last forum response posted
✔️Ritual cleanse by burning syllabi from the semester
That's a wrap! Only 16 more classes. AND, my books came in! Any recommendations for which one to start with? They all sound so good. ❤️

I can't find the words to describe this book properly.

IT WAS MINDBLOWING!!
It was so emotional, After finishing this book I cried for like 30 minutes.

❐ AFTER-AFFECTS OF A RAPE... ❐ WHAT IT COULD DO TO A PERSON IF THEY DON'T REPORT IT ❐ A DOWNWARD SPIRAL ❐ GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF RAPE
A very raw look at the aftermath of the rape, one where you know your rapist and what it could do to you to never report it....never tell anyone...just let it fester inside of you. Told with exerts from each year of high school exposing her deep downward spiral.

Maybe he‘ll get what he deserves. Maybe not. Maybe I'll never find it in my heart to forgive him. And maybe there's nothing wrong with that, either. All those maybes swimming around my head make me think that "maybe" could just be another word for hope.

⭐️3/5 This book on the effects of sexual assault arguably does not add more to the conversation, but does add an interesting perspective of following the victim for years after the event.

For my full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1835599347

OOF. This was gutting. It‘s not easy most of the time—subject matter of course is traumatic & painful, and then also, even though you understand why Eden behaves the way she does, you still feel frustrated with her or just want her to stop and speak and help herself. But I‘m glad the book shows that sexual assault isn‘t just something that happens & then it‘s over—it can happen via memory over and over and over. Worth a read if you‘re able. 4/5 ⭐️

All these maybes swimming around my head make me think that “maybe” could just be another word for hope.

He has no way of knowing how sometimes it physically hurts to smile. How a smile can sometimes feel like the biggest lie I‘ve ever told.

This is gonna be tough, isn‘t it? #nowreading

Amber Smith has written a classic. She portrays the aftermath of sexual assault the most accurately out of any other book I have read, specifically the anger and disassociation the survivor experiences. I believe this should be required reading.

Eden was always good being good and starting high school doesn‘t change her. But the night her brother‘s best friend rapes, her world capsizes.

The story is told over 4 years after the rape happens. Starting in Eden‘s freshman year to senior year. One moment in someone life can change the entire course of it and this story shares what can be affected.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whoo I went 3 past my goal. I started the tagged book this morning and I‘m going to finish it today.

I only got a small amount of reading done over the weekend due to having terrible headaches Saturday and Sunday. ☹️

5/5 🌟
This book is fantastic. I highly recommend it.

Finished this and it is the most depressing book I have ever read. Like seriously asdfghjkl depressing! I don‘t know how to describe it though because this book give me pains, anger and annoyance all at the same time! This book was told from a first point of view; a girl that has been raped by her brother‘s best friend. It‘s all about the aftermath - for 4 years before the girl realise she has to do something about it. 3⭐️ for this one.

Eden‘s brother‘s best friend rapes her in her freshman year of High School. Heart wrenching. Amazing debut.

I wouldn‘t normally call a 366 page book a “read-in-one-sitting” kind of book, but that‘s exactly what this is. I started it right before dinner and stayed up late to finish it.
Heart-wrenching. Raw. Real. Hopeful. A captivating read.

TW: On page rape scene, sexual assault, substance abuse

[#BookReview] The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is a very heavy story about our main character who is raped by her brother‘s best friend. I think this story is an incredibly important one and I definitely recommend it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Full review:
http://heathersreadinghideaway.blogspot.com/2018/05/book-review-way-i-used-to-be...

This book really captured a lot of difficult issues many people are too uncomfortable to talk about. The entire book was riveting and it makes the reader uncomfortable to read sometimes. Going through this journey with Eden was a really interesting experience.

THIS IS SO GOOD. I AM CRYING HAPPY SAD TEARS AND I DO NOT CRY. Okay the all caps are gone, but seriously this is wonderful. I love that this story isn‘t picture perfect, and that we really get to see how Eden is affected by this tragic event in her life. This book isn‘t perfect, but that‘s why I love it. It‘s hard, but worth it. Dive on it with an open mind and tissues near by.

Currently reading!!!

A student lent me this. It‘s a quick read, I‘m thinking a 3.5 as of now. Just starting part 4.

I‘m a mess after reading this book-I have a headache from 😭 . The story of how Eden deals with being raped by her brother‘s friend is so heartbreaking and real. It was so hard to read and while it‘s a novel, it makes me so angry for all the people this has happened to.

My friend gave me this book today.

#humpdaypost 1. There are lots of things that fill me with joy but the main two are my newest little housemate 👶 and my best friend in the world!! 2. Right handed 3. Will always be passionate about children's education #teachersoflitsy and photography 4. Chicken Katsu Curry 5. If I could improve anything it would be better legislation for victims of rape

Just finished Part One and so far I'm "eh" regarding this one. Here's hoping it picks up for the remainder. #hurricanemariareadathon

So much work to be done, but I've chosen to relax and juggle these two reads on this fine Saturday. Sorry not sorry!!

Smith somehow gets all emotions absolutely right. The journey that Eden makes from innocent scared young girl to complete destruction and back again is heartbreaking. It was hard to realise how much I identified with this whole story.