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The Way I Used to Be
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault.Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didnt change who she was. But the night her brothers best friend rapes her, Edens world capsizes. What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once lovedwho she once lovedshe now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows shes supposed to tell someone what happened but she cant. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be. Told in four partsfreshman, sophomore, junior, and senior yearthis provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young womans strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.
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Kris10H
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Pickpick

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.

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ncayea
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Mehso-so

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.

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Jeanelle
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
Mehso-so

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.

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SassyPants617
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Next up 🤓

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BookishGirl06
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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

BookishGirl06 It kind of reminds me of speak in some ways 6mo
61 likes1 comment
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Kat3390
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Mehso-so

Very sad. Loved how she took back her power at the end.

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Samasaurr
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.🥺

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Samasaurr
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Definitely making this quote into a decal for my room.🥰📖☕️

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kimsaunders
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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I really enjoyed reading this book. It really hits on some important topics about SA and the lasting effects that it has on victims.

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NikkiKey94
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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kimsaunders
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith

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

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Annie1215
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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!

TheAromaofBooks Yay bingo!!! 3y
44 likes1 comment
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Lovesbooks87
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

Lovesbooks87 This is my first BINGO for this months #bookspin bingo. Also @TheAromaofBooks I have read my #doublebookspin this month but it was a bail and I forgot to post it. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! And thanks for letting me know about your other book!! 3y
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chloeturchyn
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

chloeturchyn She‘s also fearful of what Kevin, her rapist, would do if anyone were to find out seeing as he had threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Before Eden was assaulted, she was a down to earth girl who loved her family, band, and school, originally she thought of Kevin as a brother. 3y
chloeturchyn Dealing with this trauma on your own is an extremely hard thing to do, because of this Eden turns to a lot of poor alternatives to help her try to get control of her own body again. Mara is Edens best friend, she follows Eden through this journey, unknowing of what Eden endured. Josh is Edens first love, also unknowing of what she had gone through. Both Josh and Mara help her through her trauma. 3y
chloeturchyn After a long time of turning to drugs, alcohol, and sex, Eden ends up pushing away Josh and Mara while also losing her passion for the things she once loved. After Eden was assaulted she convinces herself she will never be capable of love which is the reason for distancing herself from everyone and everything. 3y
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chloeturchyn If you enjoy books that really make you empathize and understand what someone may be going through then I recommend this book. 3y
chloeturchyn A recurring motif in this book is resilience. Eden is continuously knocked down. This is an extremely hard experience for anyone to deal with and it took Eden a very long time to come face to face with it but in the end she did. She found her strength and she told her truth. 3y
chloeturchyn This experience can lead to many harmful things and even suicide for many people but Eden managed to stay strong and she made it through her battle no matter how hard times got. 3y
MissYaremcio This looks incredible! I am so adding it to my to-read list! 6/6 3y
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BookMad7
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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

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FelinesAndFelonies
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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✔️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. ❤️

shortsarahrose Good job finishing the semester 👏 I have a PowerPoint presentation to finish up and then I will be done! So close! 3y
FelinesAndFelonies @shortsarahrose I definitely contemplated just not doing the paper and being done. But... That's not what I do. Keep going!! You're almost there! 3y
Elizabeth2 Oh Ove! How I loved Ove! But be prepared for a book hangover after reading that one! 3y
12 likes3 comments
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Sanya__2220
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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AudiobookingWithLeah
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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❐ 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.

15 likes1 comment
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elisebarker
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Pickpick

Wow. This was a powerful book. It follows a girl from her freshman year of high school to her senior year-starting when she was raped her Freshman year by a family friend. The ending was awesome and I felt very real. Great read for those who don‘t understand why women don‘t speak up right away.

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CollapsingLibrary
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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CollapsingLibrary
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Mehso-so

⭐️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

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alisonrose
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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 ⭐️

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alisonrose
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith

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

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alisonrose
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith

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.

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alisonrose
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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alisonrose
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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This is gonna be tough, isn‘t it? #nowreading

Booknerd222 Definitely, but it‘s also definitely worth the read. 5y
blondie This is one of my favorites. ❤ 5y
41 likes2 comments
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Meganphil
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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. ☹️

Anitareads Amazing! 🎉👏 5y
JaclynW Wow! 5y
Alfoster Yippee!👏👏👏👏 5y
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AmyG Holy cow! 🙌🏻 5y
DivineDiana Unbelievable! 👏🏻📚👏🏻 5y
JoScho Well done!!! 🥳❤️🥳❤️🥳 5y
52 likes6 comments
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Lisas.Library
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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5/5 🌟
This book is fantastic. I highly recommend it.

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tiarabooks
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

thereadingowlvina This book sounds sad! 😥 6y
16 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JanuarieTimewalker13
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Eden‘s brother‘s best friend rapes her in her freshman year of High School. Heart wrenching. Amazing debut.

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rainbowlibrarian
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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HeathersReadingHideaway
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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...

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Sarahmet1221
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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willow.so
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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AdventuresInPages
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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Lilasbooks411
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Currently reading!!!

14 likes1 stack add
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Mrs_Black
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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A student lent me this. It‘s a quick read, I‘m thinking a 3.5 as of now. Just starting part 4.

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Lauren_reading
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

Suet624 😭😭😭 6y
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amandavenska
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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tojuxtapose This is a beautiful cover, I‘ve never seen this one before. 6y
amandavenska @KCCOkatey hello:) yes its a beautiful cover. Its indonesian version for the way i used to be 6y
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JanJan
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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My friend gave me this book today.

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Nikki15
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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#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

MinDea That is such a lovely beautiful photo of you and your best friend! 6y
Nikki15 @MinDea Thanks! It's the only one where I look vaguely decent 😂 6y
MinDea You look beautiful in both photos! 6y
20 likes3 comments
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gibblr
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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Just finished Part One and so far I'm "eh" regarding this one. Here's hoping it picks up for the remainder. #hurricanemariareadathon

Purrfectpages Hope you're staying safe! 7y
tpixie Hope you stay safe!! 7y
rachelm Thinking about you all in PR! Hope to hear good updates soon 🙏 7y
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Bklover Hoping you are safe! 7y
tpixie Hope you are safe, have water and a roof. 🤗 7y
PurpleyPumpkin Thinking about you and hoping your safe. 💜 7y
litmuggle Hope your safe this is one I'm wanting to read 7y
TheBookStacker Hope you're safe!!!!!!! 7y
83 likes8 comments
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gibblr
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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So much work to be done, but I've chosen to relax and juggle these two reads on this fine Saturday. Sorry not sorry!!

Hollie The yellow/gray cover is stunning! 7y
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Nikki15
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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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.

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Nikki15
The Way I Used to Be | Amber Smith
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This is a subject so close to my heart and I hope this book does what I want it to do. Dealing with issues like these will never be easy but the more we make talking about them normal; the easier it will be to heal from it. ❤️