Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

40 reviews

ananya2112's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

I don't think I even have the energy to form coherent sentences. I'm exhausted. But also, so glad I read this book. My heart reaches out to kids like Eden. Right now, I just want to cry my heart out. I cannot wait to read the upcoming sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

tdhuck's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cursing, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship

katycanum's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was the first book I finished in 24 hours in years. I am not sure if it was the writing style, or just the story. This is a book that needs to start being shared in schools, in communities. it captures it perfectly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

llalaluna's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Rape, Bullying, Child abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Cursing, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Mental illness

sierrabedwell's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow. What an emotional read. I read this in 3 days and couldn’t put it down. The main character truly takes you with her while she recovers from a traumatic incident throughout her years of highschool. She makes you feel her emotions. I would recommend to anyone but major trigger warning for SA. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Grief, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Drug abuse, and Drug use

isa_a_ster's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is a good read but difficult... lots of trigger warnings... Sometimes it was irritating too... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Rape

soobooksalot's review

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Self harm

hannaheatsbooks's review

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

1.5 stars

why is nobody talking about how discouraging this book is? there is no hope for survivors. even towards the end, when the author says there's this glimmer of hope, there really isn't. eden's bridges are burned, her reputation is marked, there is no trustworthy adult that we know of to carry her through her healing journey, and we certainly don't see an epilogue where she is making progress. justice may or may not come, and every person that eden does confide in is completely toxic. that police interview at the end? GROSS. but the author seems to think it was okay! and don't even get me started on eden's brother. and josh. oh boy. way to make it about you, dude - while cheating on your girlfriend as well?!!?! this book is trauma porn, full of a wild series of harmful events rooted in an exaggerated slut-shaming culture, with absolutely nobody to pull eden, a teenage girl, from rock bottom.

if i were a young girl considering whether to come forward with a crime committed against me, this would certainly deter me from telling anybody. there are no adults you can trust. young girls deserve better than this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

justanotherreaderofwords's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved watching Eden grow and change especially after she had to deal with life-altering issues. It was amazing to see her learn to use her voice and regain her family after allowing them into her world and letting them know the truth. There were so many tears that I shed because I understood and I felt like the book broke me but it definitely brought me back towards the end. I am super excited to read the next book coming out this year and to see what happens next with Eden, her friends and family. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Mental illness, and Sexual assault