From the bestselling author of the Young Adult novel “Away From Here” and “Our Story” comes a HEA contemporary romance of overcoming the obstacles of mental illness, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding redemption in another human being.BLURB:We were destined to never end up together. You an empath, and me the woman who can’t feel anything. It never should have worked.Then our hands … worked.Then our hands brushed together. It was serendipity—a happy accident that made me experience the world like I never had before. You said all the right words, and for a time I remembered what it felt like to be alive.But my shadows have returned, threatening to extinguish the light you brought into my life, and I’m terrified that our future together is slipping away. I need you now, Brandon. I need you to chase away the demons, to make me whole, and to teach me once again what it means to love. Now only one question remains. . .Will you?
*NOT suitable for those under 18. Contains mature themes of depression, suicide, and mental illness that may be inappropriate for those readers under 18 years of age.
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There are so many wonderful things to say about this book. The journey one goes through with depression and anxiety is never easy. Christopher has maintained the integrity of this issue and its impact on oneself as well as others. Brandon and Lia’s path to becoming who they are and can be is beautifully written. It was a truly heartfelt read.
“Tell me something that I don’t know about you that I should. Anything at all.”
“Anything?”
“Whatever you have hidden in the depths of that soul of yours. No pressure though. Just your deepest secret.”
“Easy. I want to kiss you. Really badly.”
Wow. Just wow. Another emotional masterpiece by Mr. Harlan. He has such a delicate, yet real way of tackling a very difficult topic – Depression. The characters are real -not just personas on paper. At least they seem real to me. I hurt right along side them. I felt their struggles, anxieties and fears. And I loved them both.
Talia has struggled with her anxiety and depression for years. Her parents don’t really “get” her. She has one good friend and a sister that have seen her through her “spells”. The worst result of all of this? Indifference. She doesn’t feel, she just exists through each day. Relationship after relationship dies a slow, choking death at her own hands as her partners reach their breaking point. Looking in the mirror, she struggles to find the girl she used to be, but all she sees is who she has become. Until him. Brandon. She’s at ease with him. She enjoys being with him and talking with him. And he makes her feel things she hasn’t in some time – Wanted. Sexy. Dare she say….happy?
But, their first encounter stared out with a lie. One that, if she doesn’t come clean, has the power to take him away from her. Can she risk it? Should she? Is she doomed to repeat her own history and destroy any chance they have, or is it possible that they can heal each other?
I swear, every book I read from Christopher is better than the last. He has an uncanny ability to draw you in to the story line and to the characters to the point you feel as if you actually know them. You feel what they feel. You cry with them, laugh with them, and your chest hurts when they encounter heartache. Depression is no joke and managing it to simply get through the day can be a seemingly insurmountable task. The way Christopher addresses it in his writing is truly brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of this author and his works. I highly recommend this book, and any others from this author to everyone.
The subject is something I know only too well. Talia and Brandon are people I know. I guess I’m saying the premise of the story is familiar. Talia, in the way she chooses to handle her …I don’t know to call it a problem, situation…illness. She hides it and just expects people to understand, if they know her,or she colorfully makes up lies to hide it if it’s a stranger….
In enters Brandon, a genuine soul that is totally opposite…maybe, to some degree. The chemistry is automatically off the charts when they meet, both in a sense needing and longing for one another. But of course, the truth is revealed and it can only bring them closer or split them apart.
This is a love story that stole my heart and soul. It dealt with real life situations that made it relatable to me so much so that it truly squeezed my heart. I love these two characters, they showed me no matter what, there is nothing that you can’t stand up to, nor break you, when there are true loving hearts involved.
A great novel. The story is written well, characters could be real. Loved the way they are written with a flaw, just like a real person. Love the way the story plays out. And a very good story for anyone who has depression to identify with.
From the first word, on the first page of “The Me That I Became”, I was swept away by Talia’s sadness, hopelessness and desperation whose depression had held her back from truly enjoying life. From the moment their hands touched at the bookstore, she could sense that her connection with Brandon would be explosive, romantic, intense and something she had never felt before. Brandon is handsome, witty, smart and hangs onto her every word. She yearns to touch his body, kiss his sexy mouth and feel his arms wrapped tightly around her. Maybe she will feel normal with Brandon because of how strong her feelings are for him, but Talia can’t shake the feeling that Brandon will find out about her illness before she has a chance to tell him. How would he feel about her then?
There is nothing Talia can do when the depression seeps into her body except sit and wait for it to take over her mind. The person she was before ceases to exist and she is left with someone she doesn’t want to know. The connection she feels with Brandon has given her a glimpse into the person she used to be and would love to be again.
Every time I read a book by Christopher Harlan I think that it will be his best work, until he publishes his next book. His books make you feel, think, laugh and cry. You keep reading late into the night because you are afraid that if you put the book down, you will miss something you cannot get back. You will never forget Talia and Brandon because fate brought them together so they could begin to emerge from the darkness that existed in both of their lives. I know that I won’t soon forget their emotional journey that Christopher has so brilliantly written for us.
This was an emotional journey of the relationship of Lia and Brandon. They met in a bookstore and the relationship immediately started out on a lie. See Lia suffers from depression, and she did not want Brandon to know about it right off the bat. Of course, the lie lingers for a while and becomes bigger and bigger as she has to expand on it during their conversations. Brandon was just the exact person that Lia needed to come into her life. Eventually, they she comes clean and they discuss the next steps of their relationship and without giving any of that away, this does have a good ending.
This has got to be my favorite book so far by Christopher Harlan. He just keeps on improving and I love the more emotional stuff that he writes. He really nailed depression on the head, how it feels to be suffering from it, people not understanding it, navigating adulthood and relationships while suffering from it. Lia comes to accept this as a part of her and no longer an issue she takes “dirty little secret” pills for.
If you are looking for an emotional, truthful, real-life read, then don’t hesitate to pick up this book!
Christopher Harlan brings a beautiful, heartwarming story about some very difficult, but relevant subject matter to life. His undertaking of a young woman with depression and anxiety is the back drop for this tale. However this book is so much more.
Talia’s life has been ruled by mental illness. She finds herself existing in the shadows instead of really living life. She has sabotaged her relationships and uses her few close friends as a crutch to help her. She rarely feels good, but doesn’t know how to break out this darkness that overtakes her. Yet things take a positive turn when she meets Brandon. He is hot, sweet and funny. Their chemistry is instant and they find themselves starting a friendship and closeness that she has never felt with any others. However, Talia is not completely truthful with Brandon and their new closeness is threatened by lies.
Talia recognizes that she cannot keep repeating the same things in attempt to get better. Brandon has past issues that need his attention to heal as well. Her strength and resilience help her deal with her anxiety and depression. It is with time, motivation and hard work that ultimately the fog lifts and she can begin living again.
This is a wonderful love story, with a true message of the challenges people live with everyday.
Another amazing book from Christopher Harlan.
I really enjoyed Talia and Brandon’s story. It was so well written. For those of us that have not dealt with depression, it was a real eye-opener. We take so much for granted. What I take from this book, is a better understanding and hopefully a more sympathetic outlook on such a terrible disease.
I don’t even know where to start. Talia and Brandon’s story really resonated with me and I imagine that it will do the same with everyone who reads it. No spoilers here, but I came away from this story with a better understanding and a desire to see how, if at all, I can provide better support in someone’s journey. Amazing read.
I loved Talia and Brandon’s story. It felt so real and different. Not your conventional type of romance. The both had issues to work through and I like that they take the time to do it. I was upset with her at first for how she acted, but completely understand why she felt she needed to do it.
If you have ever read any of my previous reviews, then you know what a stickler I am for details and consistency, and that I have a very hard time suspending reality. However, every now and then I come across a book that has such an impact that I can over look these things, this is one of those books.
Contemporary romance meets the reality of depression and how it can affect a relationship. People who suffer from depression are all afflicted in different ways, no two stories are truly the same. Some cope better than others; some hide it better than others; and some find that perfect balance of meds and some don’t. This story examines a little slice of each of these situations in some regard, which only proves how unique every is with (and even without) depression. The highs and lows that the heroine must go through to have this epiphany about her life is an eye opener.
While I would have liked a little more character development because things felt a little rushed, this was some of the most organic dialogue (in my opinion) that I’ve read from the author.
The Me That I Became is a wonderful novel that addresses and portrays the life of someone that deals with anxiety and depression. This is a subject that many people do not understand unless they suffer from it. Harlan does an excellent job of relating how the mind can be a slippery slope when it comes to mental health. You understand and feel the highs and lows that depression and anxiety brought Lia. Enter Brandon, a great man that sees Lia for who she really is, despite the negative tapes in her head that tell her otherwise. They have a strong connection. Both characters need healing. Will Lia be able to get past her hurdles in order to love herself and allow someone to love her? This is a very deep and emotional story and digs deep into the inner workings of a person with depression. Another great Harlan book!
The Me That I Became
By Christopher Harlan
5 shining stars
This has to be hands down the best book I’ve read all year! This book means the world to me.
See, I suffer from bipolar depression and anxiety. It’s a tough fight.
The characters in this book touch me in so many ways. It is an emotional roller coaster. The Author really writes us a good story. It’s a must read. Very highly recommended.
Your perfect Husband is in this book. Christopher Harlan makes all of our wishes come true. However the main issue, depression is written in a way for us to understand the struggles that a person with depression goes through. Need more of this story!!!
Another great read by Christopher Harlan. The Me That I Became is a beautiful novel about self acceptance and love that is universal. This story takes you through the journey of a young woman dealing with anxiety and depression. The beautiful thing about Christopher Harlan’s writing is that the reader is able to put themselves in the character’s head space and so you not only experience the ups and downs but also the OMG moments that make the characters that more real and genuine . He tackles the subject with such honestly that you can’t help but root for Thalia to find her happily ever after.
Thalia has become quite the expert at wearing the mask that she wants everyone to believe is her. A chance encounter with a stranger Brandon, changes her perspective and forces her to question who she really is. Throughout the novel you see the facade that she has put up when dealing with others chip away; so she is forced to deal with the REAL Thalia; flaws and all.
One thing that I loved about this book is that Brandon has looked at Thalia has beautiful despite how she might feel about herself. The chemistry between these two characters was great from the start. You saw right away that Brandon had a special connection with her and so as their relationship progressed she had no choice but confront her demons if she wanted to have a meaningful relationship with him. This book was a lesson in self acceptance, love healing . It was a raw look at how two people came together despite their pasts and how they helped each other become who they were meant to be- a better version of themselves. I would definitely recommend this book without hesitation. Great job Christopher!!
What an amazing emotionally charged broken beautiful love story.I need more Talia and Brandon
While there are still a couple of Christopher Harlan books I’ve yet to read, this book, is currently my absolute favorite Christopher Harlan book. This journey into mental illness, clinical depression, guilt, and pain was not an easy journey at all. It never is really. I don’t think any of us can say we have never had someone who suffers from this kind of illness, whether or not we actively know it or believe it to be. Mental illness is everywhere in some form in each of our circles and finding the ability to–I hate to use the word “deal” with it–embrace it whether in ourselves or in others is a truly, incredibly hard thing to do. I easily saw friends and family members in Lia while she is describing her thoughts, her actions and her inactions. The blame game, the lying game, the pretending game. All of it was so real to me and I’m ashamed that in some instances, I didn’t react as well as I should have. Christopher writes a truly potent, amazing book that delves into the mind of the depressed as well as to the minds of those who surround that person and all the pain that it encompasses. It is all at once raw and gritty and beautiful and sexy.
One of the best books I have read this year. Loved Lia and Brandon. They were meant to cross paths so that they could help each other heal and be better versions of themselves. Lots of emotions in this book. Highly recommended. Thanks Christopher for such a wonderful story.
Wow, I am speeches after reading this book.. It really touched my heart because I deal with bad depression.. I really understand what Talia was going thought.. Please check this book out once it is released.. You will not be sorry
This book is quite the emotional journey as we read Talia’s thoughts and anxieties. I think the author did a spectacular job writing about the difficult and often misunderstood subject of depression. I loved these characters so much, and how great they were together. Very well written!! Highly recommended!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.*