A New York Times bestseller. In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel “is a poignant book that realistically looks at the lasting effects of trauma on love, relationships, and life” (School Library Journal, starred review). Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes. … friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.
What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved–who she once loved–she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.
Told in four parts–freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year–this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, all while learning to embrace the power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.more
One of my favorite books! I read it in February 2018 and still think about it often. Raw, Real, and Emotional! Eden’s story is unforgettable! This book is an emotional roller coaster that takes you through Eden’s four years of high school and shows how one moment can drastically and forever change the course of your life! I cannot recommend it enough!
I really liked the book, it was a little frustrating at times but it was worth the read. Had to take a break from the book a couple times because of the heavy topic. It gets a little graphic and is not for the faint of heart.
*Spoiler maybe*
I though it was unique to brake the book up in to the different “parts” for every year that goes by.
I picked this book up with the intention to read half of the book or get close to half. I ended up reading this book in one night. A total of 6 hours. I could not put this book down. #iameden
It took me no time at all to get into this book. I will say that this book is about rape if you didn’t already know that and serve as a trigger. But this is a book people should pick up.
I have read a number of books about rape and they each shed a different light on how it affects the victim of the trauma. I feel that The Way I Used to Be is the gritty and ugly side affects that affect some. Eden is not a perfect character, she is completely broken down and spiraling down a hole of self-destruction. The book starts off with the trauma and follows her through each year of school(freshman to senior). She only gets worse as the years go by. Eden finds comfort in alcohol, drugs, and anonymous sex. She treats her friends like crap and says some real shitty things to her parents and those she cares about. Its all a cry for help, but no one answers.
This story brought me to tears. The Way I Used to Be is not meant to be a happy ending. It is not a road of self-discovery or eve recovery, but the beginning. Its about the aftermath. Something terrible happened to Eden and its eating her up inside, she has no one to tell, no one to share her burden with, and she feels dead inside. Numb. That’s what this book is about. You will not see her growth, only her deterioration. Its the ugliness that I loved. I felt its truth and it hit me so hard I cried for Eden’s pain. It felt like looking in a mirror.
The truth is some people never get better or get the help they need after being raped. Some people keep all that hate inside them for so long they completely lose themselves. When this book ended, the reader doesn’t know what happens to Eden. No idea what her future holds and whether she is ok or not. That’s the point. The last page of this book is end of the story, but the beginning for Eden, a step in the right direction towards healing.
So I loved this book. It resonates with me. I cried unashamedly. This book was not about a happy ending even though I desperately wanted it to. I wanted her to be happy and find love and not be scared anymore. I wanted her to heal. I’m so glad books like this are written. Its not pretty. There’s slut-shaming, unsafe sex practices, and one bitchy teen who seems to be on the war path. But rape is real, it sadly happens, and usually by the people you least expect. This book is an example of how destructive it can be. Trust me I know. If that is something you can handle then I highly recommend you pick this book up.
What…did…I…just…read.
Right off the bat the author rips your heart open, floods your eyes and drops you to your knees…where you stay for the majority of the book.
This is NOT an easy book to read but sadly is a story most of us are familiar with, whether directly or indirectly. My heart…I could barely breathe through most of this.
The author writes with such shocking clarity and devastating openness that you FEEL what Eden is going through and are drawn into her chaotic emotions and mental struggles. You can’t help but get angry…cry…feel lost…feel worthless…without hope.
Despite the tragic topic this is a well-written story. I had no idea going into this what to expect so fair warning…I don’t recommended for those with a sensitivity to rape as this delves deeply into the psychological aftermath of a young teen who is assaulted.
This book made me realize that all people are different. I know that sounds really cheesy but let me explain. I always thought that if someone gets abused in any way, shape or form they should come out and say it, but I never realized that if they say something about it…there would be some controversy. I also thought that anyone who’s been through anything bad/hard are blocked off from the rest of the world, or they never want to come out of their house, this book showed me that everyone has their own experiences and they all act a different way.
deep and haunting.
An incredible representation of someone dealing with intense trauma. A tearjerker that is certain to impact you.
I like this book because it hits close to home. It’s so inspirational and realistic that honestly….. I’ve read this book 8 times. I will never get sick of it.