Editorial Content for The Way I Used to Be
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
THE WAY I USED TO BE is the powerful debut novel written by Amber Smith. This novel approaches the tough topic of sexual assault and walks us through the time after something like this happens. The main character, Eden, is raped by her brother’s best friend during her freshman year of high school. Although she was always a good, "perfect" girl, her trauma changes her entirely, putting her at odds with the people around her. The story follows her journey through her high school years dealing with the aftermath of the assault.
"THE WAY I USED TO BE will make you angry, tense and frustrated, but you will be glad you read it."
This book is really hard for me to review. I sat down to read this book expecting to read one chapter at a time and ended up reading the whole thing all at once. It wasn’t really what I expected, but it ended up leaving a lasting impression on me. I do think it respectfully approached rape culture in a way that felt really authentic. The cast of secondary characters was diverse and they were really frustrating in the way that you just wanted to scream at them to make them realize what happened to Eden. I think Amber Smith told this story realistically and that is its strongest feature. My only complaint was the lack of resolution --- I really wanted more of Eden in the end; it was almost like the story was just missing a few pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel very much, and it is going to stick with me for a long time. I think this book would be eye-opening for anyone in high school or even an older reader. It really shines a spotlight on issues in our society that people are afraid to talk about --- which, of course, only exacerbates these sorts of issues. I think this book could open up the conversation in a smart, appropriate way. THE WAY I USED TO BE will make you angry, tense and frustrated, but you will be glad you read it.
Teaser
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. 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.
Promo
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. 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.
About the Book
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 didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best 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, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.
