My Honest Review of The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
My Honest Review of The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
Hey, my beautiful readers! Welcome back to My Sassy Stories, where I share my life honestly what I've experienced, how I felt, and what each season has taught me. Today I'm back in my reading corner with my honest The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith review, and y'all, this one had me in my feelings. So, let's get into today's story.
Heads up before we start: this book deals with sexual assault and trauma, so please take care of yourself while reading this review.
Why The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith Was a Five-Star Read
Let me start by saying this book was a five-star read for me. The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith was emotional, frustrating, heartbreaking, and so real all at the same time. This is one of those books where you sit there thinking about the character long after you close it.
What really stood out to me was how much Eden was carrying by herself.
She went through something traumatic, and instead of telling the people closest to her, she held it in. She was scared, confused, hurt, and trying to figure out how to keep living her life like everything was normal when deep down, everything had changed.
That part really stuck with me.
What This Book Taught Me About Speaking Up
One of the biggest things I learned from this book is to speak up.
At the end of the day, you should not be afraid to tell your family or somebody you trust when something is going on with you. Keeping something painful bottled up inside can affect the way you think, the way you act, your relationships, and even the way you see yourself.
I also learned that it is okay to express yourself.
Sometimes we think we have to deal with everything alone because we don't want people asking questions, judging us, worrying about us, or looking at us differently. But the people who truly love you need to know when something is wrong. You don't have to tell everybody your business, but having at least one person you can trust and talk to can make all the difference.
Pay Attention to the People Around You
Another thing this book reminded me of is to always be aware of the people around you.
You can be kind and friendly, but you still need boundaries. You still need to pay attention to how people treat you and how they make you feel. Everybody who is around you is not necessarily somebody you should trust completely.
The Part That Made This Story Even Harder
What made this story even harder was the connection between Eden, the person who hurt her, and her friend.
Her friend was his sister.
That alone made everything more complicated, because now you're dealing with fear, friendship, family connections, and this huge secret all at once. I kept wondering how Eden was ever going to tell the truth when telling the truth could change so many relationships around her.
By the end, when she finally tells her brother what happened and he helps her tell their parents, I was so glad she wasn't carrying everything completely alone anymore.
And yall that ending definitely made me want the second book.
I already know I'm going to read The Way I Am Now because I need to know what happens next. I especially want to know what happens with her friend. Is Eden going to tell her what happened? How is her friend going to react knowing it was her own brother? How is Eden going to move forward now that her family knows?
I have questions. 😂
How This Book Shows Trauma Over Time
What I also appreciated about The Way I Used to Be is that it showed how trauma can change somebody over time. Eden didn't just go through something and magically get over it. You could see how what happened affected different parts of her life her choices, her emotions, and the way she connected with people.
That made the story feel so much more realistic to me.
My Biggest Takeaway
My biggest takeaway from The Way I Used to Be is this: don't suffer in silence.
Speak up. Find somebody you trust. Let people know when something is wrong. And if somebody hurts you, what happened to you is not something you should have to carry alone while everybody else gets to keep living like nothing happened.
I would definitely read this book again, and I absolutely recommend it to anybody who likes emotional books that really make you think and feel.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
And yes, The Way I Am Now is officially on my reading list, because after that ending, I need to know what happens next.
What I Learned
What I learned from this experience is that every season good or difficult has something to teach us. My journey is still unfolding, but I'm growing, healing, and trusting God along the way.
Now I want to hear from you: Who is the one person in your life you know you can always be honest with? Tell me about them in the comments.
If this review brought up something heavy for you, please know support is available. In the U.S., the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673.
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