The Way I Used To Be

                                       

source;Google

Some books are so intriguing yet filled with too much hatred. You want to shut the book out of disappointment. Despite that, you keep on reading it, page after page because deep inside you know that this can’t be the ending. Well, this “debut novel” by Amber Smith (P.S. not giving you any spoilers) will give you the combination of hate and relief you might be looking for. 

The Way I Used to be is told in four parts chronicling each year of high school. The main protagonist is Eden, whose life was suddenly changed when her brother’s best friend molested her one night. Hence, changing everything she believed in, shattering every piece of her innocence, affecting her friendship, relationship and her environment.

“He holds my hand as we walk up the driveway. It feels like it’s million miles away, like it’s taken a million years to finally get here. But it gives me a chance to think. And I think.....”

-Eden

The book is filled with blends of emotions that it gets too personal as if you’re reading someone’s journal. Amber Smith gave a detailed description of Eden’s trauma that will bring out your deepest empathy. She has done a fantastic job in her debut novel, emphasizing that even though the broken pieces cannot be joined together, there is still a beacon of hope waiting out there for you. All we need is someone who wants to listen, to take care of us and to assure that everything is going to be fine.

You’ll just keep on waiting for that “maybe”.

Originally published- 22 march’16

Genre-Fiction

Author- Amber Smith