The Way I Used to Be

By: Amber Smith

Narrated by: Rebekkah Ross

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times bestseller! In the tradition of Speak, Amber Smith's extraordinary debut novel “is a heart-twisting, but ultimately hopeful, exploration of how pain can lead to strength” (The Boston Globe).

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, all while learning to embrace the power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.

©2016 Amber Smith. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hard to read, but didn't stop tell it ended

Tears, tears, tears. Good story that everyone should hear. Everyone needs to understand the fear that she felt for so long.

The Way I Used to Be

I picked this book because of the cover and the title. Something about it made me pick it up and I am glad I did.

There are some serious topics going on so if you’re a trigger warnings kind of person this one has it all.

The narrator does an incredible job of making you feel what Eden feels. Her story isn’t unique which is so unfortunate. And the highs and lows she goes through to get to where she was at the end is truly a rollercoaster.

To see how this affects not only the person it happened to but everyone around them it can really bring it all into prospective.

Again the narration is fantastic.

Raw and stunning

This book was, in so many ways, such an honest and humble account of a girls trials and turbulent ions through something that so many people have experienced. The dialogue was so believable and the internal dialogue almost allows you to believe hat it's your own thoughts. I am blown away by how excellent this novel is and look forward to reading many more books by Amber Smith.

Wow

Just wow. I had been contemplating listening to this book for months now and I finally did today. What a beautiful and heart wrenching story. It’s one that I didn’t even know I needed to hear.

Roller coaster of emotions

This story made me mad, frustrated, sad and broke my heart. It’s worth the read though I wish there was more to the story.

Great read!!

Couldn’t stop listening! As a middle school counselor it brought to light how a student’s behavior speaks volumes to what’s going on inside.

Shocking and compelling

This book was so real, so raw. I could not stop listening. It's a hard story to hear but an important one. A must read.

a good book for young women to listen to

I wish I found this book sooner. I also wish I didn't relate to it.

Authentic Reality

Wow. Wow. Wow. For those of us who are part of the 18% (possibly more) and never found the courage to speak up - it will open your eyes to the lifelong emotional damage that rape can cause. My last 37 years was just explained in this 9 hr book. Highly recommend!

Deep

This book is deep. It is something that’s relatable to for a lot of girls. It was very well written.