The Way I Used to Be
2 books
The Way I Used to Be series by Amber Smith has 2 books. Start with The Way I Used to Be (2016), then read the rest in the order below.
The Way I Used to Be reading order
The Way I Used to Be
Amber Smith
Eden was once a high-achieving, well-liked teenager with a clear sense of who she was—until a devastating assault by someone she trusted fractures her world. Over the course of her four years of high school, she struggles to conceal what happened while navigating shifting friendships, family tensions, first love, and the painful complexities of growing up. Told with emotional honesty and psychological depth, this powerful coming-of-age novel explores trauma, silence, identity, and the difficult path toward healing. Ultimately, it is a poignant story of resilience and the strength it takes to reclaim one’s life.
Way I Am Now
Amber Smith
As Eden begins college, she must navigate the emotional aftermath of sexual assault while preparing to face the legal system and the public scrutiny surrounding her case. When she reconnects with Josh, a former love carrying the effects of his father’s alcoholism, their renewed relationship offers comfort—but also brings difficult questions about trust, healing, and whether love can survive profound trauma. Set against the pressures of college life and an impending trial, this powerful contemporary novel explores recovery, resilience, justice, and the complicated path toward reclaiming one’s identity.