DNF @ 40%

The way Amber Smith has marketed this book is so bizarre to me. It feels extremely tone-deaf and unnecessary to write a second chance romance centered around a traumatized rape victim while they continue to navigate healing from their assault by pursuing a toxic relationship. The Way I Used to Be worked well as a standalone and I appreciated the way Smith demonstrated the ways in which SA victims experience lasting symptoms of emotional and psychological trauma but to continue the story in an effort to give Eden and Josh a "fair shot at a healthy relationship" feels so gross. The promotional content for this book honed in so heavily on the second chance trope aspect of this book, it almost feels as if the SA was set up as some kind of pity porn in order to catalyze the romance... I can't bring myself to sit through the rest of the audiobook.

*An amazing continuation of "The Way I Was Before"
*Very well-written and easy to readd from cover to cover
*Great character development
*Highly recommend ( )

Amber Smith, this sequel is amazing. Although you could read it alone, I recommend you read the first book ‘The Way I Used to Be’ before this to get a full story. When you’re fighting your way back to self actualized control and freedom from fear, it takes some work. This is a story of that work, of trusting, of asking for and seeking help, of finally finding yourself again after the trauma you’ve endured and for standing your ground. Smith has done this in such a way that you become invested in the characters. You laugh, and yes, cry with them, and you become protective of them while you’re cheering them on for both themselves and each other. I am going to have such a book hangover from this one. Please consider continuing this story because I haven’t had enough of these characters or this plot!
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review ( )