The Way I Used to Be
by Amber Smith
Book Overview
Eden McCrorey begins high school, and her brother’s best friend, Kevin, assaults her. She locks the truth away, drifts from those she loves, and crafts reckless personas to seize a sense of control. Her fiercest fight turns inward as shame, anger, and numb disconnection close in; if she stays silent, she risks losing herself and the people still reaching for her, even as she strains to claim her voice and heal.
This guide charts every chapter, profiles Eden and the wider cast, unpacks major themes—trauma, silence, identity, recovery—and gathers incisive quotes. Use it to navigate the plot, decode motivations, and sharpen your understanding of The Way I Used to Be.