The Way We Become

Eden and her fellow survivors look to the future in this powerful story of justice, autonomy, and healing told in multiple points of view—the powerful conclusion to the Way I Used to Be trilogy from internationally bestselling author Amber Smith. Eden struggled to find her voice for years after her brother’s friend Kevin raped her. It wasn’t until Kevin’s ex-girlfriend Gen and his sister, Amanda, came forward, that Eden knew she wasn’t alone. Determined to do everything in their power to pursue justice, Eden, Amanda, and Gen testified against Kevin in a trial that turned their lives inside out. In the wake of the judge’s decision, they are now expected to move on—all while grappling with the hurt and grief that are never far behind. Amanda is adrift finishing high school, Eden is still learning what it means to be in a healthy relationship, and college dropout Gen is struggling to find direction at all. On three different paths toward healing, each girl has to chart her own course forward to discover the woman she’ll become.

Amber Smith is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and internationally bestselling author of the young adult novels The Way I Used to Be, The Last to Let Go, Something Like Gravity, Fade into You, and The Way I Am Now. An advocate for increased awareness of gendered violence and LGBTQIA+ equality, she writes in the hope that her books can help foster change and spark dialogue. She lives in Ithaca, New York, with her wife and their ever-growing family of rescued dogs and cats. You can find her online at AmberSmithAuthor.com.