This book took years off my life – and not in a good way. I had to DNF eventually because while the idea had promise, the execution gave absolutely nothing.

The writing was flat, repetitive, and juvenile – “This happened, then that happened” – with barely any emotional depth. The first act was painfully insufferable, full of immature characters and clunky narration. Things improved slightly in the later parts, but by then I was too checked out to care. The story dragged with unnecessary filler and characters who added nothing.

I usually appreciate books that explore difficult themes, but this one didn't say anything new or meaningful. Instead of being a powerful look at trauma or growth, it felt hollow, confused, and directionless. The message on mental health fell short, and the ending didn’t make up for how exhausting the rest of the journey was.

Good concept. Terrible follow-through.

The description of this book--a pair of teens acting in the title roles of Romeo and Juliet with a sizeable age gap (14 and 18) who fall into a forbidden relationship--is much different from what actually plays out. I was drawn to the book because of the description and turned off by the book because of the amount of telling that happens. A good portion of the book comes from therapy sessions between the female lead and her therapist. Neither of the main characters seems to learn from their mistakes or grow. I found myself having a very hard time finishing the book because the two characters kept falling into the same patterns of behavior.

A well written very emotional story. Some very serious subjects are covered in this book, but it dealt with in a way that makes the reader understand. An important YA book.

Title: This is me trying
Author: Jenna Adams
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Mental health
Release Date: 14 of October of 2025
My Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to Unbound and NetGalley for the ARC.
“This is Me Trying” by Jenna Adams is a great book that explores codependency, depression and many other things in a way that just makes it seem simple. From how the writing flowed easily and spun the story into something much more from what was expected, to the short chapters that kept you captivated throughout, the book maintains a compelling rhythm throughout. Its strength lies in how subtely it tackles complex emotions with a tone that feels accessible, honest, and thoughprovoking. Rather than dramatizing mental health struggles, it presents them with a quiet realism that resonates deeply.
With all that being said, while the book is very well-written and meaningful, it didn’t fully land for me on a personal level. When i was reading the book, i felt that there was something that was just missing — a layer of character connection that could have made the story feel more immersive. It felt like I was observing something at a stand-by rather than being pulled into the story and feeling what the main character felt in the moment. Still, it’s a book worth reading for the way it handles heavy topics with care and clarity.

Thank you to Netgalley and Unbound Publishing for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm giving this one 1.5 stars.

<b>A coming of age YA novel that explores deeper topics such as depression, codependency, and toxic relationships.</b>

"This is me trying" is primarily a story about a 14-year-old girl named Brooke who gets into a relationship with 18 year old Matt. Not only is their relationship unhealthy for obvious reasons, but Brooke also struggles with feelings of anxiety and depression.
The story is being told from both Matts and Brookes' perspective, and there are time gaps. Both characters get older as we read on.
The story takes a turn when Brooke decides to leave everyone behind when she turns 18 and moves to another country where she tries to become an independent person and confront her traumatic past.

I wanted to like this book, but I don't think it worked for me. The writing seemed very juvenile, which worked in the beginning when the characters were still young, but not later on. I love YA, but the characters were incredibly unlikeable, and their actions were selfish. It actually made it hard to get through the book.

I've read another review where someone pointed out this book is meant to make you uncomfortable which is true, but there being no resolution or consequences for any of the characters actions doesn't sit right with me.

I also don't feel like either character really grew as a person, neither was I rooting for them or relating to either. (And this is coming from me, someone who does struggle with anxiety and depression)

Overall, I can not recommend the book. Some of the themes seem a little too heavy for a YA novel (the statutory rape as well as there being no consequence for it), but the writing is too immature to be classified as an Adult book.
I've forced myself to read this because I was approved for the ARC, but if I picked this out of my own volition, I would have DNFed it a long time ago.

Book Rating: 4.5/5 (ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK)
This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a heavy, emotional, and unforgettable read. It’s one of those stories that will stay with me forever. 😭 It gutted me in the best way possible. Jenna Adams delivers a haunting and emotionally intense debut that left me speechless more than once.

It’s raw. It’s uncomfortable. It’s real.

When I first read the blurb and saw early thoughts from others, I expected something emotional, but I didn’t expect to be this deeply affected or to feel like every chapter was hitting me in the chest. It was hard to even shorten this review without giving too much away because I truly loved this book. It’s heavy that I’m still struggling to put my thoughts into words. There were moments where I had to close the app, set my phone down, and just breathe because I was either tearing up or trying to process things.

This book carries intense emotional weight. It dives deep into grief, heartbreak, depression, healing, and growth. Told through a gripping dual timeline, it explores complex and layered themes like mental health, age gaps, co-dependency, trauma, blurred consent, and sexual assault in such a raw and honest way.

The writing is beautiful, but the story is unflinching and incredibly real. It makes you reflect not just on the characters and what they’ve endured, but on your own life, your choices, and the things we sometimes overlook. I honestly can’t imagine going through what these characters did. It hit me hard, and I know it’s a story I’ll never forget.

This was my first read from Jenna Adams, and I already know it won’t be my last. I’ll absolutely be recommending it with a content warning, yes, but also with the reminder that some stories are worth the ache.

Characters and thoughts:

The characters in this book were complex, and while I liked them individually, I didn’t always agree with their actions, either as individuals or as a couple. There were many moments where I found myself thinking I would have done things differently. However, the more I read, the more I understood some of their choices.

The protagonist’s actions, silence, and pain came from a place that made sense within her circumstances. Despite being surrounded by people who cared, her deep loneliness left her feeling isolated. She’s not perfect, but that made her relatable and human, which made her journey impactful.

Matt, on the other hand, was a more complicated character. His actions didn’t always sit well with me. I struggled with my feelings toward him—sometimes I was angry, other times empathetic, and at times, just unsure. There were moments where I felt bad for him, especially when I saw how much he was hurting.

Ultimately, while I wanted healing and redemption for some of the characters, I also recognized that distance and closure, rather than reconciliation, were often what they needed most.

I think this is a book I desperately needed at fifteen, when I feel like I would have understood Brooke far too much. Jenna Adams described in her author's notes how this book morphed from a typical love story and I think This Is Me Trying is exactly what this needed to be.

Trigger warnings: Statutory Rape, Sexual Assault, Suicide, Self-Harm

Jenna created a novel that made me both angry and sad.

Brooke was a teenager who struggled and battled depression. Throughout the novel you could tell she was reliant on others through the relationships she had, even as the years went on she struggled but started to develop into a strong woman who could become her own person.

Matt in the other hand, may have not realized his inner struggles but knew what he was doing was wrong, but still went into the relationship. Throughout the novel he held on to her and became more dependent than he probably hoped. He didn’t consider Brooke’s innocence either to have the conversations. I don’t mind age gap novels and this one shed some very moving moments that caused me to look back at my past.

Before I begin, I want to thank the author, Jenna Adams, and Unbound on NetGalley for giving me this ARC.

I want to note that I don't think this book should've been categorized as YA. Even though the FMC is 14 years old, the topics are a bit too dark. I think this is better suited for older teens or even NA.

When I started reading this I was not really prepared for it to go this way. I thought it would be obvious about who's right and who's wrong. Let one thing be absolutely clear: the MMC is 100% in the wrong. You can twist it however you like, but he was NOT innocent. He knew what he was doing. In my opinion, the FMC was not the one who was 'wrong' in the relationship, but I do believe that it was really awful of her to just up and leave without explanation. I also think that all the adults failed her. They should've noticed or at least given her better support after her attempt.

This was messy, heartbreaking, and thought provoking, and it was an anger point. I wasn't rooting for the couple, and I honestly think that the MMC needs to go to therapy because he really can't think that was normal.

whirlwind of emotions, the best way to describe this book. I liked it even though it was heartbreaking, if Age gap is a good trope for you, look no further, but be ware that the rollercoaster of emotions will take you for a ride. It discusses a lot of heavy topics so check the trigger warnings if needed.

This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a heartfelt and raw exploration of vulnerability, growth, and self-acceptance. Adams' writing is honest and relatable, often capturing complex emotions in a way that feels genuine. Her voice is earnest, and there’s a clear sense that she’s pouring her experiences onto the page without filter, which can be deeply moving.

However, while the emotional depth is there, the book sometimes struggles with pacing and consistency. Some sections feel repetitive, and a tighter structure could have made the overall impact stronger. There are moments of brilliance that shine through, but they occasionally get lost among parts that don’t quite carry the same weight.

Overall, This Is Me Trying is a sincere and intimate read. It's not without its flaws, but readers who appreciate candid storytelling and reflections on personal struggle will find value in Adams' journey.

This is me trying took me on an intense emotional journey. This story explores so many important and heavy topics. We follow the mail characters from their early teens into adulthood, watching how the choices they made as teenagers shape the course of their lives. This novel was incredibly deep and reflective. I couldn’t put it down.

2.5

This story was uncomfortable to sit through, and I expected that. It is such a sensitive topic being explored and developed throughout. What definitely stands out in the novel is how it portrays the emotional and psychological toll of the relationship. The point of view of Brooke as a 14 year old makes it very clear how young she is. But that's where the other issue lies - the older POVs fall apart because of the fact that there's no development in Brooke's character or her view on life after her experiences. While this made sense for the 14 year old Brooke, it doesn't really work for older Brooke, because the writing doesn't convey her emotion well in that period of the story.

I did like that the writing style changed with the Acts. 14 year old Brooke's POV is very much teenager-like, kinda immature and naive, which works perfectly. The writing matured over the course of the story. However, it just feels like nothing's happening with the book.

Their growth was minimal, and the book didn’t manage to address the heavy themes it raised. Matt never took full accountability for his actions, and Brooke seemed to skip over the emotional work needed to process everything that happened. Their relationship dynamic, especially as adults, was uncomfortable, and there was no real journey of the lasting impact of their past.

The story didn’t give the subject matter the depth and reflection it deserved, so yes, it made me uncomfortable, but it didn't work well in addressing what it wanted to.

tw: statutory r*pe, mental health discussions, self harm, suicide attempt

i simply could not get over the writing in this. i know both characters are young, especially brooke, and there's definitely an improvement throughout the book, but overall it felt overly juvenile and repetitive.

it's a book meant to make you uncomfortable, but you're also expecting some accountability and real consequences, and then you're left hanging. makes you ask yourself, 'what was the point?'

This book is emotional, intense and super relevant.
Jenna Adams does a great job showing the age and maturity gap between teenagers and adults. The story tackles a lot such as: exam stress, sex education, friendships drifting apart, mental health struggles- all of which are very much important to openly talk about. I think the use of Romeo & Juliet is great for showing the implications of young love and also helpful for those studying it for their GCSE’s!

It handles serious but important topics such as depression and self harm with a lot of care, whilst this is tough to read, it is also extremely necessary and real. (Please check TWs before reading!)

Whilst I found this book extremely gripping, heart wrenching and totally worth the read. My only criticism would be that I wish more was done about Matt. I kept hoping that the adults would step in and notice what was happening and personally, I found this quite frustrating. I think towards the end, the books major topic was accountability and I feel this was a missed opportunity to show it.

I actually enjoyed this arc- thank you for giving me the option to be able to read this.

I think this is such a a good read which touches on important issues and maybe triggering for some but for me it highlights the impacts and with the struggles of mental health/self harm etc but it is more YA.
It wasn't the best book I've ever read but I was happily surprised how much I did get into Brookes life how how I found some aspects so relatable.

Going into this book I was torn. The subject matter seemed heavy considering the YA label. But I figured I would think of it along the lines of 13 Reasons Why and go from there.

Being written in 3 Acts was something I hadn't seen before but it worked with the story plot wise and as far as the story starting off with an actual play. The writing itself I did struggle with from time to time but I read that the author started this book when she was around the same age as the MFC and part of me forgives the writing a bit over that.

The characters themselves were relatable at times, and came across as very real. This was far less of a romance than I expected it to be and the, 'coming of age,' thing goes back and forth on how strong it is present. The ending I didn't 100% agree with but it was interesting watching the characters move along in life to get to that point.

Not a bad book and if you're looking for a heavier read that is still light due to the YA label then this is the one for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Unbound, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book to read!

Firstly, I really loved this book! It follows 14 year old Brooke as she gets involved with Matt, an 18 year old senior, after they’re cast as Romeo and Juliet in a school play. What starts off feeling like a teenage romance quickly becomes something much heavier.

Told in three acts, the story covers nearly ten years of Brooke’s life, diving deep into her struggles with trauma, mental health, and finding herself again after everything she’s been through. It doesn’t sugarcoat the dark moments—self-harm, manipulation, the messy process of healing—but that’s exactly what made this book such an awesome read. All of these topics were touched on so well and with respect to that they are and for people who have been through similar. The dual perspective was great, getting to see both sides of the story and getting to see how both sides struggled in their own way.

All in all this was a brave and emotional read that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. It’s not an easy book, but it’s a meaningful one, and I definitely recommend for readers who appreciate emotionally intense, character-driven stories

All in all I loved this book a lot. It reads like a train and handles heavy topics with the respect they deserve. Well done Jenna Adams!

This is me Trying by Jenna Adams

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

First of all, a snippet of the synopsis.

“When Brooke and Matt are cast as romantic leads in their drama group's theatre performance of Romeo and Juliet, they don’t mean to actually fall in love.”

If this isn’t enough to get you to pick up this book, I don't know what is.

I love how the characters grow from start to end, the depth of the characters by the end of the book are phenomenal and it shows all you need to do is to listen to yourself and do what is best for you. Having feelings isn’t frowned upon, therapy isn’t frowned upon and it is okay to not be okay.

This Is Me Trying shows a vulnerable teenage girl struggling to find her own self in a world that she deems hates her.

I would like to thank Unbound, Neem Tree Press and Netgalley for the chance at reading this ARC!

Make sure you pick this one up on the 17th July!!