⭐️: 3.25/5

💬: "It doesn’t matter where you’ve been. It’s where you are now that matters. And where you’re going.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I was immediately drawn to this by the Taylor Swift-inspired title and the premise. This book covers the really important topics of consent, mental health and co-dependency.

I remember when I was growing up, some of the YA books I read romanticised age-gap relationships like this (as much as I loved this series, The Princess Diaries was definitely guilty of this!), so I liked that this book explore the toxicity, power imbalance and illegality of relationships between a teen and adult.

While I did appreciate what the book was trying to do, I didn’t fully gel with the writing style as it felt very detached in parts and did a lot of telling instead of showing. Overall though, it was a very thought-provoking read and one I think young adult readers will definitely benefit from.

💜 What I liked about it 💜
✨️ The conversations around consent and the power-dynamics in an age-gap relationship were well done, and I liked the questions that the book posed. There are definitely some big and difficult topics covered in this book, but they are important to face and not shy away from
✨️ I liked seeing Brooke’s journey of healing and self-acceptance over the course of the book - it’s a long and difficult one though, which does make her struggle feel raw and real
✨️ The book is told in three acts, which I thought was a nice touch, as it shows us Brooke and Matt at various stages in their life and how they’re dealing with what happened at the start of their relationship

For fans of:
🧠 Themes of mental health
🚩 Books exploring toxic relationships
🪩 Coming-of-age stories

This is me trying by Jenna Adams is a coming of age novel about a teenage girl who navigates a romance with an older boy.

The book opens with Sanjay, who is a therapist. Brooke and him are talking about codependency and how she's dependent on the love of her boyfriend

Part 1 is when Brook thinks back to her first major relationship, when she was 14 and matt was 17.
Brooke and Matt meet when they are cast as Romeo and Juliet in a play. The book explores mental health, co-dependency, and the blurred lines of sexual consent as Brooke trys to overcome her traumatized past.

Thank you to Jenna Adams and Unbound - Neem tree press for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This book comes to market on April 3 2025

This book stole my heart immediately, from the Taylor Swift reference in the title to the beautiful cover. I was not disappointed by the plot within. I thought the use of Romeo and Juliet as the background for this traumatic experience was an excellent way to illustrate the themes of this story. It was truly a heart-wrenching account of an all-to-common experience for teens. I highly recommend this book to all teens and adults trying to make sense of their past.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the eArc review copy of this book!
I am sorry, but this one was very hard to get through, the storytelling, their ages and just the story self didnt capture my attention quite enough. And that makes me very sad because i actually had very high hopes for this one since i was very interested after seeing that gorgeous cover. Jeez i really have to stop requesting books based on their covers, this is mysecond dissappointment in a row because of this...
My deepest compliments to the cover designer!

I think the author should slightly change the way of writing. This feels more like im reading my schoolbooks instead of a romance YA.

Brooke is 14 and playing the leading role of Juliet. Matt, 17, is her Romeo and just had a birthday. Through the play and mutual friends, they find themselves spending more time together. Matt begins to confide in Brooke about graduation and, inevitably, college while Brooke shares her familial struggles creating an intimacy between them. This quickly gets complicated due to their age differences and we watch Matt’s internal battle with the legalities of pursuing a relationship with Brooke.

Now 22, Brooke is codependent on her partner, Charlie and seeing a therapist.

Whew.
This was a tough read for me.
Jenna Adams did an amazing job of showing the intricacies of high school relationships, social norms and how trauma as a youth can affect you as an adult. The story was so vividly told, it’s genuinely hard to believe this is her first book. So happy for Brooke to have gotten her happy ending, she really deserved it. Great read here for YA readers, albeit heavy the author covered these topics tactfully. I felt in some ways, this perfectly encapsulated girlhood for some of us. Love the resources and hotlines listed at the end for support.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the eArc review copy of this book.

I had several attempts at reading this, however I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters or their journeys so from about 30% read I skipped through and intermittently read until the end of the book, enough to gather that the story skips forward in time a few times and, considering the main characters start off being 14/18, they end up both being mid-twenties by the end. I'm not usually a fan of this kind of storytelling device (I didn't like it in 'One Day' either) so I'm glad that I decided to skip lots of this book.
The dialogue is, for the most part, well written and realistic but there wasn't enough inner monologue for the character portrayals to feel truly well-rounded and fleshed out. I am also surprised that one of the pivotal events (don't want to give too much away here) is skipped over rather than actually written about, given that this event has ramifications that are felt throughout the rest of the book.

3.75 ⭐️
Overall I really enjoyed this.

This Is Me Trying is a YA coming of age novel about Brooke and Matt’s lives, as they navigate high school and beyond after they meet as a 14 year old girl and a 17 year old boy who form a friendship and then become something more.

Despite it being classed as a YA novel, it definitely covered some heavier subjects such as mental health, self harm, sex and and relationships and also age of consent/statutory r@pe so I would definitely not recommend for the younger teens.

I did enjoy this and struggled to decide exactly how to rate it, because it did keep me hooked and wanting to know more about these two characters as they progressed through their lives, but the writing did sometimes feel a little juvenile or long winded. I did enjoy the layout of the book and chapters though and glad we got dual POV throughout.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I say”eARC”, but I have since learned that this book originally came out in 2022, and I am not familiar enough with the author to know what caused the re-release with a new title.

I was interested in this book; I think there’s a deep importance for YA reads that discuss difficult topics with equal parts honesty and sensitivity, and this one tackles consent and codependency.

But this book just doesn’t work for me. The writing style is heavy on the telling and leaves very little open to interpretation for the reader, and the side characters don’t feel developed outside of their relationship with the main characters at the exact moment they’re on the page. I also think the writing focuses on the wrong things. There’s a self-harm scene described in detail which lasts multiple pages, but the main character allegedly spending months planning to leave the country exists in only a sentence.

In the end, I think the only thing I enjoyed about the inside of this book was that Brooke does go to therapy, attends sessions on the page, and speaks mostly positively about the experience.

I could not put this book down. I read it in one day.

This was such a beautifully flowing book, that was so, so intense. I loved seeing the progression and butterfly effect that they each had on each other's lives, and the writing style was really amazing.

There is this mix in this book- I love seeing the dual POV- seeing her perspective where she’s too naive to fully understand the consequences and his perspective where he’s really struggling with everything. I was giving me every single bit of heebie jeebies there is! But I do think having it portrayed how it is has been really interestingly done.

I do feel like This is a really great teen/YA novel because it portrays the issues of these sorts of relationships really well, a lot of the time that younger teens can’t really see.

While this novel does hit hard in some areas, such as the conversation around consent and age gap relationships, it lacks in others. Brooke is a frustrating main character who struggles with her mental health. It’s upsetting to see her tear down her relationships and the impact her actions have had on others. However, this one didn’t particularly spark any productive or meaningful thoughts regarding mental illness (outside of the scenes with Brooke’s therapist.) The pacing was also awkward, with large gaps in time taken out and the transitions that didn’t feel smooth. However, this read was quite engaging and there’s definitely some takeaways from this novel.

This is Me Trying is a young adult/new adult novel that will engage readers from start to finish. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Brooke and Matt, beginning when Brooke is 14 and Matt is 17, soon to turn 18. The two find themselves cast as opposing characters in Romeo and Juliet while navigating their burgeoning feelings for one another. This story addresses themes of consent and relationships with age differences. The author crafts two main characters with whom readers can empathize, creating somewhat blurred lines in their interactions. Please note that there are numerous content warnings related to consent and mental health, so readers should approach with caution. This book is appropriate for high school students and older readers.

I have mixed feelings about the conclusion of this story, as it provides a fitting and hopeful resolution. However, I believe the narrative could have benefited from being divided into three to four parts. The timeline spans approximately eight to nine years, and transitions between time periods can be somewhat abrupt for the reader. Overall, I would rate this book between 3.5 and 4 stars for addressing a challenging subject matter while being an engaging read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for this ARC.

Before I start, this book has some very complex scenes of self harm and drug use, which some readers may find triggering.

This was a complex read. It had so many elements. It was heavy and confronting and long. The ending felt rushed and didn't bring any closure to the story the protagonist, Brooke, had created for herself in Seattle.

It felt like a lot of back and forth, some unnecessary.
That being said, there were elements that are important. Showing the power of therapy, that it isn't something to laugh at, that everyone should go at some point in their life.

Fast paced, easy, flowing writing style.
I can see what the author was trying to do with this one, but for me, it didn't all meld together as it should have.

A bit too long and too much of unnecessary angst due to lack of communication. I liked the premise and the writing is good! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Unbound | Neem Tree Press for this ARC. A perfect coming of age/ YA book that focus on romance but also deeper more sensitive topics. I loved this book and would recommend!

4.5
Sometimes written as though it's a play, which makes it a bit fun to read, especially considering it all started with a play. Divided into acts which then depicts the ages of both Brooke and Matt.
Conflicting topics. We would not empathize as much with Matt if we didn't have his point of view, although we still kind of give him a side eye here and then considering the decisions he makes at his age. (Part 1/act 1) there is a time where all I wanted to do was shake this boy up and tell him to give up and stop whatever it is he tries with Brooke. Although I get his feelings are mutual, I think most people in his position would put as much distance between themselves and the person as possible, especially after what happened. Of course, in the romantic way. He would be an A-hole if he would not try to be friends at least.
As for the character of Brooke, we get a realistic perspective of a 14 year old (part 1/ act 1).
Confused, wanting to have a more romanticized live than she has, slowly gaining confidence while still a bit self-conscious.
We then see her as an 18 year old who is ill and is trying to survive in this new phase of her life. We might not agree with some of her decisions, but we also now that we're ill, we will do anything to feel better.
There shows a bit of neglect from the mums side. We do not see her trying to understand what is wrong with Brooke. But then again, we get this from Brookes point of view only, so it could also be from there. (Part 1/ act 1)
We then kind of see a shift in the mother-daughter relationship, with the mum trying her best to make her daughter feel comfortable and get healthier. But then again, all we get is Brookes perspective so we don't get a lot of information on that.
I would have liked to see more of her and Lucys friendship, but again we understand that this disconnection is due to Brooke prioritizing the wrong things. (Part 1/ act 1) there is no development in the friendship, they drift apart understandably, but we still see her friend trying her best and showing how much she cares for Brooke.
Part two: bad decision after bad decision. Need to get ends meet, but then again, fo someone who went down a spiral. due to a boy, you are too keen on finding and staying with someone.
Trauma? Kind of like daddy issues and stuff?
Part three: we finally witness a growth in the character, we see her finally getting the help she needs and forming a family. There are still ups and downs but that is just the reality of it all.
Ending. Not for me. It's good that she found release (from Matt and her self in a way) but she still ran away from a situation in a way (Charlie) he didn't deserve being broken up long distance. Só it's kind of shows that she still ran away has lots of growing.
Overall, a dark and heavy coming of age book that teenagers should have access to to learn from and also see that they're not alone in whatever situation they might be going through.

To start - I thought this book had a really interesting premise based off the summary. The title of the book was also catchy as well, given what I assume is the intentional correlation with Taylor Swift. Unfortunately, despite those two things, I wasn't able to enjoy this one.

The story is told in three 'acts' which is also a cool concept and at first, I thought this would be a super interesting way to indicate the shifts in the Brook's changing perspectives/emotions towards Matt. But it felt like the writing just fell... flat. I get that we're writing through the eyes of teenagers - one much younger than the other (though 3-4 years doesn't seem large, it definitely is at this age) - and tried to keep that in mind and keep pushing through. I felt very TOLD instead of SHOWN when it came to the emotions the characters were feeling. These are supposed to be teenagers though, they don't tell you they're happy or sad or embarrassed or in love. They shout it from the rooftops! It's in every action they take! But not in this book, it seemed.

The story seemed to drag a bit, like there was a lot of extra information that we didn't need and didn't really help grow the story, plot or characters themselves. When I reached the halfway point with no real indication of growth happening yet, I did decide to DNF.

The idea of this novel had so much potential, I just wish it would’ve been executed better. The length of the story could’ve been shortened A LOT. There were many unnecessary characters & so much filler.

I liked how we could see Matt & Brooke’s maturity form over the years. Though many of the choices the two made (especially Brooke) were just outlandish.

To a younger audience, this story brings awareness to the dangers of age-gaps in relationships at a young age. However as the story continued, the more the plot became so, so unrealistic.

Thank you to NetGalley & Unbound for the advanced e-copy!

Thank you Netgalley and the author for this ARC!!🙀💥🖤

💕🌹💌 Romance:
The romance in this book is complex and raw. It explores a forbidden relationship between a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old, which could be uncomfortable for some readers. However, the story handles the age gap thoughtfully and there is definitely character development.

✨🙀💥: Plot
From the very beginning, the story captivates with its realistic approach to difficult themes. Personally I love when text messages are added. I really don't know why. The plot is a real an emotional roller coaster theres trauma, fear, growth, and healing. It's not just romance focuses on the romance in romance.

⚠️❗🚨 Trigger warning:
There are some heavy topics such as self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and the emotional consequences of a forbidden relationship. Despite these challenging themes, the story spreads awareness and offers hope to those in similar situations.

🙈🌟💭 Charaters:
The characters are incredibly well-written. You can clearly see their different levels of maturity. Even though the male lead was 18, his immature decisions reveal he’s still not fully matured. Their growth is realistic, leading to a bittersweet ending in my opinion.

Jenna Adams’ This Is Me Trying is a heartfelt exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to keep moving forward in the face of life’s challenges. Through deeply personal anecdotes and raw, poetic prose, Adams invites readers to sit with their emotions and find comfort in knowing they are not alone.

The book captures the universal struggle of trying to make sense of life’s uncertainties while emphasizing the importance of self-compassion. Adams’ writing is both poignant and relatable, offering a safe space for readers to reflect on their own journeys.

I don't have any triggers when reading or consuming media. I've read some gruesome, terrible stuff (I like horror, true crime and psychological thrillers, after all) and it's bothered and upset me but I read to challenge myself and expand my worldview, not just to be entertained. One of my favorite authors is Toni Morrison, who I first read when I was a teenager, who writes about topics like rape without compunction. But this author is no Toni Morrison. This book made me squeamish to read the whole way through and in the end it was complete torture in a needlessly gratuitous way. Take care reading the content warnings in this is no understatement.

I was intrigued by the topic; I don't think anything is too dark for YA and it can be a vehicle for teenagers to get exposed to things that adults are too afraid to talk about because it's too heavy and awkward. Sexual consent and codependency are issues that teenage boys in particular need to know about, especially when they turn 18 and the legalities change - for good reason.

This book is written like a romance (with the girl having an instalove crush after her first meeting with the boy) but make no mistake, unlike what the synopsis sounds like, this is not even a dark romance. Matt turns 18 when he meets Brooke, who's 14, as they both play the lead roles in Romeo and Juliet. Matt, inexperienced sexually and feeling pressure from all angles, tries to make shy Brooke, who has a painful crush on him, feel more comfortable. They start to open up more and he develops feelings for her. They keep the relationship secret because he's afraid of getting in trouble, and they become so isolated in a relationship that they know is wrong that it ruins their lives.

First off there was so much telling and infodumping, from my pet peeve of telling me that someone's embarassed without showing them casting their eyes away or fidgeting, to a direct narration of events like it's an entry in a police log attempting to humanize the chain of events. I used to work as a courtroom clerk for five years and I observed many sexual abuse cases and I had visceral flashbacks to those years. And I was just witnessing the aftermath in my job. Instead of seeing it as a cautionary tale it just turned my stomach. And it wasn't even that gratuitous with the sex scenes.

In the end I felt this talked down to teens like it was an after-school special: "18-year-olds, don't even think of acting on your feelings for underage girls or this will happen!" Their family and friends, especially Brooke's mom, were also so unsupportive and traumatizing that it grossed me out. They all acted like she was a narcissistic attention seeker; no wonder she kept her trauma secret. I emotionally connected with the characters but it felt manipulative, like I was in this abusive relationship with some ethical gray areas right with them and not in a way that added literary value.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.