Looking for an unforgettable collection of YA books like The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith? As an award-winning author and blogger about issue-driven YA fiction, I know how powerful stories can open conversations about difficult topics, such as sexual assault and self-harm. Here are my top three recommendations, each offering a unique perspective:
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess - a powerful and unflinching novel about friendship, trauma, and healing as two best friends hide dangerous secrets—one about sexual assault and self-harm, and the other unknowingly walking into the predator’s trap.
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott - a horrifying story about a teen who was kidnapped by a pedophile at age 10 and is forced to help him select his next victim to replace her.
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis - an unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal YA book about rape and sexual assault that will shock you to the core.
You’ll find detailed reviews of these and many other favorites below.
So which YA books like The Way I Used to Be should you read next? Discover your next great read for National Reading Month in this roundup. I’m confident that fans of Speak will love all of these novels.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
“My first time was supposed to be different. It wasn’t supposed to happen in darkness, dirt, and violence. It wasn’t supposed to be a two-man job.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Absolutely gripping! For readers drawn to the emotional and physical scars of Amber Smith’s popular The Way I Used to Be, The Cutting Edge of Friendship is for you. This realistic novel explores the wounds of self-harm, shame, and redemption following a sexual assault. Sadie’s resilience is fierce and unforgettable, and the book’s raw, unfiltered pain hits hard. This story doesn’t shy away from the truth—it reveals, with painful honesty, how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
From the very first page, it’s clear that although Sadie and Elana have always shared everything, now they’re keeping secrets that could destroy them. On the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie—something she can’t even name. Instead, she turns to cutting, the only way she knows to cope.
But Elana has secrets too. She’s been texting Hunter, making plans to meet in secret, and never questioning why he insists on hiding their relationship.
As their lives spiral deeper into danger, Sadie must find the strength to fight back—not just for herself, but for Elana—before a predator can strike again.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant YA book about friendship and the trust involved in sharing our truest selves. It’s definitely worth a look. In fact, don’t miss Khristina Chess’s other novels about self harm through eating disorders, such as The Delinquent Hero and Hollow Beauty. This author is on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she tackles so many tough topics with heart.
Some Boys by Patty Blount
“Brave. The word hangs in the air for a moment and then falls away, almost like it even knows it has no business being used to describe me.” ― Patty Blount, quote from Some Boys
In this book, Grace was raped by the “golden boy” student and star athlete at their school named Zac, but when she speaks out about it, no one believes her. Instead she is bullied and ostracized for daring to accuse the prince of such a heinous crime.
Zac’s best friend is Ian. Although he has a major crush on Grace, he no longer feels he can follow-through on that because the whole school is slut-shaming her.
Grace sets on a plan to prove to everyone that Zac isn’t the perfect son everyone believes him to be, and she’s the kind of fighter to make that happen. Instead of a depressed and withdrawn rape survivor, this character is a middle-finger-in-your-face girl who goes after her rapist despite nearly everyone being against her.
If you are looking for books similar to The Way I Used to Be and its angry, tough main character, this story will resonate with you.
Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
“This. This is why I never said anything. Because no one ever believes the girl.” ― Ashley Herring Blake, quote from Girl Made of Stars
Mara and her twin brother Owen are as close as any twins can be. So when Owen says he is innocent and never raped his girlfriend, Mara is faced with a difficult decision. She’s friends with the victim. Who is telling the truth? Her brother, who she knows as well as she knows herself, or the girl?
In addition to Mara’s confusion about her twin brother’s role as an accused rapist, she’s also dealing with her own sexual identity and relationship with her best friend, a girl named Charlie. Her parents pressure her to support her brother, but why would the victim lie? And in wrestling with these conflicts, Mara can no longer ignore a secret trauma from her own past and what happened to her.
Fans of Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be will love this powerful YA book about rape, consent, teen relationships, and sexual identity.
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
"What a stupid thing it is, to care about a girl." ― Courtney Summers, quote from All the Rage
This book tells the story of a girl who was raped at a party by a boy she thought was beautiful. And then, she loses her best friend for telling about it. And everyone in the school begins bullying her about it. And she ends up at another party in the same situation, only this time her ex-best friend turns up missing.
The plot alternates between bewildering and breathtaking. Who was the rapist? What happened to Penny? Will there be justice? Is the girl going to be okay?
I felt sorry for Romy because of what happened to her and what continued to happen as she suffered bullying by the other girls. At times, she is a difficult protagonist to embrace because she's a person in deep pain. She's not always nice. She doesn't make good decisions. She hurts kind people who care about her.
Although this is a fast read, the ending wasn't what I expected or hoped. I felt things remained unresolved. Still, if you liked The Way I Used to Be and you're looking for an emotional roller coaster about rape, victim blaming, and bullying, All the Rage is definitely worth checking out.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
“When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, quote from Speak
Just before beginning high school, Melinda Sordino is raped at a party, and as a result of this experience, she can’t speak. Everyone hates her at school. Her parents aren’t very supportive. She feels alone, depressed, powerless, and unsafe everywhere except in art class.
When her friend starts a relationship with her rapist, Melinda speaks.
This is an important YA book about rape that shows how victims feel silenced by their assailant and the culture around them and how speaking out can liberate. If you liked The Way I Used to Be, be sure to add this one to your TBR pile!
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Three life lessons:
1. No one will see you.
2. No one will say anything.
3. No one will save you. ― Elizabeth Scott, quote from Living Dead Girl
Fifteen-year-old Alice is the kidnapping victim of a pedophile named Ray who took her at age ten. This haunting, horrifying, graphic, disturbing, and tragic book is about so much more than child rape, although that certainly happens. This novel shows how a person—a child—can lose their self-worth and believe their captor’s lies.
How someone can lose their own humanity.
This thin novel was a fast read, but Alice and her story have stayed with me long after I finished. It’s her voice. In her unflinching viewpoint, Alice shows us what happens to children who are taken and never found. She challenges us to look more closely at the people around us. To notice.
Monsters prey on the mute. So pay attention. Speak.
For books similar to The Way I Used to Be, this one is worth a look.
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
"I am vengeance."― Mindy McGinnis, quote from The Female of the Species
I loved this book. Alex Craft is a unique female YA protagonist, and I had a hard time pinning her down. Sometimes I wanted to label her as a psychopath / sociopath based on her actions and reactions to things, but I don't think that's right.
She is a criminal. It's easy to forget that about her because she makes friends, takes care of kittens, shows compassion to other kids, and falls in love. But she also kills people. So there's that.
This is my third Mindy McGinnis novel, and I'm hooked on her. She writes compelling stories and tough, unflinching characters, and she’s one of the top authors in my list of the Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited. Alex Craft in The Female of the Species is definitely a five-star read! It is an unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal YA book about rape and sexual assault that will shock you to the core. Fans of The Way I Used to Be will definitely like this one.
Elena Vanishing by Elena Dunkle and Clare B. Dunkle
“Pity is the sea you drown in.” ― Elena Dunkle, quote from Elena Vanishing
Elana has anorexia. It's winning. Nothing her family does is able to turn the tide for long. She's like an addict who goes through the motions of recovery and rehab, but she's really just counting the seconds until she can return to old habits again.
Addiction is unlikable. Elana is unlikable. She'll lie and do anything to keep her anorexia going.
It's hard to join someone in a recovery journey like this one. It's ugly. Elana is often ugly in her thoughts and actions. There were many moments when I wished for more emotional connection and reflection, like when friends die or when she really thinks about the rape and how it changed her. Still, it was a fast read and presented new insights into the mind of someone struggling with this illness. Readers who enjoyed The Way I Used to Be should add this memoir to their TBR stack.
Other YA Books You’ll Enjoy If You Liked The Way I Used to Be
If you are looking other YA books you’ll enjoy if you liked The Way I Used to Be, check out the Books Similar to The Way I Used to Be, Young Adult Books about Rape & Sexual Abuse (331 books), and Rape Book Lists on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which lists other reviews of YA contemporary books about tough topics for teens.
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.