Content warning: suicidal ideations, statutory rape, depression, age-gap relationships, substance abuse, toxic relationships, and description of deliberate self-injury.

The book dealt with the age-gap relationship between Brooke and Matt, but at some point I thought that wasn't the main issue.
It took more than half the book to bring up the age gap, it made me think that they weren't going to say anything about it.
It’s normal for the victim to take time to realize, specially when the victim is that young, and that’s represented in the book, but I think it was poorly handled.

I think the actual main plot was (or should be) Brooke’s life, because the book started to focus on Brooke: on the bad things that happened to her, the abuse relationships that she endured, the depression, the suffering… although it seems like the plot was still the relationship with Matt, because he didn’t stop appearing even though he didn’t tell us anything worth it.

Sometimes it looked like the age-gap problem wasn’t there, Brooke was depressed and was suffering a lot (understandable) but at no point did she say anything about the suffering that Matt inflicted on her, the problem that their relationship was or the bad things that happened to her because of him. Do they talk about in depth? in some parts, but too little and too superficial.

I’m aware that it’s a very difficult topic and it’s very difficult to talk about it the right way, but I feel a bit weird about it.
There have been interesting parts and I’m glad that at least ONE person said to Matt what had to be said about what he did, even though it had no consequences (but that happens in real life so…).

There were some parts that were easier to read, but sometimes, like I said, I thought the plot was lost. I think there were some parts that could be shorter.

It can be triggering for those who have suffered from something related to this, but the author warns us at the beginning of the book. And the self-harm scenes were too much, at least for me. I think it would be better if it weren’t so explicit.

I’m not so good with these reviews but I’ve tried to say everything I can.

Pd: the writing is very good, it’s so easy to read, coming from a not english person.

Thanks to NetGalley and Jenna Adams for providing an ARC of this book ⭐️

Wow!!! What a fabulous read, thank you Jenna Adam's, you had me laughing, crying , worried... yelling at some chapter's saying noooo don't do it... what the hell are you doing???.

The age gape got me ( people say age doesn't matter) but in some cases it does and in this story it truly did.

Wasn't a fan of the ending as Brooke basically repeated what she did when moving away the first time. Felt really sorry for Charlie.

To anyone who is going to embark on this journey; be gentle with yourself and please take care. Have you ever had a book completely gut you? Have you wanted to get through it to see that everyone makes it out ok but when you finish you just stare off into space and have no words? Adams' writing keeps you flipping the page while your heart is dropping in and out of your stomach.

Lines are crossed and blurred and we see what happens when Brooke (14) and Matt (18) establish a romantic connection. Brooke is forced to keep this relationship a secret and Matt, despite knowing it was wrong, could not seem to stay away from Brooke. They continue to hurt one another throughout the years. The lasting impact these two have on each other is heartbreaking. Meg, although too late, was able to see her role in Matt and Brooke's situationship. Was Matt the cause or a contributor to her depression and self harm tendencies?

As we go through the novel we see Brooke stumble her way through life. There was work she had to do for herself in every relationship she apart of. We feel the pain that Brooke had to walk through and live with. I never wanted to meet a character from a work so bad and give her a hug. This book hit so close to home. Brooke, it was not your fault. You continue to work on yourself with a time questionable methods but you did what you had to do to survive. Keep going. The catastrophizing thoughts in your head are not truth. Remember to breath. You can only control your thoughts and reactions. It will all be ok. Sending love to anyone these words resonate with :)

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC.

the concept felt interesting an unexpected pair find themselves as Romeo and Juliet. There is an age gap.. normally I don't mind but the 14 y/o with 17 y/o felt a little strange for my personal taste. There was a scene very early on that made me put the book down. Little chemistry was felt though the book and felt forced or unnatural.

Please check Trigger Warnings, it's not a book I could recommend but I understand how someone would like it.

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, which already prompted me to have several conversations about its key themes with my family and partner. Jenna Adams does an incredible job at letting us experience the complicated and heartbreaking journey of Brooke and Matt through each of their POVs. I found the story extremely thought-provoking as I reflected back on romantic and sexual experiences as a teenager and how they impacted me later in life. The book addresses several mature themes including depression, mental health, self harm and age-gap relationships in a delicate matter that gave voice to the subjective experience of its main characters while providing a more critical lens via third characters, such as Brooke’s therapist Sanjay. Although I occasionally shook my head, deeply sighed or scoffed at the characters' behavior, I rooted for each of them to have a somewhat happy ending in this story. Keeping this review spoiler free, I would still like to comment that I was not fully satisfied with how certain relationships were tied up at the end. I also felt like there should have been more focus and nuance on the complexity of the situation the MMC found himself in, particularly in regards to the accusations he faced later on. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book to YA readers. It’s a book I wish I had read when I was a teenager.

Phew, this book 😩 That was a rough ride to get through, but in a good way. If you want a book to make you feel strong emotions, this is the one.

Trigger Warnings: depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, statutory rape.

This Is Me Trying is told through dual POVs starting with 14yr old Brooke and 17yr old Matt, who are casted as the leads in Romeo and Juliet for their drama club, becoming to realize they have chemistry on and off the stage. The book follows them for the next 8yrs as they both navigate the consequences of their actions during their time together as teens.

The story delves deep into the complexities of teenage relationships, mental health, and the long-lasting impact of early experiences. I found myself sitting with heavy and complex feelings throughout, especially as the book explores the importance of consent and the gray areas that can exist in relationships.

My heart really felt for 14yr old Brooke. Age gap relationships as teens is a difficult – hormones are raging, brains are still developing, peer pressure is high – and this book really made me reflect on my own teenage years and how easy it is to look back now and see things differently. I remember being that age and having crushes on older guys, thinking a 17 or 18 year old guy wasn’t that much older because “we’re all in high school, it’s not that much of a difference”. Then I can remember being 17, 18, 19yrs old and couldn’t even fathom dating someone even a couple years younger. Now being married to someone 7yrs my senior, it’s not considered weird because we’re in our 30s, full grown adults, with years of life experience and maturity under our belts. But if I was 14 and he was 21? Absolutely fucking not. Which makes my feelings about both Brooke and Matt so complicated – both characters and their emotional journeys felt incredibly real and relatable, making it hard to place blame, even when I really wanted to at times.

This is definitely a book that I will be thinking about for a while.

Thank you Unbound, Neem Tree Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, unbound, as well as NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc.

This has to be one of the most thought provoking YA’s I have recently read and took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Themes of statutory rape, codependency, self harm, suicide, age gap, depression and mental health are included in this story. It focuses on the FMC, starting at age 14, and the MMC, starting at age 18, and following their journey into their 20’s and the struggles they have based on choices made when they first meet until they last meet.

While the subject matter was tough to read at times I found myself reading it quickly. A very well done, self reflecting, thought provoking novel that I will think about for days to come.

Thank you for this Arc Reciew. I really enjoyed this book and exploring the relationship which started from teenage years until later when the two characters were reintroduced.

This was a hard hitting story with a rollercoaster of emotions. But really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend. Just be sure to read the blurb beforehand to make sure it’s what you’re looking for.

Thank you again.

I was aware of the age gap going into this book, but I struggled with how it played out—especially since both characters were still so young. The relationship felt toxic, with Matt repeatedly warned to stay away from someone much younger. He knew it was wrong, which is why he insisted Brooke keep it a secret, making the entire situation feel manipulative. He justified it by saying Brooke seemed mature, yet she was in tears nearly every other chapter, so I never really saw that supposed maturity. In fact, the secrecy affected Brooke even more than the relationship itself, as she was left with no one to confide in.

That said, the book tackled heavier themes—particularly depression and self-harm—quite well. Brooke’s transformation as she grew into a hollow version of her younger self felt realistic, and the unhealthy relationships she formed after moving away were believable.

I didn’t connect with any of the main characters. Brooke frustrated me the most—she remained immature even toward the end, and so many of her choices left me questioning her judgment. Her booked three months ago, yet unplanned move to America, abandoning her understanding boyfriend, and her constant crying made it difficult for me to empathize with her emotions rather than just feeling frustrated by them.

Ultimately, I appreciated the foundation of the story, but I found some of the writing a bit juvenile. It could have used stronger editing to make its exploration of difficult themes more impactful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for the ARC.

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

I really struggled to get in to it. The first act was painfully slow and I didn’t like the characters at all. The second half did get slightly better but the writing throughout was very juvenile and repetitive & there was little to no character development.

This book follows 14 year old Brooke, 17-year-old Matt who meet at a play of Romeo and Juliet where they're the lead characters. Their onstage chemistry spills into real life, and they begin to fall for each other. They soon start a secret relationship, one that challenges boundaries, leading to profound consequences.

The narrative unfolds in 3 acts and is told through alternating first person perspectives. We see Brooke's journey from a naive teenager to a young adult and how she grapples with the aftermath of a relationship that began before she could legally consent.

This book tackles themes such as the complexities of adolescence, mental illness eg Self harm, depression, codependency in relationships and the nuances of sexual consent - hence, trigger warning before going in ⚠️

There were parts of this book that was just slow, especially the second half, so it took me a while to push through. I also felt like the ending was very rushed However, overall, I love the messages this book portrays.

Rated 3 stars

Huge thanks to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📚ARC REVIEW📚

This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams
Publication Date: 17th July 2025
Rating: 3.5✨️

WOW! this book took me much longer to read then I expected. Oops, I'm not a big phone reader. This book truly is the definition of the saying 'rollercoaster of emotions'. This book was messy, heartbreaking and at some points incredibly angering. But this story is also very thought provoking. I was not rooting for Brooke and Matt at any point in this book, their relationship is incredibly toxic and at some points even illegal. I'm still a bit conflicted on my rating and review of this book, this is not just "an age gap romance story". For the duration of the book I switched from siding with Brooke to siding with neither at different points, never did I really side with Matt...

However, the ending felt a bit rushed. I appreciated that Brooke found herself and managed to move on, but I'm not sure how to feel about Matt being left with all the guilt and the baggage, yes he was 18 while she was 14, but nothing was really forced upon her, on the other hand he should never have entertained anything at this time... I'm conflicted. I also was a bit sad when Brooke moved back and decided to break up with Charlie, while a part of me understands, another part of me wishes we could've seen what there relationship could've looked like after Brooke did more healing.

In general, I enjoyed the story, but I think it might've been better to remove a bit of the filler from the middle of the book and use it to build out the ending a little more, this might have made it feel less rushed.

Thanks to Unbound & Netgalley for this ARC.

Jenna Adams’ This Is Me Trying is a raw and deeply introspective novel that lingers long after the final page.

Told through dual perspectives, it follows Brooke and Matt across years of their lives, tracing their complicated relationship, individual traumas, and the uneven paths they take toward (or away from) healing.

From the outset, the emotional weight of the story is palpable. Adams excels in portraying characters who are flawed, introspective, and painfully human. Brooke’s journey through therapy and personal growth feels genuine (but poor Charlie), while Matt’s character remains tethered to the past, burdened by regret and nostalgia without clear direction or development. This contrast makes their dynamic both compelling and troubling, raising powerful questions about responsibility, consent, and emotional maturity.

What stands out most is the moral ambiguity that pulses throughout the novel. Rather than offering easy answers, Adams invites readers to sit with discomfort. Who is at fault? Who should be forgiven? Can love survive trauma — and should it? These are not questions the book answers neatly, but rather themes it explores with nuance and sensitivity.

Though the confrontation between Brooke and Matt arrives more abruptly than expected, the emotional fallout remains potent. The ending, while not conventionally satisfying does acknowledges that healing doesn't always come with closure, and that sometimes, personal growth is the only resolution we get.

Readers drawn to character-driven narratives with emotional complexity — à la Sally Rooney — will likely find this book arresting. Although it may be less a YA as pitched (it would benefit from an adult being on hand to support younger readers through these topics), and more an adult book.

This Is Me Trying doesn’t promise a fairytale, but instead offers something rarer: a reflection of life’s messiness, and the fragile hope that comes from trying, however imperfectly, to move forward.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to Jenna Adams and NetGalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for a fair review.

Firstly, I do not believe this should be marketed as a coming of age/YA novel. Although I do believe the topics raised in this book are extremely important, I think the way in which they are addressed are too mature and is better suited for a new adult audience.

Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book, as it contains heavy topics including but not limited to sexual abuse, rape, self harm, and depression.

Both characters were written in such a way that by the end of the book I did not feel sympathy for either of them. Both characters lacked any real growth.
Brooke continued to show self-destructive patterns of behaviour throughout the 8-year timeline of this novel. In their earlier years, this is understandable and can be related to her age and experiences she has had in her formative years. However, when such a large portion of the novel is anchored around therapy and the discussions she has with her therapist, I expected much more growth from her. They talk about “pillars of support”, and the end of the novel would suggest Brooke has taken steps to get there but in reality she has traded one singular pillar for another. I also believe her actions surround Charlie were extremely selfish in how they were executed. Brooke continuously failed to look outward from herself and see how her actions affected those in her circle.
Matt failed to see any form of wrong doing in his actions whatsoever. There was no emotional growth from his end at all. The lack of consequence for his actions are also alarming when this book is being marketed as YA. I worry this could be damaging for younger readers who do not see any form of punishment for such a serious incident. That Matt became a high school teacher is also alarming and the drama teacher which failed to report a safeguarding issue was a problem. Matt’s story should not have ended in the way it did, but instead with him seeking therapy himself, or being reprimanded for his actions.

Although I don’t believe the characters really showed much development or self improvement, I do believe this book discusses important topics. The theme of consent is heavy throughout this novel, and showing the lack of it in Brooke’s formative relationship and having it be countered by an abundance of healthy actions in her relationship with Charlie worked will in the story arc.
I appreciated how the subject of self harm was addressed. I think it is important that self harm is not always viewed as a conscious effort, but the victim can fall into this coping mechanism by complete accident. I do however think an opportunity was missed for Brooke and Charlie to have a conversation around Brooke’s struggle with it, as her scars are never discussed between the two even though they have an intimate relationship.

Unfortunately I do believe the ending should have been different. Although it was important for Brooke to reconcile with her family, and begin to take steps for self improvement, I do not believe having her move back to her home town was the correct decision, and leaves the end of the novel with a somber feeling. In reality I would be worried of a relapse.

I am rating this book 3 out of 5 stars. I believe important topics are discussed, and are handled with care. However I think there is a lack of character growth and accountability in this story, and this may be harmful to younger readers. I would recommend this for older teens and new adults and believe this can open important discussions around healthy relationships, consent, and mental illness.

This book feels very mature. Potentially too mature for even a secondary school library. I would definitely recommend that any librarian reads it before adding it to a school library. That being said, it would generate a lot of interesting conversations around consent and age and how to support older teenagers with navigating their interactions with younger teenagers. After being cast as the leads in Romeo and Juliet in an amateur dramatics performance Matt, who has just turned 18, and Brooke, who is 14, start to develop feelings for each other. Matt knows that others will judge him for being with a 14 year old, even though he thinks Brooke is much more mature than 14, so he tells her it's really important to keep their relationship a secret. This means that when things start going wrong, Brooke doesn't have anyone she can speak to and this has a huge impact on her mental health, to the point where she decides to disappear from her life. Brooke's disappearance has an impact on Matt. He knows he contributed to it but can't workout how much he is to blame. He becomes stuck, waiting and hoping that she'll come back and forgive him. The whole situation becomes so complicated and demonstrates how a split decision or a group of decisions can impact the rest of a person's life if they don't have the skills or resources to be able to process it at the time.

I did enjoy the story but I also found the characters frustrating because they were so immature and self-sabotaging. Although I guess, when trauma happens early in your life, without support, this is the result.

Very thought provoking and raw at times.

The FMC came across as a little annoying at times if I'm honest.

This story included many themes including - rape, self harm, depression and mental health.

This is Me Trying….where do I start? I’m not sure if it was just my copy or all digital copies, but the formatting was terrible. The first sentence after each start of a new paragraph was completely mixed in order and the first letter of each sentence was 3 lines down the page. As well as page numbers in the middle of the page (for example: “Scene 25: Brooke, 23 423” is 1/3 down from the top of the page).
I truly do not believe that this book should be marketed as coming of age/YA. It is very heavy and most times dark; statuary rape, mentions of self harm including a very graphic scene, toxic relationships, substance abuse, depression and anxiety. I feel as though an older teen audience is more appropriate; new adult.
As far as the story goes, it was fine. I wish there was more character growth (especially with Matt) and more resolution between Brooke and her dad and Brooke and Charlie.
I didn’t feel any emotional connection to any characters - I found them immature (even as adults) and frustrating. While I thought the book as a whole had a very interesting and important premise, I don’t think it was executed very well and it fell flat for me.
This is Me Trying… first, I’d like to thank Netgalley and Unbound for the opportunity to read this e-ARC, all opinions are my own.

Jenna Adams’ This Is Me Trying is a raw and emotionally resonant collection that explores the depths of mental health, personal growth, and the quiet strength found in vulnerability. Told through poetic vignettes and intimate reflections, Adams invites readers into her world with honesty and grace.

The writing is lyrical yet grounded, capturing the complexity of trying to navigate life while battling inner turmoil. Each page feels like a whispered confession—delicate, yet powerful. Themes of healing, identity, self-worth, and resilience are central, making this book relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost, stuck, or simply human.

What makes This Is Me Trying stand out is its unfiltered voice. Adams doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths of anxiety, heartbreak, or disappointment. Instead, she presents them in a way that feels both validating and hopeful. It’s not just a story of struggle, but one of persistence.

Verdict:
If you're drawn to books like Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur or Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell, this collection is for you. This Is Me Trying is a heartfelt journey of self-acceptance and quiet courage. A comforting read for tough days and a reminder that trying is, in itself, a form of strength.

This book was fantastic! I think the author did an excellent job depicting mental illness and how it can progress. That being said, the book did start out a bit slower, but had a very strong and well rounded end. I also personally did not find the content of this book to always be YA.

There were several spots in the book where things did not make sense grammatically or they would just completely cut off and move on to a different section of the book. I am not sure if that is stuff that needs to be fixed or if it was just how it transferred over to my kindle for reading.

I got this because the title is also the title of one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs. However, it's by far not as lyrically evolved. The writing just didn't do it for me. Every sentence was so in-your-face and I'd hope that even the young adult target group can understand prose that's more eloquent. Maybe I'm simply not the target group. Even though I like reading about teenagers, I just couldn't vibe with the characters.
I liked that there were content warnings ahead.