This book had me in a hurried sense to finish and find out what would happen to our main characters. The story of Matt and Brooke had me questioning what is right from wrong at different stages of life. This book will make you think about the lines that are crossed when we are young and how/if we are able to move past them or what we carry along as burden. Mental health is such an important part of this story and I hope the YA audience will take something away from this beautiful story of resilience.

This Is Me Trying is like if Romeo and Juliet decided to audition for Euphoria but forgot their lines halfway through. It’s angsty, heavy, and undeniably gripping—but also a little...long-winded?

First off, we’ve got Brooke, a 14-year-old with stars in her eyes and secrets in her backpack, and Matt, a 17-year-old who really should’ve just stayed on stage instead of making his life a one-man tragedy. Their relationship is like watching a slow-motion car crash—messy, inevitable, and you can’t look away even though you know how bad it’s gonna hurt.

The book tackles HUGE themes: consent, mental health, co-dependency, and the kind of love that doesn’t look cute on Instagram. And while it nails the emotional weight (hello, I felt like I needed a therapy session after), the pacing trips over itself. That big showdown between Brooke and Matt that you’re waiting for? Happens so late in the story.

Also, the writing. How do I say this nicely? It’s functional. Like, if you want vibes and poetic metaphors, you won’t find them here. On the plus side, the book feels like an emotional detox—if detoxing was crying in a corner while whispering “It’s not your fault.” Teens who want their stories raw and unfiltered might devour this but for me I found this story not my cup of tea.

A hardhitting story about how one mistake can create a ripple effect of trauma for more than just the people involved. Spanning nearly a decade, THIS IS ME TRYING follows Brooke and Matt, who get into a relationship while Brooke is 14 and Matt is 18. They sleep together despite knowing it's not a good idea and that decision haunts them for years to come, especially poor Brooke, who suffers a mental breakdown and spirals out of control. But things aren't going so well for Matt either as he's torn apart by guilt because he never wanted to hurt Brooke; he genuinely loved her. That's not to excuse his actions. It's simply to say that these characters are so lifelike that you understand why they do things even when you don't agree with their choices.

The characters are not always likable, and they make a lot of bad decisions. But that just makes them all the more real. I was rooting for Brooke during her healing journey. I appreciated the realistic and emotional therapy sessions as Brooke realizes that she's codependent and tries to make changes in her life. I've struggled with codependency as well (and probably always will to a certain degree) and Brooke's journey gave me more insight into my own. It was sensitively and compassionately handled.

While this book is categorized as YA, I don't think I could have handled reading this at Brooke's age and in fact think it reads more like an adult novel especially given that Part 3 takes place when Brooke is 22. So I would recommend using caution when giving to young readers. There is a graphic self-harm scene that was difficult to read and will likely be triggering to anyone who struggles with self-harm. However, it didn't feel gratuitous.

I've never read anything quite like THIS IS ME TRYING and it will definitely be one that I revisit in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf.
I’m so so sorry but i cannot read this.
The writing is awful to the point i can barely comprehend…and the characters are unrealistic.


At 3 percent (like 5 pages after they met) she said she was in love….


Also the unnecessary info goes wild….

“Fliss and simon had to take their mother to the hospital because a frozen leg of lamb had fallen on her foot,”

“She smiled. ‘I normally go with the fact I’ve never had salt and vinegar crisps.’

“Georgia’s foot was sitting on top of mine beneath the table, which hurt because she was wearing clunky sandals.” THE TRAGEDY🫵😭
The horror😱🫨

Also the relying on cussing😭
(I did the kindle word search thing)

F~ck- 73 times
Shit-40 times
Any other words i thought of were under 10 uses.

One of the things I really enjoy about this book was the way they talked about different topics like anxiety and sexual consent, I do like how the author gave a list of resources at the end (bare minimum, I know but thoughtful none the less) the way it talked about some heavy topics was admirable however the writing was a bit long, the writing style just was not for me and I felt myself getting burnt out quickly but whether or not that's because of the topics or the writing style is a blurred line at this point. I would probably recommend this book.

This took YEARS off my life.

To begin with, it was so much longer than what it needed to be. Not to mention the writing was so flat, it was like "This happened, I did this, he said this". ???

Act one: The most insufferable bit of the whole book. The writing was SO juvenile, though I get it could be because we're seeing the minds of young teenagers, but it's not like it gets much better later. Anyway, the characters here were so annoying and immature.

Act two: Initially I thought what she did was stupid, but I get it. Pretty sad to accept, but an okay bit.

Act three: By now the writing had gotten better, but still not to a great extent. It was still pretty bad. I felt proud of Brooke for getting so much better and found myself feeling bad for Matt and Charlie. Bittersweet ending!

Overall, I didn't care for this story so much as to enjoy the book.

This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a deeply emotional coming-of-age story that explores love, trauma, and healing with honesty and sensitivity. Brooke and Matt’s relationship, which starts innocently enough when they’re cast as the leads in their school’s *Romeo and Juliet*, quickly spirals into a complicated and damaging romance. The book does a fantastic job of tackling difficult topics like anxiety, co-dependency, and the blurred lines of sexual consent, making it both a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking read.

Brooke’s journey to reclaim her independence and confront her past is powerful and authentic, and the depiction of her mental health struggles adds real depth to the story. The reunion between Brooke and Matt years later brings a layer of growth, as they both face the consequences of their actions and seek redemption.

This debut novel is a raw and reflective exploration of forgiveness, accountability, and healing. Jenna Adams has crafted a poignant story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading, and I’m excited to see where her writing goes next.

This was hard to put down, especially since I related to the Brooke so much. The age gap relationship was difficult to read because you know they’re at different times in their lives but don’t know how to be together in a healthy way.

I DNF'D this book around 15% because the formatting was all messed up when the book downloaded. I tried it several times. You guys really need to fix that because it was unreadable. I also HATE books that do not use quotation marks when people talk. I tried to get past those 2 things, but I was hating those two things too much to continue. If you changed those two things I would be happy to try again because the story does sound very interesting. I also did not like the chapter titles. They were very bland and boring. The writing also seemed kinda wattpad level.

This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a masterpiece of a book! Pure art! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

Damnnnn this book was hard-hitting. We follow Brooke and Matt and their lives over the course of a few years, entangled in a toxic relationship that hurt both of them severely. Please do not be mistaken, this book is NOT a romance, it’s a coming of age story including very heavy topics like sexual assault, codependency, and self-harm. Read with caution, but do read it. It’s an important story and it has to be told.

I liked the story, I had a little difficulties getting into it but I really liked the story itself.

I didn't like the format on my Kindle, really hard to follow the chapters and also I don't have the remaining time of the chapters and to be honest, I need that lol but it didn't stop me from liking this book.

I would recommend.

Cheers,
Cass's Bookshelf
xo

Jenna Adams’ This Is Me Trying is undeniably an addictive read, but it’s a heavy one for a coming-of-age YA novel. Readers should heed the content warnings at the start, as the story delves into complex and often uncomfortable themes.

The novel follows Brooke from age 14 to her early twenties and Matt from 17 to his late twenties, though the dual POVs make it clear that this is primarily Brooke’s story. Set in late-2000s Britain, the two characters meet in a drama club, where they’re cast as Romeo and Juliet. What begins as an older, outgoing upperclassman helping a shy freshman come out of her shell soon turns into a forbidden romance, particularly after Matt turns 18. While Matt’s own immaturity is evident, it’s unsettling to read how he encourages Brooke to lie and hide their relationship, blurring the lines of consent and trust.

The novel’s premise hinges on Brooke eventually confronting Matt about their relationship, but this pivotal moment doesn’t occur until the final 10% of the book—and when it does, it’s rushed and glossed over. While Brooke’s personal growth is evident as she navigates therapy and faces her past, Matt remains stagnant, trapped in a cycle of nostalgia and regret.

The pacing of the story feels unbalanced, with over half of the book focused on Brooke’s teenage years, leaving her adult journey and the resolution feeling underdeveloped. The abrupt ending adds to the sense of incompleteness, leaving questions about whether Brooke and Matt truly grew as individuals.

Ultimately, This Is Me Trying had the potential for an impactful exploration of healing and accountability, but its execution fell flat for me. While Brooke’s journey is compelling, the overall narrative left me wanting more depth and closure.