Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THE WAY I AM NOW

book

THE WAY I AM NOW

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Amber Smith

Is THE WAY I AM NOW appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Eden and Josh decide to give their relationship another chance despite the emotional baggage they both carry. (Ages 14 and up)

Ages 16+Book 2 · The Way I Used to BeSource checked

Why this age? The novel deals directly with sexual assault and its aftermath, trauma symptoms, therapy, consent, legal proceedings, depression, self-harm references, and emotionally intense relationships. Mature teens are the best fit. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Where to get it

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 16+
Strongest cautionsRomance 4/5 · Sexual content & nudity 4/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 5/5 · Good role models 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · The Way I Used to Be
Recommendation4.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: romance.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

The novel deals directly with sexual assault and its aftermath, trauma symptoms, therapy, consent, legal proceedings, depression, self-harm references, and emotionally intense relationships. Mature teens are the best fit. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: romance.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 16+Main watch-out: Romance 4/5
Recommendation 4.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
2Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 8, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age16+

Strongest cautions

  • Romance4/5
  • Sexual content & nudity4/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience5/5
  • Good role models4/5
  • Kindness & empathy4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

  1. Book 1 · THE WAY I USED TO BEAges 16+
    Sexual content & nudity5/5Frightening scenes4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Death of a character1/5Graphic injury1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · THE WAY I AM NOWAges 16+
    Romance4/5Sexual content & nudity4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets gentler

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What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleTHE WAY I USED TO BECompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than THE WAY I AM NOW. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+3 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+2 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+1 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+1 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Occasional moderate language typical of young adult contemporary fiction.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

Features secondary characters with diverse identities within the social circle.

Romance4/5
Why this rating?

Romantic relationships, trust, intimacy, consent, and the effects of trauma on dating are major parts of the story.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Emotional distress, trauma memories, anxiety, and assault-related legal and interpersonal situations may be frightening or intense, though this is not a supernatural or jump-scare story.

Sexual content & nudity4/5
Why this rating?

Sexual assault is central to the story and discussed directly. Consent, boundaries, recovery, and some consensual intimacy add mature sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Includes social drinking by college students.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Contains references to past trauma and emotional abuse, but no graphic physical violence.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Death of a character · 0/5Graphic injury · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience5/5
Why this rating?

Seeking help, setting boundaries, confronting painful memories, and pursuing accountability are central forms of courage.

Creativity & curiosity1/5
Why this rating?

Encourages thoughtful reflection and emotional intelligence.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Reflects a modern, diverse college environment.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

The novel offers insight into trauma, consent, therapy, reporting, and recovery, but its main purpose is storytelling rather than formal instruction.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Empathy, listening, friendship, advocacy, and patient support are important positive forces in the protagonist’s recovery.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong themes address consent, survivor agency, accountability, therapy, boundaries, friendship, recovery, and the importance of support after trauma.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Supportive friends, family, and professionals model care and accountability, while the protagonist’s difficult recovery is portrayed with complexity rather than as a simple lesson.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
  3. Which choice in THE WAY I AM NOW would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THE WAY I AM NOW, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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Try something nearby

Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re hereTHE WAY I AM NOW
THE WAY I USED TO BEAmber SmithAges 16+EONAAlison GoodmanAges 14+EONAlison GoodmanAges 13+LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.