The Way We Met

The Way I Used to Be #2.5

by Amber Smith

Eden and Josh are in a good place – finally. But now Eden is facing down a new major milestone: spending the weekend with Josh’s parents. The last time she met them, it didn’t exactly go so well. She needs it to be perfect, for them to like her, and like her with Josh. As the weekend unfolds and she gets to know Josh’s family, the return home also brings back memories of the first time Eden met Josh. The real story, the one Josh doesn’t even know…

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Mental Health, Novella

48 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Amber Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including the international bestsellers The Way I Used to Be and The Way I Am Now, as well as the critically-acclaimed and award-winning novels, The Last to Let Go and Something Like Gravity. Along with her middle-grade debut,Code Name: Serendipity, she also contributed to the award-winning YA anthology, Our Stories, Our Voices. An advocate for increased awareness of mental health, gendered violence, and LGBTQIA+ equality, she writes in the hope that her books can help foster change and spark dialogue. She lives in Ithaca, NY with her wife and their ever-growing family of rescued dogs and cats. Find her online at AmberSmithAuthor.com

Reviews

[zeinab ⟢ [semi-ia] · Rating 4 out of 5]

josheden they could never make me hate you 🥹




. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

⋆ 𐙚 ̊ pre-read:
i can’t believe i’m going to leave these characters forever after this 🥺 ofc my bestie ishi is finishing off this novella with me because i already dragged her through the other two books 😌

[Liyah's · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet

GIVE ME MORE

And for anyone who wants to read this, it's ONLY available on a website called Simon Teens!! And it's all free

[im_just_vidu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would never get tired of Eden and Josh. And I'm glad that I can finally read something about them. Just them. I'm not the same person since I read "The way I used to be". And I'll never be. But this was a closure I needed for myself. (May23 2025- 2.01a.m.)

Edit: For everyone who's asking where to read it, it's on the "Simonteen website"-

https://ss-6b72361bafdbfb6d777d7bc29f...

[isu ✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ 3.75
«If a girl dies in a crowded room, but nobody sees it happen, did she ever really exist at all?»

[charlotte ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ★

this healed something in me

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amo mucho a Eden y Josh.
Creo firmemente que una parte de la vida de las personas que leemos estos libros cambia por completo y te hace entrar en retrospectiva de muchas cosas.
Me gusta que Amber muestre esta parte de Eden y que pueda tener más contenido de ellos juntos.

Son muy especiales para mí y la historia en general es un ANTES Y UN DESPUÉS.
Aún recuerdo lo que lloré en el primer libro y el final especial del segundo.
Siempre es bonito reconectar con personajes que han significado algo para nosotros y esto me pasa con la historia.

Cada vez que veo un diente de león, pienso en Eden y me hace sonreír.
Pienso en su silencio, en su lucha, en su juicio y en quién es.
Tengo su historia grabada para siempre.

[joj · Rating 5 out of 5]

My precious babies. They mean more to me than anyone could ever imagine😞

-
“The glasses. The smile. Every time I look at this picture, I’m overtaken with such deep sadness. She doesn’t know what’s about to happen to her—how she’ll be changed by what’s about to happen to her.”
-
“If a girl dies in a crowded room, but nobody sees it happen, did she ever really exist at all?”
-
“I feel myself giving in, wanting all those versions of myself to be seen, to be witnessed, to matter, to be understood.”
-
“I look over at Josh, my person, my safe place, who has been showing me, for so long and in so many ways, that I can find my own safe places within me, too. That home can be wherever we are, because we have a past that belongs to both of us, and a future, and a right now. Right now, right here, we're together. And that's all that matters.”🥹

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ "Was that girl really okay?"

A very short but sweet read that really tugs at your heartstrings 🥹

Can't get enough of Eden and Josh and would love to follow the rest of their story, even into adulthood. To know that there's life and love and happiness after trauma and abuse. Home.

✨ "If a girl dies in a crowded room, but nobody sees it happen, did she really exist at all?"

[love🌸 (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss my babies already

[hajer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I see you" killed me

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute way to wrap up this short and sweet series ! I almost done want their story to end. I would love to keep reading more and more to see where they end up in the future. I actually fell in love with this couple and will never stop thinking of this series.

This series change the way I look at myself, my relationships & the importance of self-care.

This story healed something in me that I didn’t know needed to be healed.

***I found the book on TikTok; the Simonteen.com did not work for me.***

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mt fofo

[Kelseylovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was so sweet

[kimberley (thearieslibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. Such a beautiful way to finish it all off even though I am so sad that it is over as I love the messages it spreads, the world and the characters. This will be a series that I will always think about - it’s changed my brain chemistry in a way that I didn’t know I needed.

[dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was literally everything I wanted and more

[shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I just discovered this. It was a cute and comforting short story that made me miss Eden and Josh so much. Josh will forever remain the best book boyfriend. Wish it was longer though.

[Addison Wand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short book to know the ending and that Eden will be alright!

[Lu ⋆⁺₊⋆]

¡¡¿POR QUÉ RECIEN ME ENTERO DE QUE SALIO ESTO?!!

[Angelica]

WHERE CAN I BUY THIS BOOK :( ???

[ariyanna]

I could read about this couple all day for the rest of my life and I'm so serious

[Readbyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww, this was so cute. Her meeting with his family and the way they treated her.
Also I loved the way they are together now.🥹❤️

[Jennie Bedard-Lachance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a really cute addition. I love how they help each other grow.

[Mariam˚｡౨ৎ˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love eden and josh

[౨ৎ lucy. · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ 3.5 | ❛ I feel myself giving in, wanting all those versions of myself to be seen, to be witnessed, to matter, to be understood. ❜

[Maria Almoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was acc everything I needed. I have not been the same since I read “The way I used to be” and “The way I am now” last year. Eden deserves the world and I’m so happy we got to see a little snippet of her and Josh.

[Chelsie Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars! STOP THIS WAS SOOO CUTE!!! The way she put her glasses on again after wearing contacts for so many years made me want to cry. I seriously love Josh and Eden so much!❤️

[Anj C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very fast read but I needed it after the second book. I'll never be tired of Josh and Eden so this really healed something in me.

[mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

eu não tenho PALAVRAS para descrever como é bom,vê como edenjosh são depois de tudo que passaram para ficarem juntos.
a eden se esforçando TANTO depois de tudo que aconteceu com ela,mas com coragem de continuar porque é a vida dela,e o josh importa muito e o relacionamento com ele também.
e o josh sendo paciente e perfeito como sempre me alegra muito.
e vê que mesmo antes deles terem um relacionamento ambos eram o conforto um do outro me deixa com o peito explodindo de amor,eu já falei uma vez e repito eles são perfeitos um para o outro,eles se ama TANTO.
e eu os amo mais,leria mil contos de edenjosh felizes juntos.

[Verity S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the reviews that stated that this short story by Amber Smith was the closure we needed for Josh and Eden. And oh gosh, it so is! It gave me all the happy feelings in a rush. Josh is my all-time favorite "book boyfriend." He is absolutely everything: patient, kind, gentle, thoughtful, patient, good-natured, sweet, caring, patient. And the thing he does for Eden in this short 48-page novella is the ultimate thing. I wont spoil it for you.

I will recommend this series to anyone and everyone. It is a heavy series with a lot of emotions, but the HEA we need, deserve, and want.