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Chaos Finding Form
“Faith told her who to be. Love showed her who she was.”
Amara Johnson has always known how to survive.
But when survival starts to feel like a cage, she dares to want something more.
After a shattering trauma, seventeen-year-old Amara finds herself in therapy, spiralling between silence and self-blame. Then she meets Magoa — a sharp-eyed photographer with a messy past and a softness Amara doesn’t know how to hold.
As love begins to feel less like danger and more like possibility, Amara must confront her faith, her fears, and the belief that she’s too broken to be loved.
Chaos Finding Form is a raw, intimate, and unflinchingly honest story about survival, self-discovery, and the kind of love that doesn’t fix you—but reminds you you’re worth fixing for. Perfect for readers who like their romance tangled with real-life heartache, messy healing, and quiet, powerful hope.
Raw, tender, and unflinchingly honest, Chaos Finding Form is a coming-of-age story that stresses the importance of learning to trust oneself through love, not in place of it.
Think Girl in Pieces meets Speak meets Call Me By Your Name
Amara Johnson has always known how to survive.
But when survival starts to feel like a cage, she dares to want something more.
After a shattering trauma, seventeen-year-old Amara finds herself in therapy, spiralling between silence and self-blame. Then she meets Magoa — a sharp-eyed photographer with a messy past and a softness Amara doesn’t know how to hold.
As love begins to feel less like danger and more like possibility, Amara must confront her faith, her fears, and the belief that she’s too broken to be loved.
Chaos Finding Form is a raw, intimate, and unflinchingly honest story about survival, self-discovery, and the kind of love that doesn’t fix you—but reminds you you’re worth fixing for. Perfect for readers who like their romance tangled with real-life heartache, messy healing, and quiet, powerful hope.
Raw, tender, and unflinchingly honest, Chaos Finding Form is a coming-of-age story that stresses the importance of learning to trust oneself through love, not in place of it.
Think Girl in Pieces meets Speak meets Call Me By Your Name
386 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2025
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 10, 2025
i genuinely devoured this book, loved every single second of it and i didn’t want it to end. the most gorgeous story. it delves into such important topics and is absolutely heartbreaking but so heartwarming at the same time. i absolutely adored every single one of these characters. i was rooting for amara the entire time, such a well written, strong character.
i cannot wait to see where this story goes and i’m itching for more right now. i urge everyone to read this book!
i cannot wait to see where this story goes and i’m itching for more right now. i urge everyone to read this book!
October 29, 2025
TRUDY-ANN SMITH, come to the front please!
What a beautiful coming of age story filled with hope that was equally heartbreaking as it was heartwarming.
Genuinely, I had no idea what to expect from CFF as this is my first time reading Trudy-Ann's work but when I tell you I had NO trouble visualising the storyline, the banter, the body language, or the dynamics between Mare and her family (especially Kaz), but as well as with the very mysterious Magoa.
comps: girl in pieces x call me by your name
I find it incredibly hard to believe this is Trudy-Ann's debut novel because WOW. I need to see the indelicate dysphoria series as a tv show now! It really reminded me of the typical teenage sarcasm and humour that we witnessed in Sex Education, while also delving into serious topics.
There was a particular scene (no spoilers) where Mare is counting to 7200 in her room and I almost rolled my eyes because girl, why can't we count to 100? Or even 500 if we wanted to be extra. It wasn't until I understood why that I felt so bad and as if I had been punched in my stomach! It was the way Trudy-Ann was able to show the aftermath of Mare's trauma in such a subtle way, without having to explicitly describe Mare's trauma, that was just so powerful!
Amara was brave and fierce, her refusal to sweep what had happened to her under the rud and just 'move on' made me want to scoop her in my arms and give her a cuddle! I love the complexities of her relationship with Kaz and I'm itching to see their sisterhood continue to blossom in book 2! My favourite thing to read will always be an interconnected series!!
Shoutout to my favourite character - Mare's grandma, because she really was just doing too much! I know it was coming from a good place but the way I was laughing hahah
I really am on the edge of my seat for more books from Trudy-Ann. We really do need more New Adult books because the violent, world-altering transition from your teenage years to early adulthood is a lot - it's confusing, emotional, raw and scary and it was such a privilege to feel like I wsa walking alongside Mare's own story as she navigated these changes.
What a beautiful coming of age story filled with hope that was equally heartbreaking as it was heartwarming.
Genuinely, I had no idea what to expect from CFF as this is my first time reading Trudy-Ann's work but when I tell you I had NO trouble visualising the storyline, the banter, the body language, or the dynamics between Mare and her family (especially Kaz), but as well as with the very mysterious Magoa.
comps: girl in pieces x call me by your name
I find it incredibly hard to believe this is Trudy-Ann's debut novel because WOW. I need to see the indelicate dysphoria series as a tv show now! It really reminded me of the typical teenage sarcasm and humour that we witnessed in Sex Education, while also delving into serious topics.
There was a particular scene (no spoilers) where Mare is counting to 7200 in her room and I almost rolled my eyes because girl, why can't we count to 100? Or even 500 if we wanted to be extra. It wasn't until I understood why that I felt so bad and as if I had been punched in my stomach! It was the way Trudy-Ann was able to show the aftermath of Mare's trauma in such a subtle way, without having to explicitly describe Mare's trauma, that was just so powerful!
Amara was brave and fierce, her refusal to sweep what had happened to her under the rud and just 'move on' made me want to scoop her in my arms and give her a cuddle! I love the complexities of her relationship with Kaz and I'm itching to see their sisterhood continue to blossom in book 2! My favourite thing to read will always be an interconnected series!!
Shoutout to my favourite character - Mare's grandma, because she really was just doing too much! I know it was coming from a good place but the way I was laughing hahah
I really am on the edge of my seat for more books from Trudy-Ann. We really do need more New Adult books because the violent, world-altering transition from your teenage years to early adulthood is a lot - it's confusing, emotional, raw and scary and it was such a privilege to feel like I wsa walking alongside Mare's own story as she navigated these changes.
July 18, 2025
Im struggling to put into words how much this book is incredible. The most heartbreaking and hopeful story I’ve read in a while and I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading it. I really hope the next book will be around soon because I want to know what happens to Amara later and the other characters as well!!
July 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (because what kind of author would I be if I gave myself anything less?)
Okay, okay, I know this is technically cheating. Reviewing your own book is like clapping for yourself after you sneeze — weird, mildly unhinged, and somehow still satisfying. But hear me out.
Chaos Finding Form is the emotional fever dream of my heart. It’s messy in the way life is messy. It's about trauma, queerness, grief, hope, shame, healing, and love — basically all the things I had no business trying to wrestle into words, and yet I did anyway (you're welcome or I'm sorry, depending on the chapter you land in).
If you're looking for a feel-good beach read... maybe don’t. But if you're into raw, lyrical coming-of-age stories that might make you cry, question things, and then quietly text your therapist, this might just be your thing. Also, Magoa exists in this book, and I would personally die for her. Just saying.
Yes, I’m biased. I made this. I pulled it out of my guts and polished it with coffee and chaos. But if you’re even a little bit curious, give it a shot. Worst case? You hate it and we never speak of this again. Best case? It stays with you the way good books do — quietly, stubbornly, and all at once.
Now if you'll excuse me, I’m off to nervously refresh this page every 6 minutes. :)
Okay, okay, I know this is technically cheating. Reviewing your own book is like clapping for yourself after you sneeze — weird, mildly unhinged, and somehow still satisfying. But hear me out.
Chaos Finding Form is the emotional fever dream of my heart. It’s messy in the way life is messy. It's about trauma, queerness, grief, hope, shame, healing, and love — basically all the things I had no business trying to wrestle into words, and yet I did anyway (you're welcome or I'm sorry, depending on the chapter you land in).
If you're looking for a feel-good beach read... maybe don’t. But if you're into raw, lyrical coming-of-age stories that might make you cry, question things, and then quietly text your therapist, this might just be your thing. Also, Magoa exists in this book, and I would personally die for her. Just saying.
Yes, I’m biased. I made this. I pulled it out of my guts and polished it with coffee and chaos. But if you’re even a little bit curious, give it a shot. Worst case? You hate it and we never speak of this again. Best case? It stays with you the way good books do — quietly, stubbornly, and all at once.
Now if you'll excuse me, I’m off to nervously refresh this page every 6 minutes. :)
August 13, 2025
5/5
Let me start this by saying this isn't my usual genre of choice; I usually read thrillers. So I was a bit skeptical going into this- but little did I know how much Id fall in love with the characters. Amara's story follows a 17 year old girl who's gone through some trauma, who dares to let herself enjoy life again without ignoring what happened to her. I feel that usually these types of stories focus on "ignoring the pain" rather than learning to live with it-which this book does beautifully. The book talked about trauma without it being the ONLY thing it talked about, and in such a way that's both hopeful and lamentful. It does touch on a lot of heavy topics though so I had to read it in bite sized chunks to get through. It gives you a lot to think about, in a way that makes you want more. Highly recommend this book if you want a story about healing.
Let me start this by saying this isn't my usual genre of choice; I usually read thrillers. So I was a bit skeptical going into this- but little did I know how much Id fall in love with the characters. Amara's story follows a 17 year old girl who's gone through some trauma, who dares to let herself enjoy life again without ignoring what happened to her. I feel that usually these types of stories focus on "ignoring the pain" rather than learning to live with it-which this book does beautifully. The book talked about trauma without it being the ONLY thing it talked about, and in such a way that's both hopeful and lamentful. It does touch on a lot of heavy topics though so I had to read it in bite sized chunks to get through. It gives you a lot to think about, in a way that makes you want more. Highly recommend this book if you want a story about healing.
August 24, 2025
The way Trudy writes is so beautiful and refreshing. To feel the hurt that her characters go through made me confront thoughts and feelings that I had been keeping hidden. Amara's story is a wonderful insight into the Caribbean British experience which can add comical, relatable and emotional elements as I reminised on my own upbringing. I recommend for those who may not know how to put their pain into words, for those who yearn to be heard whilst screaming internally and for those who want to enter into a world that showcases the realness of life rather than the glitz and glamour. I look forward to reading what Trudy releases next in this series !! 🙌🏾
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews