The Day I Died

by E.B. Black

This is the story of why a teenage girl named Rachel tries to kill herself. Her entire life is changed when she survives her attempt, but she's surprised by the ripple effect it has on the world around her. Sometimes living is harder than dying, but that doesn't mean that being alive isn't worth it.

Genres: Ebooks, Young Adult, Fiction, Mental Health, Novella, Short Stories, Drama

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2019

About the author

E.B. Black’s life changed the moment she learned how to read. She had an active imagination and books allowed her to visit new worlds and meet new people that she’d otherwise never know. As a teenager, she often neglected schoolwork and sleeping in order to get in more reading time.

Now, she writes fantasy, science fiction, and romance books. She hopes to captivate her audience in the same way she’s been captivated all her life by books.

She lives in southern California with her husband and a dog that she loves and spoils.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick and easy read but I feel like I didn’t get enough of the story. It was very short and to the point. I wish it would have gone into more detail about all the characters.

Also I feel the subject of depression and suicide was a hit and miss, some spots I felt the author nailed it and other parts I thought it was a let down. I know everyone’s depression is different and so are their reasons for taking their life, but I almost thought their had to be more to her story.

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"sometimes living is harder than dying, but that doesn't mean that being alive isn't worth it."

this was a short novella about a girl named Rachel who attempted suicide and was not .. successful i guess to put it without sounding not remorseful for her because I truly felt her story and felt so bad for her. Her attempted suicide put a ripple-effect on the world around her.

this may be a short story but it definitely had a HUGE impact on me.

[Juli. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as I remembered.
Rachel admittedly fails at commiting suicide and faces the repercussions. Her mother, best friend, school, Rodger, etc. Rachel's reasons could've been stronger (NOT SAYING THAT THERES ANY REASON TO END YOUR LIFE, CONTINUE LIVING BEAUTIFUL HUMANS) but some parts were quite emotional and others we're just reading through like a hospital magazine. The ending also felt a bit rushed.
And I'm sorry, but this was a short fekin read if I finished it in 50 minutes at 4-5am. I feel like these type of topics deserve a longer story.

3.5/5

[Donny · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 massive stars just for writing, bringing attention to and raising awareness of suicide in children. Even an international helpline number on the final pages of her book.
It was a quick, but powerful little story from the viewpoint of only one girl, but hits home how when we are very young, we are under the care of people who don't neccessarily want the best for us and how things can get really messy in our heads, I think people often forget how confusing it is to be a child. Very well executed.

[anastasia ♥ hiraeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This feels like it would have needed WAY more pages than just 46 because a story with only 46 pages and THIS kind of content is bound to suck.

[gabs ⛤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I’ve been trying so hard for so long now that I deserve to rest.”

[Lynn :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am only rating this three stars because of the cursing. Other than that I liked this book. Thank you E.B. Black for writing such a beautiful book and raising awareness for depressed teens.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a joke!

I am so angry. This author made a mockery out of this girls pain. IF you have never suffered from depression, you have no idea. No clue, at all. Stick to subject matter, you know something about!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and it gives a perspective that most people don't think of. There are a few typos in the story but nothing that interferes with the power of the message.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short but very impactful. Because it’s so short, it gets gritty and intense very quick, but I think it does a good job with capturing some of these scary feelings a lot of people with depression have felt and deal with.

[Tris |"I'll leave the morrow for the morrow. Today is enough and more."| Prior · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book disopointed me so much.

It started off amazing, I couldnt put it down, but then after about 20-30 pages, it felt like the author gave up and just randomly finnished it. It just stopped. Was too rushed.

[Meranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be the worst thing I have ever read. It was awfully written and moved so fast and honestly, I can’t believe I wasted my time reading this. Basically zero star book. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needing a quick read, I checked out this book as it was free on Amazon - a YA novella called The Day I Died. At the beginning of this book, we meet Rachel who when she was younger her dad committed suicide and then her mother met another guy and she now has a half-sister. Her life is going downhill fast and so she decides to end her life and go with her father to a land unknown. Unfortunately, her plan is thwarted when her mother finds her half-alive and rushes her to the hospital. During this time, her stepfather's true colors shine through and soon Rachel will realize that she did have the backs of her best friend and mother. The Day I Died focuses rather than on the suicide but the aftermath of someone having failed to die and the knowledge that those around them now have as they wonder how they missed the signs. As someone who has always wondered What If ?? I found this book a good read and I have always been fascinated with this theme in novels.

[Crystal Beausoleil · Rating 2 out of 5]

*If you can relate, please reach out to The Suicide Hotline for help in your darkest times at 1-800-273-8255 or 988. Tomorrow may be kinder. I’m always willing to be a safe space as well.

As for my review, this novella addresses significant mental health themes, including suicide, depression, grief, physical and emotional abuse, and domestic violence. It presents a complex story that aims to connect with readers and combat feelings of isolation — after all, silence can be damaging. However, I feel that the novella could benefit from greater length to explore these important topics more thoroughly and provide a deeper understanding, rather than offering a rushed narrative.

[lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel so…. un finished…

[Sarah Harvey Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this story was longer. Its a beautiful story of redemption after struggling with suicide and depression and breaking patterns of domestic violence

[rhi rhi (a literal angel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“maybe it wasn’t anyone’s fault. maybe people just like to blame others for someone’s death because it makes it easier to deal with when they can be mad at someone. maybe the only thing to blame for suicide is depression.”

~ ♡ 3.25/5

this book was something, the internal blame and guilt for the death of someone you love is unbearable. i’ve dealt with it first hand.

the anger as well are all commonly associated with the death, especially if that cause of death is suicide.

as much as i hated the length of this short story, i felt it brought such light on the way it affects not only yourself but the people around you. when one dies of suicide, or has a failed attempt.

EDIT: i still think about this book.

[Cynthia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is great and depressing. I definitely cried a few times but I have one issue with this book.
Why isn’t it longer??!!!!! I would have personally liked to see Rachel fall back in to a new routine, make new friends, navigate through school, being a big sister. I would have loved to see her development as a person as she got older.

[Ileana Mazzurco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening

Eye opening book about how a young girls attempted suicide needs more awareness about mental illness and the issues behind the mind of someone who attempts to take their lives

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't what I thought it would be but still a meaningful book all the same. Everyone has felt that way at one time or another, I have, some can see the light, some are trying their hardest to find it.

Just felt I needed this today - Sept 1

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

The message of this story could have been portrayed in a completely different way, and it would have been way more impactful. The story was too short to connect to, and it could have been told better in a poem format. The writing style was very weak for me and overall was not enjoyable.

[Katie Kaboom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wrote almost this exact story as an angsty teen in highschool. It's giving "Creative Writing Assignment About Suicide Awareness" -- 2 stars is generous but solely because her mom punched Roger . Go mom.

[sally ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

The Day I Died is about teenager Rachel and her attempt of suicide. Rachel has it hard, losing her father to suicide years ago, not having many friends, a growing distant mother, and a bad stepfather.

Firstly I would like to say there were some stunning perspectives in this books, quotes where I had to sit down and just absorb what I had just read because it was so sadly impactful. I truly felt for Rachel, I did. However this story was so short and at times side characters felt shallow. It felt like a series of sad events, no recovery, no train of thought, just moving forward and nothing afterwards. I also feel like Samantha was a bad friend because what the hell man? Way to make someone else’s attempt all about you!!

At times I felt like I needed further expansion, like the bullying, Roger, her sister, it kind of just skipped through a lot of trauma. I think my main complaint is that the length didn’t give this book opportunity to be more in depth. I would love to know more about Rachel, and her feelings, and her growth, not a little flash forward at the end of the book.

Bottom line is the book has potential, with more pages and complete depth it truly could be a five star read.

I just couldn’t quite connect at points due to this, but with these tweaks I would love to see it!

My heart goes out to anyone struggling, my messages are always open, okay?:)

[lori weisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave yet very lucky

Wanting to commit suicide at any age for any reason is so hard. I'd thought about it myself but didn't want to leave my kids.
The main character comes close and faces some ugly situations. Mom got strong and did the right thing. Communication is the key. Talk to someone. I talk to God. I know he hears me and has helped me to go deaf when I didn't want to hear the bs.

[Stormborn Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️

How can such important themes as suicide, depression, domestic violence, and the loss of a parent be rushed through in just 40 pages?

Although I feel I could have enjoyed this story, it deserved more explanation and development. It was simply rushed, missing the proper character development and not giving them enough time to heal or understand the reasons behind their thoughts and choices.

[abi · Rating 1 out of 5]

i think my main issue with this book is that such a heavy subject matter can never really be fully explored in a novella of less than 50 pages, which is why i struggled to connect with the characters in what should’ve been an emotional read. the odd pacing made the plot feel jumpy and the writing seem awkward 😬.

[Marina Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely a eye opener for me. I have struggled with suicidal thoughts on and off for the past 10 years, and this book may have actually helped me if I had it when I was in highshool and started reading again, because it sure as hell showed me that you have have the bad and the ugly while still trying to figure out how to find and live with the good and the brave.

[gail ♛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this novella for free on my kindle and ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It is a story about a girl who fails a suicide attempt and sees the repercussions of her failed attempt. It also slightly touches on domestic violence. It is a little bit of a darker read, but I appreciated the mental health representation and the hopeful ending it had. Just because everything seems the worst it could possibly be, there's still so much to enjoy in life.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heart hurts

I've been there and man, did a lot of this hit home. It reads like a high school story, creative writing maybe.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little short book. Read in 30 mins. Quite thought provoking. Life can always get better.