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Self Inflicted
To the world, seventeen-year-old Aurora appears to be like any other teenage girl seeking attention. Her short hair changes color as frequently as her mood. She doesn't bother to hide her tattoos or piercings from the judging world of high school.
The only thing she hides is her scars.
After losing her mother to breast cancer at the age of thirteen, Aurora is left to be raised solely by her workaholic father. She turns to cutting to deal with the constant emotional pain. Full of scars from her years of self-harm, Aurora shelters herself from the world and refuses to allow people to get to know the real Rory. The only people who know about her self-mutilation habits are her best friend Liam and her boyfriend Erik.
Her relationship with Erik is as unhealthy as her cutting, but she justifies the cheating and abuse, thinking there has to be something she has done to deserve it.
Barely into her senior year of high school, Aurora learns she is pregnant. Determined to make the relationship work despite the abuse and infidelity, Aurora and Erik decide to get married.Just before the wedding, Liam informs Aurora that he is being deployed, and before he leaves he delivers news that turns Aurora's world upside down.
How long can Aurora continue to make excuses for Erik's behavior? At what point does his abuse become too much?
The only thing she hides is her scars.
After losing her mother to breast cancer at the age of thirteen, Aurora is left to be raised solely by her workaholic father. She turns to cutting to deal with the constant emotional pain. Full of scars from her years of self-harm, Aurora shelters herself from the world and refuses to allow people to get to know the real Rory. The only people who know about her self-mutilation habits are her best friend Liam and her boyfriend Erik.
Her relationship with Erik is as unhealthy as her cutting, but she justifies the cheating and abuse, thinking there has to be something she has done to deserve it.
Barely into her senior year of high school, Aurora learns she is pregnant. Determined to make the relationship work despite the abuse and infidelity, Aurora and Erik decide to get married.Just before the wedding, Liam informs Aurora that he is being deployed, and before he leaves he delivers news that turns Aurora's world upside down.
How long can Aurora continue to make excuses for Erik's behavior? At what point does his abuse become too much?
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 20, 2026
Self Inflicted is an emotionally gripping novel that approaches grief, trauma, abuse, and self-destruction with honesty, sensitivity, and remarkable depth. Morgan Rylie has crafted a story that is both heartbreaking and deeply human, giving readers a powerful look at one young woman’s fight to survive the weight of loss, pain, and toxic love.
Aurora is an unforgettable protagonist. Beneath her defiant exterior is a young woman carrying unimaginable grief and emotional wounds, and her struggle feels painfully real throughout the story. The author does an excellent job of portraying her inner battles with nuance and compassion, allowing readers to understand not just her pain, but also her resilience. Aurora’s journey is difficult, emotional, and at times devastating, but it is also filled with moments of strength that make her story incredibly compelling.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its willingness to confront difficult subjects without losing sight of hope. The story explores grief, self-harm, manipulation, and abuse with a level of realism that makes it impactful, while also showing the emotional complexity of healing and self-worth. Rather than offering easy answers, the book allows Aurora’s journey to unfold in a way that feels authentic and deeply affecting.
The emotional weight of the novel is balanced by strong storytelling and meaningful character development. As Aurora faces the consequences of her choices and the truth about the relationships around her, readers are drawn into a story about survival, identity, and the courage it takes to stop accepting pain as something deserved.
Morgan Rylie’s writing is vivid, compassionate, and emotionally resonant. The book handles its heavy themes with care while still delivering a compelling and page-turning narrative. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories that explore difficult realities with honesty will find Self Inflicted both moving and unforgettable.
This is not a light read, but it is an important and powerful one. Self Inflicted is a deeply emotional novel about loss, trauma, and the long road toward healing, a story that lingers long after the final page.
Highly recommended for readers who value honest, impactful storytelling and emotionally rich character journeys.
Aurora is an unforgettable protagonist. Beneath her defiant exterior is a young woman carrying unimaginable grief and emotional wounds, and her struggle feels painfully real throughout the story. The author does an excellent job of portraying her inner battles with nuance and compassion, allowing readers to understand not just her pain, but also her resilience. Aurora’s journey is difficult, emotional, and at times devastating, but it is also filled with moments of strength that make her story incredibly compelling.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its willingness to confront difficult subjects without losing sight of hope. The story explores grief, self-harm, manipulation, and abuse with a level of realism that makes it impactful, while also showing the emotional complexity of healing and self-worth. Rather than offering easy answers, the book allows Aurora’s journey to unfold in a way that feels authentic and deeply affecting.
The emotional weight of the novel is balanced by strong storytelling and meaningful character development. As Aurora faces the consequences of her choices and the truth about the relationships around her, readers are drawn into a story about survival, identity, and the courage it takes to stop accepting pain as something deserved.
Morgan Rylie’s writing is vivid, compassionate, and emotionally resonant. The book handles its heavy themes with care while still delivering a compelling and page-turning narrative. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories that explore difficult realities with honesty will find Self Inflicted both moving and unforgettable.
This is not a light read, but it is an important and powerful one. Self Inflicted is a deeply emotional novel about loss, trauma, and the long road toward healing, a story that lingers long after the final page.
Highly recommended for readers who value honest, impactful storytelling and emotionally rich character journeys.
July 18, 2026
Self Inflicted by Morgan Rylie was one of those books that stayed with me long after I finished it. Aurora felt like such a real character. She isn't perfect, and that's exactly why I connected with her. Watching her struggle with grief, self-harm, and an abusive relationship was heartbreaking, but it never felt like the story was trying to shock the reader. It felt honest. You could really feel the weight she was carrying and understand why she made some of the choices she did, even when they were difficult to read. One thing I appreciated was that the book didn't offer easy answers. Healing isn't shown as something that happens overnight, and I thought that made Aurora's journey even more meaningful. There were several moments where I just wanted to reach into the pages and tell her she deserved so much better. The emotional moments hit hard, but there were also glimpses of hope that kept me turning the pages. It's definitely not a light read because it deals with some heavy topics, but I think they were handled with care and compassion.
If you're looking for a story that's raw, emotional, and centered on healing and finding your self-worth, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a chance. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
If you're looking for a story that's raw, emotional, and centered on healing and finding your self-worth, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a chance. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
November 20, 2020
She lost her mother to cancer and so is lost after her father is a workaholic and so she cuts herself to cope. She then forms an unhealthy relationship but no one sees how troubled she is. Will someone try to help? Will her father finally see how his daughter is suffering? Follow her journey
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews