Ugly Words

by Colby Bettley

Emmeline Beaumont has spent her life trying to survive. From the grief of losing her father to being bullied at school, Emmie is lost and left feeling like there’s no hope.
A tumultuous and abusive relationship isolates Emmie from the rest of the world, pushing her further into the darkness of her mind until she can’t find an escape.
It’s up to her to find the courage to survive and find the light in a world that feels so dismal.

Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2023

About the author

Colby Bettley is a bestselling author and poet living in the beautiful land of Scotland. She splits her time between her editing company (Novel and Noted), writing, and also writing dark romance novels under a different name (Sarah James).

When she's not writing or editing books, she's taking photos of them for her instagram @colby_bettley.

She also loves to talk to readers so don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello!

Reviews

[Jessica Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: If you have been looking for a book that pulls on your heart strings, hit mental health issues, and give you hope at the same time, look no further than Ugly Words! You are pulled into Emmies world instantly and you see her struggles. Whether is is with her body image, friends, bullies, self harm, and a troublesome relationship, you are able to see and feel how Emmie reacts to all around her. The writing was so rich and I felt like I was in Emmie’s room with her. I think out of all the troubles and trials that she goes through, her relationship with Benji hit me the hardest. It was like I was looking at myself as a senior in high school in an abusive relationship. It was cathartic and honestly therapeutic to read about, while it was also heartbreaking.

There is a turning point in this novel, where we see Emmie grow in leaps and bounds and it was absolutely beautiful! I don’t want to give anything away, but we absolutely love a main character with such growth. This has become an instant favorite of mine, and it deserves to be on book shelves in bookstores and libraries everywhere!

Also, screw Benji. 😌

It’s 12:30 and I’ve been sobbing in my bed because of this book. With that being said, I’m going to get some sleep and let y’all know more of this masterpiece when I wake up. Like, my heart!

[Ashley King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words are not adequate enough to describe the depth of my love for this novel! It truly deserves ALL THE STARS. Bettley has written a masterpiece that left me in tears in the best possible way. The writing style makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing each emotion our wonderful main character, Emmie, does. There were times when my heart squeezed so tight I thought it would burst and I gasped and I used all the tissues in my house. The journey we embark upon is so incredibly beautiful and it will warm your heart at seeing Emmie grow and truly embrace who she is.

"Your scars may come from a place of darkness, but they're the reason you shine more light than anyone else I've ever met."
This is one of many of my favorite lines that gives me chills each time I read it and I don't want to give too much away, except...please read this. I am so happy to find mental health rep in this book, along with the way it was handled and written. Bravo to Bettley for seamlessly weaving a tale that will tear you apart but then ever so wonderfully, carefully, beautifully stitch you back together again.

Colby Bettley is a one-click author for me and I look forward to many more books from her. This book is perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Heather Sander Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will absolutely make you sob. 😭 Kt covers so many mental health issues that teens (well, all ages, really) face each day. It’s heavy. There is a constant struggle of negative body image, a toxic relationship with food and Emmeline trying to decide if her next meal is worth the calories. It shows how her mother’s words hurt her and affected her.
It’s such a heavy book. But it’s important. And it’s worth the heart wrenching you’ll go through.
✨Check the content warnings before reading ✨

[ciin_leest · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the writing was so well done! Colby did a perfect job with writing this story and the heavy topics described in it. We got to feel the way Emmie felt througout everything. Have I been crying my eyes out while reading this, yes I have been. This book hit home on some points way to close. The story felt very relatable. 

Emmie is such a wonderful character, and all the things she goes through shouldn't anybody go through. But it happens too many times in life. Throughout the story Emmie goes through such a great development and the ending of the book was great with a lot of healing for her. 

Would personally not reccomend it for young YA because of the heavy subjects. Would reccomend it for 16 or 18+. 

❗Before reading please read the trigger warnings for this book. It contains, self harm, rape/SA, parental mental abuse, eating disorders, body shaming, suicide attempt.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

(BETA READER REVIEW - JAN.2022)
I'm going to start off by saying that any book that advocates for mental health gets my full attention and applause. Colby does an exceptional job taking the reader on a journey of a character who finally accepts herself for the beautiful soul she is, scars and all.

This book was absolutely beautiful. The journey of Emmie was breathtaking and left me in tears countless times (five to be exact, if we're counting). This story hit home for me in multiple ways and my heart hurt ten fold for Emmie as the story progressed. We've all experienced high school, in some shape or form but seeing it from the outside and watching someone be bullied physically and emotionally is heartbreaking. Emmie goes on a self journey, always singling herself out to seclusion and even pushing her best friend away. When she finally finds the help she needs to accept herself and overcome the internal battles she's fought against herself, the outcome is simply beautiful.

I don't want to ruin anything but please pick this up if you are an advocate for mental health and educating yourself in all its colors.

Also, a special shout out to Benji:
$@*# You!

2023 REVIEW:

I thought that book wrecked me the first time? GTFO. I cried more times this read through and I'm not afraid to admit that. This book is so well depicted and detailed that you can follow along clearly. The characters hold value and are providing a life lesson to the reader, which I think is beautiful because it's mental health awareness. Emmie is a beautiful character (i know I'm saying beautiful a lot. Shut up) that I found so eloquently written. She's a fighter but she also wants to please her family and loved ones. I still hate Benji but it burned with a new flame this time around. I think it's safe to say we'll all have some favorites in this one.

Gosh darn tootin'. This book is so good and I'm so excited to get my physical copy in the mail. Just go read this book and step into some cool water, because this book may do some damage.

Triggers - Self harm, rape, verbal abuse, parental neglect, mental abuse, physical abuse

[Colby Bettley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for all the people who are struggling or don’t know their worth — you are important and you will always matter. I hope that you find your way out of the darkness.

[Jessaca Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenally heartbreaking and empowering young adult contemporary romance novel about a girl with an eating disorder, anxiety, and (although it’s not explicitly stated in the book, it seems very likely) PTSD.

Emmie Beaumont is such a strong, sweet character!

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read book. Repeat

I received a copy of this book from Bound by Mischief as part of a tour, all views and opinions are my own.

TW: Sexual Abuse, Body Shaming, Body Dysmorphia, Eating Disorder, Self Harm, Suicide, Gaslighting, Emotional Abuse.

Actual rating of 4.5

Emmaline Beaumont is just trying to survive. Having always been an outcast and never being good enough for anyone, life is difficult. Especially since she lost her father. After finding herself in a toxic, abusive relationship that cuts her off from the few people she can depend on, Emmie must learn how strong she is and find her way back out of the darkness.

I was super keen to jump on board this tour after I read the synopsis, but boy was I ever not ready for the emotional rollercoaster this story took me on. I want to start this review by saying how Bettley actually did her research into mental illness. In the afterword of this book, Bettley states how she spoke to many people with different mental illnesses in order to paint a full picture and be as true to life as she could. There are so many books out there that glorify mental illness and 'fix' it by the MC or character who lives with mental illness, by them ending up in a relationship. This does not fix a mental illness at all, and I love that Bettley didn't do that here. Is there a relationship? Yes. Does it fix all of Emmie's problems magically? No. So having an accurate representation of mental health is fantastic, and as someone who has lived with mental health issues their whole life, it's so important as well.

This is a young adult, contemporary story that is told through the POV of seventeen year old Emmeline Beaumont. She's always been an outcast, for reasons that she doesn't understand. She's always been different, and several times throughout the story she states how she will never be like all the other girls her age, no matter what she does. And she does a lot. This is a story that does not sugar coat mental illness, it allows you to see it for what it is, a harrowing thing that is so hard to survive, and for some, an impossibility to survive. While Bettley doesn't sugar coat the awfulness that Emmie experiences, and goes through, she also doesn't use it for shock factor. The realness and rawness of this story will strike a nerve in most. I was right there alongside Emmie, I felt her pain and her isolation and the darkness that ate away at her soul. While I have only experienced a couple of things that Emmie goes through, I still felt her pain for all of it. The slow descent into the black hole that was trying to swallow her, was so subtle and so real. By the time she was swallowed by the hole, you sat there and wondered "How did we get here?" Even though you know how, you watched it happen. It's still a question that I find I ask myself every day with different aspects of my mental illnesses. Especially when going through a really dark patch, you find yourself asking "How did I end up here?", and I feel like Bettley illustrates this so well.

The characters were incredibly well written and so real. I mourned for Emmie, I mourned the relationship that she didn't have with her mother, for the years that were taken away from her childhood and teenage years through bullying. I thought I was in a fairly okay mental place when I began this book, but by the time I hit a pivotal point in the story at around 60%, I realised that I was not in a good mental place at all and that this story was showing me how not okay I am right now. Being able to write such four dimensional and real characters is a genuine gift, and Bettley has it in spades. The emotions that she made me feel were so deep and while I didn't cry while actively reading this book, I did cry because it made me realise things about my own mental state. It made me sad to think that there are people who experience these things on the daily, I'm lucky that I don't and never have, but to have to go through what Emmie went through, I couldn't even imagine the level of pain it causes, and it breaks my heart.

One thing I absolutely adored about this book was, not only the accurate mental health representation, but the fact that it's attempting to break down the stigma attached to mental health facilities. Showing what a good facility and staff are capable of was amazing. I had someone very close to me spend time in a mental health facility in recent past, and I know first hand how amazing they are. And it is so important that the stigma attached to mental health and mental health facilities is broken down because these facilities save lives, and they are necessary, and no one should ever feel ashamed for having been an inpatient of one.

All in all, this is a heart breaking story about a girl who is pushed so far into the void that she feels like she'll never see the light of day again. A girl who is so strong and courageous and amazing, she just cannot see it through the lies and the shame that others lump on top of her. It is an exploration into mental health and how silent and deadly it can be. A wake up call to those who think that the passing comments they make as jokes could be the straw that breaks the camel's back and end a life. It is an emotional rollercoaster that, I feel, illustrates the struggles that those who fight with mental health issues experience on a daily basis. And it is a story of hope, that shows that having access to a good support system and facilities and staff that know what they're doing, is so important and can save a life. This is not an easy story to read, but it is a brilliant one.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it has taken me so long to review this book. It's probably because the emotional damage was so high. I received an early copy from the author and am leaving a review of my own will. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Colby is the master of emotional rollercoasters. The first half of Ugly Words will leave your heart battered and bruised.

Honestly, even though this book is so heartbreaking and poignant, it left me with so much hope. This is such an important book for mental health rep. The world needs more YA books like this to be a beacon to teens who may be struggling with the same things as Emmie. Please read the triggers on the authors page, but also know that there is light in the darkness.

I can't recommend this enough!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW// fatphobic comments, sexual assault, self-harm, difficult relationships with food/eating disorder, suicide attempts.

CW// potential spoilers ahead

Emmeline Beaumont has it incredibly tough, she's an outcast at school, and is just trying to survive each day. Facing daily bullying from popular kids, and constant comments about her weight, her mental health is deteriorating, fast. She's also trying to cope with the loss of her father, and the distance this has brought upon her relationship with her own mum, she feels very isolated, and trapped, and life just seems to be getting intensely difficult to bear.

This was a deeply moving and heart-breaking story, with incredible mental health rep and filled to the brim with hope and strength. It's a raw and painful depiction of persevering through school in a time full of societal pressures of weight, and the increasing use and dependency on social media and it's deception that can often lead to mental health decline, while comparing yourself to other's best and often edited parts of their lives. This novel also accurately depicts the whirlwind romance that feel all consuming and everlasting whilst you're navigating school as a teenager. Also the way it can somewhat isolate you from your friends and what you cared about before, when these new and exciting feelings take hold. They can almost blind you from reality, particularly when someone shows you the love and affection you've so desperately craved and been rejected of throughout most of your life, almost taking over your entire being.

Emmie has a lot of inner and quiet strength, persevering through not only the relentless and brutal bullying, both mentally and physically, she receives daily at school, but also the gruelling and crushing comments about her weight from her own mother. It's truly heart-breaking to read about the struggles she faces everyday. However, I really loved the warmer elements to the story, about how her friendships with not only Kate but Hannah, and Remy (oh my lord, this man), lift her spirits, and give her even the smallest of reprieves, shining that ray of hope that things can get better even in such a distressing and overwhelming environment. That being said this is a very deeply affecting and moving story. It was completely devastating to see how much Emmeline has to push through and how hard and exhausting it is for her to keep turning up and having to face these painful and overwhelming experiences, over and over again with no let up. You feel yourself fully attached to Emmie, and going through the journey alongside her, through the highs and the lows.

Benji,

I was so utterly enamoured and pulled in by Benji and I am so angry with myself. Colby you are incredible at writing, you write so eloquently, that this really reminds you of how complex and masked people are in everyday life. We never truly know what's behind that mask unless they show us, and even then, most people will hide behind it in front of others.

"You know I love you right?" After purposefully hurting someone men, have a special place in hell, and I would like to drag Benji down there myself, because I have never in my life felt so utterly enraged, and frustrated. At times I truly wanted to throw my kindle across the room because the manipulation was palpable. Emmie deserved to be treated with love and respect, instead of dealing with being gaslighted, as if she hasn't already got enough to deal with, having her own feelings warped by an insecure, disgusting excuse of a man set me on edge, and I spent a lot of the middle half of the book livid and heartbroken for Emmie.

Personally, as someone who has battled their own mental illnesses, this story really hit home for me, and the thoughts and feelings Emmie went through were palpable for me, and I just wanted to jump through the pages and squeeze her and remind her that she's worthy of love and support, as she is (and also st*b Benji and Tate). Seeing Emmie during her recovery journey, and learning to accept herself and begin to get her confidence back, strive to heal and come to terms with the fact that recovery isn't linear, was really empowering. Also seeing her coming to terms with the fact that recovery is inherently up to you, not anyone else, and her accepting this fully, in spite of all she's been through at the hands of others, was awe-inspiring. Although this novel focuses on mental health and the struggles behind it, hope is really at the heart of it. It was just an incredibly poignant, and important story, with a powerful message that you are enough, and a lot stronger that your mind let's you believe, you don't need Prince Charming to come along and save you, it's okay and powerful to save yourself.

Okay, I'm gonna try and cool off now, because I just got re-enraged remembering what happened in this book. The first half of this book had me utterly entranced, it was fast paced, and keeps you gripped, but the last quarter was maybe a little more on the slow side, the pace was a little harder to stay engaged, also these characters do an awful lot of smirking, winking and blowing kisses. I would've also liked to have seen more of Emmie's coping mechanisms and recovery once released from the mental health facility, as I know that's a tricky thing to navigate, going from constant support, to little to none.

This was just a very incredibly and evocatively written story with characters that will stay with you long after you've finished reading, but please do check trigger warnings before reading, as this is not at all an easy read, and can be distressing at times.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally Recommending for at least 17+

Thank you to Colby & Bound by Mischief Tours for the opportunity to read this book early.

I'm giving Ugly Words 3.5 stars (rounding to 4 for GoodReads). It's important to note that the trigger warnings and content of this book are very heavy. Even if you are someone who feels they're not usually bothered by triggers, please consider them for this book.

Overall, I am very pro-mental health topics being addressed and more widely discussed so as to reduce the stigma that we're still struggling with every day. That said, I have struggled with some of the same things that Emmie goes through (no spoilers here), and I was left wanting a bit more substance with the "life gets better" story arc that is portrayed. I wanted to see more surrounding the getting better and staying better aspect of her journey. I think a few more chapters after our main plot resolution point would have really upped my rating on this book.

All that to say, the handling of the sensitive subjects was done well from the standpoint of what it feels like to struggle as Emmie does, given her age. I was raging at how she views herself and some of the choices she feels compelled to make because I know that's what Bettley wanted her readers to feel. So kudos from me there.

Also... Fuhk Benji and the horse he rode in on. I had such high hopes for that little douche nozzle. -.- But Remy though? Hullo kind sir. Do they make you in nonfictional form? *Asking for me* kthnx.

Blurb:
Emmeline Beaumont has spent her life trying to survive. From the grief of losing her father to being bullied at school, Emmie is lost and left feeling like there’s no hope.

A tumultuous and abusive relationship isolates Emmie from the rest of the world, pushing her farther into the darkness of her mind until she can’t find an escape. It’s up to her to find the courage to survive and find the light in a world that feels so dismal.

Tropes and Themes:
-Mental Health Awareness
-Found Family
-Life Gets Better Story Arc
-Learning Self Love

Triggers:
-Disordered Eating
-Self Harm
-Sexual Assault
-Suicide
-Parental Neglect
-Mental Abuse

[Veertje Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤Ugly Words written by Colby Bettley💔

◾️SYNOPSIS◾️
Emmie Beaumont is someone who wants to be perfect. She struggles to fit in the world. At school she is ‘the outcast’. Her classmates make fun of her and she feels like she doesn’t belong. Her best friend, Kate, is the only person who loves her and who she can be herself with.
At home she doesn’t feels loved after her dad died. Her mum wants a perfect daughter so she controls her from having to participate in ballet classes to making judgmental comments of her weight. Her mum makes her feel smaller and more alone then she already is.

◾️THOUGHTS ◾️

The first chapter begins with a nightmare where she dances for an audience. Through her feelings and thought, which are expectational written, you get to know the main character and her insecurities a little bit before the story starts.
The first few chapters you get to know the main characters, her daily life at school which is hell, her homelife where she doesn't feel loved and her best friend who is the only one who truly cares about her. It is like a little introduction to her life.
Throughout the story you read about the problems and struggles she encounters.
The ending tells the end of her search where she learned who she is and that she is worthy of love.

The book begins with a few words from the author: "For those who feel alone. You are worthy, you are loved, and you will find a way out of the darkness."
I think this is a very beautiful message and a big part of the story. Emmie needs to accept that she is worthy and loved and that better times are coming.
I knew beforehand that this was going to be a heavy read. I recognize myself in some of the things Emmie has been through. Just like Emmie, I suffered from mental struggles in my teens. Emmie is a insecure person who thinks she doesn’t belong anywhere. Dealing with her mother, a abusive relationship and bulling makes that she searches for control in eating and self-harming. I really liked that this story doesn’t sugar-coat topics like eating disorders and self-harm.

!Check for triggers!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There aren’t enough stars in the sky that could amount to your worth. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you don’t matter, because you are all that matters.”

This was such a beautifully written story that had my heart in a vice with tears dripping off my chin the whole way through. The amount of emotions and angst contained within the pages of this story continually oozed out and made me feel all kinds of things. I laughed, I raged, I cried, and I crossed my fingers hoping that there was going to be a happy ending in her somewhere.

Emmie is someone who I could totally relate to. She has such hatred towards her body and dislikes most things about herself. It doesn’t help that are so many hurtful and angry people around her that instead of seeing her worth, try to tear her down every day. I have been where she was and it hurt my heart so much seeing someone as beautiful as she was go through it.

Emmie’s story is gritty, raw, insanely emotional and gut-wrenchingly painful. But she does have moments of beauty that come crashing through all the darkness. They may be few and far between, but we can see glimpses of the wonderful person she is meant to be shine through. Her relationship with Benji hit me hard. We as readers can see all of the red flags before she does, but hindsight is 20/20 and I remember being in her shoes and not seeing those red flags either.

This story is really well written. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking journey, with a wonderful and happy ending that left me with my heart filled with love.

[Danielle Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good but due to its topic it was also a very hard read. However, the way the author wrote these tough topics was really well done. She took on topics such as mental health, self harm, and eating disorders and yes it was hard to read as the main character struggled but she tackled them really well. I found this story to be depressing and sad yes, but as the main character learned how to love herself and work through her challenges, it was also damn beautiful.

Emmeline has spent most of her life being an outcast and being bullied at school. She is thankful to have her best friend by her side but some days even that isn’t enough to protect her from the torment that she deals with. She longs for her mom to accept her without feeling the need to criticize what Emmeline eats and wears. Then a new student Benji comes into her life and at first he seems great. He takes a liking to her and Emmeline loves it at first but, there are times Benji isn’t always the loving person he first seemed to be. Struggling with loving herself and wanting to be accepted by those around her, Emmeline finds it hard to find the strength to make it through each day and isn’t sure of how much longer she can take feeling like she isn’t truly wanted or accepted.

This was a really good read but it was difficult at moments and I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings that are featured in the first few pages of the book. But if you are looking for a book where a girl pulls herself up from a pretty dark place and comes out on top this is a great read.

[Lynds Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

*RECOMMENDED 18+*

Thank you to the Bound by Mischief Host Team and Colby Bettley for the opportunity to read this book early💛

This book was a really hard one for me to get through, given the topics, but I pushed myself to do so anyway and I'm actually really glad I did. Emmie's character development was really great to see, as was the development of the relationships in her life as well. The topics discussed in this book are not ones to take lightly, and Colby did a good job accurately capturing the feelings of someone dealing with these things. I do wish we got to see more of her healing journey once she was released from the facility, though, instead of just the relationship she developed. I also would have been curious to know how things went with those therapy sessions with her mom and how their relationship is now.

Blurb:

Emmeline Beaumont has spent her life trying to survive. From the grief of losing her father to being bullied at school, Emmie is lost and left feeling like there's no hope.

A tumultuous and abusive relationship isolates Emmie from the rest of the world, pushing her farther into the darkness of her mind until she can't find an escape. It's up to her to find the courage to survive and find the light in a world that feels so dismal.

Tropes and Themes:

-Mental Health Awareness
-Found Family
-Life Gets Better Story Arc
-Learning Self Love

Triggers:

-Disordered Eating
-Self Harm
-Sexual Assault
-Suicide

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, with everything.

I haven’t read anything recently that has resonated with me so much as this story did. Firstly, I’d like to say that it does cover a lot of hard topics such as bullying, self harm, suicide attempts, rape, sexual assault, but these things are horribly common and more and more people are sharing their experiences in a form of healing, and to help others.

It did take me longer to read this book only because I had to stop and process some of what was happening because of how realistic it was. Emmie our FMC struggles with her body image, constantly comparing herself to her peers in school and Ed’s up SH. She had a lot of trauma bless her and when she met Benji, a hot guy who seemed to love her for who she was she felt happy but he was such a red flag, and not a good one. Benji lured her in, like all abusers do and then snapped, he SA her, mentally abused her and isolated her from everyone but him. I hated his character but I feel that shows he was written so well.

This book moved me in ways I can’t even explain and Colbys writing was just amazing, for someone who has experienced a lot of what happens in this book it was all written so well.

Seeing how Emmie grew and healed through her help was amazing, it shows how changing your world and talking to people about your struggles really helps you get better.

I am a massive Remy fan, that man was a saving grace, the man we all want.

[Helen (Eleni) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky ones to receive an ARC by Colby and I am very excited that I got to read it!
This story deals with some very difficult issues such as mental health, eating disorder, self harm, and abuse and the author handles it with a lot of respect!
Emmie is a wonderful, sweet character! You watch her go through so many struggles throughout the book and it was truly heartbreaking at times! I truly loved her character development! I just wanted to give her a big hug!
Benji is a character that I absolutely HATED with a PASSION! There were red flags very early on, and my heart broke for Emmie that she couldn't see them and for everything that she had to go through! She was already broken and he pushed her over the edge!
Hannah and Kate were both amazing! Best friends that anyone would love to have! I would have loved to read scenes of them with the three of them together, as well as a first meet scene!
Remy is the perfect book boyfriend! Impossible not to fall in love with him! He is patient, kind, loving, supportive!
As for her mum... Difficult to say, I am very conflicted, would have really liked to get more into their relationship!

All in all, it was a wonderful read and am excited for everyone to read it when it's released!

[Holly Dunwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in pain but it's a good story!
I received an ARC of Ugly Words and it was a whirlwind. Since it was an ARC, there were a couple typos but its an ARC.

Colby does a good job at covering sensitive topics like Self harm, eating disorders, consent and suicide as well as toxic and healthy relationships including friendship, romance and family dynamics. The story follows Emmeline, a 17 year old girl struggling with self-image and bullying from her peers because of her weight. Kate is her bestie and I love their relationship. Benji has a fantastic introduction and I was so excited about his presence until - no spoilers - Benji's cruel side comes out. IYKYK. Ugh, fuck Benji.

I include the list of sensitive topics because I've struggled with depression all my life and SH in my teens, and the subject matter was tough at moments. I binge read this in a day, so if any of the aforementioned topics are a subject of discomfort for you, please be wary. But, Colby tackles it with care from someone who when you read Emmie's story clearly understands what subject matter she's dealing with.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Ugly Words by Colby Bettley✨
Rating: 4⭐️ | 5

Tropes:
📚Mental health awareness
📚Friends to lovers
📚Found family
📚life gets better
📚Learning self love

Wow this book had me blubbering😭😭. Such a powerful book, there were some serious issues and they were not written about lightly. I finished this book in record time, I could NOT put it down🥹

As someone who has dealt with mental health issues, I really related to this book and to the FMC.

Emmie broke my heart, the relationships she had with people that were supposed to care for her💔

Her mother, I’m sorry but as a mother myself I could NOT stand this women! She made me furious! But I loved the way Emmie took a stand against her and made the right choice for her recovery!

Tate and Benji….. no words for these people😡😡!! Like sorry but where were the adults….

“Happiness won’t be found wishing you were someone else”😫😫

Thank you to @colby_bettley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. out 7th February! Recommend you read this one and have a box of tissues with you!

[V. Domino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for Ugly Words by Colby Bettley. UW is a phenomenal story and written so incredibly well.

That said, it steeped in difficult and heavy topics.

The book is YA, pure and simple, but it touches on subjects that the world would rather be silenced. I understand that certain topics feel more mature than some would feel comfortable with, but this is a story that needs to be told. It's targeted for teens because teens feel the same dark and heavy emotions adults feel as well, sometimes more.

I would let my teens read this story. Hell, I wish I had this story as my beacon when I was a teen.

UW follows Emmie and her difficult life inside her mind. She is an MC that gives you hope while enduring trauma and heartbreak. You'll find yourself crying, comparing your own life to her's, and seeing that even in the midst of pain, there is hope.

My favorite quote from UW:

"It's okay to save yourself."

[sierraslibrary_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to sob and have your heart broken over and over after reading Ugly Words by Colby Bettley.

The way these issues are talked about in this book is absolutely phenomenal and this is unfortunately a very sad reality for many teenage girls.

I had such high hopes for Benji, and it breaks my heart that Kate, the main character, Emmie’s best friend saw he was no good for her from a mile away. Of course after they break their friendship over a boy, is when he really showed his true colors..

I did have to put this book down a few times before picking it back up, being as I once went through a lot of the same things Emmie did as a teenager, so it hit really close to home.

Beautiful book and beautiful writing, Colby! I cannot wait to read your other work or anything else you come up with in the future.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

I’ll start by saying is a heavy book. A heavy, important
book. There are a lot of sensitive topics touched, but
the truth is, this is such a reality for teens. High school
is traumatizing. Bullies are real. Abuse is real. Teens
punishing themselves and their bodies from either
abuse or mental health. Boys and men taking more
than they deserve and not hearing the word NO.

The whole text was heart-wrenching because it was all
so relatable. I saw so much of myself in Emmie, so
much of my partner and friends from both then and
now. The traumas she’s faced, the struggles she
endures. The strength she has to push through. It’s
well written, passionate, personal, and really helps to
portray how hard high school can be.

It might be hard for some to recommend this to a
young adult, and that’s understandable. But also,
remember that we can shelter them only within our
homes. What they go thru at school and in the real
world? That’s not something we can protect them
from. This visibility could save lives showing our youth
that they are not alone.

•chosen family
•insta-love
•coming of age
•friendship and loss
•mental health awareness
•normalization of therapy
•normalization of mental institutions
•HEA

•parental mental abuse
•eating disorders
•self harm
•body shaming
•SA/r@pe
•su!c!de attempt

Su!c!de hotline US: 988
Su!c!de hotline UK: 0800 689 5652

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off Colby is amazing and the sweetest human ever. Emmie is the sweetest girl who just wants to be accepted and loved and I think that resonates with most people. While most of us say we don't care what others think or say, it is true that words do hurt and cause more damage than people realize.

However through all the pain and ugliness, is a girl who wanted to love herself. Emmie went through a ton of struggles - self harm, her toxic relationship with food, bullying and her mental health issues, and through it all her character development was wonderful to see. I love to see FMC's with such personal growth. This is my first Colby Bettley read and I loved it! Kudos girl :)

[Rayna K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book wrecked me in the most beautiful ways. This story hit so close to home and I'm forever grateful to Colby for sharing this story with the world because mental health struggles need more representation in literature and needs to be destigmatized so that access to mental health services are available to every one. Emmie was such a strong character, and reminded me a lot of a dear friend of mine. Benji reminded me of my ex; the isolation tactics and controlling narcissistic behavior was very spot on. Hannah & Remy were a breath of fresh air. Thank you Colby for writing this and sharing it with the world.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect it to be so heavy being a YA book, but I felt like the heavy content was very well done. Colby did a great job portraying an accurate view of people who struggle with mental health. The characters were easy to become connected to and super relatable. Make sure to check trigger warnings prior to reading and take them seriously but I definitely recommend!

[Tayler Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that Colby handled the mental health topics in this book beautifully. The emotions that I experienced while reading this were next level. I felt I was actually watching everything happen from Emmies eyes, and the emotions were so raw. It hit so close to home for me, like it has so many others.

If you're okay with the trigger warnings, 100% read this book!

[Gabbie Cryer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. SO much but in the best way possible. This hit me in all the ways I wasn’t expecting it to but it did. I’m beyond in love with Colby’s writing and I can’t wait to read everything she writes!

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I think this story was so beautifully written. I felt every emotion, I truly was fighting for Emmie. Truly well written and beautiful how well you covered mental issues. Thank you so much for writing this book.

[Shonney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugly words is a beautiful and sad book at the same time. This book was well written and made me feel every emotion that Emmeline felt . I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book was heavy, but a must.

It brought so many emotions to the surface, because I related to Emmie in so many ways.

Colby did an amazing job at capturing those emotions, thoughts, and everything in between. It captivated me, and stirred those much needed emotions for my own personal growth.

Definitely check the TWs, but I highly recommend this piece.

I do wish I would have gotten a little more on the relationship between Emmie and her mom. I also wanted more on how was Emmie coping with the other scars she had. However, I can also see that as a highlight on the healing process being a continual thing. So I can be happy with that.