Praise for When We Were Young

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This book had me in a choke hold! The way the story shattered me but healed me at the same time was phenomenal. I cried way to much at 7 am. The characters were well thought of and well written to the point that I felt like a ghost walking around with them. Definitely read the trigger warnings, it was a hard part to read but the growth from it will heal your own trauma. The little girl in me is happy for Holly. I would recommend this book any day of the week. I can not wait to get my shelf trophy of it!

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We Were Young is a strong first book by Belle Shaw. This is a YA/NA open door romance. There is one sex scene with some pretty big triggers including non consent, r@pe, incest, sexu@l abuse of a minor. Themes center around childhood trauma, friends to lovers, growth and grief.

Holly is a strong female lead hiding a big secret. Isaac is a boisterous young boy who is instantly lovable. They both have daddy issues and don’t talk about it. Holly’s mother is largely an absent parent and Isaac’s mom is not in the picture.

Isaac and Holly are inseparable and literally the best of friends until Holly finally breaks down and runs the morning of graduation. She knows she’s leaving devastation in her wake but she literally just cannot stay any longer. She has to separate to start to heal. When her trauma source is removed she comes home to close a chapter and Isaac is there, still waiting for her. It’s awkward. They haven’t talked in 10 years. And now they look at each other as more than friends. Isaac is trying to help Holly put the pieces back and break down the walls she’s built because he just knows she’s hiding something. He encourages her to at least talk to her mom about being absent when she was a kid. This is tough. Holly just wants to run away like she always does. Isaac is really just amazing and helps burn the past down for her. She settles her affairs and returns to her home to clear her head. Time goes by. Isaac does not handle the re-separation well. Tragedy strikes and Holly is now rightfully where she belongs, but at what cost?

This book will hurt you, heal you, and devastate you. It’s done well and makes you feel the feels. All the love to this author on a debut!

-ARC reader ❤️

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This book had me all up in my feels! Belle did an amazing job weaving this emotional, amazing story! My heart goes out to both Holly and Isaac! ♡♡

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90s nostalgia, friends to lovers, trauma, amazing character building, and HEA, but not in the way you'd think. Amazing story told in dual POV.

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The way this book destroyed me, healed me, destroyed again then healed is insane. I recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading. However, even if they are triggers for you (i thought they would be for me) there is healing!! Only 3 authors have ever made me cry before and reading this, that list has now extended to 4. One of the most real books I have read and I absolutely loved it. I am so happy with the healing that happened for our main characters, they deserved all the world.