🌟 Spotlight on: This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams | A Raw & Powerful Contemporary YA Novel
🧠 Mental health 💔 First love 🌱 Redemption
Welcome to my stop on the Ultimate Blog Tour for This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams! This contemporary YA debut doesn't shy away from the difficult stuff—it tackles themes of sexual consent, mental health, co-dependency, and the complicated aftermath of young love. If you’re drawn to emotionally charged stories that unpack trauma and growth, this one belongs on your TBR. Keep scrolling for the summary, book links, and more about Jenna Adams and this unforgettable debut.
📚 Quick Summary
This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a powerful contemporary YA novel that follows Brooke and Matt, whose teenage romance begins during a school production of Romeo and Juliet— and spirals into trauma. When boundaries are crossed and Brooke’s anxiety spirals, a life-changing decision forces them apart. Years later, the two reconnect as adults, both seeking redemption and healing. Told in three acts, this emotional debut explores mental health, consent, co-dependency, and the long road to forgiveness.
“Some scars aren’t visible—but they still shape who we become.”
📖About This is Me Trying
This Is Me Trying By Jenna Adams
Published by Neem Tree Press on July 17, 2025
Genres: Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 432
A contemporary YA romance novel exploring sexual consent, mental health, and co-dependency.
When 14-year-old Brooke and 17-year-old Matt are cast as romantic leads in their drama group's performance of Romeo and Juliet, they didn't mean to actually fall in love. Brooke considers secrets and lies a small price to pay for a relationship with an older guy, until she discovers that Matt's role in taking their relationship to the next level one night was illegal. When her anxiety reaches breaking point, she makes a decision that changes her life forever.
Years later and now adults, Matt is reunited with Brooke, desperately seeking redemption. Can they both find the strength to forgive one another, or is it too late?
Told in three acts this captivating debut reveals a young woman’s journey for independence as she strays away from everything she has ever known to navigate her traumatic past.
🛒Purchase Links for This is Me Trying
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Purchase This is Me Trying online from YOUR local bookstore.
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About Jenna Adams
Jenna Adams began writing at the age of fourteen and now writes from her third-floor flat, which is full of houseplants. She has written for a variety of publications including The Book Network, Brook Charity, and The Content Wolf, and is passionate about exploring mental health, consent, and codependency in her writing.
🧵 Final Thoughts
This one promises to be an intense and emotional read—raw, honest, and incredibly important. I’ll be keeping my eyes on Jenna Adams and her future works. Thanks to Neem Tree Press, The Write Reads, and Jenna Adams for the opportunity to feature this powerful debut.
💬Reviews Similar to This is Me Trying
Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan
Things to Do Before the End of the World by Emily Barr
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[…] This Is Me Trying by Jenna Adams is a gripping contemporary YA debut exploring trauma, mental health, and the lasting impact of first love. Told in three acts, this powerful story follows Brooke and Matt from a secret teenage romance to a complex adult reunion shaped by guilt, consent, and healing. […]