Jasmine is ruled by her anxiety disorder.
All she wants is to sing in the back of the choir and convince her best friend Sam to play zombie slasher video games with her. But when she draws the attention of a terrifying–but handsome–student music teacher and the school’s wrestling coach, it all goes to pot. One wants her to sing a solo in front of the school without puking, the other wants her to let him do what he pleases in return for not selling out Sam to the cops.
Throw in the fact that she may or may not be in love with her said music teacher, and life just gets unbearably complicated. If she’s ever going to get out of this without putting Sam behind bars or spewing half-digested breakfast on a crowd, she’s going to have to push through her overwhelming fear of everything, even if it means destroying herself in the process.
Size: 55,000 words/ 260 pages
Genre: Young Adult contemporary romance/drama
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Reviews for Erase Me
(Taken from Inkitt because I’m fed up with that site)
I think I’m in Loooooooove
Man, this was great! I am an avid reader and supporter of every piece of LoweFantasy’s work that I could get my hands on, and this one is right up there with my favorites. Granted… very dark. Makes me wonder what’s going through the authors mind sometimes. Like, twisted much? But it also makes for an amazing story, and ishues like that need to be put out there more. I still hated that though, for Jasmine, Sam and whoever else have any experience with those themes. But, three cheers for a happy ending, right? I enjoyed the characters, though I don’t think any teacher could get away with wearing leather to school, I thought in general that they had well rounded personality’s and backstories. The past is a huge part of every character, and I could feel it present in every word they said. Though, Brion Hemsworth is still a mystery. Really. However…. a well done character. Reading about Jasmine made me feel terrible. No one should have to doubt them selves, or worry as she had to. God, the entire time all I wanted to do was destroy the step-father and pulverize the Evil English Teacher not deserving to be called by name. Grrrr. The writing has always been one of my favorite things about this author. It has always captured my attention, and smoothly transitioned me into the world of their creating. On the internet, reading fan-made or aspiring authors writing, it can be hard to find a good style that you can read. Some you can put up with, some you can’t. Some you wonder why they haven’t published their work yet. This writer is the bomb. Enough said. The plot and I have a love – hate relationship. I fall in love reading the story, return to reality, and almost want to curse because no such thing could happen in this world. I’m not referring to the bad home life Jasmine had, or Sam’s cruel world; or even the rape. But the ending relationship between student and teacher (no matter how close they are in age), or that such a bad-ass student-teacher with an awesome glare and good poetry would come along and fall in love with students… and he turned out to be a decent guy… damn it. Give my heart a brake! This story is not Fanfiction worthy… because there is nothing I would ever change. Keep up the great writing, and I hope to hear you’ve published more work soon! .
I read it in one sitting.
Yep, the whole thing. And I’ll probably read it again. Straight drama is usually not my bag, but broken people totally are no matter what genre I find them in. Jasmine’s social anxiety is almost a character within itself due to its portrayal. Nailed it. I actually tried really hard not to like Brion, at first, because I was “What’s up with the teachers at this school?”. Then, he had became a fleshed out character, and that was that. It took me a bit to get grounded in the setting. There were a few passages which were unclear, and adding a dialogue tags to clarify the speakers would help a lot. There are some other technical issues but those are easy fixes. The poetry was beautiful, and I enjoyed the role music played.
An all nighter…
I can’t even lie… I was up until two am reading this and when I woke up I didn’t even wait but jumped straight back in to finish it! It is a great read! The story is compelling and well written and the characters are really realistic, which is always nice. I loved how the darker issues were dealt with, it was subtle and sensitive. The personal growth of the characters, particularly Jasmine, was well done, not over the top and unrealistic but also not to subtle to be noticed. I think that one of my favorite things about the whole book, was that the characters didn’t quite fit any of the cliches that I have come to expect from books about teenagers. Those overused and unrealistic cliches are the main reason I stopped reading YA books. But the characterization in this one was so lovely and well handled. There is a scene where Jasmine feels really connected with a group of musicians after sharing songs and music with them and then she has to leave and that sense of loosing the togetherness, the intimacy is put so beautifully, I have had that exact feeling before and to see it, written there so beautifully was amazing. So thank you for sharing this story and I really hope that it goes out into the world and that people who might being going through a hard time read it and take hope and comfort form it.
My two cents..
Easy read and definitely enjoyed it. Gave me some insight to the aspects of social anxiety and I loved Jasmine. It’s one of those things you won’t forget for a very long while, I know I won’t.
I love it!
This is really amazing! I can relate to Jasmine, being shy myself. I believe that ‘Erase Me’ is a wonderful story- not just because I love it in general. I believe every book gives advice- and this book is no acceptation. I’m glad you wrote this. -Eliza C. Wishman
Amazing Short Read!
I was sceptical at first of this story; I was never a fan of school settings. However, this story quickly reeled me in with the writing style. As the story jumps from past to present, readers get a good idea of how the main character become the way she was. There is never a boring moment in this book. The author is truly gifted at pacing a story so it doesn’t feel rush or too slow. The main characters are certainly likeable, and although, they all feel exaggerated to fit the dramatic plot, it is easy to relate to them. There is nothing difficult about this book though. The writing is fairly straightforward and easy to understand, and it is more suitable for younger readers. All in all, this story can easily be devoured by teens and young adults as a coming of age tale.
Erase Me.
This is a interesting and fun story. Jaz is a great character, very original but still has qualities and faults we can all identify with. The characters about her all ring true and Sam especially is very entertaining. The story develops slowly but completely so that the reader is fully immersed in Jas’s world.. The setting is very complete and we get a full tour of 21st century life in High School. As a window upon the period I was reminded of a 1970s classic “Lisa -Bright and Dark”. and the 60s American Graffiti, .with all the trivia and slang of the time that makes the story real. The dialogue was very well done and made me reflect upon the meaning a time or two. I believe in time “Erase Me” will be recognized as a time-machine back to the “teens”.of the 21st Century. I recommend it
A flawed but daring YA novel
This novel had its flaws, but I immensly appreciate it for trying to take on such heavy material. YA isn’t exactly a breeding ground for maturity and originality, but this is a good attempt to challenge that. Main character Jasmine is very likeable. While some moments felt out of character for how witty and confident she suddenly was (especially during the ending), her moments of anxiety felt authentic. As for Sam, I hadn’t expected to like her at all, but near the end I had to admit she too had grown on me. The story itself dares to take a controversial stance in legitimate issues, for which I applaud it. However, I did have some issues with it. First of all, for a professional publication there were definitely way too many editing mistakes. More significantly, Jasmine (and to a lesser extent Sam) sounded suspiciously young for her supposed age. In fact, I saw little difference between her ‘voice’ in the present time and during the flashbacks which go significantly into the past; that’s a big problem. Perhaps it’s because of this that I can’t bring myself to find the poems charming – the poet sounds creepily obsessed. There were also characters that just sort of existed until they got attributed certain skils that happened to be exactly what the plot needed, and the antagonist is downright cartoonish. Shame, because as I said the story features some heavy content — imagine how chilling it could’ve been if he was actually convincing! Still, despite its shortcoming this is a greatly needed breath of fresh air for YA and a novel that respects its audience. With some polishing, and perhaps a rewrite here and there, this could become a little gem among YA.
Ohh Give Me More Please
Dear Mrs. Lowe, Please give me more. I read two basic things Science Fiction and Romance, lots and lots of romance. I came to this story expecting a YA novel filled with cringe worthy moments reminding me of all the sappy hormone filled nonsense of a bad teen movie. What i got was a wonderful story filled with heroines that felt real and had life to them. Antagonists that i truly hated and hated all the more because he could be real. I love that your characters have passions beyond the norm and flaws to match. Nothing seemed overly fantastical or overly contrived. I will definitely be reading more of your work. Gilbert Hilpert
Erase me
This is on my list of the most amazing, and easy to read stories I have ever encountered. The plot was very interesting and there was really nothing complicated, or any Shakespeare type of sentences, yet it was still so beautiful. The characters were very well developed as the story went on, especially Jasmine, and many people I know could relate to her as well (including me). Anxiety is a terrible thing, it made Jasmine seem like she was less than she really was; which was a super awesome mega ultra fabulous singer! I also loved the little bits of humor in there, it was well placed since the story would’ve been just a whole bunch of dark thoughts with a little bit love in there XD Loved it lots and write on!
Erase Me
Lowe has a unique and intriguing narrative voice. She has such creative ways of describing things – like taco shell armpit sweat! It was fun to not only have an inventive plot, but to enjoy the word craft as well. The author seems to be writing about a topic she knows about. The descriptions of thought processes and physical effects ring true to life. I enjoyed the characters and would read a trilogy about Jasmine!
Erase Me
As a veteran high school teacher who spent most of my career teaching English and Young Adult Literature, I feel there is a place in our society for more books like ERASE ME by T.S. Lowe. Mental Illness, in all its forms, has been considered a subject not to be discussed; not to be acknowledge by its victims, and thought of as a curse that must be hidden for fear of rejection by family, friends, and society as a whole. Since we now know that a large percentage of our population suffers from some form of Mental Illness, It is appropriate and proper that this topic should be the subject of new literary offerings. Not only can an enlightened student learn the scientific facts in the public press but can also glimpse the life of a sufferer through a novel such as ERASE ME. The emotions, the twisted thinking, the physical responses, and, of course, the resulting behaviors of one who suffers are well portrayed in this short book. The reader of ERASE ME shares a portion of the life of the heroine, Jasmine, as we are taken back and forth, from her early teens to her senior year of high school.. Rather than giving us a linear, cause and effect, plot, Lowe shows us an episode from her character’s past, then takes us forward to experience how the older Jaz was effected by the earlier event. In the end, the reader gains an understanding of the kinds of experiences that can impact a person and cause mental and emotional damage. It seems quite apparent that the author has taken the good advice given by Professor Bhaer to Jo March in LITTLE WOMEN that it is always best to write about what you know. It is obvious to the reader that Lowe is intimately acquainted with Social Anxiety. Her descriptions of Jasmine’s responses (physical, mental, and emotional) to situations and the other character’s behaviors could only come from someone who had experienced them. It is an education for those of us who wish to understand. My hope is that this small book will get people to open a dialogue that will help remove the stigma attached to Social Anxiety and other Mental Illnesses. Certainly worth reading by an adult audience, as well as young adults. But the crude and vulgar language of some of the characters, though appropriate to the character, would not be recommended reading for children. Most of all, ERASE ME is a good read with an enchanting, engaging, and sympathetic heroine and a cast of interesting supporting characters. In summary, this story is thought provoking, insightful. and satisfying. Carolyn S. Painter, MEd, BFA, BFA, BS Utah
“Erase Me” brings something different to YA
We’ve all heard that all the stories out that there that can be told, have been told. I’m sure it’s true, but Lowe tells it differently. For instance, her shy main character is not a stereotype, but three-dimensional. In fact, I wouldn’t even just say she’s shy–she is passionate about music, she is a natural good Samaritan, she has been abused, she has a best friend who she has ups and downs with, she doesn’t like to stand out but is willing to make a stand. She is not back-down shy; she is courageous when it matters. She’s another sort of strong female, one different from the one your typical feminist tries to celebrate. Strong comes in many forms, Lowe reminds us. Read this book if you’re ready for something different in YA. It’s time to repaint the world.
8/19/2016
This story is nothing but amazing! I loved every second of it. As someone who grew up with an anxiety disorder this story really touched me. It helped me to feel like I wasn’t alone. While this was a hard read at times it’s good to bring in the bad subjects into literature. Life isn’t all flowers and rainbows — there’s bad people out there. With this said I appreciate that it shows though that even though bad things happen good things still come out of life and you can still make your own happy ending. It is an amazing message that people of all ages can relate to.
Brilliant
I’ve read some of LoweFantasys other stories and have also loved them. This one was great, it had good characters and an interesting plot. My only fault with this story is that itcould have benefitted from a little more context and more elaboration on setting just to draw the reader in a bit more. However I did love reading it and it was written very well!
A creme brulee
“Erase Me” was like a creme brulee in that LoweFantasy was able to write a light, sweet, and easy-to-read story despite having such heavy themes and situations. Thus, adults and younger people alike would be able to enjoy the story. The characters were fun to follow and easy to like or dislike, though I had the slight impression that Mr. Kent’s character was stereotypical and flat compared to all the other, well-thought out ones. Some issues of the protagonist Jasmine weren’t resolved, such as her feelings towards her mother. There were also various slips in grammar here and there; another round of proofreading would really help. But all in all, “Erase Me” was a very enjoyable read (especially the romance and friendship parts), and I’m glad to have come across it!
POV
This is a great story to explain anxiety to people who don’t have it (shocking, I know) and it’s all told through the eyes of a loquacious and innocent teenager. While the main character’s ignorant innocence could get tiring after a while, the street smarts of her friend and romantic interest lent a sense of reality to her narrative. While few people will experience the problems Jasmine goes through, they will identify with overcoming a challenge and the various methods she uses to climb her mountain. There is strong language and sexual themes, but in keeping with the modern theme, it is gratuitous to a realistic degree.
Erase Me
This is an entertaining story for young adults. The main characters are detailed enough to allow the reader to believe they could be real people. While the plot includes some unpleasantness, the story keeps things from going into R-rated territory. Underlying morality messages are there without being too pushy or preachy. If my daughters were still in middle or high school then I would have no problem purchasing this story in book form as a gift for them. The writing flows nicely.It has been a long time since I was a young adult, So I appreciated the fact that the teen angst moments did not drag on too long. Angst and teens go together, but I only like it in small doses. There is some lovely poetry woven into the plot. I was not seriously looking for spelling or grammar errors. In my casual read of the story I only noted one. And I could perhaps just be missing some subtle humor on that one. Should “reigns” perhaps be “reins” during Sam’s long rant in the Last Chance to be a Child chapter?
review
really enjoyed this. Characterisation spot on and well developed. Easy flow of writing that is easy to get lost in. And so believable. Such a do-gooder but you like her anyway!
You should read it
A great story with the easy-to-follow format and great character development. You can understand where the characters are coming from and their personalities the spot on throughout the story. I would love these types of real-world books.
Erase Me
This story is amazing. I will be recommending it to all my friends, and assuming it will eventually be published, I will be buying a copy. I will definitely be checking out any other books by this author. LoweFantasy, your works are amazing, please continue to writing great stories like this one.
Wonderful Wordings
I love this story. The story line had me hooked before the end of the first paragraph. The protagonist, Jasmine, is an interesting character with relateable motives. I love how wonderfully the narrative is told, seamlessly from the mind of Jasmine; the friendship kindled in the first chapter humorous and charming. LoweFantasy is an amazing writer, and I cannot wait to see her book in print.
Entertained
While I felt like there were some times that I didn’t think the characters emotions were realistic I enjoyed the story. It really made you realize that things like this happen and there are bad people out there. Im so tired of the fairytale stories that don’t show you anything about life. This was a nice refresher to me while still having a happy ending. Good work.
Erase Me
This was a very enjoyable read. I think it would be good for a high school and above audience. The language and story line was believable. I enjoyed the character development. The story takes on an important and difficult subject and it is done well.
Pro-tips needed
Looking at the pro-tip, this is about what’s good, special and why someone else should read it. That isn’t a true review. Was this an easy, relatable YA read? Yes, and no. Yes, it’s very easy and I agree with the other older people reading it that it rings true, it rings of what we remember and perceive high school to be. Do I think it’s reliance on pop culture and messages that are locked in space time not only date the piece but also hurt how it is taken by a current high schooler.
Draws me right in!
This genre is not my favorite, yet the author’s writing style drew me right in and held me there to the very end. I could empathize with the main character and followed the plot easily. My only suggestion would be to resolve the relationship with her mother before ending the story. That part of the plot felt open ended to me. Great read!!!
Amazing story!
I loved this story because of the thrilling suspense. I found myself hooked on this piece of art and couldn’t put it down. The characters’ personalities slowly opened to the reader that leads us into more anticipation. Great job, I hope to read more like this one!
Erase me
I liked the characters. This is the big reason I read to meat these people and the characters came out as real people. Someone I could meet in real life. like dislike and meh.
Can’t get it out of my head
As soon as I jumped into this story I couldn’t stop. I felt like I was in high school again and couldn’t believe how well I related with each character. I could feel myself blushing with each poem Jasmine found on her locker and a sense of horror when the gym teacher made his first touch. I haven’t connected with a story like this in a long time.
Rollarcoaster of feelings
This book really sinks into you and pulls at your emotions. Throughout the book I felt anxious, nervous, embarrassed, shy, and full of butterflies like I used to around cute guys. The story brings in a dark twist into a light story which gives the reader a sense of reality while still being able to enjoy a story. The plot flowed amazingly and there were many characteristics that tied into each other. You can see the growth of each character by the end and there was no stone unturned. An amazing read.
Author T.S. Lowe 