The Right Escape by Hajra A. Shaikh

This whole collection was amazing the poems and flow of short verses that speak deeply of realising your worth and it being their loss when a relationship falls apart. A couple of stand out poems of this collection to me were: Love In It's True Sense, was a poem about caring and helping, not causing, stress to each other, in a true, loving relationship. Our Situation-Ship, was a clever poem literally about a relationship being alike a sinking ship. Trying, yet failing, to keep going in the situation. The collection was completed by an inspirational author's note too which encourages you to not give up on any dream and I hope the author is happy to see their book get another new positive review.

Beautiful Mistakes by R.J. Avenira

This poetry collection took us on a journey of feelings, how loving people can hurt and heal you, feeling you are being treated as an option vs they're your only priority and thus not equal feelings. One poem in particular,Imbalance, focusing on the validity of feelings and finding the strength to move on from a situation which ultimately brings you down and makes you feel low instead of happy. It was the ultimate collection to inspire self worth and self love with the poetry exploring the subject of realising mistakes can lead us to realise we need to put ourselves first, love and appreciate who we are over trying to love someone else who doesn't meet us with feelings the same.

Mine Again by Nikila Rose

This book had me hooked right from the start, Luca and Isa/Isabella were engaged, growing up and destined to be together, so it seemed until Luca had to leave with his family tearing the young couple apart. Yet in five years, life has changed for Isa after Luca had to leave with his family being in danger leading to a battle of heart vs head to ensue as well as contending with her own family wishes. This book was rich with themes of love, loyalty and devotion full of tension and guessing where the story would go it was a captivating read to see where Luca and Isa seperately would end up and it was quite the journey to keep you hooked and invested reading on!

Sweet Like Summer by S. M. Lucky

These were some really cute summer season fun stories, with some great characters, Theo and Riley with Butter the dog especially I loved their little fun dynamic. Some stand out stories and characters to me were: Sundae Best, Callie and Nate, literally have a sweet meet cute. Boardwalk Bites, about sweet memories through tough times. Avoca-don't Leave Me, was packed with fun puns and a cute couple of characters flirt/teasing but also raised the importance of allergies and how they can impact daily loving too. With many sweet reunions, even more puns, even a cute marriage pact too in one case, this collection kept me hooked on reading to see what was instore for each character.

Spiced Kisses by S. M. Lucky

Set in Spice and Soul Co, a company which seems to pack the heat with their design teams resulting in hot new food blends rich with teasing and lots of opposite attract stories. For me, Willa and Trent, was a smooth slow burn story that I really enjoyed most of this collection but there's many really great mini stories and meet cute situations.

Fostered by Eli Ash

This was a deeply moving poetic storytelling of life in care and how it makes you tough and resilient in life. Booklover, was such a clever acrostic/poem and very true to escape life when needed into an easily accessible world, like books provide us with. The collection also details the joy and heartbreak a pet can bring you in life with and after dealing with their loss. It was a beautifully written book, especially the final part to know as a mum to her new baby, was doing well and the postpartum depression experienced lifted but was so bravely discussed in the end part of the collection too. From a tough life as a child to a more joyous adulthood and showing how your start in life doesn't have to define or hold you back in any way.

You Are Not Alone by Jen Elvy

A great collection of poetry, a companion to turn to through grief, to feel less alone wishing you could call them up, The poem, Free From Pain, after losing my friend in our twenties, I know he at least is free from the turmoil of facing each day in increasing pain. The only silver lining to passing. Same in the poem, The And Now, about before with them and life after their loss. This Christmas, was a particularly emotional poem, I know in my family we have lost someone nearly every day in December, Christmas can feel particularly cruel around loss at present or past or even expected with illness, to cruelly take someone away any day especially at what people generally class as a joyous time. It was sadly nice to have a poem to relate to around the situation.

Love On The Holiday Menu by S. M. Lucky

This was a sweet collection of stories around food and the connectionand joy it can spark, from friendly rivalry at food competitions, to even two neighbours uniting against their ex's and having fun together unexpectedly. Many of the short stories stood out to me but especially: Tasha and Caleb, aka gym guy, which was a hilarious story, guaranteed to make you laugh and smile. Cupid's Curry, was an amazing story and so cute too highlighting how much food can inspire connection between two people. Avery and Luc, were so cute bonding over chocolate and had me grinning over a name they created together as a joke that brings them closer. Mara and Ben, were a meet cute that was hilarious and sweet alike Jaxon and Aubrey a gym/grill meet cute story too that made me laugh and smile. A great collection of short stories to keep you hooked on reading, guaranteed to make you laugh and smile with the vibrant characters in these stories.

Drive Thru Crush by S. M. Lucky

This collection of short stories were so fun set at Drive Thru's of businesses in food and drink at all times of day or night. Some stand out's of the stories to me were: Cop and Robber, a fun girl meets boy classic story that had me hooked on reading on. Harper and Theo had a cute snow-in situation on Christmas Eve, Marley and Walter, sitting with memory and grief sharing memories over food across generations kindness shone through. Bea and Noah faced a cute challenge, Evan and Callie with pup chaos and coffee were such a cute duo or trio! Honk If You're Single, with characters, Nico and Isla made me laugh so much because I have had a car where turning made it honk of it's own accord, it does happen in real life too! There's lots of reunion meet cutes and the collection ultimately shows how food can get people talking and connecting or reconnecting again after being parted for time too.

The Distance Between Us by Emilia Mlak

This was a great poetry collection told from the split perspective of a couple who are long distance and trying to cope with that situation. The book shows us how distance can separate a couple, but, the love stays alive, making the reunion all the sweeter when it happens. Yet, also how it can over time prove difficult to cope with too and this book explores both the happy and sad times, from both guy and girl's perspectives as they try to stay together. It was well thought out collection and flowed so well between the couple's perspectives as the book went on too, I read it cover to cover in one evening as I was hooked on seeing how it played out and it's easily one of the best split perspective collections of poetry I've read.

Scoops Of Love by S. M. Lucky

This was a great collection of mini stories set in an ice cream factory and showing the joy that creating new flavours and ranges can bring. Some standout duo's stories in the collection to me were: Tessa and Jackson, they were a fun and flirty duo in their flavour feud. Bea and Dean, who were both learning to cope with their separate grief experiences. There were lots of opposites attract stories, especially Eli and Penny, such a cute story and overall the whole collection makes a great sweet read to leave you smiling, guaranteed.

Sea Glass Secrets by Julia Reesor

This poetry collection looks at the effects of childhood trauma and grief all while being the youngest, yet the strongest kid having to look after the siblings. How family and a house doesn't make a home that's stable or happy and we see how you can be masking your life and feelings away from the house to try cover up the fact that nothing is ok. The poetry also talks how over time you can come to realise being your own best friend first matters because in life, you will always have yourself despite others, they can come and go and be unreliable. The collection title and plot talking of the beauty in sea glass on the shore, literally and relating to life, being mishapen and shattered over time, a great play in tying the theme and nature's effect. The collection was written in lovely flowing stanza's, easy to read and more impactful to the flow of the serious nature of the poetry telling the story of Julia's experience growing up.

Aisle Be Yours by S. M. Lucky

This was a really great collection of short stories and meet cute scenarios. The first story was about Jenna and Ben, an hilarious interaction of opposites attract territory much like the rest of the encounters which I guarantee will make you laugh, smile and appreciate all the poetic metathphors included within the completebook. The characters are all so fun and playful so many fun meet cutes and plot lines that are unexpected scenarios showing how food can unite people. There was some fab characters that stood out too, Elena and Marco, him a chef, a meet cute full of puns, Riley a shy comedian, Cal and Asha with a Milk and Honey nod maybe to Rupi Kaur, with the shared title there. Also, the coupon cutie was such a sweet story, as well as a lottery ticket with more than money as the win and a story with cutie Pebbles the guinea pig who sounds fabulous and sassy with a love of kale to make my own rabbit Splodgie jealous and made me laugh some animals are fussy over kale, true fact! A quite fitting twist to reading this book, I actually met an ex boyfriend in a supermarket so felt a pull to read the collection only we bonded over band t-shirts and heavy baskets of shopping! I wish each duo got a longer story but maybe in the future or else we can be left to imagine each duo's future! A fabulous collection I hope you choose to enjoy too, guarantee you'll smile and laugh more than once!

You Said This Was Love by Sophie Eve

This was a great collection showing how love can turn sour and the blissful happy relationship shows the cracks from being so all in to them pulling back or making comments that cut you deeply in the worst way and them making less effort, yet play mind games with you, making you feel less than enough for them and becoming physically, not just verbally, abusive towards you too. It was a fantastic collection of poems to highlight abusive behaviour in relationships and how friendship can be a saviour and a lifeline in dark times and situations too.

Healing From You by Sophie Eve

This was a brilliant poetry book showing how a relationship can wear you down and lead you to reclaiming yourself, changed but stronger in relearning who you are and what you don't want in a relationship in future. The good morning texts, was a poem about even through messages being able to decode their feelings, also how songs shared and clothing you borrowed is tainted them in memory. Long sleeves, was an honest look at physical abuse and the physical impact lingering as a harsh reminder of enduring pain making this collection about survival through an abusive relationship where they play mind games with you making you doubt and lose yourself even more hard hitting in it's impact as there's nothing held back and to me this book, is a reclamation of one's self in finding the strength and courage to walk away and heal, despite it being tough, I hope many others out there read this collection and can find the courage to do so to if they're affected by similar issues in their lives.

Lonely Lines by Freya O’Brien

This poetry collection is set in to four parts, the first being family with some really touching poems about making memories with mum and also the effects of losing mum too and the grief parent loss creates. This collection was deeply moving as the loss of her mum altered life already forever we then hear how her father and stepmother didn't show proper care for her and how you can easily feel detached from life and reality trying to cope not live just survive through life at home. The Birthing Mother, a poem literally as it sounds from the title was such an eye-opener poem about the care that feels like it's the opposite in a most vulnerable time you experience. The T-shirt, was an astonishing poem too about losing your virginity, a vulnerable time and how a guy really can treat you badly and say the wrong thing. There's also a good middle section of the collection touching on signs of toxic and violent relationships so please be aware before reading the collection of that if it's triggering to you. However, it was extremely well articulated and raises very good points around negative relationships. I also want to note the book is annotated throughout with black on white sketch style images showing the raw emotions felt in various moments too.

A Map Made Of Lanterns by A Poem Who Never Stopped Dreaming

This book shows the joy of taking a chance on a new adventure in life. It also shows how kindness is a currency in actions between people of different nationalities and generations who accidentally meet or unite on their own separate paths. The book is a poetic journey of beauty in life how detours and lack of schedule are life's way of saying, enjoy every moment for what it is, what it shows you and where it leads you. The poet always has such a beautiful poetic way of looking at life's most seemingly mundane moments and making them more interesting from other, deeper interpretations, another fabulous book to get lost in of an evening.

Back From The Dead by Dan Biddle & Douglas Thompson

Dan is a brave man sharing his story of the terrible event that changed his life irreparably. For me, growing up when the events of the book happened, I was unaware being a young child, yet, now as an adult, find it so important to understand historical events that affected the country and area's we use. I found the story so breathtaking in the raw honesty and the unbelievable odds Dan faced with his injuries especially after the 7/7 events which is just shocking especially how the memories will always linger on daily life around every corner or avenue of your mind in trauma of the unexpected we never know we're about to face. I do want to say the book obviously speaks very vividly and graphically depicting openly the trauma past and present to now how it effects daily living so please ne aware of that before picking up the book if you may find yourself too triggered in any way about trauma discussion and injury discussion. Overall, this was an incredibly honest account of one man's trauma but the resilience to carry on and educate others of the events is so important to remember and appreciate our daily lives as they are at present, everything we are lucky to have or even take for granted.

I Hope This Finds You by Brandon Deem

I really enjoy Brandon's poetry books complete with photographs to annotate the journey of emotions we go on through each collection bringing it to life even more. For me in this collection, the poem about shedding skin about the life cycle of our bodies replacing cells to become anew and untouched by past love really made me think how amazing the human body is to rejuvenate and revitalise itself so we are in someways becoming a new us as we journey on through life quite literally. Discussion of finding a heart to be a permanent home but temporary people as love comes into and disappears from our lives too was deeply heartfelt and the ending of the collection, the photography and evocative language and imagery used just rounded it off perfectly in my view as if we'd explored a cycle of love found, held and lost.

The Words I Have Yet To Say Out Loud by Ieisha Brown

This collection was a really good deep look as the complexities of life as we journey through it. Showing how you can feel like an outsider and isolated, yet be surrounded by people as you don't fit in by liking the same things they do. How childhood trauma can make you feel fearful of fitting in or never feeling you've found your place and trying to be strong yet, feeling weak inside deep down and how trauma makes you grow up fast having your childhood less happy more sad times. One really deep hitting poem about worth and realising how others treat you initially sets the tone of the relationship from the start and know where to not waste your energy alike a poem about friendships and relationships showing the complex ways friendship breakups can effect you even deeper than a romantic relationship it was really hard hitting because I relate so much to those aspects and think many of us can, it was a truly stunning collection to read.

How To Drown Without Water by Autumn Graves

TW: Self Harm mention. This collection of poetry was a deep dive into all things related to depression, self harm and suicidal feelings and thoughts, the title I feel is a clever nod to how you can feel like you're drowning in your thoughts and the emotions triggered by them to. The Art Of Disappearing, was an easily relatable poem about feeling you are losing yourself and who you are in life and subsequently losing interest in anything at all. Numb, again, a poem similar to the previous one I mentioned, this one in particular stood out for being short, yet to the point of how it feels inside and often we can mask our outside face to deflect there being anything wrong, whereas this poem tells the honest truth how it can feel deep within losing touch with yourself. New Scars, Old Reasons and How To Hide It, about living with self harm as a language only you understand that relieves the loneliness and pain and the places you chose like a magic trick only you can understand, very clever and impactful pieces in the wording and honest too. Unseen Exit, was an honest poem about death and feelings of who would it matter to, to exit life now when you feel so low, especially the people you pass by you don't notice noticing you. The Night I Almost Didn't, tells of the strength of pets and the bond that they can keep you living in the way they love you unconditionally and can be the light and hope you need at dark times. This was one of the best poetry collections I've read in the honesty of talking so openly and transparently about mental health and the dark thoughts we can find ourselves trying to cope with.

Wilted Flowers by Despoina Kemeridou

A great series of acronyms start this collection off before it splits into deeper sections of poetry. The fantasy section of poems felt very much like you could imagine each characters story unfolding after each poem and felt very immersive. The section after about grief, really hits deeply after a close loss how life without them feels altered forever darker. Madness and despair, about relationships with others and yourself, how draining it can be trying and feeling worn down or not enough. There Was A Time, was easily the most relatable poem to me of the collection about growing up. How fun can feel drained as you grow up dealing with hard issues in life as well as general life worries of money and work, relationships etc, reminds us how the joy in life shouldn't fade with age. Another stunning emotional collection once again by Despoina, easily one of my favourite poet's to read a collection from.

At My Darkest by KLH

TW for abuse mentions in the book. This is a bold and brave collection of poetry touching on childhood sexual abuse and anxiety as well as about how social media is as toxic as bullying to your face is. Also discussing how generations of relatives expect us to just get on with things as they were, not discuss or break them The book also touches on alcohol amd and effects of binge drinking and addiction in families too and the effects on generations. If I Had A Son and My Daughter, were two powerful poems about teaching life lessons to be kind and respectful. There is an awesome poem playing on childhood toys Barbie and Polly Pocket which was so cleverly written about life at face value and Barbie's infamous Dream house seeming impressive at face value but how in life behind closed doors nothing is as expected, a standout poem to me from many poetry collections I've read.

Ink On Her Skin by Fiona Flora

Mia meets Jace at a tattoo parlour on one reckless night with friends. Mia, a university lecturer acting out of her usual way of life being impulsive and her and Jace, her tattooist literally get under each others skin. With many twists and turns, jealousy especially involving a wild ex, sparks flying between two people with an instantly combustible connection it feels the book shows how wonderful tattoo's can be for people in connection and moving on from hurt, finding hope and healing in art, love and scars hold hope entwined with memories, good or bad and the ink on our skin can be a shield to life and display on our skin like armour to hurt we've dealt with.

Overheard At Waitrose by Idiocratea

I firstly have to say as the 'posh' UK supermarket this book captures the array of characters you meet in there amazingly, with many hilarious points captured indeed and little sketches to annotate the points too it was a great book to unwind and read. I also live by a Waitrose and never heard anything as remotely fun as in this book sadly!

Alone: Poetry For The Lonely by M.M. Crusinberry

This poetry collection looked in depth at the feelings and emotions of being and feeling alone, out of place and ultimately feeling you don't fit in and are left watching outside in at others lives continuing on around you. Feeling you are trying to play a part, a role to try and fit in, even altering yourself to try build connections that eventually fades to be nothing. How the business of life can drain you to a shadow of yourself, losing touch with your old life and reality of the life you once lived. Ghosted, was a brutally honest poem about a friend suddenly disappearing from your life which I can relate to happening and it's devastating and leaves you with so many questions, this poem perfectly captured the aching feeling it leaves you with. The collection had some lovely well written, well thought out rhyming stanza's that made me smile from their relatability and ability to draw emotions so easily feeling like you've been seen and understood by someone else out there that just gets how it feels to be alone or feel you don't fit in.

Fussy by Kaitlan C. Farrior

The collection starts off with Difficult, a strong poem about being a woman unafraid to be strong and speak out in situations. The Cost Of Saying No and What They Tried To Name Me, were again a powerful poem about standing up for yourself despite how others see you, saying no can be strength not weakness as others can make you believe. Chivarly Isn't Dead, It's Just Limited, was a powerful duel perspective poem told from both the male and female perspective which really looked at how over time basic respect and kindness in generations has changed so much looking at care, texting, ghosting, all manner of issues which have developed over recent years especially. When It Happens, too was a really touching poem how you exist in sadness and grief when a close loss happens and how we try to survive and carry on despite the pain and hurt we're left with. It was a fantastic collection of poetry which to me felt empowering to read, many of them came across as life observations almost like a series of diary entries as poems written over time through life and so many relatable points and issues were raised too.

If You Asked Me Again By Grinn Expressions

This is such a beautiful book all about learning and falling in love with another. I Made You A Playlist was a standout poem to me about sharing music also I Didn't Fill The Silence too about being comfortable in each other's presence needing nothing more than each other. I Folded The Laundry For You, too, such an every day observational poem about the everyday mundane tasks being little ways of showing love and care to each other in just helping out get tasks done. Such a great book of observational poetry from everyday life in love along with the other part/half of the story told through these poems which I will review separately too!

I'd Still Say Yes by Grinn Expressions

One half to another poetry book, the two together tell the story of love growing between two people. One piece of the poetry collection I really related too, You Kept A Piece Of Me, sadly very relatable in that my friends and my boyfriend have always listened to me unlike especially my dad, I really relate to that poem in particular. You Saw It Through My Eyes, too, I too love to watch the blackbirds in my garden playing people overlook nature but the beauty of poetry is others often write about loving and noticing it too! Overall it was just so real and touching how coming together can be so easy and natural feeling, a really beautiful way of telling the story through poetry.

Heartbreak & Healing by Stacey Nicole Douglas

This was a really deep collection of poetry touching on multiple subjects around the joy and pain of love. The worst bruises are invisible to the eye, about the pain of words and how it can torture you mentally daily. How all your thoughts daily are about that one person you like or love while they're wanting or are with another was another deep rooted feature through the collection. I also liked one poem in particular towards the end, tieing in popular culture, Queens of music Taylor, Selena, Adele and Beyonce a clever eclipse of emotions using a line of lyrics sung by each lady. A really great collection summing up the cycle of love, heartbreak and healing.