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.