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.