ISN'T IT SAD?: A Collection Of Quiet Hurts (For Him) by Lumi An

This was a great collection of poetic notes of a man reflecting and overthinking situations from and the way each thought can make him doubt himself being ultimately enough in any way, hence the title, in a world where men are taught to be tough and bottle up emotion, this book breaks down the discussion of being a real man, feelings and all, unashamedly.

Whispers of Ash and Skin by T.Euke

This was a beautiful collection of poetry about love and connection and some stand out poems to me were: Collision and Consent, were two poems purely about how once restraint has gone, bodies talk fluidly, a new language discovered almost destined to happen between two people. Echoes, was a fantastic short poem about how touch and sounds can linger and affect you long after the spark has burnt out. Scars Speak, was again a great poem about the mental and physical memories that carve into us and can be triggered to make us remember. The metaphorical use of fire, flame, burning, combustion, the whole cycle of destruction and rebuilding in the aftermath of love and loss made it a powerful collection to tie back to the title of the book too.

Vertebrae Letters: Poetry on Living Through Chronic Illness by Danah Slade

This collection focuses on discussing the pain of chronic illness as well as life living and coping daily with loss, in the way you live in dreams and grieve for the life you crave but can never have through life limiting illness. I found the collection really clever as each poem works at representing each section of our spine alike a book working through the story of a literal body of work in this case.

The Voice Within by Mia Willows

This poetry collection focuses boldly on mental health struggles and vivid recollection of struggles that could be triggering to read about but nonetheless impactful to the right people who have also struggled the same way to feel less alone in their own fight and any girl who's ever been made to feel less or drowning in struggling with feelings will easily relate to multiple poems in this collection. The poem, Make Her A Wife and part three of the collection especially were so beautiful to show the way life can completely change around from your younger years to your older one's being the sanctuary you craved for especially reading the poem Freedom (Where I Used To Be) as a beautiful reflection of how the past doesn't define your future.

Pocket Ghosts by T Everett Sage

I love this little book, so true in the author's note poetry doesn't have to be long to have an impact or feel relatable and this collection is like a quick hit of words to make you feel seen and understood for sure especially how lonely a break up can feel losing the one person you loved most in the world and rediscovering who you are alone without them and trying to process that and carry on.

Midnight Milkshakes by Jack Ray

This was the second collection in the poetry series by this author looking at one sided love when one person pulls away, leaving you questioning and guessing what changed and why when you gave them everything and they destroy your feelings anyway. A deep feeling collection showing all the emotions love and a breakup cause.

The Empty Nest by Jared Walker , Sarah Collins

This book was a tender picture book focused story telling for adults relatable around the subject of the pain of trying to conceive and the pain of a literal empty nest despite hopes to have even one little one. A beautiful book in illustration and tender in handling a painful topic with heartfelt compassion.

Unsent Letters by Sebastian

This was such a sweet collection of poetry especially reading from a guy's perspective, the experience of feelings and thoughts around crushes and relationships. Some stand out poems to me were: The Brave Version of Me, about hoping to be daring enough to tell the person you like exactly how you feel, bravely. Small Courage, about the way saying hi first can feel like a big step and change in dynamic. The Quiet Between Us, how silence can feel like the pause before a movie begins, full of tension and anticipation, even in silence. Dear You, was a great simple poem about how one person can inspire you to write, I know my person does for my own poems so this one resonates in it's simplicity. You Without Knowing, how that one person just stepping into your vision can make the day feel brighter and you lighter but they don't always realise how so, until you tell them! A beautiful collection built from the idea of unsent letters of thoughts that matter in the dynamic of relationships becoming and flourishing.

Loving In Real Time by Evelyn Alfieri

This book was a great read about self love and self worth, being brave and you always, unapologetically.

Through My Dirty Window by Artuu F Pace

A great collection of longer poems with sentences still as impactful interspersed between the poems and showing appreciation for nature surrounding us in daily life too.