I'll Leave A Light On by William Bortz

This poetry collection was tender and hopeful and the title poem especially about the act of choosing each other again and again was beautiful. Some stand out poems to me were: Grasping, especially stood out as the tender breath of connection between a baby and parent. Apple Picking, too, about the delight in simple things providing joy in family life daily. Even When The Day Is Over, about returning to the one you love after a day whether full of good or bad moments. Tourniquet, was a great ending poem to remind us all the pain we can inflict on ourselves we have the ability to prevent harming us. A beautiful concept collection of the light family and connection provides us with hope and love, always.

Things I Never Learned How To Say by Ever Grin

This poetry collection focuses on some hard hitting life topics from grief, self love, cutting off friends and relationships despite the hurt it can cause but protect you from. The collection reads as poems giving truly honest reflections on life issues and hard times faced which we can relate to.

Poetry Book Hidden Narrative by Sohini

This poetry collection focuses on the pain childhood can cause in trauma lingering on into adult life and how you can feel you were diminished instead of cherished and how you can struggle with attachment and feeling solitude is safer after everything you've faced. A deep feeling collection.

It Will Be Ok by Gracie Madison Elizabeth

This poetry collection tells of the author falling in love, all the emotions that came with it and the aftermath of the ending of said relationship and friendship. The book was beautifully set out with black on white type and illustrations throughout to annotate the poems too it was a sad but beautiful collection of poems that flowed easily telling the story of love and friendship and the effects of the break-up leading hack to the title, especially, with hindsight too.

Distorted Mirror: Truth Scars Can't Cover by Lesli Black

This poetry collection focuses on the trauma lingering long after childhood and the echoes that persevere into adulthood and upon reflection of your life compared to others your age. Especially how at surface level, such as in photo's, a family can look perfectly fine. The book also talks deeply on sexual trauma and how the effects of sexual assault can almost rewire you as a person struggling and existing in survival mode. A collection that cuts deeply and cuts no corners in the brave depth of honesty.

3AM Poems by Ashis Tiwari

This poetry collection focuses on the thoughts that creep in and linger during the night and echo in the day too from feeling low and unsure to feeling the story of how faking happy can be more draining and ultimately how writing and talking can help, especially making this collection I know so many will easily relate too from spending nights overthinking, ruminating and finding yourself unable to switch off and sleep.

Trauma's Witness by SaDee Hodge

This new poetry collection by SaDee holds nothing back alike in her other poetry collections about trauma and abuse in relationships and how the effect's linger set across six parts in the book. Some stand out poems of this collection to me were: The Graveyard Of Memories, was an epic poem of reclamation of your favourite things after the trauma caused and their lingering memories. Not Guilty, was such a sad and solemn poem of how the system can be so wrong for the victim's of crime. Shell-shock, was an absolutely honest match up between war and trauma and how so many terrible situations can be traumatic and cause lingering PTSD in years after the event happening and the way it's not just caused by wartime as can be so often mistaken for being the solo situation to be the only cause and effect of PTSD. I also was delighted to read the final part and learn that SaDee after everything bravely being retold has been supported and is feeling more positive currently too.

Sad Faery Poems 2 by T.L. MacRae

This new collection from T.L. MacRae was a great new no holding back continuation of her Sad poetry series, detailing highs and lows of feelings and relationships with reflections on past relationships, hopes for finding someone just like you to stay and lots of honest, raw and deep discussion on past abuse. A couple of stand out poems to me were: Unrequited Love, such a simple poem about the magic of liking soneone so much and the feelings they can evoke in you. Struggling, was an honest poem about trying an failing to make money last especially now it's so relatable to many especially more so when you've grown up living in poverty barely scraping by and being forced into picking and choosing which bills to pay. I loved how this collection ties back to discussing the other previous collections and is so empowering in owning making art from painful situations. The collection also ends on a hard reflective note on abuse and important messages about trust and love. I also appreciated the end acknowledgement note as a fellow self publishing writer, in a world changing I too feel often for the worse I agree with every word written and agree that writing is definitely the healthiest therapy for yourself.

The Witch Doesn't Drown In This One (Women Are Some Kind of Magic) by Amanda Lovelace

This is a collection of empowerment poetry for anyone of any gender or sexual identity to step back and realise as people we should all just be more kinder and caring towards each other. The book especially does focus on the modern day ways that women having a voice has caused clashes of opinions especially about right to have opinions and show strength in choices only you can make over your body, the pro-choice debate and even if you can have a baby, infertility effects so many and isn't discussed or accepted enough still and is so taboo and it's refreshing to have a poetry collection openly writing to display all situations and experiences we can encounter. The title poem of the collection especially captures the sadness I think many of us feel especially if we've experienced toxic and draining relationships and overall this collection is a triumphant return to Amanda's poetry collections I've read and enjoyed before.

An Ode To Healing by Mira Patel

This poetry collection was hugely engaging and very moving, looking on situations that can be tough to face and make you feel rough in life situations you face. Some stand out poems to me were: Friends, about feeling like the after thought in many situations when people don't check in Double Life, about dressing to go out vs the house you live in falling apart a metaphorical look at trying to adapt and flourish into more than your surroundings can sufficate you in to feeling. The Girl Who Speaks In Smiles, was such a truthful and relatable poem about covering up sadness and trying to feel like you fit in by smiling to cover up how you truly feel for it being easier and less odd that saying actually, I'm not ok and having to face people asking simply why? Then not understanding you. Projection, was again, a really relatable poem about seeing your parents traits in yourself and how their views and opinions can be reflected back in the words they speak and the way they treat you too. Daydreamer, about being the observer and having a fantastic imagination others might not understand, especially relatable if growing up you were branded as shy not just silent and observing until you have something to contribute. This was easily one of the most relatable collections of poetry I've read and the honesty through the poems was courageous and made it all the more heartfelt.