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.

The Size Of Your Joy by Elise Powers

This poetry collection perfectly captures the feelings of growing up as a girl becoming a woman and learning through life situations, how you grow, adapt and change and how you become aware of dangers to your safety especially unfortunately. Some stand out poems to me were: California, was a deeply hard hitting poem, especially having gone through a near same situation, panic attack and all. The poem, Inventory Of Unnecessary Apologies, was a really simple poem playing into it's title about all the silly things we say sorry for in life, like the old joke of saying sorry for always saying sorry! A Broken Rule, about self judgement by looking in mirrors and how we should all I feel too, be more animal, and love ourselves without seeing our physical selves and putting all our worth into looks alone not character. Generational Healing, was such a beautiful and aware poem, I wish we all treated daughters, nieces etc to embrace not desire to change their natural physique and accept how we're all meant to be as our unique selves. Part 2, another accompanying poem as well, was a lovely reflectional as time has passed further and showing a lovely progression. Savage, was such a deeply impressive and well thought out poem on all angles of becoming a mother from the literal, the physical and to the emotional equivalent of holding your heart in your arms and having to protect it forever more not being inside you safe from harm. Two Sides Of The Same Moon, was a tender and deeply moving poem about both sides of fertility and the truth of how fragile it can truly be. There was also a great poem about simply appreciating clouds, something simple yet magical like all the colours of the sky, shapes and textures we observe not often enough that nature gives us the simple beauty of to appreciate and enjoy observing yet often overlook It was a beautiful collection of simple ways to see joy in every day life and situations.

The Dogs I Have Kissed by Trista Mateer

This collection of poetry details the all consuming feelings of falling deep in love and wanting to stay together before we read how it can unravel and leave you reeling and coping with your feelings. Keys On The Coffee Table, was a powerful poem of freedom and escape from feeling trapped in a relationship too when it can be a toxic situation and was easily the stand out poem of this collection to me for being so simple, leave a bad situation if you don't feel loved or happy there or in that relationship, a very important core message to take away from the collection.

To Be Loved By A Poet by Michael J Schiuma

This poetry collection literally does as it says and tells us of how a poet felt so deeply for his beloved. A couple of stand out poems to me were: Mine To Lose, was a beautiful poem about how we can easily lose sight of the weight of precious love in the heat of an argument and how it can ruin and sever Space, was a poem about longing for love that has left leaving you feeling deeply sad at the end of the time together. It was a beautiful collection capturing how it is to feel so deeply encompassed in love but the turmoil of loss and grief of it as well, the beauty and pain of having the chance to feel the depths of emotions so fully.

The Art Of Loving Yourself by Nana Juste

This poetry collection is set into three parts: Healing, Boundaries and acceptance/integration telling a poetic story of healing through to accepting how life was and now is and all endured along the way to alter your feelings. From shrinking to fit in, having boundaries, to respect yourself first before serving up time to people who would use or waste it unappreciatively and how you flourish through learning, growing into the adult your child self once needed, craving the necessary love to feel able to flourish. A lot of the poems talk about how being present for yourself isn't loneliness but healing and solitude to learn to be comfortable alone, a necessity when you will always have yourself in this life. The book absolutely owned it's title and clearly maps a way to approach your own self reflections on life as you grow, progress and reflect on everything you've experienced and find yourself relating to multiple poems in this collection.

Mama Poems by Melody Li

This poetry collection was as the title says, poems by a mama about her experience becoming a mum and embracing all it entails. A couple of stand out poems to me were: Seeds And Fruit, about the sizing and changing baby growing in fun comparisons to foods. We All Just Need To Sleep, was a tender look into life trying to adapt and sleep with a new one, in a comfortable way for all and no judgement to achive said rest much needed! These poems are so precious capturing the delight and pain in pregnancy and the joy and bliss as well as testing times in raising baby too.

After You Notice by OCTAVIA OCTAVIANO

This poetry collection focuses on all the ways of fulfilling your heart and doing want you need to or want to do versus making someone else happy, even if it is work, you need to fulfil your own desire, doing it despite maybe failing ahead but pleasing yourself first.