Secrets Make You Sick by Sarah Erin

This poetry collection was a raw and unfiltered look into life coping with mental health, bipolar and the effects in life and all the ups and downs it brings. Some stand out poems to me of this collection, focussed on pregnancy loss especially from an unexpected pregnancy and the pain of the sudden experience. There was also a lot of poems about the effects of bipolar and how being misunderstood by others can leave you feeling so sad and worse as your condition can be viewed so negatively by others unwilling to take time to educate themselves.

The Graveyard Of My Mind by Matilda Reed

This poetry collection focuses on the depths of the minds most buried moments and feelings with a fabulous title to sum it up nicely. Some stand out poems to me were: Show Vs Tell, about showing love over voicing it with words. Taking, about someone you love only taking your light and only giving darkness back. Under Educated, was an incredible poem of how reading words versus reading the one you love is so different. Powerful Pens, about reclaiming your voice and power over past pain with words and ink, hence the power of the pen. The Giver/Self Care, about how being the giver drains you so much to finally put yourself first. It was a brilliant collection of thoughts through life captured and spilled as poetry alike laying down life to rest and reset your mind as much as possible.

Don't Let Your Figs Rot by Nana Juste

This poetry collection focuses on figs as a metaphor in various ways gor all the chances available to pick from in life. The Tree Was Heavy, about the branches life gives you some heavy, some light and joyful but overall can make you overthink the choices. All The Lives I Didn't Live and lots of poems especially in the final few poems of the book talk openly and honestly of the pain of choices made and the ones never taken that linger in their own form of grief. It was a beautiful collection of poetry to sit with and read in one go and the fig metaphor was brilliantly executed throughout the collection.

In The Sky by Irene R

This short poetry collection captures the feelings of raw grief the impact and the aftermath of such a terrible situation and if you've experienced grief, specifically child loss, this will really resonate with you in how you feel changed from how life was before and expected to be hopes distorted and altered forever until you slowly over time heal into a new version of you.

Across The Room by Shannon Sonnenberg-Pietila

This poetry collection details all the thoughts and feelings from relationships and friendships and how the depth of our feelings can be overpowering before empowering for us to live and learn from. The title poem of the collection was a beautiful heart-breaking story of how you can see a cycle forming, happening and repeating.

Sad Faery Poems by T.L. MacRae

This was a wonderful collection of poetry written over a single month capturing feelings as they come, to sit with them and produce this collection of poetic art. Telling the story of real life experiences whilst also being educational about relationships and what the good and bad can be like to deal with after relationships upon reflection. Some stand out poems were: Little White Feather, about angels and death in signs. Addict, about escape in alcohol or medication to deal with feelings to cope. October 15th, about anorexia and craving to feel small and dainty. Broke, about trying to fight against poverty and lacking money despite trying so hard feeling it's useless and futile but trying and needing to. Gratitude, about all the things you can achieve when turning hopes into action and this whole collection of poetry! This was a great collection and flowed so well too, a brilliant idea to write a collection through a month too.

In Case You Don't Want Forever by Shannon Sonnenberg-Pietila

This poetry collection focuses on the storytelling nature on reflection of a relationship from the joys and desire to the years suddenly ending and all the thoughts and feelings encountered from broken promises of a future and the break-up aftermath as it's effects ricochet in life and surrounding friends and family.

The Fall by Ashley H Quinn

This collection of poetry was beautiful and evocative on how the seasons change and reach into each other learning or teaching and growing. Poems 6 & 7, were beautiful poems talking of the joy leaves bring children and the colours going out in a riot as the final act of the seasons hurrah. Capturing the essence of joy in the changing seasons of growth and renewal too, a fantastic collection.

I Am An Ocean by Shannon Sonnenberg-Pietila

This was a beautiful book of poetry about finding the strength and beauty of yourself and putting yourself first for your happiness over sacrificing parts of you to please someone else. A true collection of poetry in a live and you learn look at at life style.

Letters From My Shadow by Yvette De Vito

This collection of poetry befits the title as from the darkness come the deeper, raw and honest feelings around life situations you can face. Some stand out poems to me were: Internet Crush, about online dating and feeling lonelier trying it feeling it's aike online shopping seeing faces on a screen and a few words only to pick and choose from. Different People To Different People, how others can treat us so differently depending on relationship and feelings, kind, cruel, happy, sad etc. Track Marks, how people can be as addictive as drugs with how they can make you feel. Travellers, feeling like you're a temporary stop for people until a better love or person comes along. Numb, about appreciating feeling anything even pain literally. Gifts, about how nice physical gifts can be but the delight of the gifts being the depths of feelings truly shown is much more precious.