Conversations I Have In My Head by T.L. MacRae

Following on from Tallulah's last book I read and reviewed, I had to continue reading her story she's so bravely but necessarily telling raising awareness of abuse and violence against women, her story I know will speak to many, including me. Poem 25, about the power in speaking up and speaking out, being brave and bold in doing so, is an essential poem about being brave enough to try prevent anyone else being harmed by them too in the future. Poem 45, makes me appreciate the male friends I have who are respectful of women, their girlfriends, wives and daughters in our group, when not all men are kind or dare call others out on their views or speech about women. Poem 49, was a reflective poem that I think many of us can draw relatable points on looking back at our past self, to us now, making us think of dreams chased or abandoned and how we didn't know what life had in store, good or bad, we come to experience. Tallulah speaks so openly of her experience with abuse by people in her life at all stages from growing up, to with her ex husband, which in times now where 1 in 8 women have suffered abuse, is more of an essential read than ever.

Conversation's I'll Never Have by T L MacRae

TW, this collection and review talks of abuse, rape, suicidal thoughts. This was a really deep, unfiltered book about the effects of abuse, rape and the trauma that follos can have on you and how it alters your life forever moving forward. A few poems of this collection really spoke to me: Poem 9, about preferring books to real life for escapism and the way you can create a better world to exist in even if fantasy. Poem 29 and 31, were deep poems about abuse and the effect it has on you and your life in love and trust of others. No. 50, a large poem/story, Hope was a powerful piece about a woman's resilience for her life and her children and really explains the depths of what the author has been through, which is a lot. To still hold onto hope after facing everything discussed in the book, is a wonderful show of resilience to inspire fellow women not to give up or give in and anyone picking up the book able to sadly relate to issues by themselves or friends or family members experiences will surely feel this part deep of the book the most.

Unbroken, Unashamed by Hope Wilder

TW For themes of abuse/rape/sexual assault in this book review. After trauma, this book is a journey to reclaiming yourself after being so badly betrayed, a really honest and raw look into life after trauma, adapting, coping, growing, living beyond what happened and rediscovering yourself. She Forgot Herself, was a poem about feeling lost but growing up reclaiming and rediscovering who you are even more so after trauma and learning how to cope and adapt in normal life continuing on too. A really well written collection that if you know or are a victim of abuse will be equal parts hard to read and awe-inspiring at how well written and open the emotions flow.

Words To Help You Become by Maria T. Anderson

This book is a companion book I feel through life to feel like someone else is there to say, you're doing good, doing whatever you do at whatever pace suits you, you are enough. Many of the poems are around the theme of kinder self talk and encouraging self love and judging ourselves less harshly and more encouragingly. Chapter 8, all about chasing so called perfection and a pause in the self-cruelty. Chapter 10, really spoke to me and echoed sentiments of two of my favourite songs actually by Griff, Mirror Talk and Forgive Myself, choosing to heal, accept, learn and grow through the feelings from that situation too. I like the reflective prompts after each chapter ends to get you thinking and working with the message of each chapter deeper and encouraging us to reflect on the feelings it gives us.

The Sky Between My Hands by A Poet Who Never Stopped Dreaming

This collection of books by this Poet really do get me thinking and appreciating beauty in the everyday things we encounter and take for granted. A really touching one to me was, Compliments, often it's about dress or look which can change, never the person themselves usually or their character which we should certainly focus on more than superficial face value. The small selection of poems as an interlude were each beautiful but especially the last, 'If the heart is a door, I want the kind with windows— so even closed, it still lets in light.' I hope it is ok to include the quote in the review, but I think many of us should live more accepting like this and even if you don't choose to read the book feel inspired to be open and see deeper in everyday life for beauty. The Weather Of Each Other, was a touching look at finding and becoming accepting of each others wants, needs and moods, working and learning together. Plans, being alikened to scaffolding too for they can fail or be built on, strengthened or fail, weaken and fall apart. The Pain Of Grief, taking your body through the wild and seasons of tearfulness or like you'd dried up emotionally, unable to grow and how music can heal with understanding calming melodies or truthful lyrics hitting deep. The book is a beautiful series of observations from life and truly feels like everyday can be magical in what we can notice beyond surface level.

The Book Of You & I by Midnight X Sugar

Set into four parts this collection really explores the thrill of crushing, loving, breaking up and dreaming of the memories left by love. One poem especially stood out to me, Walls, about letting down your defences especially emotionally trusting another which can feel so vulnerable to do. It was a great collection of tender short and longer poems, capturing both the female and male perspectives of the relationship too. Both poets are also on Instagram so go check them out there too!

The Weight Of Quiet Things by A Poet Who Never Stopped Dreaming

This was a very touching and reflective book to get you thinking deep about life in the everyday moments we live through. Personifying the everyday items we encounter to face head on thoughts and feelings especially negative ones, we may face. There was mini poems of daily life and objects existing with us in peace whether furniture or plants the mundane everyday, so exciting in always being present and ready for us to encounter and enjoy. Threads, about ties that move us in life help us travel and purchase, to find new joy and aadventure in life. One particular point of withholding touch, especially with loved ones, to appreciate other senses showing love in other ways of exploring the meaning and sense of showing love. Objects speaking without words was an exquisite look at how much objects speak to us, without us realising they care for their purpose in their silent sure ways. The Night Window was exceptionally touching to me, often after midnight, if I can't sleep, I will browse out the window and look for other signs of life or listen to chat shows overnight feeling like another world has opened up in the darkness, a new community born from seeming dark and quietness. It is a nice flowing read and short compared to many books but still made me reflect more than many others, very impactful and insightful.

I Prefer The Blues by Dr Anjani Anand

From the start of this collection I saw myself, Silence Speaking, a poem of enjoying the solace and truth it brings and Scorpion, for myself being a Scorpio and feeling exactly the same way about wanting to be seen and accepted for me and loving the darkness of hiding away yet craving connection at the same time. It's Not A Phase, too a great poem about finding an area you fit in terms of style, in this case, the dark being welcoming and embracing both culture and the world around you. It captures many dark thoughts and feelings as well as showing life can continue on, you can journey through the rough and find lighter happier moments in time too.

The Truth That Set Her Free by SaDee Hodge

SaDee is a very brave lady sharing her story and experience of abuse and I truly hope the court case has been heard and acted on accordingly especially with such powerful imagery in the poetry shared, I will say trigger warning before reading in case it would be triggering for you to read about very harrowing abuse experiences. Stand out poems to me were, Dig, an especially powerful poem of reclaiming feeling control and desire to escape. Conditioning, too, a powerful poem about connection mistaken for control. The Ghost Of You, about moving on and regaining control too. How Many Times? Was another powerful poem about fighting back and reflecting on the relationship and realising how much you endured and I have to say was the stand out poem to me. I also wish SaDee a much brighter future and her story has been astonishingly brave for her to write and share and a pleasure to read and feel more educated about abuse in relationships from.

the love i never got: what i needed, what i endured, what i give myself now by Grace Anne Calder

This collection of poetry looks at life and the effects of growing up in a home where emotions were seen as something to bury and hide not acceptable to be shown and a lack of parental stability, echoes of which I could see in my own childhood looking back. For me, stand out poems were, When I Started Starving Myself and Survival Looks Like This, both touching on growing up and experiencing anorexia or other eating disorders related to low self worth/esteem really relatable to me as I was hospitalised as a teen for going through a similar time as Grace growing up I found myself relating a lot to her story and echoes of my experience. I Needed You To Know Me, about your safe space and items that bring you grounding and comfort as well, again completely relatable to me feeling sometimes the wounds we feel most deeply can't be seen by eyes and we carry the pain and hurt deeply desiring to be seen and helped yet never getting it until years on. Grace has written an eye-opening, relatable collection of poetry here for anyone who felt lost, alone, hurt or abandoned growing up dealing with tough life situations.

The Dark Side of Love by SaDee Hodge

SaDee tells her story in brave detail of a relationship that seemed perfect at first. Collateral Damage, was a great poem capturing how much love and physical pain/abuse can affect and harm you in a relationship and following it's break down too. Plagiarized Identity Disorder, was a powerful poem to read and reflect on the character the man who hurt SaDee is/was and his behaviour. The end of the book is a reclamation of self, a new version who's faced down the worst situation and still chooses to rise and keep going through life despite the highs and lows it has brought her SaDee raises awareness of violence in relationships and how things can sour rapidly. A very brave but necessary true story to be told.

Still, You Remain by Maria T. Anderson

Maria writes about grief in a comforting and captivating way making her writing so relatable and keeping me hooked to carry on reading because she just understands how grief feels so much. After losing one of my close friends many aspects were so relatable. Day 12, The Song That Slipped Back In especially as me and my friend shared music daily our little messages mean so much as do the songs still reflecting back now especially. Day 34, The Photo You Said Not To Take, about happily finding a photo of a memory caputured unexpectedly showing joy and how real and touching it is to vividly recall a memory. Day 52, The Aisle Where I Stopped Walking, too about one box of cereal being the reminder out in public in a shop that they would've bought their favourite cut me deeply as many times me and my friend would shop and seeing his favourite on shelves still now, can bring me to tears despite being such a simple thing. Day 68, The Birthday That Didn't Break Me, about accepting grief and living with it alongside the memories it raises on their special day, it changes to a day of honouring and reflecting their memory. A stunning book if you are working to accept and live with grief, it will surely be a help and a friendly collection of words.

I Am Still Her by Noah Grey

This was a really powerful story of a girl growing up, going through life and ultimately experiences a traumatic event in her life TW here for themes of SA/rape. Some stand out poems of the collection to me were: Rules For A Girl In This World, how girls are taught to cover up or else they could give guys the wrong impression, from even a young age how all us girl it seems are taught the problem lies with us. Blood On My Silence, about girls surviving rape and judgement after speaking up about the experience, a really heartbreaking but truthful piece. To the World: Don’t You Dare Forget, about women in modern times of social media, rising up in protest against violence against women trying to keep victims lost in the media and striving for change. It was a really powerful collection of poetry telling the realistic story growing up as a girl, I related to basically every point raised and if you know anyone who's experienced, trauma, SA, rape, abuse etc it hits all the more hard.

Move On by Sundus Mirza

This book of poetry is great looking into the way we can lose, discover and accept ourselves before, during and especially after a relationship. Poem 4, The Mirror Doesn't Lie, was a poem which really spoke to me how keeping on trying with the wrong person can drain you and physically you see it in the mirror, losing yourself. Poem 12, Boundaries Are Love Too, about how you show yourself love by saying no to something or someone that doesn't make you happy and how you shouldn't feel regret for doing so and chosing yourself first. Poem 13, The Art Of Being Alone, as someone who grew up an only child I've always been comfortable alone not lonely doing what I want when I want in life pleasing myself and finding it freeing. This quote, 'you’re no longer willing to settle for companionship that costs your peace.' Really is truth that speaks to my heart and soul I've had people cause me nothing but hassle and ultimately I've accepted we're not meant to be in each others lives ultimately and it's nice to find another person writing openly about feeling it's a positive thing too.

Bruised Melodies: A Quotes/ Poetry Collection by Mia Sanchez

A great book of verse poetry, short straight forward speaking poetry you will definitely find something relatable in. Longing and Past were two great poems about wanting someone and being stuck in unrequited love and then remembering the feeling of love and being loved. Truth, another great poem about realising how fragile loving someone is, as you accept they could up and leave at any time. Everywhere, again, about seeing reminders or being reminded about love lost everywhere too Vinyl, really relatable about sharing songs and reminded of love left in lyrics and melodies once shared, a love language of sorts I relate to the most. It was a great little book I found myself nodding along in agreement to many of these poems points raised and really got me thinking and reflecting.

All the Words I Swallowed Brittany Ionescu

I firstly have to start my review by saying I truly hope Brittany and her baby are both doing well, it has been quite a tumultuous journey and definitely takes strength and courage to share it especially for public reading. The Poem, Starting Over Saved My Soul, especially in a romantic relationship, I can completely relate to. A simple verse, a few lines of pure truth, go for safety and clarity, never stay with someone emotionally unavailable to you, ever, I and Brittany I think share that value especially after reading her story. The Intimacy Of Silence and The Static In Silence, again two poems I relate to all too well also, having dealt with a guy being all in and then pulling away, ghosted me for weeks, came back with excuses and this dragged on for months and was never worth it and I would never do it again Brittany is spot on, silence speaks volumes about someone's character, negatively and not positively! The final poem/letter to Brittany's ex and father of her daughter actually took my breath away with how much Brittany has bravely endured and at how coldly a guy could treat a woman he was supposed to care for, shocking and direct I hope he eventually reads it and he regrets his desicion. Brittany sounds like a strong woman to raise her daughter to take no fools and learn how to grow up finding a genuine loving relationship upon reflection when she's old enough to read her mother's brave shared story. A story of courage and strength and love even if unexpected, a precious gift.

UN/CORKED: Poetry on Drinking, Damage, and Finding the Way Back Lacey LeDuc

This poetry book really details how alcoholism or alcohol addiction can take hold of you in your life and keep you hooked in craving more and more. The poems, Coping and Confrontation, all about people understanding the addiction and how it effects the addict and all in their lives. It was a brave collection of poetry about how addiction can be to cope, adapt and grow through or life with and how it can be a life long struggle to manage.

Let It Burn by Jamie Powers

The poems that stood out to me the most fro this collection were, On Hugs and Love, a really good point I've never seen anyone else write about but makes me feel seen as someone who was never hugged much growing up I too find it more awkward than caring. My Actions and Her, two simple poems about being yourself and that being enough to feel loved for being your unique self, a really true point to make that we should all appreciate and embrace each others differences. A great short collection with truth written into each poem.

Internet Best Friend by Loreena Mitzscherling

The opening poem A Kind Heart Gets You Killed was a strong and powerful poem with such a true mesage about people using your kindness which I've sadly found multiple times. Also, One True Enemy, a poem about how our mind can be the worst thing or person given it's own voice, we encounter telling us horrible things about ourselves and we can't control it always, Made up of life observations and documented through the poems in the book from encounters in daily life and love, in family, friends and partners there's something we can find relatable in this collection as the author literally has called the collection an internet best friend, the collection reads as if someone sharing snapshots of their life with us alike friends do.

Finding Melody: A Short Story About Grief by Monique Jones

This book was beautiful, tenderly reflecting on love and the loss of said loved one too. Capturing all the feelings of trying to come to terms with the loss, adapting to your life now without them in it and for me rang so true losing a friend made me feel suddenly lost in a haze and like life was so fragile when it never felt so before. I still pucture my friend everywhere, reflect on memories often and still catch myself going to message them too, alike the book title finding a new melody to life's song takes time to adapt to and if you're dealing with any loss, Monique has written breathtakingly beautifully about loss and the aftermath.

The Rage Behind Her Healing by SaDee Hodge

This was a truly powerful collection of poetry to read, about escaping a relationship which has turned violent/abusive and left the author fearing for her life. There is also poetry about alcoholism and the dangers of it altering a person's personality. Haunted was a stunning poem visualising the house as a person and a prison, becoming a person seeing and trapping them in their pain keeping them stifled and suffering. There is such strength in every sentence of every poem depicting the awful time at the hands of an abuser and really harrowing detail of real life threatening ordeal faced too I will say please be aware of strong abuse and harm mentions before reading.

The Day He Was Still Here Book 1 by Maria T. Anderson

This is a beautiful poetry book telling the story of a bride to be up to her wedding day told in prose poetry the story unfolded beautifully in moments of everyday life up until the big day and kept me hooked reading until finished! It is the first of quite a good long series of nine books so far which I will definitely be reading now I'm hooked and intrigued to read the rest of the story especially as this first one end in a cliffhanger so I'm straight off to read book number two now!

Midnight Musings Of A Fractured Heart by Sigy George

This poetry collection covered multiple subjects about love, loss, grief, longing, hope and feeling tired and inadequate too. Fade Away, reminded me of The Amity Affliction a great poem and great song combo there. Tired Soul, a simple poem idea about just being tired of everything in life not feeling enough and the same with the poem, Existence too, just such relatable human ways of feeling and shared through poetry feels like a friend reaching out saying they get how life can be tiring and trying too.

Between Skies And Soil by Faith Hubble

This was a brilliant poetry book, showing how life after kids and a divorce whilst it can be rough and tough to go through, you can absolutely reclaim time to discover your hobbies and passions or just try something new. Written in short verses it's a read you can enjoy easily in one sitting and reflect on the life changes as they develop through the book.

The 30-Day Reset For The Burnt Out by Noah Grey

Noah has a way of writing with reassurance that life can get better, no judgement, just guidance, nudging you to see everything in life can improve with time and reflection. 'Burnout is a funeral without a eulogy' Speaks so clearly that you can make yourself feel so run down from life you can't see the good in still just simply being here still breathing alike the old saying working to live, you have to find balance to avoid hitting rock bottom and losing parts of yourself breaking down the person you are as if chipping pieces of you away. With journal prompts to encourage you to work through your feelings and reset tips for you to use in daily life to clear your head and feel more peaceful day to day finding joy in little things daily life brings, it's a friendly reminder that a month can change your life and find joy again.

Aches and Pains by Stacey Nicole Douglas

In this collection the author takes us through her relationship that broke down. For me, a poem about mixed messages, awaiting replies, really hit knowing people can mess you around, keep you hanging but how much you like them makes you remain to you stay and try. I chose you, especially after trying so hard with that person, how you struggle getting over them. One final poem especially that stood out was Letting Go, about how we do so many things for the last time without realising it's the last time and especially in the poem as the author turned thirty writing it and I approach mine next year, it really hits so truthful this whole collection I related too a lot of the poems.

Hurt first by Ticus Poetry

This collection of poetry literally covers the topic of hurt as in the title in various ways from family, love, friendship and just existing. The poems which stood out and spoke to me the most of this collection were, Broken People, about two broken people finding solace in each other, Womanhood, about standing up being strong and proud. Trigger warning here, a poem about self harm too, literally and mentally scar wise, struggling with feelings and urge, control and spiralling thoughts and feelings of hurt. One particular poem stood out most overall, about how before and after a relationship, how you view the other as art at first then old furniture after it ends, feeling nothing special which visualises how much we value those we love or hate. A fantastic and honest collection of poetry.

For The Eyes That Never Met Mine by Maria T. Anderson

This is a great book set out so you can work and write with it about your own situations and experiences. Talking about remembering your person in various situations in and around the house, your life and coping with accepting they're gone from your life in any sense of them doing so and cherishing memories and moments that could have been or were shared in a format allowing you to reflect and sit with your feelings of what could've been. A great book to sit, read, write and reflect on your thoughts and feelings with, no judgement, just care.

The 30 Day Reset For The Abandoned by Noah Grey

Growing up I had various friends andfamily enter and exit my life so was intrigued to read this book. Noah has such an engaging, comforting style of writing, no judgement. Day 3, The Disappearing Act, to me was the chapter that I felt I connected to the most, followed by Day 7, When They Made You Feel Replacable. 'If something felt like love and its absence feels like grief, it was real — even if they never named it.' Truly relatable I've had friends of years suddenly, seemingly just stop replying over the years and I've always thought it must've been me, but it's just the way of life growing up people move on and exist in smaller bubbles despite being present before time can just change them and if they can't hold space anymore it's not anything I did and much alike Day 8 around closure, they left with silence and me pondering and questioning why they did alike Day 13, You Weren't Meant To Carry Their Silence, which again is something I've experienced, the tip was to write a letter to free your mind of the feelings and questions you have for that person or people and it felt good to write it down and feel at peace with life and process feelings still lingering. A really great book to make you feel, sit, process and reflect on life and where you are at.

The Way I Bleed by Mirabela Căpîlna

This poetry collection tackles some great subjects in depth, particularly loneliness or feeling alone or not enough, especially the Dedication, opening the collection summed up the book is inclusive for anyone if any age, gender or situation and at author after note, in particular telling her story, utterly heartbreaking but inspirational to get through to be in her position now writing after everything, fantastic! Alone on purpose about being solo doing what you want trying to be strong, you just want peace and being alone provides that, so relatable! Almost Pretty was a fantastic poem about how as teenager you can learn to wear makeup as war paint to face those people who want to belittle you for your flaws especially if you've experienced bullying. If You See Me, was easily the most relatable, in a busy world one person seeing you, stopping to speak beyond pleasentries can change your life I know it's how I met one of my closest friends that way. The Hour That Knows You, about being unable to rest as the dark night looms and thoughts consume your mind, again simple concept and utterly relatable. Battlefield Lullaby, to me is talking about depression, I relate to it about feeling you're drowning in life, especially when you're a teenager. For me the book completely captures life's trials thrown at you to deal with, open, honest and relatable.

The Ghost In My Phone by David Grayson

These poems are so relatable while only being four to five lines, all the poems play a role in telling the story of love and loss. The final poem especially, about moving on, carrying on a tale of resilience in the face of how the relationship plays out reminds us love is great but even if it breaks down there is always the future and yourself to concentrate on to grow from the situation, a great reminder to all us readers.

Breathe My Heart by L C Raker

This was a great book of life and love observations which I could really relate to in certain situations like being the observant one, not mingling a lot just reading the room, Distance As An Excuse, too, especially hit hard and talk of people playing games in love too. An all round great look at relationships and heartbreak and a good length to read in one sitting to sit and process and reflect your own feelings and reflect on relatable remembered times in your life too.

Words That Speak by Diti Gurung

Such true words written and observations taken from life exactly as the title says. I feel like this collection is almost like a friend in book form to comfort you and make you feel less alone in life. Short and sweet to read during daily life too when all is busy, this little book will give you some calm time to reflect and absorb the life observations documented and think about your observations from daily life too.

Healing My Heart by Bela H

This was a beautiful collection of poetry telling the story of falling in love for the first time and experiencing hearbreak for the first time too. Feeling like you gave everything and that wasn't even enough and making you question yourself and their feelings too. One poem, I give, I really related to about giving eveything and them walking away again leaving you wondering what you did even when it often wasn't anything, alike, Your Priority, about never feeling you'd ever be made time and space for in their life, even in the future and marriage possibly too. Unrecognisable, about changing in a relationship as time goes on together too and just growing apart over the course was sad but very true capturing the way and feelings too. A great collection looking at love/relationships and how it can change over the years.

Echoes Of Love by Ester Roseglenn

Ester writes this book so beautifully, anyone dealing with grief of any form for anyone Ester perfectly captures exactly how it feels that life seemingly carries on like nothing has changed despite it feeling to you like the floor has given way to a new life you didn't ask to be in and weren't prepared for. Ester also captures how grief can linger in various ways, such as causing you to reread their messages and ring to hear their voicemail to hear their voice again and take comfort in it finding comfort too in a new rhythm of life without them. One line really hit me deeply, 'grief doesn’t only miss the past.' Completely how I felt when my friend passed away, he never got to reach thirty, a major life milestone which I feel is cruelly unfair but I remember to be grateful for the years he did have. 'grief can make time feel cruel.' Again about time passing and moments they miss feel heavier again if you are losing or have lost someone consider this book a companion to feel seen and acknowledged in how you're feeling.

Letters I'll Never Send by Sage Bennett

Sage has perfectly captured a break up and it's effects in every day life through this collection of poetry from the little things to the big, lack of messages more bed space etc. The Poem, I Only Looked Once, about checking if they were online I really felt. When you first split up especially, you will always hope to find a message from them randomly. I Cried In The Shower Again, was such an expressive simple poem of grief using the shower as a stage for you to cleanse your mind, body and soul of the relationship and grief of it's end and loss. A great collection resulting from the relationship breakdown which Sage, if she reads this, be proud of these poems from the ashes of that relationship you've created some beautiful emotive poetry!

That Girl by Emily N Kay

The main running theme of this collection despite being about love, was also dealing with feeling inadequate and never enough when alongside other girls and cheating by their partner too. Soulmate, was a beautiful poem about wondering and worrying over if there is anyone for you out there. Drugs, about that person being the source and cause of your happiness and becoming reliant on them to feel right. Twenty Nine, was another poem I really relate to as my 29th approaches this November about how time is flying by and your friends and your life are so different in many ways, some settled down, some not or still figuring everything and feels like a limbo of sorts emotionally. The Shield and Body, two poems perfectly capturing how safety can feel in the arms of the one you love and feel seen and protected by them. The Archive, too was amazing, just basic observations about what we do or don't share what we keep private or openly talk about and how it affects how we can view each other online or offline and deal with what we see mentally. Overall a great collection capturing all the feelings we go through growing up.

The Quiet Part: A Trace of Silence That Never Left by NoteBy T

'Some feelings linger longer because they were never pursued.' I really feel that, the whole book talks about dancing around the edge of maybe, if you shared your feelings and seing where it leads with someone and hinting at a crush or limerence situation, too worried to act on feelings and living in regret of that. A Heart That Reaches Before Words, was a beautiful poem about the way love can show through body language before you speak any words to each other. The One Who Feels More Through Silence, too, beautifully discusses how you can sit in silence happily with someone else and it feel natural and happy not awkward or worrying just comforting. This collection really captured all aspects of lust, love, break ups, hope, healing, hurt, something in here everyone can relate to.

It's Okay If You Don't Love Me by Kellie Luna

A book perfectly capturing the feeling of heartbreak and when love becomes survival you have to self compromise: 'Sometimes the silence is the closure.' “I stopped texting first. And suddenly, the silence got very loud.” The silence says it all when communication breaks or lags, perfectly captured in those lines summing up effort only being one sided sadly. I also liked the illustrations of the girl, I assume the author, throughout annotating the poems at intervals to show even more cause and effect alongside the poems how she faced her feelings, brave and bold.

Love In Bloom 3 by Cheryl Bradshaw

Cheryl is easily one of my favourite poets I've discovered having reviewed her previous collections too, this third one doesn't disappoint. I Think Therefore I Am, shows the importance of being you and not changing for anyone especially a guy also a nod to Billie Eilish with the title, a great song too. Ribbon Of Time, a beautiful look at how time can show love between people, in caring or earning, directly from one to another. Wedded Bliss, a poem about an elderly couple actually reminded me of an elderly couple I see daily and to me it is such a true poem about lasting love and real life love thriving over years and decades of nurtured love and care, simply beautiful work.

The Anatomy Of Goodbye by Nyra Bloom

These poems show the passion from finding love that has grown and thrived in every moment together they share. Standout poems to me were, Soulmate and A Letter From Him, for the simplicity in their subject but the intricacy of the poems written and The Crossroads is a powerful poem about staying or leaving a relationship as well as Solitude, about finding peace and happiness alone. Each poem is emotionally charged and really relatable.

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Anxiety: Poetry For The Anxious by M. M. Crusinberry

As someone who's struggled with anxiety from fifteen and now about to turn thirty, anything about the subject really fascinates me and I relate easily to it as well in equals parts. When silence builds walls, was a poem I really felt about how anxiety can take you over in how you feel daily and The shrinking room, of feeling closed in by anxiety and like the world is crowding in on me/us. Fading Away was a brutal look at how it can come between two people in their relationship, like an unwanted visitor you can't get rid of. The book really captures how anxiety makes you feel in an endless loop/cycle of repeated highs and lows as anxiety can take hold at any moment.

Imagined In White Poetry Of Hope by Anne Brooke

A collection of poetry through various life situations and describing the weather and the effects on life as the seasons change, the weather claims it's hold on gardens and the wildlife enjoying it. A couple of poems describing work life did make me laugh, especially Obscurity and Open Door, I guarantee we have all encountered someone we've had some similar thoughts towards cheeky and funny and very realistic.

The Lover And Her Human by Winnie Nantongo

These poems are stunningly beautiful at capturing love in all forms good and loving, but also drowning, draining, toxic and harmful. Set into four parts, Fall, Break, Heal and rise summing up stages of a relationship as it progresses. I Have Questions You Will Never Answer is such a truthful poem about laying awake unable to figure why someone left leaving you wondering unable to sleep, so relatable to many of us. It also reminded me of the Camila Cabello song, I Have Questions. Poetry Is My Escape, is a poem I really relate to, writing is a truly good way to cleanse your soul and clear your mind and poetry a great outlet to shed the feelings weighing you down as well as finding others who just get how you can find yourself feeling in any situation.

Time Is Running and Distance Is Shortening by Adriana Rocha

This poetry collection was writeen so captivatingly discussing topics of love and sex especially really making the passion developing in a relationship felt. Stand out poems of this collection to me were: I Am Art, a beautiful poem about the reality of life, living in our unique bodies each beautiful and different to each others. I Want To Be His, a simple yet beautiful poem of yearning to be with their crush admiring and adoring them from afar. So relatable! Music, as well, so relatable about in a relationship trying to find how you two work together, harmoniously, rhythmicalluy or otherwise coming together. The Last Kiss Of Goodbye too, about choisng yourself over someone afraid to commit to anything and remembering to love and put yourself first, it's their loss if they can't commit! Overall, as a young woman I found this collection as if a big sister were explaining sex and relationships and how they can play out good and bad, the passion and the chase and it was a great read.

How To Be Ok When Nothing Makes Sense by Noah Grey

Noah always has a way of writing as if his words reaching you through the book are a friend reaching out saying I see you, you'll be ok. A sort of companion book through life not to guide you but to reassure you that you're doing great whatever situation you find yourself in at that moment. A couple of great points that stood out to I have quoted below: "Even the ones who look like they’re gliding are often dragging quiet chaos behind them like a broken kite." Another quote from the book because it hits hard after losing my friend, "grief is a translation. It’s your heart trying to understand how to keep loving something that’s no longer here." Is such a sad and true Chapter 16, talks about a simple life and how it can be fulfilling to not be always in a rush in a busy world and finding your joy in living in a way which makes you happier and relaxed not worried or on edge constantly wondering how to do more, in a world that always seem to be rushing round it's a great reflection to read and sit with. A beautiful book that will make you feel seen and understood whatever you are facing just taking a few minutes to read and sit with the words and reflect on how you feel and how much you have lived through good and bad so far in life.

Glass Girl by Jessyca Thibault

This is a great poetry book for anyone who has been through a relationship that broke down especially through cheating as the author sadly was, I can also relate too unfortunately as well here. So many poems stood out to me in this collection but mostly, Super Glue and Duct Tape about making time for each other followed by, How It Goes and Why are simple in impact about relationships about how easily you seem to come together then thinking and questioning why they have or you hope they will stick around. Like a ghost too relating to crying in the car to sad songs the real emotions felt in Your Call Has Been Forwarded and Teardrops too because I have been there and felt that completely, liking a guy who went on to ignore me, made me sad then inspired my own writing, much alike the author, Jessyca here, so the joke ended up on the guy's who made us feel low and inspired us to do good from their rubbish actions!

To Whom This May Apply, A Poetry Collection by J.B Gabriel

A poetry book short and sweet with observastions of life in all aspects of it. Mother year I found relatable and so true, our mother's wrap us up tight protecting us while they can. Great little collection to read!

Collide by Lola Lawrence & Rhett Lawrence

This couple has perfectly made a poetic collection born from love seeping into each page. I especially loved the layout with backgrounds of some pages bold, bright, detailed, a riot of colour to match the passion in the writing. Sometimes black on white type when a more powerful pointed message but, still a beautiful look and insight into soulmates and love, colliding and uniting.

The Grief Of What's Gone by Sheryl Owens

I was drawn to this book after losing a loved one who would've turned thirty next year, same as me, it seems unreal we won't celebrate together. The book feels like a friend who understands, as the author does, set across different sections, The Quiet Hours the part of the book I found the most completely relatable to the times I have laid awake thinking of him, many tears, many nights writing thoughts, reading as I did this book in part in the early hours to feel a bit calmer and able to drift into sleep. Grief truly comes in random waves, I expect him to come home and be never will do again. The Firsts poem, about doing anything for the first time since they passed away is so heartbreakingly true as well, I've cried driving and had to pull over, I've cried at home and before losing him, no one in my friend group had even seen me cry, grief changes you and hits you randomly. There's a beautiful poem about carrying them with you in your mannerisms and I totally speak sometimes how he did with odd words and phrases he used I adapted to as well, in those times I feel love is reminding me he lives on in certain ways. A song for loss I found helpful is When You Lose Someone by Nina Nesbitt, I hope it helps if you listen to it to feel others get it and are here existing day to day learning how to live again after loss. A truly beautiful poetry collection.