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.