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.

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.

Every Constellation by Shannon Sonnenberg-Pietila

This poetry collection focuses on the first experience of love and a relationship that shapes you and your idea of love, lust and most importantly trust. Perfectly capturing the highs and lows of young desire and love that felt endless until doubts in trust make cracks and a split occurs.

On This Beautiful Day by Genevieve Luke

This poetry collection reads as if for a wedding, each one usable as speeches but is also just a beautiful collection of poetic words of how love can make you feel and appreciate. Some stand out poems to me were: Evergreen, was a beautiful poem to celebrate how life and love can be like the seasons renewing. Twenty Questions, was a great poem and engaging for people to get involved with. THE ALPHABET OF LOVE, was an incredibly simple poetic look at making the alphabet for a couple in love a set of rules to live by styled A-Z. The collection is full of stunning poetic imagery from seasons to daily life feelings, finding beauty in the every day mundane feeling more spectacular in love and with your beloved. A brilliant collection to spark inspiration from for poetry or indeed, a wedding speech!

This Book Has No Ending by Shannon Sonnenberg-Pietila

This was a beautiful collection of poetry in which each poem serves up hope and realization on reflection about life and love especially self love and putting first yourself always to be truly happy.

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.