Lost In The Milky Way by Emmie Vale

This poetry collection is a bold and raw look into life post birth when it should be all joyous, instead depression and overthinking takes control and Emmi has really captured her experience and perspective of the situation she lived through and all she experienced with emotional detail. Some stand out poems to me were: An Omen, on the early pain of nothing going right and feeling nothing can or will. Missing Records, lack of evidence of anything you raise being concerned and worried about. She, Selfless, about the strength of a lone new mum and all they have to do caring for themselves as best they can and this nee little dependent one too. k.o, was a literal reflective poem, of how we say the opposite to stop worry so instead of everything being ok, it's not but we wish to raise no concern. I Count To One, I relate to so hard as an only child I realise growing up I was so lucky and my parents gave so much and I've seen others with siblings struggling more with timelessness from parents and pain of them splitting for reasons eventually too where as for one life can be more stable and the family unit stronger, one can mean a strong family unit for sure despite what anyone says, an only one is a precious one and the self awareness of putting them first over the worry of trying again and all you could worry about facing again shows depth of awareness to protect not hinder your family. Misplaced, about fighting judgement from others for your conclusion in building a family, again was a bold and secure message in knowing what you need to do over anyone else's judgement which shouldn't even come into such a decision where the reliance is on you not them. This was a deep emotional ride but I know so many people will feel it and sit with it relating to themselves within the poems too.

Till We Meet Again: For you, Mom by Delton Savio DSouza

I have to start this review with a quote from the book that we can all relate to: 'you have changed me permanently' I believe everyone we meet in life changes us, but no-one more so than a parent who's been right there from the start of our life shaping us and such a true line on love and grief, the love that remains in a new shape to adapt to cope with and make peace with. A stand out poem to me was: Time Has Become Unreliable, all about how the days and hours move the same but now feels untrustworthy for anything could suddenly happen and trying to achieve anything can feel hopeless when we all go eventually after being faced with such heavy grief and sudden loss. It flowed like poetic storytelling of real life learning to live with grief, the same but changed forever after the loss of such a beloved person in your life.

The Shore: A Journey Through the Blue - A Brief, Poetic Companion for the Lonely Walk Through Infertility, Loss and Grief by K.P. Grace

This poetry book reads as a memoir and a companion book to anyone also suffering and struggling through infertility, miscarriage and the loss of identity as a woman you can face when unable to achieve the baby you so desire and ache to have. From the way that nature and the sea, or the shore, can be a soothing experience in the depths of pain to feel cleansed and gain new perspective from a change of scenery and the beauty of the coastline and horizon the book was not only beautifully written flowing like we were walking the tide and journey side by side, but with beautiful watercolour style pictures annotating the journey too like we're exploring together and seeing the joint beauty we can easily miss from focusing only on the negatives served up to us. Beautifully written and illustrated.

When The Petals Fall, I Rise by Isobel Raine

A collection of poetry about embracing life after a break up despite how rough it feels at the start. The lies he told me was a beautiful few words, few lines but still packs a punch about not being or at least feeling like enough and each line of each poem is impactful even in being short verses.

Unhinged by Olena Rose

This poetry collection I really found myself relating to so many poems, Craving, for something real such a good poem of advice being shared. Swimming in fear too, about how easily we can let fear hold us back doing anything we want to as well as Letting Go, especially, is so relatable about losing sleep because of a person or situation you find yourself in trying to deal with. A great collection about love of self, others and growth to embrace situations not shy away from them.

Not Your Good Girl Anymore by Faith Hubble

Faith has become one of my favourite poets to have found so far, in this collection she touches on so many contradictory truths in love, life and faith and one particular poem, The Wife verse stood out the most for its blatant obviousness in the last two lines especially and My Body Was Never Mine, too again looking at how women can birth the next generation and still not be deemed equal to men in some views. As well as being 'good' by staying quiet in the community of faith and church under the eyes of whoever or whichever God or faith you choose to follow or believe and how it can feel misguiding or controlling instead of embracing of people for who they are firstly this poetry collection will be an eye-opener and get you thinking too about life situations.

Because I Love You by Despoina Kemeridou

A great short and sweet collection of poetry about being in love and all the flourishing feelings and joy it can bring in this collection my favourite poems that stood out were, Safe space and Your Warm Embrace. Really lovely poems especially capturing the power human connection can have from an initial connection to flourishing friendship or love.

Stardust & Shadows by Stella Violet Frances

Firstly trigger warning, there is mentions of abuse, loss and cancer in this book. The blank page is a great poem any of us can relate to the joy of a blank page to write and create, dream anything you want and Cats are such good friends too, animals are always there for us through the rough and tough to the joyous times we face. The end of the book also had a really touching note to remind us all to keep going in life despite any struggles we have one again we can all find a way to relate to I'm sure.

Warning I'm Out Of Estrogen by Faith Hubble

The poems in this collection are so clever and fun whilst being so painfully at times true about growing older as a girl for sure I have elder family members this collection has been relatable to fir them when I've shared the book eith them I love the I wake at 3am poem about sheep running off with sleep such a fun view of the situation and made me smile I can really relate and I live by some real sheep that are characters too a joyful yet realist view of life aging as a woman!

Let Me Be Wild Again by Isobel Raine

Isobel has written beautifully about life and her observations documented here are short and impactful in each verse. The mirror doesn't lie was a super relatable poem about change after a relationship along with I was never asking for too much, which can be such a true statement depending on the relationship situation. I completely relate to the message of just be you as well after all faking being someone else to please someone will never work out, relatable truthful poetry and observations.

Roses Will Bloom From Your Dreams by Mara Thelling

A short deep and descriptive collection, In The Morning and Time, as themes of poetry capturing the what can be mundane everyday, as a joyous thing to just simply be thankful for another day of waking and existing. Simple ideas but nonetheless important!

Unreachable by Jimena Alvarez

A beautiful collection of honest poetry about various life situations you may find yourself. Borrowed Tears was a beautiful opening poem for this collection another poem, Hunger, about desire to progress constantly either in a job etc is relentless and insatiable the language of the poems pouring emotion, living completely up to the book's title.

Imagination Of Her by Mohd Farhan

This collection of poetry focuses on the deep love you can feel so certainly for someone with some poems with more depth as poems no 65, 70 & 74, talk about loss and love afterwards and how the way you feel for someone remains and adapts through the years as time progresses on too.

You Are My Sun by Munkh Zaya

This collection of poetry is so fun and playful especially in the first of four sections, I love you, stating simple facts from the author to their love in messages to each other. It is really well thought out and set out in design to read, short and sweet too. I also want to add a note as a British English reader I love that the author has taken the care to translate it for us to also enjoy pure care and dedication and from me as a reader appreciation to get to read this collection!

Strictly On Love by Virat Nimesh

This literally is a beautiful collection of poetry as the title suggets about Love and the wondering, hoping and discovery that ensues. Poem 25, to me was the most touching and true it was all about rain and feeling it, moving you when in love and after losing love too. For me this was a really touching series of poems and shows care of the love nurtured and experienced shone through trying to adapt and move on after a relationship breakdown too.

To My Muse by Areesha

This was a beautiful collection Areesha has written for her muse, every poem spoke tender truth of a relationship, of experiencing a crush and love and also sadly the fall out and aftermath of feelings left behind. If Love Had A Face, about finding beauty in every day areas around us in nature and objects getting us thinking and appreciating beauty in every day life. From holding hands, sharing smiles, the poems make you think of the beauty in daily moments shared as well as, another particular poem, One Sided or limerent love poetry about loving someone who became a stranger again to you after sharing something between you. It was a quick collection to read but one of the most touching collections I've found and read yet.

That What Lingers by Tanyia Naidoo

Anyone who has felt the world against them at times, this collection of poetry feels like a friend saying I see the pain you're in I'm here, I get it. From death to feeling low or worthless trying to just carry on especially as bodies as homes or houses left to ruin trying their best to be fixed or copying others afraid to be yourself and stand out, there is something you can relate to in this collection.

Anatomy of Change: What It Costs to Become by M. M. Crusinberry

This new collection focuses on the cycle of renewal and change, how growth can be for better on reflection. After Winter, a great simple poem of seasonal change alike we go through times of change as humans too. It was a short collection to read easily in an evening and sit with.

Dear Self by Patience Tamarra

This was a lovely book about embracing yourself for all your flaws and feelings, positive or negative. Despite any situation, you can learn and live through it, forgive yourself and move forward and these short poems/verses will definitely help instil into your mind, things can get better and you can learn to embrace yourself better.

Carmina: not meant to explain by Janvi Shree

This book was great detailing all the thoughts and feelings of being deeply in like of someone, faking feelings to hide your true ones knowing they're unrequited and how you can be infatuated with someone and their potential you see in them. I love the title my mum is the only person I know to know Latin these days too which was a lovely touch and the verses were so deep despite being short a beautiful poetry collection.

May This Love Find me by Havilah Mae

A beautiful book rich with hope and anticipation of love. Hold My Hand and You Make Everything Better were two great poems about the joy of sharing love in evey day moments that I think many of us will really relate to. Each poem of the collection shows the beauty of love growing in everyday life moments over time together in various settings life presents us.