When They Met by Luckkk K

This was a really short collection of poetry detailing how falling in love is hard, to keep trying and saying goodbye, can be too easy to do especially for fear or feeling scared of being hurt, a relatable collection of poetry for anyone who's been in love or lost love, even unrequited love, a really relatable read.

Emotional Masochist by Breniecia Hayes

This book's poetry perfectly captures how love at first can seem amazing before turning darker and not seeming to be as wonderful as first seen to be with abusive tendencies and toxicity that wears you down over time these poems were lengthy and in depth describing how both people in the relationship acted and the subsequent pain caused to the author which inspired this whole collection of poetry.

Overheard At Wholefoods by Idiocratea

This collection alike the others in this series too, had me laughing from start to finish at the unbelievable and inevitable moments you face hearing in shops. The different brands/types of water promoting various kinds of benefits was one I totally understood, unexpected kale discussion and cash usage in generational divide, dogs in various bizarre laughable situations their owners have thought up from diets to electricity producing and some very odd and random diet chats too. The most hilarious parts of this collection to me, were the parents chats to their kids in the shops, utterly hilarious, from organic foods, learning food symbols and kids random comments unfiltered and unstoppable by their parents. It was a great book to spend an evening reading and thinking about what you do hear people chatting about when out shopping!

What I Wish I Said To You by Isaac Paredes

Detailing how falling in like or love can be deep, chemical, touching on self hatred, facing yourself in the mirror but embracing your flaws for how you see them isn't how others do and tackling your mind this was a concise collection of poetry straight to the depths of what effects us most in life.

The Words I Could Never Say by Yogesh Chandra

This poetry collection perfectly sums up how you can struggle to be seen for the depths of your emotions are drowning and unending it feels like when no one else can understand why or how you feel the way you do, perfectly fitting the title indeed this collection was.

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!

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.

Love And Life Made Into Poetry by Crystal Davison

A beautiful and realistic collection of poetry in love and life, many poems spoke to me in this collection. Endless Love, about even saying I Do in marriage is not enough to show your love and dedication. Forever Mine, simple lines stating the simple fact as titled. True Love, was a poem written like a vow and beautifully tender. I Need You, about in the mundane every day life, wondering when love will happen to you. Priceless, was a poem I really relate to, how money can't buy love and how big houses can be void of emotion in the family, money isn't happiness. Damaged Goods, about trust being broken but desiring love again anyway. Waiting For You, a poem reflecting on love after loss was particulary touching how grief for someone you care so much for can alter your life forever despite you not wanting it to. It was an amazing collection summing up the full life circle of loving and losing.

On Loneliness by The School of Life

In this book we meet various people, see their portraits and hear their stories. Many stories come from hardship, trials life has dealt them to deal with and range from isolation due to illness, losing family, friends, coming out, going to prison etc, really hard hitting issues that can turn life as you know it upside down. At the same time though, showing loneliness affects anyone and everyone no matter gender, sexuality, age it doesn't define but instils one very good point, connection can happen in real life or online, daily living a simple smile can start a conversation developing connection and we should all judge each other less.

Static Communication by L.Q. Murphy

This poetry collection shows us the power of words and communication between people, the main theme through the whole book about the power we hold in connecting with each other, showing us how good and bad we can feel through the emotions connections can bring us. A couple of stand out poems to me of this collection were: I Feel The Static, about a relationship stalling in progress. Trust Has Fatigued, about chances taken, feeling broken and lost amid distrust or betrayal. I really enjoyed this collection and the title especially plays well into rounding up the collection's meaning when all you want is to talk to someone and get through to them just to be met with static and how that leaves you feeling.

Collide by Isaac Paredes

This poetry collection was all about the risk and joy in meeting people and allowing them space in your life if they try and make an effort back to show they appreciate you and how we all see each other better than we see or talk to ourselves. Sometimes colliding can result in bravely and honestly opening up to each other exactly as this collection captures all the feelings it brings.

Daily Glimmers by Bridget McNulty

This book was one I completely believe in and get behind, finding joy in everyday moments that boost your mood and uplift you amidst the busy chaos life can bring and have you live in. From simple acts as enjoying the feeling of rain and embracing the weather, writing or drawing for fun and practical, finding a love of new music genres or coffee flavours. My own example, me and my friend came up with happy socks, we usually wear all black for our work uniform but the socks we even got our work to get behind, sharing fun prints to smile and laugh over together, a bit of light in darkness whether in uniform or daily life, our own little daily glimmer and conversation/connection starter!

Bae, I Wish You Knew by Shizuku T

This was a modern language based set of poetic messages exploring what can be hard to say and easier to type and send to your loved one. Through hard times, worrying times and detailing loving and adoring undertones to most messages even after what could be an argument showing the devotion to their partner they have, a raw and openly emotional collection of how even in hard times, simple messages can make such a difference in communication for positivity in a relationship to blossom.

To A Girl I Haven't Met by Zack Grey

This was a unique poetry collection exploring the ways love can come and go, leaving traces, in various ways such as, sharing song lyrics like a love language between you both. With poetry about finding or feeling at home, your mentality and physicality, ageing and coping with anxiety and nervousness. One of the final poems, I just want to be the person you think I am, was a beautiful poem hoping to find love to feel blissful and just right eventually. Each part of the book had beautifully evocative photography in black and white to accompany the poems visually inspiring us alongside the words, a well crafted collection.

Unread By Mr H by Maria T. Anderson

The book details all the feelings an unrequited crush or limerence can leave you dealing with, especially if the one you desire is already married as this book focuses on. Encouraging us to reflect on actions, unspoken words, memories shared and objects related to the one you long or desire to be closer to and how it draws on bittersweet feelings to us, maybe, even memories, even if just in work together, to reflect on and why we feel them, how the longing can feel like grieving someone who hasn't even passed away at times too. It was a great book showing the impact of a workplace, unattainable crush and how it can literally leave you feeling, crushed.

The Heart Beet by S. M. Lucky

A series of plant based fun stories as veganism etc is so popular now especially amongst younger people. The first story with Ezra and Liv, was so cute Tofu or not Tofu, then a meet cute by chance, Delilah and Theo's story, was hilarious wedding chaos fun. Frankie and Mason, a duo bonding over milk types which was fun and very true, there are lots of milk options these days to try to find what you like! The collection had lots of modern day social media nods adding to the fun of modern day life connections. So many fun puns, especially in Jules and Maya's story which has them connecting over salad, these short stories all had me laughing and smiling along hooked to read on and on in one go, guaranteed to make you feel uplifted!

I Swear This Isn't Love by Jim LaFleur

Drew and Paige end up crossing paths more times than they'd like as it seems fate has other plans than them hating each other. When they end up faking being a couple on a couple's retreat and finally they get to realising they actually work in some ways unforeseen to them until they're forced to make the best of a close situation. A really clever story, a bit opposites attract and enemies to friendship/love/something more that keeps you hooked on reading on to see where the story goes, I just wish we got a sequel to see how their future played out!

This Isn't Flirting Probably by Jim LaFleur

This was a really sweet and fun story about the joy basic routine, connection and taking a chance can bring in life. For Wes and Riley, their routine for getting a coffee and simply for being at work, meant they met and continued to do so and even after revelations, shows how much joy taking a chance and risking your feelings can bring. It was a great book full of wit and humour, the characters were sweet and funny together but also caring and encouraging, making you want to read on to see where their story went and it's definitely worth a read to find out!

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.

Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

This collection of poetry focuses on life, if sad, in love, heartbroken or feeling lonely. It was an empowering, relatable and encouraging collection to sit and feel your own life moments echoing. One particular poem, to build a house, how love can be the architecture of a person's body and soul, the way they treat you telling you it's love, truly a beautiful poem of this collection that sums up the whole book celebrating love, rather nicely I feel.