being the red flag: POETIC ODYSSEY OF UNAPOLOGETIC CURIOSITY by Amol Srivastava

This poetry collection discusses the behaviour surrounding red flags, safety and warning signs in relationship's from a male perspective of feeling you are the red flag and owning that truth and honesty. Some stand out poems of this collection to me were: Uncertain Bonds, Beautiful Chaos, Enduring Seasons, Solitary Sorrows, all poems about the uncertainty of finding an enduring bond and lasting relationship and love. Space As Escape and Fragile Facade, about admiring from afar but respecting to not want to hurt them and keeping distance between you both instead. The poems tell such a story of the way self doubt and worth can really bleed into a relationship and make it feel too good to be true or that you're unworthy of a relationship or person in your life.

Bittersweet Psyche by by Olivia Wheeler

This collection focuses on the devastation of love and life we live through. Some stand out poems to me were: Loved, a simple poem about the simple enjoyable things and how distance isn't even a problem when loved right. Curves, how women can be objectified at face value for their bodies and not their character and person as a whole. Sunsets, was a beautiful poem about the joy of the day ending through memorable beauty. Hands, was a simple sensual poem of how touch can build and nurture connection between two people more than words can. A great collection of poems to make you see deeply into situations around you.

The Girl You Never Loved: A Woman's Story, Told in Poems by Roya Khalili

This was a great collection of poetry reflecting on how after a relationship runs it's course, how you feel reflecting on everything that happened. Some stand out poems of this collection were: Rain Poem, was gorgeous how tears and a cloudy mind of memories lingers like weather. If Only You Understood Poetry, about the beauty words have providing emotion and meaning from simple glances speaking. Wish, about wishing to forget someone after a breakup happens. The Woman I See In The Mirror, about being alone and solitary, yet craving another person and their perspective. Shadows Of Betrayal, was a clever poem using imagery of a person's face, mouth and eyes to convey love and pain, fake care and kindness. 'Hope is a slow poison' From the poem Inflamed, was such an impactful line about how hope can make you feel mad. A collection of deep thinking poetry.

Sweet Poison by Ariel Day

This newest collection by Ariel focuses on the power of love and lust being, as her title says, like a sweet poison. A couple of stand out poems to me were: Love Language, about craving being the one you love desires only. Invisible, about feeling smaller in the same place as you shrink to fit the life of the one you love to be kept in their life in any way at all. A collection to make you think and reflect on the way relationships can play out.

I'm Still Everywhere by T.Euke

This was a gorgeous picture book for children deealing with pet loss and the grief and heartbreak from the loss that is felt. Through simple lines to provide comfort and aid understanding of losing a pet the illustrations perfectly show how children may be feeling from the loss seeking comfort for example in toys and reflecting on memories.

Ruins Called Home by Rithika Talluri

This poetry collection focuses on us, a body as homez with poems about the way growing up shapes us, to comply, the juxtaposition of being an emotional anchor to someone yet forgettable almost too. All the poems are numbered not titled, so a line from poem number 6: When I Become Enough Company, 'a quiet intelligence in being alone' Which really hit with me spending time alone solo, reading, listening to music or the radio especially to me makes me feel calm, no pressure, not performing or conforming to however anyone would want me to be, just instead accepting myself and my life for what it is and what makes me happy. One poem can can make you feel seen and accepted, poem number six was that poem for me.

Healing Poems for Quiet Nights: Gentle Words for the Lonely Hours, Letting Go, and Resting the Heart (Healing Poems Series) by Bryn Tandon

This poetry collection was one to make you feel seen when in real life you can feel invisible, there's always space within the words of a sentence to make you feel seen without it literally having eyes to see you with. Some stand out poems to me were: The Truth About Fine, about the easy answer often given over the emotional depth you crave someone to see and hold space for. People Pleaser, about being the one to help by being agreeable, feeling about the love you get is conditional to you only being agreeable and never saying no to anyone. The Wound, about the almost situations, potential, the hope, the pain of never being fully chosen and What They Took, was a poem all about the summary of what someone can take from you in a relationship but how they leave you changed, to not mistake certain actions or words again in other future situations and future relationships that will inevitably arise. Talk To Yourself, was a poem to me that echoes one of my favourite songs ever by Rain City Drive called, Talk To A Friend and mirrors the songs meaning in a complimentary way that poetry and lyrics you can often relate to life and situations. The Morning After and Beginning Again, were two poems about moving on for yourself and resetting your life for the better for you, through self love and acceptance to make yourself happier in life. A fantastic collection of poetry showing how self love can evolve and be healing and freeing for you to try.

To the Moon: Poems on Love, Heartbreak, Letting Go, and Finding Yourself by Tristen Miranda

This poetry collection focuses on the author calling their love, the moon and discusses the way they felt seen, loved, appreciated and how sad to face the relationship ending. Some stand out poems to me of this collection were: Never Erased You, about how distance parting you never feels finite despite the miles between. Moon Night, how by night choices seem to finite to try to change. Any Other Way, of how loneliness and solitude can lead you on an internal journey when inspired. A beautiful collection of poetry inspired by the moon, night and honesty.