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.

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.

readme.txt by Connie Pillon

This collection is told through a series of published snippets of poetry and daily thoughts around a variety of subjects from self love, to projection and addiction and how we should all work on simply being happy in ourselves before trying to be with somebody else as if we're not happy it won't make for a joyous relationship without mutual love and respect for each other and your feelings.

The Love That Stayed Unsaid (The Quiet Rooms Series Book 2) by Linda Odelmar

This poetry collection is the second in the series and focuses on the feeling of love when chance has been missed, the way someone is unforgettable for the way they're so memorable to your mind and body, I especially enjoy the poetic examination of silence in the way objects and rooms hold so much noise screaming in painful silence in what remains in the aftermath, from a hoodie, cup, coffee, simply space and how communication breaking down, words and actions being misinterpreted can lead to deep misunderstanding and the silence of what is left and as the title says, remains unsaid.

Unrequited by Misti S

This was a great collection of poetry which dives in to the title of unrequited love with depth of how it can effect you and your day life/habits. Some stand out poems of the collection to me were: Lost Too Many Homes, about literally moving and too losing so many people you love to not want to feel so vulnerable again. Safe Space, was such a tender poem about wanting to be the person you like so much's person to go to confide in It was a short yet concise collection working well as it is.

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.

Whispers Of My Soul by Kylie Adams

This was a lovely collection of deep feeling poetry. Some poems that stood out to me most were: Entangle and Love That Stays were two beautiful poems about staying through the bad times and being steady support for each other through the good and bad times. Unattainable, was a great poem summing up unrequited love or one sided limerence. A short collection speaking lots of lovely short verses of truth.

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.

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.

An Ode To Motherhood by Annie Noor

This collection of poetry talks about all aspects of the journey that motherhood brings, from the delight and wonder as your body creates the tender new life to the birth and awe of the new little one to treasure right through growing up and adapting, learning and guiding each other through it all. The book was laid out beautifully with simple black text on a light coloured background with white flowers, a symbol of the purity of life and really fit the collection well as does the fun cover too showing the delight and wonder mother and baby share together. A beautiful collection as an insight into how life changes in a beautiful way welcoming a little one.

Love Notes Volume 2 by Cheryl Bradshaw

This collection was deeply impactful and deals with the topics of abuse and how one person can affect you so much and the desire to help them can make you put yourself second. The poems that stood out to me didn't have titles in this collection but were numbered: 16, about safety and how it can effect you. 23, about the illusion of life and feeling how it is going or right 24, about seeing love different at teens to your twenties from toxic to loving. 25, about knowing yourself enough to know good and bad behaviour signs. 55, about fearing an explosion from a toxic partner and choosing to stay silent instead to not risk it. I love collections of micropoetry where you can easily read it say on a bus or train journey and feel still as deeply as if you've read an in depth collection which this collection did seamlessly each piece making you think and reflect.

It’s never the time It’s the person: Poetry of True Love, Longing, and Heartbreak by Ikeli O'farrell

This was a beautiful collection of poetry about the love for another encapsulating all the feelings and thoughts from appreciating efforts and care, the natural feeling of belonging and even in loss, feelings continue after knowing love so truly. The final part about splitting up and the cause and effect description through the poems really played into the title, how it's character and not timing that makes relationships play out positive or negative. A well set out collection with depth.

After Hours by Nura Bloom

This was a heartbreaking poetic story of an affair, a pregnancy and a life forever altered. A story of few words per poem, but still impactful in telling the story of a life altered forever by actions and the ripple effects into others lives. It was beautifully laid out with simple black text on floral background and set into five separate parts of the story showing the before, during, after, the pain and accepting the effects of the choices made and the actions it led to.

Girl, Isolated by Trista Mateer

This collection of poems are written in the early time of COVID with themes of love, toxic love, longing and loneliness. I'm Sorry For Looking You Up Online, was sadly relatable about ex's and Small Ghost Plays Animal Crossing, too especially because in Covid I did play hours of it and designing the island I made as well! Making Peace, about grief, acceptance of it and moving on with it was deep feeling after any loss. This collection was such a great accumulation of feelings from the pandemic and all we went through separately yet united in grief and loss of people and life as we knew.

I Named The Moon After You by Luke Moon

This was a beautiful poetry book detailing how someone's presence can bring light and a glow into your life. How in the joy of growing closer and falling, your guard drops and little moments of sharing touch or looks can feel magical in being someone's chosen special person in time. Evolving into every day little actions and attention to details, a truly beautiful poetry collection capturing the alluring emotions of love.

Heartbreak Cocktail by Dominika Stančíková

This poetry collection has many lengthier poems with beautiful rhymes and impactful messages behind each one. A stand out poem to me was, Love Is Kind, a beautiful poem talking how love should be so simple and caring. It was a detailed and honest collection of poetry all about love, honesty, reality in a relationship of it undoing and learning to be ok again in the aftermath of the heartbreak.

Skeleton by Ryan Sam Turner

This poetry collection is so relatable about the struggles of growing up and feeling behind or not enough in life, from pressures to be ok and not feel depressed or finding love and settling down pressures. Pills Pills Pills and Pill Game, were two so well written descriptions how the pills can seemingly have no effect so you take more and more to try feel something at all better despite not feeling they'll make a difference at all. The Heron, about the beauty of their freedom and uncaring at the world around them feeling no pressure like us humans can put on each other. Pure O aka Purely Obsessional, about how your mind can make you feel so low, see yourself so negatively and distorted your mind plays tricks on you. Missed Milestones and Time Only Moves One Way, about feeling life is passing you by without reaching expectations others assume you want to, which can be and also not be the case as everyone has different goals and dreams. So deep into the discussion of mental health, feeling pressure you're not enough in life as your peers seemingly grow up to have kids around you whilst you feel life is on pause for you, the discussion around panic attacks too was utterly relatable as someone who's experienced and lived with them for half my life now, it was great to read someone capture the feeling that seems indescribable when it occurs in such an honest relatable way.