Silence And Other Poems by Paula Soares

This was such a great collection of poetry, relatable issues raised from the first poem some of my favourite poems of the collection were: Envy, Anxiety and Travel about dealing with doubts and chasing dreams were poems of this collection that really sppke to me along with general life observations from every day life in the rest of the collections poems too. The different types of silence, how they carry meaning, loaded with feeling negative or anticipatory, really was a relatable concept and look at how we all deal with our feelings in those moments how it can lead to strength or anxiety, we can stumble or grow through what we're dealing or coping with at that moment.

Romantic Heartbreak Poems by Jayanta Samanta

This collection really hit the ground running straight into poems about experiencing grief of an ended relationship like an unfinished book, such relatable concepts and throughout the collection each poem tells of how the relationship ended in some way or how they wish they could still reach out to their old love for an explanation as to why, again, very relatable. My favourite poem was, Cold Coffee, which was actually a really deep poem for such a simple feeling as I have written before about losing a friend and he had a cold cup of coffee left waiting for him so really hit me deep feeling. When silence speaks, was also a really deep poem about how that silence can literally say everything and be an ending whether it was wanted or not. It was such a moving collection and so well written exploring the way love and loss lingers through daily life and each poem flowed really well too the collection almost making it read as a story of grief after love in it's reflections.

What It Cost Me To Be Good by Faith Hubble

This poetry collection was another stunning book by Faith, a reclamation of self and being unapologetic about being loud and who you are in the face of those who dare silence you or get you to hide who you are. My favourite poem of this collection was Broken Open, all about how being strong or faking playing a role of someone else that is easier for others to like eventually unravels and how you should be unapologetically you, the running theme of the book losing yourself is not worth it and it can cost you in multiple ways, friendships, relationships and your own happiness.

Even Without You by Maria T. Anderson

Maria has written another stunning book about grief and the effects of loss on your life in various ways as you try to continue living despite dealing with all the feelings left behind and items too. Day 4, The Mirror Still Tilts Toward Yesterday, was especially hard hitting, the car mirrors left waiting set for them makes you look and letters come addressed to them, feeling them through every day items as life continues on. Day 13, The Side I Won't Sit On, about how grief exists in the fabrics of the house like the sofa or clothing they wore most now left behind too almost it seems awaiting them. I love that the book walks the house and shows areas where grief exists in small seemingly forgettable objects like a simple letter, a note, a cup, daily things we exist around that can hold so much meaning after a life changing time bringing comfort and grief into collision, a very realistic book how how loss lingers in day to day life.

My Absolute Heart by Ryan Sam Turner

This was a really touching book about two people meeting and going on a date and falling in love from there in all the little daily intimate and every day mundane moments. Unfortunately as with some relationships we see how the fall out can effect you in life and really knock you when feelings were so loving and strong. Really good to read from the guy's perspective and see how they feel falling in like/love but also the aftermath too especially in the fall out how deeply feelings can effect you negatively on your mental health and grieving the relationship.

Conversations I Have In My Head by T.L. MacRae

Following on from Tallulah's last book I read and reviewed, I had to continue reading her story she's so bravely but necessarily telling raising awareness of abuse and violence against women, her story I know will speak to many, including me. Poem 25, about the power in speaking up and speaking out, being brave and bold in doing so, is an essential poem about being brave enough to try prevent anyone else being harmed by them too in the future. Poem 45, makes me appreciate the male friends I have who are respectful of women, their girlfriends, wives and daughters in our group, when not all men are kind or dare call others out on their views or speech about women. Poem 49, was a reflective poem that I think many of us can draw relatable points on looking back at our past self, to us now, making us think of dreams chased or abandoned and how we didn't know what life had in store, good or bad, we come to experience. Tallulah speaks so openly of her experience with abuse by people in her life at all stages from growing up, to with her ex husband, which in times now where 1 in 8 women have suffered abuse, is more of an essential read than ever.

Conversation's I'll Never Have by T L MacRae

TW, this collection and review talks of abuse, rape, suicidal thoughts. This was a really deep, unfiltered book about the effects of abuse, rape and the trauma that follos can have on you and how it alters your life forever moving forward. A few poems of this collection really spoke to me: Poem 9, about preferring books to real life for escapism and the way you can create a better world to exist in even if fantasy. Poem 29 and 31, were deep poems about abuse and the effect it has on you and your life in love and trust of others. No. 50, a large poem/story, Hope was a powerful piece about a woman's resilience for her life and her children and really explains the depths of what the author has been through, which is a lot. To still hold onto hope after facing everything discussed in the book, is a wonderful show of resilience to inspire fellow women not to give up or give in and anyone picking up the book able to sadly relate to issues by themselves or friends or family members experiences will surely feel this part deep of the book the most.

Unbroken, Unashamed by Hope Wilder

TW For themes of abuse/rape/sexual assault in this book review. After trauma, this book is a journey to reclaiming yourself after being so badly betrayed, a really honest and raw look into life after trauma, adapting, coping, growing, living beyond what happened and rediscovering yourself. She Forgot Herself, was a poem about feeling lost but growing up reclaiming and rediscovering who you are even more so after trauma and learning how to cope and adapt in normal life continuing on too. A really well written collection that if you know or are a victim of abuse will be equal parts hard to read and awe-inspiring at how well written and open the emotions flow.

Words To Help You Become by Maria T. Anderson

This book is a companion book I feel through life to feel like someone else is there to say, you're doing good, doing whatever you do at whatever pace suits you, you are enough. Many of the poems are around the theme of kinder self talk and encouraging self love and judging ourselves less harshly and more encouragingly. Chapter 8, all about chasing so called perfection and a pause in the self-cruelty. Chapter 10, really spoke to me and echoed sentiments of two of my favourite songs actually by Griff, Mirror Talk and Forgive Myself, choosing to heal, accept, learn and grow through the feelings from that situation too. I like the reflective prompts after each chapter ends to get you thinking and working with the message of each chapter deeper and encouraging us to reflect on the feelings it gives us.

The Sky Between My Hands by A Poet Who Never Stopped Dreaming

This collection of books by this Poet really do get me thinking and appreciating beauty in the everyday things we encounter and take for granted. A really touching one to me was, Compliments, often it's about dress or look which can change, never the person themselves usually or their character which we should certainly focus on more than superficial face value. The small selection of poems as an interlude were each beautiful but especially the last, 'If the heart is a door, I want the kind with windows— so even closed, it still lets in light.' I hope it is ok to include the quote in the review, but I think many of us should live more accepting like this and even if you don't choose to read the book feel inspired to be open and see deeper in everyday life for beauty. The Weather Of Each Other, was a touching look at finding and becoming accepting of each others wants, needs and moods, working and learning together. Plans, being alikened to scaffolding too for they can fail or be built on, strengthened or fail, weaken and fall apart. The Pain Of Grief, taking your body through the wild and seasons of tearfulness or like you'd dried up emotionally, unable to grow and how music can heal with understanding calming melodies or truthful lyrics hitting deep. The book is a beautiful series of observations from life and truly feels like everyday can be magical in what we can notice beyond surface level.