As intimate and moving as her previous releases, Courtney Peppernell impresses once more with I Hope You Stay.



In the spirit of her bestselling series, Pillow Thoughts, Courtney Peppernell returns with a new, empowering collection of poetry and prose. From heartbreak to dreaming of and finding a new love to healing the heart to ultimately finding peace, the themes in this book are universal but also uniquely individual to readers.

Just as moving and endearing as Peppernell's previous books, I Hope You Stay is a reminder of the resilience and hope needed after heartache and pain. The book is divided into five sections, with poems ranging from free verse to short form. These words are a light in the deepest hours of the night: Hold on. The sun is coming.  


 
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

I Hope You Stay is another solidly intimate and compulsively enjoyable collection of prose from Courtney Peppernell. As far as modern day poets go, Peppernell is one of the best and never fails to disappoint me in terms of quality and intimacy. If you are looking for something that makes you feel, then look no further than I Hope You Stay.

Be sure to pack your bags to go along with Peppernell on this emotional journey she's woven into words. 

I Hope You Stay fits refreshingly well with who I am and what I hope to feel whilst reading poetry. It is full of lines that strike me down in that aching way that only poetry or music can. Minimal little nods that hit bluntly against your heart. As the lines blur into pages, readers will feel their effect.

Looking back on I Hope You Stay, I've come to realize that this collection resonates with me because Peppernell does more than simply state emotions that parallel my own--she makes you feel it, too. Life pulses from every word. It aches. It coaxes optimism. It makes you feel. She eases us into heart-break and moving on; falling in love, and living, with an easy-going quality.

Like all good poets, she does more than compel you to read her words--she speaks directly to you. Each poem in I Hope You Stay leads into the next and fits a specific mood. Peppernell's words flow into a bigger picture, telling a story that is hopeful and honest. While there were a few poems in I Hope You Stay that felt repetitive or out of place, I still feel like this is an absolute must-read for the modern poet.

Peppernell continues to be a leader of the pack when it comes to her contemporaries. I Hope You Stay is another beautiful expression of life and will surely strike a chord within readers. It is simply beautiful.