doll eyes. by Jessyca Thibault | Rating: ★★★★★ 

"I was looking for those distractions / Anything to avoid the pain / Anything to avoid dealing with what happened / But I think the longer you put it off / The harder it hits you / And I think the longer you hold back the tears / The heavier they are when they fall." 

I've been following Jessyca on Instagram for roughly two years. I know her as this: an incredibly cool girl with good taste in music, literature and lipstick. Seeing her book photography and thoughts is a treat. Talking with her is a privilege.

When I heard she'd penned a collection of poetry, I knew straightaway I had to support her--anyone who knows her presence on social media knows how wonderful she is. Needless to say, I didn't even have to question whether or not I was going to purchase doll eyes. I'm glad I did. It is the perfect addition to any poetic soul's shelves and there's no arguing this. Jessya Thibault carves out a place in the poetry community and has a voice that stands tall with many great minds.

And I can't wait to see where the future leads her.

Uncaged Wallflower Extended Edition by Jennae Cecelia | Rating: ★★★★★

I find myself living in thoughts
of the future more than
the realities of the present.

Jennae Cecelia does it again with her marvelous extension of Uncaged Wallflower. I said it before with her collection I Am More Than a Daydream but, she knows how to draw her readers into her mind with just a few words. It's like they drift from the pages and grab you by the collar, urging you to listen. What I loved most about this particular release, was that sense of optimism that came with it--Uncaged Wallflower is a flicker of hope for new and old readers alike.

The general feeling of loving one's self is most prominent in this collection and that's what makes it so obtainable. Readers will leave it feeling not only connected to Cecelia's words, but a little more hopeful about their future. Not a lot of poetry can come across as hopeful without being overly fluffy and shying away from harsh realities, but Uncaged Wallflower is the exception to that. She doesn't sugar coat the truth, but there is this feeling that nothing is hopeless.

Including ourselves. Including our dreams.

I Am More Than a Daydream by Jennae Cecelia | Rating:  ★★★★☆ (4.5)

I wish I could be as bold
as the people who spend
the twilight hours
with their lights on and
curtains wide open.
The people who do not fear of who
is peering in on their belongings and
personal moments exchanged.
-I prefer my do not disturb signs

It's important to note that I am a huge poetry reader. I love poems in all sizes and from many, many voices. One of the only qualities I look to when seeking out new collections is simple: emotion. If you write with a voice that moves me, it is likely I will fall in love with the words you write. I Am More Than a Daydream by Jennae Cecelia is one of those collections.

Thought provoking, moving and highly intelligent--I am very thrilled to say that this is my first glimpse of anything penned be Jennae Cecelia. Although the collection is short, and the prose is simple, it leaves you feeling a great many things. All poetry comes from such an intimate place, it's beyond me to see it as anything short of a piece of our souls. Sometimes, the most powerful poems come from a short (but no less vibrant) place in our minds or hearts and I Am More Than a Daydream is an example of that.

Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately by Alicia Cook | Rating: ★★★★★  

A copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

I am going to be the woman you fear.

As of late, I've been expanding my poetry shelves and when I came upon Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately, I knew I had to give it a read. Something about the format is appealing to me and I had a feeling I'd love it. I didn't know just how much I would. Not only is the format told in a way that sparks my interest (mix tapes and poetry?!) the prose is so full of life that I found myself short of breath on more than one occasion. I kept saying this, this collection is modern poetry at its finest.

Alicia Cook has a way to her words that leads us readers to her thoughts. Straightaway, what she writes is what we feel. It's so easy to connect with her and there's this sense of honesty to every word that is impossible to describe. Poetry is all about connecting us to a person's heart and soul and Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately is a total nod to this. You're embraced by this intimate look at her life. The good, the bad, the everything. I loved exploring every minute of it and finished it in one sitting because it's just so good.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur | Rating: ★★★★★

As a note, Social Book CO provided a copy of this novel for review purposes. This does not effect my opinions in any way. 

Where to begin, where to begin, where to begin? Oh, bother. I feel like I have to stress that Amanda's thoughts on this novel is the exact feeling I possessed upon finishing it: if you are to read only one collection of poetry in your entire life, make it Milk and Honey. Rupi Kaur captures the essence of life in such a breathtaking way, you literally feel it in each line of her prose. One of the first thoughts that comes to mind when looking back is that it's such an intimate look into her soul, you can't help but to pause and say wow.

Milk and Honey is a raw, honest-to-its-core journey of life. Kaur casts a spell on her readers with an ease that isn't often accomplished at any age. There are four parts to the collection and each part is better than the last. Just when you think her writing couldn't get anymore honest or captivating, it draws you back in and you quite frankly lose your breath. It reminds us why we read  and write poetry. It's a promise of what brilliance is to come. It's exactly the kind of poetry you'll feel connected to in an instant--be sure to keep tissues and tabs on hand, because there are so many standout moments in the collection that will require it.