Tag: amanda lovelace

unlock your storybook heart review

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Summary (from the publisher):
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“life is not something that can be experienced on a deadline.”

amanda lovelace, the bestselling & award-winning author of the “women are some kind of magic” poetry series, presents unlock your storybook heart, the third & final installment in her feminist poetry series, “you are your own fairy tale.” this is a collection about being so caught up in the fable that is perfectionism that you miss out on your own life. be honest: when was the last time you stopped to take in the everyday enchantment all around you?

My Rating: 4/5 Stars 

My Thoughts:

Poetry isn’t my first reading choice, but if there’s one poet that I am ALWAYS ready for a new collection from, it’s amanda lovelace! I have loved so much of her collections & series, from break your glass slippers to shine your icy crown to her latest collection, unlock your storybook heart.

The third & final installment in the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale series, this beauty & the beast inspired poetry collection screams bookishness. This is one of my favorite poetry collections from amanda lovelace. I love using page tabs to mark my favorite poems and nearly all my tabbed pages in this collection had to do with books & reading. My favorite poem was hands-down “her book say.” Like amanda lovelace’s other collections, this collection explores family relationships (tw death of a loved one), romance, sexuality, self-love, and relationships. unlock your storybook heart especially focused on self-love & care and making the most out of life & love. 

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 November 2021 Mini Reviews

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I shared a What I’ve Been Reading Recently wrap-up last week, but I am back with another wrap-up semi-based off on what I read during the Thanksgiving Break (and by semi, I mean yes I will be sharing a contemporary romance review here soon!). This mini review round-up features a memoir based on a super popular Netflix Mini series, a contemporary fiction read that was SO addicting, and a recently released poetry collection. 

 Palm Beach by Mary Adkins 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Since I’ve been busy with work and life things this fall, I’ve really made an effort to read books that make me excited to read in my free time. Palm Beach had been on my TBR for a while, and then Becca Freeman from Bad on Paper Podcast posted it on her Instagram story raving about it and I immediately put the book on hold from my library. Palm Beach is an adult contemporary fiction read, following  married couple Mickey and Rebecca. Rebecca is a freelance writer whose works focuses on economic inequality and exposing the lives of the wealthy, while Mickey is a Broadway actor and caters in between show jobs. When Mickey loses his ability to sing and is offered to work as a house manger for a multimillionaire, Rebecca, Mickey, and their young son relocate to Palm Beach and soon find themselves involved in the lives of the rich & elite. 

Something about Palm Beach made it the type of book that I just did not want to put down – I managed to read it in less than 4 hours. I loved the character development, following the third person perspectives of Rebecca & Mickey, and much like Rebecca, I loved learning about the couple Mickey works for. In a way, the book reminded me of Laura Hankin’s Happy & You Know It, being that both books should different perspectives of wealth and service jobs like nannying and house managers. I have to admit that the semi-twist/direction of the story involving Rebecca and Mickey’s family felt unexpected in the second half of the story, but overall I thought this was such a thought-provoking and well-written contemporary! Definitely pick this one up if you like slice of life type books that you can’t put down.

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much-needed feminist poetry: shine your icy crown review

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Summary (from the publisher):

amanda lovelace, the bestselling & award-winning author of the “women are some kind of magic” poetry series, presents shine your icy crown, the second installment in her new feminist poetry series, “you are your own fairy tale.” this is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen.

 

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Thoughts: 

It’s never a complete reading year without reading at least one poetry collection from amanda lovelace. I’m so grateful I was able to kick off my new year reading this month with the second & latest installment in her “you are your own fairy tale” feminist poetry series. shine your icy crown is its own fairytale, interweaving the story of a princess who doesn’t want to accept a crown from a prince, a big sister’s advice to a little sister, and pieces of wisdom & advice.

amanda lovelace’s poetry always comes at the right time for me. I always look forward to sitting down with a set of page tabs and making note of all the poems that I really relate with. The poems that spoke to me the most in this collection reflected women empowerment and doing things for one’s self. Given the timeliness of inaugurating our first female vice president here in the US, I especially loved the poems about female leadership. My favorite section of the book was this first section, which alternates between the ‘little sister’ having darker and honest thoughts about herself and the ‘big sister’ giving her corresponding advice. I loved the poems dealing with creating your own story, (female) friendship, and dealing with crushes, unrequited men, and partnership. There were some poems across the collection that I couldn’t personally relate to, but I always appreciate that amanda lovelace’s poetry is so representative of different female experiences. Read More »

favorite poetry collection: break your glass slippers review

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Summary (from the publisher):

amanda lovelace, the bestselling & award-winning author of the “women are some kind of magic” poetry series, presents a new companion series, “you are your own fairy tale” the first installment, break your glass slippers, is about overcoming those who don’t see your worth, even if that person is sometimes yourself. in the epic tale of your life, you are the most important character while everyone is but a forgotten footnote. even the prince.

 

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My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

I am a firm believer that everyone needs to read a poetry collection now & then (or more often than that, if that’s your reading jam). One of my go-to authors for when I’m in a poetry mood is amanda lovelace.  I really enjoyed the princess saves herself in this one and the witch doesn’t burn in this one, the first two books in the women are some kind of magic series. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review her upcoming collection, break your glass slippers. break your glass slippers is the first book in amanda’s latest series, you are your own fairytale, and this first collection puts a spin on Cinderella.

I’m so happy I read break your glass slippers when I did. As soon I finished reading it, I found myself going back to the beginning and rereading so many of the poems. amanda lovelace covers a wide range of sensitive topics, including abuse, toxic relationships and friendships, sexual harassment, eating disorders, trauma, fatphobia, and suicide. All of these topics are forewarned in the very beginning, with reminders to practice self-care and self-love while reading.

The collection is split into three sections. The first section spoke as the most Cinderella retelling-like to me, as about half of the poems take the form of wisdom from the fairy godmother. I especially loved the poems from the fairy godmother. This section is especially focused on the protagonist’s very toxic relationship, something I could not necessarily realte to but still appreciate obviously that amanda lovelace writes about this hard, but very real topic.Yet, there are many universal themes that all types of readers may be able to relate within this section. Although the toxic relationship does take focus, there were so many poems I particularly loved about self-care, self-love, and female friendship.

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