To be quite honest this isn't my favorite of Amanda Lovelace's collections (that title, pun intended, still goes to [b:The Princess Saves Herself in This One|30075802|The Princess Saves Herself in This One (Women Are Some Kind of Magic, #1)|Amanda Lovelace|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462211636s/30075802.jpg|50494177]) but it's pretty solid. The narrative arc is clear as you progress through the poems: a cohesive story of being hurt and recovering. I always feel bad not giving 5 full stars to books like these that hit home and are autobiographical to any degree (and poetry is such an intimate, personal medium), but in the interest of honesty I have to admit that it bothers me that

Spoiler

the narrator focuses a lot on the differences between her relationships and I wish she'd devoted more poems to introspection and personal journey, which is what I loved about the "women are some kind of magic" collections

.

And as always, I will fight anyone who wants to argue that this isn't "real" poetry:


didn't
anyone ever
warn you
not to
try
to trick
a girl
who reads?

she's
already
seen
everything.

- don't try to waste your time again.

content warnings from the author:

Spoiler

intimate partner abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, cheating, alcohol, religion, death, gore, fire, blood, & possibly more. remember to practice self-care before, during, & after reading.