Pierre’s new collection of poems, “What I Should’ve Texted” did not disappoint. The layout was quite unique and enjoyable. While I didn’t love this one as much as his previous works, I did thoroughly enjoy it! Four stars for sure!

In diesem Buch werden Nachrichtenverläufe zwischen zwei Personen, die zuvor eine Beziehung führten und nun getrennt sind, aufgeschlüsselt. Insgesamt drei Chatverläufe werden jeweils erst vollständig abgedruckt, bevor Nachricht für Nachricht darauf eingegangen wird, was man statt der ursprünglichen Antwort gerne geschrieben hätte.

Mich hat das Konzept dieses Buches sehr interessiert und ich fand sehr gelungen, wie die ursprünglich gesendete Antwort teilweise eine andere Bedeutung bekam, nachdem man die Gedanken und Gefühle der Person dazu kannte. Durch den vollständigen Nachrichtenverlauf zu Beginn konnte man sich selbst ein Bild davon machen, wie das Geschriebene wirkt und wie man die Stimmung interpretieren würde. Auf diese Art war ich im Anschluss noch betroffener, als der Schmerz in den Nachrichten, die man gerne geschrieben hätte, zum Vorschein kam. Die Dynamik dieser schädlichen Beziehung wurde deutlich und auch, wie schwer es ist, eine Trennung zu verarbeiten. Ich war sehr ergriffen von den beschriebenen Gedanken und kann das Buch weiterempfehlen.


In English:

This book breaks down message histories between two people who were previously in a relationship and are now separated. A total of three chat histories are each printed in full before the author goes message after message into what they would have liked to have written instead of the original answer.

I was very interested in the concept of this book and I really liked how the originally sent response sometimes took on a different meaning after knowing the person's thoughts and feelings about it. By reading the complete message history at the beginning, you could get an idea of how the writing appeared and how you would interpret the mood. In this way, I was even more affected afterwards when the pain came out in the messages that one would have liked to have written. The dynamics of this toxic relationship became clear, as well as how difficult it is to process a breakup. I was very moved by the thoughts described and can recommend the book.

this was a collection of beautiful but heartbreaking poems. i couldn't relate to this but it was still interesting to read.

This is a collection of heartbreaking yet beautifully written poems. I really liked how the poems related to the title of the book ('what I should've texted'), in which the author replies to messages he has received and writes a reply that he actually never sends, plus the reply he does send. I could related sooo much to some of these poems, they really spoke to me on an emotional level.

I believe this is a good place to start if you're looking for some poetry books to read and don't really know where to begin. Rating: 4/5 stars.

Wow! I was really pleasantly surprised by this collection of poems. I was drawn in by the title and stayed for the vulnerable, thought-provoking inner monologue of the writer. I really enjoyed the layout of the poems and how it was grounded by an ongoing narrative. The only little nitpick I had was when it said “*silence*”, I felt it would have been more powerful to leave those spaces empty instead, and it took me out of it a little bit.

Very quick read, I also loved reading the strength and self-compassion in the poet.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read from March 1st, 2024 to March 4th, 2024. Written on March 5th, 2024.

NEW BOOK RELEASE ALERT!!!

~4.5~

And this one is a-mazing! I mean, imagine if you had texted what you really wanted to? To pour out your soul through a text message, your feelings and your mind into mere words. This book is fenomenal and does just that with amazing poetry. I am in awe, really. I have no words.

(But if you love it so much why just 4.5 stars?) Well, I do wish the organization was a bit better. I basically felt like I read the same thing twice in some parts, plus some poems were a bit repetitive in some parts, but really, who cares? I love it nevertheless.

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing that I chose to review after reading)

Pierre Alex Jeanty's "What I Should've Written" is a poignant collection of prose and poetry that speaks directly to the soul. With each page, Jeanty invites readers on a journey of introspection and self-discovery, offering solace and wisdom for those navigating the complexities of love, loss, and healing.

At its heart, "What I Should've Written" is a testament to the power of vulnerability and authenticity. Jeanty's words are raw and unfiltered, resonating with a raw honesty that is both refreshing and cathartic. Through his intimate reflections on heartbreak, forgiveness, and the quest for inner peace, he encourages readers to embrace their emotions fully and embrace the beauty of their own imperfections.

One of the strengths of this book lies in its universality. Jeanty's prose transcends the boundaries of age, gender, and cultural background, offering insights that are as relevant to the teenager navigating their first heartbreak as they are to the seasoned adult grappling with the complexities of long-term love. Each poem serves as a mirror, reflecting back to the reader their own hopes, fears, and aspirations.

Moreover, "What I Should've Written" is beautifully crafted, with Jeanty's lyrical language painting vivid portraits of emotion and experience. Whether exploring the euphoria of new love or the ache of separation, his words have a way of cutting straight to the heart, leaving an indelible impression long after the book is closed.

That being said, some readers may find themselves wishing for a greater diversity of perspectives within these pages. While Jeanty's voice is undeniably powerful, there are moments when the narrative feels somewhat repetitive, lacking the breadth and depth that could be achieved through a more diverse range of voices and experiences.

In conclusion, "What I Should've Written" is a testament to the healing power of words, offering comfort and solace to those in need of guidance and support. Pierre Alex Jeanty's poetic voice is both tender and empowering, reminding readers that the journey to self-discovery is often paved with heartache and triumph in equal measure. Whether you're in the midst of a personal crisis or simply seeking inspiration, this book is sure to leave a lasting impact on your heart and mind.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the published for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I own, have read, and love three other poetry books by Pierre Alex Jeanty (Her, Her Vol. 2, and Him). I had such high hopes for this new collection, and while I did enjoy it, I don’t think I will purchase it for my personal collection. It was certainly an emotional piece for the author. It was a very emotional read. If you are in the midst of going through a breakup and getting these sorts of texts from an ex, I can see this being the book that someone grabs to help them through that tough time to know that they are not alone in their feelings.

I really enjoyed the way the texts were presented, first as the whole conservation of what was actually sent and then breaking down each response as what really wanted to be said but wasn’t. It was a nice reminder that there is so much left unsaid after a breakup, but also just so much that is maybe not always communicated through electronic communication.

The book was divided into three parts- fresh wounds, picking at scabs, and visiting scars. You can see how raw and hurt the responses are in the first section, and even feel the healing that happens but the time we get to visiting scars. I think most of us have been through a breakup and can relate to some of all of these emotions while reading this collection.

I found this poetry heart breakingly raw and honest. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this, although I did enjoy it and I liked the way it was sectioned in the book.

𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘰𝘰.

This collection from poet Pierre Alex Jeanty is a beautiful expression of the unspoken things that needed to be said.

I already read some work from this poet, so I thought let’s try his newest work, and it did not disappoint!!
I really enjoyed this one and felt so peaceful while reading it. WOW.🥹🫶🏼

“𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺; 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴.”

!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗠𝗰𝗠𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!

True poetry. This was an absolutely wonderful work of art and so easily able to relate to. It was like copy and pasting words from my phone and then the words I wanted to say but didn’t from my head into a book. I think sometimes we get so caught up in not wanting to hurt others feelings by saying the words we want to say, we think we are protecting our own peace. But sometimes the things need to be said.

This contemporary collection of poetry speaks to people who have recently broken up. For that reason, I couldn't entirely relate, but it is definitely something that will be healing for some people.

I don’t typically read poetry but the title of this book caught my attention. This was such a raw and emotional. It so beautifully captured what we actually send to a former lover in comparison to what we are thinking about sending but for whatever reason, cannot.

Just wasn’t what I expected or my cup
Of tea. Poems for someone who is breaking up. About letting go and why they chose to leave the other. Poetry written from perspective of person breaking up with the other person. They no longer what to be with their partner and this is why. All they reasons they left

I feel like this was a really interesting way to do this. I liked that rather than just do the poems, there was the full conversation first and then the poems that go along with each.

A very interesting take on heartbreak. Showed the side of the inner monologue and also what you show to everyone else. Quick and fast tead. Liked the format a lot.

Heartfelt and written in a way that keeps pages turning.
Clever prose that resonates with the reader, as we all can relate to withholding what we long to say.

I'm not sure I would call this poetry - but maybe that's a reflection on me, rather than on poetry. This books takes the form of a series of text messages between the protagonist and their ex, and then "fills in the blanks" with what they are thinking and feeling. I didn't really enjoy this, it felt juvenile.and self-indulgent to me. We only see the relationship after it was over, so I have no reason to care that it's over. It's like when someone breaks up after being together for years and then tries to tell you that the never really loved the person anyway, and the relationship was always terrible, and I'm like, well you must have at one point, because you didn't HAVE to marry them. Also, if you really don't want the person in your life at all, you can block their number at any point, rather than reading these text and talking about what a terrible person they always were. It would have made for a much shorter book though. Maybe I'm unsympathetic and have no romance in my soul. Or maybe my frustration and annoyance with this book means that it is effective art, because it made me feel something, even if what I feel is like screaming. I did like the idea that we send a word or a sentence in a message and there is a whole world of context and hurt and love underneath it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm at a half and half with this because I like the poetry and the style, but at the same time, I don't like the style. Some verses spoke to me, while others did not. Otherwise I loved it and will be checking out more from the author.

I expected this to be a collection of poems centered around love and relationships in various forms. It is actually a long text thread over time (maybe a year?) between two people that broke up from a toxic relationship with one side’s thoughts in between the messages. A few parts were relatable, others not so much, lots of red flags, and some internal struggle but overall it felt flat emotionally. This felt more like a commentary than poetry.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.