Every one of Amanda Lovelace's books make me cry and this did too. The writing was so raw and absolutely brilliant. She is a person who knows how to play with words and write her story with the most interesting style. Loved the book and would definitely recommend it!

I just finished this collection (I haven’t read the first book but I will) and I’m I so much life reflection it’s scary. This book is about pain but also about perseverance. It’s about Grief, but also joy. It’s about Love but also hate. It was so heart felt and there was one that really got to me.

“i’m afraid i’ll be just like you,
i’m afraid i’ll be nothing like you.”
-my empress in reverse

Just . . . This woman, Amanda Lovelace, has no idea how impactful she is. She digs up your memories, she makes you cry but in the end . . . You laugh.

This was beautiful and painful and hopeful and made me feel so much.

To drink coffee with a ghost focuses mainly on toxic mother-daughter relationship. Even if I personally couldn’t relate, because I won the lottery in case of my loving and caring mum, these poems touched me somewhere very deep.

“i only ever wanted to keep you safe,“
you screamed.
“then why didn’t you?“
i cried .

- lucid

The book is divided into three parts, ghost-mother, ghost-daughter, and sun-showers. First part talks mainly about painful relationship with the mother, second about reality of living without her and slowly becoming your own person and the third part (my favourite, even if the whole book was incredible), about letting go, about sisterhood, loving yourself and being free. It felt like I got to be a part of this family story, to have a look behind the doors, to get to live all the pain and worry, but also the healing and love.

Even if I couldn’t relate to mother problems, I definitely related to having a sister, having other half of me I unconditionally love. I had tears in my eyes while I read these poems.

when i think
of my life
without a sister,
i suddenly
understand
what they mean
when they say
people can die
from broken
hearts
- the worst tragedy of all


to
underestimate
women
is bad enough
by itself,
but
i imagine
anyone
who does
must not know
many sisters
- together, we are strong as hell.

The book also has gorgeous illustrations which makes the feel of the book somehow complete and magical. I will definitely be buying this book when it is published in September.

Thank you so much Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for letting me read this amazing book sooner. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.75 Stars

In this new poetry collection author Amanda Lovelace mostly explores the relationship she had with her mother, who has passed away from cancer. All the poems about this theme are quite bittersweet since her mother is a person she loved but in part she also hated. I particularly enjoyed this new book by Lovelace and I must say I liked it more than some of her other works.

Amanda Lovelace turns her attention to her relationship with her mother and with herself in this book or poetry. What does it mean to lose someone you love and loathe? How do you change? What changes do you make and how does it effect your future relationships? These are all topics that Lovelace faces head on in a collection which is a soul bearing love letter that doesn’t hold back the punches. Even if you have an awesome relationship with a very alive mother, there are poems in this book which will speak to your soul. They are aside a smattering of beautiful illustrations. Worth a read and spot on any reader’s shelf!