I loved this poetry collection. You can really never go wrong with this author. One of my favorites of the year.

This was a great poetry book. I always absolutely enjoy her work and I can't wait to read more in the near future. I highly recommend it.

Honestly I think these books are overhyped. I don’t see the appeal and just couldn’t get through this one.

I enjoyed her poems. There's always something honest, and uplifting about her work. I leave feeling inspired and uplifted. She's honest, but I leave feeling like I've learned a lesson versus feeling bleak.

** I was provided an electronic ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I love Amanda Lovelace with an endless, reaching passion. Every single poetry book, and series of those books go so deep, touching beauty and trauma with equal force and clarity. This relationship between self and other, sister and sister, daughter and mother, is such a harrow, heartbreaking, and heart making universe to have gotten lost in with her.

In all honesty, I still don't feel comfortable with the way the author writes the poems (they don't seem right to me but this is probably the way I learned how to write them) but the poems where so heat braking and profound. I cried in some of them and in others I had to save to re-read again when needed because the talked with me on a deeper level.

‘To Drink Coffee with a Ghost’ is the second instalment of the duology things that h(a)unt, exploring the ever-lingering question: What happens when someone dies before they’re able to redeem themselves? In this second collection, Lovelace unravels the memory of the complicated relationship she had with her now-deceased mother.

This book has been on my shelf since it’s release in 2019, having initially requested it from Netgalley, however, there were complications in accessing the title, meaning I wasn’t able to review it in time for its publication. However, since then I’ve managed to get my hands on a physical copy, and I’m so glad that I finally managed to pick it up and explore the difficult themes within.

For people who aren’t relatively new to this blog, it probably isn’t a surprise that I’m reading one of Amanda Lovelace’s collections, them being one of my all-time favourite poets and I’m forever delving into Lovelace’s works. ‘To Drink Coffee with a Ghost’ is no exception to this, exploring possibly the darkest themes since the release of the initial collection.
‘To Drink Coffee with a Ghost’ explores the themes of a deceased loved one, one who you had a complicated relationship in such a relatable way, with gorgeous symbolism and elegant imagery. The words within are empowering and thought-provoking, explores the themes of death, and abuse, and trauma in such a way that makes it hard-hitting but also digestible. You feel safe whilst reading, because you know that Lovelace is there to show you that your emotions are valid and understandable. You don’t feel alone when you’re reading the words of Amanda Lovelace, and that’s why I adore this novel so much.

Overall, I adored this book. It was classic Amanda Lovelace, with its themes of empowerment and overcoming boundaries, and I loved every moment within its pages. I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll be reading more in the future.

As always with Lovelace, I read this cover to cover.

This is an emotional and thought-provoking look at the aftermath of an abusive family situation. I always feel sorrow and joy, and so much of everything when I read her work. It makes me want to scribble my own thoughts down.

This title was archived and I missed the download. As a result of this, I won't be able to review it.

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the complimentary advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW from the author: child abuse, eating disorders, sexual assault, self-harm, violence, cheating, death, gore, blood, trauma, grief, & possibly more. Remember to practice self-care before, during, & after reading.

Full disclosure, none of Amanda Lovelace's collections of poetry are fun to read. They're not. They can be the opposite, in fact, and be really difficult to read. But I really love getting to read them non-the-less. This author has a way of taking really difficult topics and making them accessible and readable both for people who have experiences related to the topics, and people who don't, and in a very modern way. I will also say that she makes poetry feel very accessible as well, since I know that there are quite a few people who avoid poetry since they aren't sure that they will understand it. Anyone can understand Lovelace's collections, and can get a lot out of the reading experience.

This collection is mainly centered around grief, a mother's love, a mother's pain, generational trauma, and the idea of found family. One thing that I love about Lovelace's collections, and this one is no exception, is that while they can be difficult to read and deal with difficult topics, by the end you are always left with a powerful feeling of belonging and growth, and togetherness. I never put down one of these books after finishing reading them and still feel alone, even if I might have in the beginning. That goes for this collection, To Drink Coffee with a Ghost, as well as the Women are Some Kind of Magic series that I have also read from this author.

As the author states at the beginning of all of these collections, and I have listed above, these collections all deal with very sensitive and potentially triggering topics. So I wouldn't necessarily recommend them to every person off the street. If you will be triggered at all by these topics, or if this poetry would at all be harmful to you, don't read Lovelace's collections. But if you are able to read them safely, I would always highly recommend them. Amanda Lovelace and her work came into my life at a perfect time, and I was able to learn about myself and my past through reading her collections.

2.5

to drink coffee with a ghost is the finale to the "things that h(a)unt" duology and it explores the relationship Lovelace had with her mother. It's a cathartic novel where the author explores her childhood trauma, how her mother emotionally damaged her, and the grief she feels regarding her death.

The theme behind this poetry collection centers on how we can't our childhood traumas, especially inflicted by our loved ones. As Lovelace says, it's a feeling that haunts you. Even with her mother gone, the author continued to feel haunted by her and her actions. I think it's an affirming book in regards to self-love and to seek help in order to deal with our fears and ghosts.

My rating doesn't necessarily mean I did not enjoy this collection but at times it felt disjointed. Its main focus is the relationship between Lovelace and her mother, even after death, but there are some sections about the author's intimate relationships and her sister. It could have been a more consistent collection but it's just my opinion. This is one of the author's most intimate collections she has ever shared and I have no doubts about how it will help other people going through the same issues.

as always, i was instantly smitten with this title. to drink coffee with a ghost was incredibly moving and took me on an emotional whirlwind that left me breathless and heartbroken and yet still yearning for more. i have read everything that amanda lovelace has ever written and will continue to do so.

***Advance Review Copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars. This might be the best Amanda Lovelace book I've read so far. It was fine.

A beautiful collection of poetry and a thoughtful insight into the art journals that have made Amanda Lovelace a popular and well loved figure on social media and rightly so. I have been an avid fan of her work from Tumblr to Instagram and to have her poetry in book form is such a delightful treat.

I've loved Amanda Lovelace's previous poetry collections, so I definitely had to read this one! For personal reasons I found myself relating to many of the poems regarding her loss. I wish I could have time to say some stuff to the person I lost as well. I think it's her most personal work, yet. It explores grief, joy, hate, love, toxic relationships in a raw, unapologetic way that completely blew my mind! Her writing is simple, yet so authentic and effortless that resonates with us readers.

Grief is so complicated and grieving someone that has been emotionally and physically abusive to you or your family members is something you cannot get past easily. However, Amanda manages to convey her feelings of brokenness and her traumas so lyrically and that's what makes the book so special. She even takes it a step further by advising the readers to turn their angst during their mourning into art.

All in all, I read this during a time where I needed to hear Amanda's words and her poetry helped me a lot. I will definitely be buying a copy of her book! And I do encourage anyone that loves modern poetry full of honest emotions and a feminist point of view to read this one!

* I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 Stars

It has been a while since I read this poetry collection, although out the two books in the "things that haunt" series, the first book is my favourite of the two. This collection is more wistful, with a bit more of a feeling that the narrator has become numb towards the person they are referring to. I do really love the design of this cover relating to the contents of the poems.

An arc was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m a bit late but I’m here! (lol)

I think it’s really hard to review poetry books for two reasons. Some will judge the written style and some will judge the content. I’m only judging the content as I know jackshit about writing poetry.

A lot of it felt repetitive and it honestly felt like I kept reading the same poem with slightly different words. That’s how all of her work has felt to me since her first book and hopefully it’s not something that’ll still be there in the next 😬

In this collection of poems, she mainly talks about her mother, who passed away from cancer. Lovelace brilliantly makes it hard for us to tell whether she despise her mother for being toxic or loves her because she’s her parent. Humans are so complex with our feelings.

READ THIS BOOK.

So, I've read an Amanda Lovelace book before and It didn't go as planned. But THIS book is Amazing. I sobbed from the first to the last page. Poetry is soething that makes you feel sad and strange and vulnerable, but also brave, compassionate and other beautiful things and this book was the right book at the right time for me: I was struggling with my mind and It helped a lot. Also, I was weeping on every poem.

Another great book of poetry. There is just something haunting about this poems and I find myself unable to stop reading them.

Amanda Lovelace never disappoints me!
I follow her on social media and I am always excited to hear about her new releases because I LOVED her other books. I remember I was so happy and thankful that I got to read this book before publication.
Her writing was as amazing as ever and the focal point of the poems, the relationship between her and her dead mother, was tear-jerking and very heartfelt. It was such a beautiful way to end the duology she started with ”To Make Monsters Out Of Girls”. Can't wait to read more in 2020!