There's been a lot of Fairy-Tale revisiting over the last few years, particularly where the princesses are concerned. Taking a look at how women are viewed and what their roles are within the tales. Many are trying to put their own spin on these stories. Changing the narrative to greater empower those who were originally told they had to follow instead of lead.

Break Your Glass Slippers is Amanda Lovelace's contribution to this wonderful movement. Broken up into a before and after type of scenario, Glass Slippers deals with, mainly, a romantic relationship that was maybe not so much the fairy-tale after all, that maybe we need only look inside ourselves for affirmation of our worth.

The "before" voice is starting an exciting new relationship with someone who make them feel special. But slowly, and through various asides, we find out that all is not happily ever after. Luckily in these moments we're graced with the wisdom of the Fairy Godmother who reinforces the idea that you don't need to rely on someone else to feel special. I enjoyed seeing the progression from this "before" to the "after" which features a stronger voice finally able to see their self-worth and take it for themselves.

The story is also sprinkled throughout with various sketches and drawings which I found lovely.

Overall, it's a good collection. I think a bit more uplifting and lighter than some of Lovelace's previous works, but still with an empowering message.

I have found that poetry just isn't my thing and that's okay. I think I will be skipping out on that genre for a little while

I had no idea going in that this was a retelling of Cinderella. I was pleasantly surprised not only because I love fairytales but becaude this is a retelling in poetry form, which is so very unique. I really enjoyed the central theme, and I'm grateful for the tigger warnings at the beginning. But though the message of the book is great, the poems are nothing but ordinary.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

Another stellar body of work from Amanda Lovelace. A beautiful poetic retelling of Cinderella with a feminist kick to it. I both relate to and appreciate so many of the pages in this collection. As usual, I love Amanda's work and the emotion and passion I feel when I read it.

Break Your Glass Slippers is the latest in Amanda Lovelace’s feminist poetry collection and I adore it just as I have the rest of them. A poetic retelling of Cinderella until it’s not. It’s done so beautifully in a way only Amanda can do. She wants us to stop believing in fairy tales and to write our own life story. I loved the message Amanda artfully composes. With each book Amanda releases it quickly becomes my new favorite. I mean self love and feminism what’s not to love?!? Can’t wait For the next installment.

This is by far my favorite collection from Amanda Lovelace. I highly recommend this one. If you love a book to get you all in your feels and give you a sense of empowerment then this is most definitely the book for you. Be prepared to feel empowered and inspired. And to be amazed at Amanda’s growth as an author.
Also, the artwork in this one is stunningly beautiful.

Thank you in advance to the publisher and to Netgalley for an advance copy for my honest review!

4.5 stars

I absolutely adore this collection. Amanda Lovelace has always been one of my go-tos for reassurance and emotional comfort, a reminder that I'm doing just fine and I am enough.

I've never read anything quite like it, the mix of Cinderella retelling with self-discovery and relationship building, all in thoughtful free verse; I would've liked to see the Cinderella motif extended through part ii, but that's a minor critique — I do like the themes and topics that are included.

If the rest of this series is consistent, I'm sure I'm going to love it just as much as Amanda's other works.

Break Your Glass Slippers is a modern retelling of Cinderella with a dark and realistic twist. While some of the material is too mature for (and would be triggering to) my students, I'm planning to pull a couple of these poems to use as mentor texts with some of my high school classes.

I adore Amanda Lovelace's poetry, and her newest collection is no exception. break your glass slippers is a book that reminds individuals about the power of self-love and acceptance. This is a great collection to read with daughters (and sons).

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I simply have to begin by saying - the message of this book is SO great and SO important. That said, poetry is (or should be) way more than a few lines that in their poetic-ness, if you allow me to make up a word, highly resemble twitter posts. Amanda Lovelace's books seem really loved so I was super excited to try one out, however I'm beyond disappointed. I think there are tons of way better written books (prose and poetry) that have the same message just done better.

“there is a girl who / dances only when / every curtain is closed. / like most girls, / she’s been learning / the trait of invisibility / since birth.”

4/5 stars

I don’t often review poetry, probably because I don’t too often read poetry. Of course, I love it and I used to write it. Even got a pair published at one point. But as the saying goes “more people write poetry than read it”. Regardless, you know a book of poetry is special to me if I read it and write a review about it. In truth, I’ve been a fan of Amanda Lovelace for a while, following her on Twitter and that whole thing- so when I got the chance to read this I jumped.

break your glass slippers is a Cinderella story with twists of self-worth and sprinkles of sisterhood. It’s a collection of poems that serve to show us what’s most valuable to us: ourselves. It’s not just about putting ourselves first when it’s easy, but also when it is hard. And it’s even about the things we tell ourselves to keep us going through cycles of what’s familiar. What happens when we are our own fairy-godmothers? What can we accomplish? break your glass slippers and find out.

I’m really glad that Lovelace includes an author’s note about what fairy-tales mean to her. I have loved fairy-tales all my life. Genuinely, I have been obsessed and it hasn’t worn off with age. I still absolutely love them in every form. However, this is really the first time I’ve read a book re-told like this. It was different and fun to see the way each individual poem was, on it’s own, stunning and gorgeous, and then, when you put them all together, they slowly form the story you know.

While I liked every poem well enough, only a few really stood out to me. Mostly, I think the poems are just things that are really nice to hear and remind yourself of everyday. I think this is the kind of book to be consumed slowly, daily, and over a cup of coffee, tea, or in my case, hot chocolate. This is the kind of book to keep on the table to glance at whenever you pass it. It has good energy and is also pretty, just saying.

There’s also a lot of drawings in the book and full page art. I thought they were gorgeous and loved them. They just fit into aesthetics I love and they paired well with the arc of the story. The poems tend to be very bite-size so there’s a lot of space left on the page without them. I don’t know it is about blank pages that give me anxiety, maybe they remind me of essays not completed, but I love that the spaces could be filled with such beauty.

I don’t want to give the impression that this book is only lighthearted and positive. This book definitely touches on tough subjects, but gives an excellent trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Make sure to read it, if you think this book may affect you. While it does get heavy, I actually really liked the way that the poems talk about them and the way the focus is always on the individual.

I also really just loved how empowering the poem were. They weren’t so big like “you could conquer the world” . I mean- you can. But the focus of the book, to me, felt like- “you could conquer this day”. Sometimes it just takes me an immense amount of motivation to get my laundry do or to go to the store. I’m trying. But these poem really meet you where you are. No matter what it is you’re facing, they remind you of your own worth, capability, and strength.

TL;DR: I love this book for it’s positive reminders and it’s gorgeous re-telling of Cinderella. I recommend this as a casual read that you spend time thinking about. Keep it around, keep it close by. It’s full of wisdom and good energy, enjoy.

When I opened the book and saw from the first page all the serious trigger warnings, I was a bit put off. I didn’t want to read something like that at the moment. I went for it though, and was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, some themes could be triggering, but it wasn’t as bad I thought it would be.
I enjoyed this very feminist poetry book

3.5 rating

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I'm not one to read poetry often, but recently I have enjoyed a few poetry anthologies. break your glass slippers is now on that list. It is a good compilation of poems that contrast the expectations of fairytales with the realities that women face. Lovelace has a beautiful way with words and the simple illustrations make a nice visual experience.


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second time reading Amanda Lovelace and sadly I have to admit I can't get into it. It feels a little repetitive sometimes. However, there were some poems I did like and I especially liked the message she is spreading about self-love and accepting yourself. I also liked the little illustrations but besides that it's just not for me.

Not to pun, but Break Your Glass Slippers is a CHARMING collection of poetry. It felt very thoughtful and empowering. I’ve always been a sucker for a fairytale, but I also strongly believe there are many types of happily ever afters. This is a road to happily ever after that I can get behind.

"You were my almost, but I'm my own forever."
I was given a copy of this poetry collection by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amanda Lovelace has quickly become one of my favorite poets. I fell in love with her "women are some kind of magic" series, and I am thrilled to see her continue with a fresh story. This collection of poems is inspiring and empowering, reminding us that every fairytale has more to the story than meets the eye, and not everything is always as good as it seems. Every princess needs to love herself first, and trust her instincts. It was an important retelling of a classic fairytale and I'm looking forward to see what she does next!

I love all of Amanda Lovelace’s collections. They always hit a spot in my heart that rings true. Self love and saving yourself was a big theme in this collection. The fairy godmother was the voice so many of us desperately need to hear in our lowest times. I hope everyone devours this collection like I did.

I love all of Amanda Lovelace's poetry and break your glass slippers, her latest really spoke to me.

The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and lovely, poignant poems in the forms of self-realizations, notes from the fairy godmother, as well as other voices that come together in this collection to tell a story of another princess who ultimately has all she needs within her the entire time.

Modern, feminist, and empowering, the follow up to the 'women are some kind magic' series is perfect and I'm looking forward to hearing what more the 'you are your own fairy tale' series has in store for us.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Break Your Glass Slippers is what you might expect: poems that are at least semi-related to Cinderella, fairy godmothers and princes. But it's unlike what you might expect in the way Lovelace gathers the words together. The book is sectioned by a few characters: a Cinderella-esque girl falling for a boy, struggling with her self worth and who she is; a fairy godmother, who tells her the truth and gives advice, whether is hears it or not; the prince, who isn't what he seems. "Here", says the forward, "we all get to be Cinderella, our own Fairy Godmother, and best of all, our own Prince."

I read this book in one sitting, and it flowed beautifully between poems and themes and highs and lows. There were a few poems that I really loved and paused over for a moment or three, and there were others I wouldn't go back to. But on the whole, Break Your Glass Slippers was a really enjoyable short-form poetry collection.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me review this book before its publication. Loved loved loved this one. I’ve read several of Lovelace's poetry books in the past and always enjoyed them but this is by far my favorite! I think she really takes it to another level in this one. Her words throughout elicit a a sense of empowerment and strength and I think every girl should read this to know that there was, is, and will be many wolves in the future that come donned in sheep's clothing. It's the most I've identified with in a collection of poetry. A lot of the poetry I've read by Lovelace's peers seems a lot of time clingy and needy and always leaves me with an odd feeling. Lovelace here tells u that you don't need anyone for your life to have meaning. It tells you to stand up for yourself no matter who that someone you're standing up against is. It tells you that You complete yourself, and no one will do that for you. I really identified with a lot of her words here, and last but not least, loved the new approach she has taken on retellings.

Amanda Lovelace has a way of writing poetry that is relevant, deep and connects to my personal female experiences in the current social climate. The unique take on "retelling" fairytales to be empowering, feminist and strong provides a vast and refreshing collection of poems. I put digital bookmarks in at least 7 poems and am excited to purchase a physical copy to annotate and highlight.

The ARC of this book was received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.