3.5 stars

"How much better it must feel to be nothing at all than to be everything I can't stand."

I really enjoyed the flow and the cohesiveness of the authors life and message. Dark and light. The struggle for happiness and power.

Arc provided by Netgalley for honest review. I will add that the provided arc copy was a bit hard to read because if the format. Parts of it were very light

3/5 stars. I’ve always enjoyed poetry and this collection was a very insightful one. This year I have been reading more poetry than last and I’m glad I received a copy from NetGalley.

This was my first time reading Cyrus Parker's work and I enjoyed it a lot. It was a quick read and very enlightening. The book is very inspirational and there are quite a few parts that I personally enjoyed a lot. The writing is engaging and gets to the point. One of my favorite parts was: "Some say my generation is too wrapped up in social media to live their lives, but that's not what I see. I see a generation who so desperately wants to cling to every precious moment because we know the good ones are so few and far between. I see a generation who knows that life is a fleeting thing, and there's only so much time to leave behind something that says. 'I was here. I existed.'"

Parts like that really hit home and connected with me. I will definitely be looking out for more of Cyrus Parker's works in the future.

Unfortunately, my favorite parts of this new poetry book are the fantastic cover and the clever, slightly gimmicky format -- more hopeful (sometimes) morning/coffee poems on white pages on one side and sadder night/whiskey poems in white text on black on the other side.

This author and publisher are apparently from the world of Tumblr and Instagram poetry. I realize that's immensely popular right now and many people love it, but it's not my kind of poetry. I keep hoping to find a popular modern poet who actually uses words really poetically (say something in a new way, add some rhythm or alliteration, stack some meaning, throw in a truly new metaphor...) but for the most part this is the standard "I am worthy/I'm so sad" kind of poetry that this genre is known for.

Example coffee/white side poem:

there are things i had expected from you that you
couldn't give me, so now i give them to myself.

Example whiskey/black side poem:

you ask me for more time
like your fingers aren't wrapped
around my throat, crushing
my windpipe, keeping me
from the air i need to live.
i can only give you so much
time before there isn't any left.

I really feel for the author, though, who writes very honestly about issues like gender dysphoria and depression. Folks who enjoy this sort of poetry will find lots to like, and will root for Parker.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

This rating reflects that this was simply not to my taste; I respect the themes and emotions that went into this collection, but the style of poetry was just not for me.

I finished reading this collection of poetry in one sitting. It’s very well thought out and pleasing to the eye. The poetry alternates between black-on-white pages representing those coffee days and white-on-black pages representing those whiskey nights.

The poetry and prose were both short, but the content packed a punch. It felt very raw, real, and relatable. Perhaps some of that hit too close to home, but that’s poetry doing its job!

I feel like “coffee days whiskey nights” would make an fun coffee table book for its aesthetics and its contents. This book was uplifting and hopeful. Looking forward to reading more from Parker.

Powerful, raw,and poignant! The author opened up their heart and mind on the pages. Looking forward to purchasing a copy!

I loved this book. I cannot wait to purchase my personal copy (so I can legally write in it.) The verses were poignant and heart-felt and I saw myself on more than one page. Beautifully written.

As with Parker’s previous work, there are several poems that hit straight to the heart. Instagram poetry fans will enjoy their latest and it will resonate with readers that have gone through some tough times.