Just coming at you with another Happy #PubDay post! This time, it is for one of my favorite poets ever, Amanda Lovelace, and her newest work: SHINE YOUR ICY CROWN. Thank you to @netgalley and @andrewmcmeel publishing for the eARC to review!

This is the second published compilation of her YOU ARE YOUR OWN FAIRY TALE series and it was everything I needed and more. It felt like I was reading a love letter and wake up call to all women from a big sister or mentor. It breaks down societal expectations as it relates to intimate relationships, body image and the pressure to look "perfect," and relationships with other women. If you enjoyed What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer, you definitely need to pick up SHINE YOUR ICY CROWN (and, honestly, all of Lovelace's work); I eventually want to own copies of all her work - they just speak to me and need a place on my shelf!

SHINE YOUR ICY CROWN is out now (as is the first compilation of the series, BREAK YOUR GLASS SLIPPERS)!

CW // toxic relationships; sexual assault; eating disorders and body image; mental health; sexism; suicide; self-harm

These types of poetry collections are challenging to review. I don't want to diminish them to simply 'Instagram poetry,' but that's usually what they end up reading like. Shine your Icy Crown has some fantastic pieces and I love the messages of empowerment and sisterhood - HOWEVER, most of them are very simplistic and stylistically they are not much more than an Instagrammable caption. Still loved reading it though!

This is not the type of book that I normally read, however I did find this poetry to be creative and interesting.

Firstly, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

'be the you that is most comfortable'

I have to firstly talk about Janaina Medeiros illustrations which are so beautiful and really compliment the poems they're paired with. I also love the pink theme that runs throughout this collection. At the beginning of the book there are a list of trigger warnings which can really help the reader to understand what they are about to read and I always appreciate this from Amanda.

'she feels like she might float away any day now'

I really loved the theme of this collection as it is a topic Amanda has touched on in previous books but never in detail. It's about the relationship between two sisters, one younger and the other older. It explores the younger sisters insecurities and much like 'break your glass slippers' we have the 'big sister says' poems and the first chapter follows this sequence. I love how as the chapter moves forward we see how the big sister's praise is helping the younger sister to rise up into a confident woman. It also touches on the big sister also making mistakes and how the younger sister deals with this.

'there isn't a single thing she can't do for herself'

It is a very powerful collection that really pushes forward the message of women supporting women. I also feel like you can see Amanda's growth in this collection compared to her previous books. I felt like there was a direct message to me about equality and that she believes men and women should be equal as I had previously commented that one of her previous works read like 'a hate men journal'. Thanks for clearing that up.

'keep falling in love with yourself'

I do wonder why the chapters didn't have names and were just called 'i'. I felt like the first chapter that focused on the sisters was really successful but then the next two chapters felt like that theme was finished with and it just went back to uplifting pieces that mirrored her previous work. I'm always happy to read Amanda's work and would recommend her work to those who enjoy uplifting writing.

Amy x

I fell in love with this book. I'm not surprised at all since I've read Amanda Lovelace's Girls Are Some Kind of Magic series and I loved every installment.

This was an extremely relatable and impactful poetry collection. I tabbed many poems and I will definitely go back and reread them. Some made me smile, some made me sad and all left a mark.

Another great thing about this book is the illustrations. They add a little something that makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own

Another great collection from Amanda Lovelace. Love the illustrations placed throughout. Great for those who have read her stuff in the past or similar poets.

Amanda Lovelace is the epitome of feminism. After reading her poetry, you always feel like you can do anything, be anything, say anything. I enjoyed Shine your Icy Crown. Everyone needs their own icy crown (metaphorically and I would love one literally). Their icon that says, “I am an amazing woman” who doesn’t need a man to be complete. Who can be a single woman (not a mother) and be complete. Who can be a mother and be complete. Who can stand up for what they believe in and not give a damn what others think. Who can step out of the norm and create their own trends.

Shine Your Icy Crown surpassed my expectations in both its layout and it messages. It brought about the lovely experience of wanting to tear through it in one sitting, which I did, while all the while feeling like I was making mental bookmarks of pages that I'll be revisiting at many later dates.

I believe in the power of the right book in the right person's hands, and I don't doubt that this is a book that could save lives and bring hope to readers that need it most, if it only reaches them in some way. I hope with all my hear that this happens, and I thank the author for writing words that have the potential to transcend their pages and actually touch lives.

FACT: THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK.

This book is a “MUST GIFT”. I already preordered one for my daughter (and I really can’t remember EVER preordering a book!).

This is everything the world needs to hear about how to raise decent human beings.

BUT, especially, this is everything the world needs to hear about how to (and how to NEVER) raise or treat women.

This is what every woman in the world should hear and (should NEVER hear) from the day she’s born.

A reminder of why we should all be feminists.

Also... I was so pleasantly surprised to discover this book was illustrated. The illustrations are adorable.

Awwww... this was as magical and poignant as I expected... and much more!

You’re too pretty to be single."-he.
"I'm too pretty to even talk to you."-she.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amanda Lovelace is my favorite contemporary poet. While this isn't my favorite collection of hers, its full of sweet reminders of the power of women. Lovelace's words are as powerful as the situation you are in. For anyone who is feeling self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or heartbreak, this one's for you. {4/5 stars}

um, how do I go about explaining I liked something and didn’t at the same time?

I flew through the pages not because the book was engrossing but because it contained like a maximum of 10 words per page. I wouldn’t really call it “poetry”. It was more like a book of uplifting quotes and advice. There were quite a lot of “poems” which I’m so used to seeing daily on Tumblr and Pinterest, it hardly left any imprint on my mind.

However, there were some pieces that broke through me. That’s the beauty of the words, I guess. No matter how redundant they are, whenever they decide to bless you through their prowess, you can’t help but be stunned and awed.

In simple words, I liked the idea of this book. I haven’t read the first part of it, but I’m considering reaching out for it. Even if it’s just for that boost of “you da baddest bi*ch, own it”. I’m also very, very close to shoving this book in my little sister’s hands Who. Won’t. Just. Read. Anything. It's such a simple little book that I believe would be a perfect start for someone who isn’t looking for anything heavy or is just a beginner.

It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but, it wasn’t a complete disappointment either.

ps. that cover.....why...

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the progression of the character's growth throughout the book and the focus on the theme of sisters, especially through the lens of getting advice from her older sister. I resonated with a lot of the poetry in the book. The story of the princess who grows into a queen on her own was fantastic in tying the overall story arc together. The art was absolutely gorgeous.

A thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

An absolutely beautiful tribute to girls and women everywhere. Shine Your Icy Crown is a collection of poetry that begins as the fairytale of a broken Princess and ends with her birth as a Queen, secure in who she has become. Throughout the journey our princess faces insecurities, criticism and fears. However, having a big sister as her guardian angel, she learns to stop devaluing and underestimating herself and instead love herself fully. A true story of metamorphosis, this would make a wonderful gift for any young lady ready to spread her wings and fly.

shine your icy crown was very similar to other collections by this author. I liked the overall message that was being sent in the series of poems, however it felt a little cliche in some parts. I think it would be great for an introductory book on poetry and I'd recommend this to my middle/high school age students.

For some reason I find myself returning to Amanda Lovelace’s works over and over again, even though in the past I haven’t enjoyed them very much. Her most popular work, The Princess Saves Herself in This One, really didn’t do a lot for me. While I did connect with the topics of that poetry collection, the execution just fell flat.

So, when I saw that she was coming out with a new series, tackling fairy tale retellings from a feminist perspective – a concept which I loved – I couldn’t help being drawn to them…. even with my track record.

Break Your Glass Slippers is a novel take on Cinderella where the princess learns to leave Prince Charming and instead find herself. In Shine Your Icy Crown Lovelace says the story is inspired by multiple fairy tales, but feels most strongly as if it’s loosely based on The Snow Queen. Both tales focus on “princess” empowerment, weaving tales of women finding their independence through metaphors of breaking glass slippers (and glass ceilings) and donning their (icy) crowns.

I found both poetry books, particularly the second, to be – surprisingly – really enjoyable! Between the gorgeous illustrations, the overall themes and the artful story telling, Lovelace manages to create beautiful finished products well worth the hype. In “You Are Your Own Fairy Tale” everything I felt that was missing from Lovelace’s previous works finally comes together.

In her previous works I often found the connections between each poem flimsy and disjointed, but here, its evident Lovelace takes advantage of the fairy tale storylines to craft unique poetry that fits together almost seamlessly into a concise whole.

In particular, Shine Your Icy Crown really stood out to me in a way none of Lovelace’s previous works have. Maybe it’s because the topic was more about sisterly love and women supporting women rather than heartbreak and emotional abuse at the hands of men – but I really connected with it much more than I expected to.

Often, I find a lot of poetry that advertises itself as “feminist” still manages to focus most of its attention of men – Lovelace’s work in particular – which is all fine and good, but sometimes I just want something else. In that way, Shine Your Icy Crown was so refreshing! And the eye-candy that was the b-e-a-utiful ~aesthetic~ illustrations that tied everything together? Well, those were just the cherry on top.

Thank you to the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Shine Your Icy Crown. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been a big fan of Amanda Lovelace since I first picked up The Princess Saves Herself in This One a few years ago and openly wept like a baby on the 6 train. I know her particular poetry style is not for all, but I have always appreciated the depth of emotion she invokes in me. Shine your Icy Crown is the second book of her You Are Your Own Fairy Tale poetry series.

As this was a digital review copy, I couldn’t take screenshots of the poems that made me feel so strongly I wanted to scream or cry -- I’ll have to wait for my own copy to arrive on January 26th! I loved the addition of Janaina Medeiros’s artwork; it really enhanced the beauty of the poems.

I thoroughly appreciated the remarkable departure from the aggressive embankment shown in the author’s first three books. Indeed, the more paragraph-like poems interspersed between her “traditional” stanzas were a refreshing break. One poem from “Big Sister” simultaneously broke my heart and filled me with joy. Even if a reader could find fault with her writing style, I believe the beauty and power of Lovelace’s words will evoke similar reactions.

As with her other books, my only complaint is that the book ends too soon. I would have gladly read on for dozens of more pages.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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

CW: child abuse, toxic relationships, sexual assault, eating disorders, mental illness, self-harm, sexism, suicide, trauma

This is the second installation in the series "You Are Your Own Fairy Tale" and I can honestly say that Amanda Lovelace never disappoints.

Her pieces are always poignant, relatable and easy to pick up. It's impossible to stay indifferent in front of a Lovelace's poem because they know how to get under your skin.

Lovelace speaks the truth on important topics such as feminism, anxiety and depression, most of the time intertwined.

The art is gorgeous and it really contributes to the magic of Lovelace's words.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

I gave this a four out five stars. I really enjoyed this poetry collection. I related to a lot of the poems.

I received an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley.

This poetry (without much of poetry, so it seems) collection was my Amanda Lovelace first poetry collection I read. I wanted to see what the excitement is all about and why everyone is recommending her poetry. I read it in one sitting and was left with a meh feeling.

I understand the message, and it is a powerful one. A woman is a queen in every aspect of it, and a woman needs no man by her side to define that. A woman is capable; a woman is strong; one woman empowers other women. There is a strong premise about it, side by side with equality, rights, and love, and it's quite prominent.

Yet, with every page I turned, the feeling was slowly dissipating, vanishing into thin air. The words did not feel right, did not fall into the right places, leaving an incompetent and unfulfilling emptiness. There was no connection between the book and me; I felt more like just flipping the pages of an aimless and somewhat forced book. The book did not go deep into the topic, and it should have, as that would illustrate far deeper connections and emotions.

On the other hand, I loved the illustrations; they resonated with me much more than any poem or short statement I read in this collection. The full-page graphics are beautiful more than words can describe.

"it is your divine right to heal as messily & as inconsistently & as loudly as possible"
Another feminist anthem by Amanda Lovelace and a reminder to always fall in love with yourself first. I have loved her since reading the women are some kind of magic series. Lovelace's poetry has a way of peering into your soul, and her newest book of poetry is no different. Plus the illustrations are gorgeous! As a woman in my late twenties, I felt this book speaks to the many challenges, both societally and personally, that we face in a misogynistic world. Especially if you're a woman not following a "normal" trajectory. If you've ever been told you're too much, not enough, too emotional, too broken, too opinionated... this poetry is for you. I love how accessible Amanda Lovelace's style of poetry is - I find myself relating over and over again. I love how this book bounces back and forth between big sister and the narrator. It's like one big pep talk. Amanda Lovelace's poetry is truly therapy for the shattered heart and stokes the fire in my soul.