Beauty, love, pain, heartache, learning, growing, becoming.

This book of poetry is worth its weight in gold to me. Such wisdom is revealed in such simple -- yet beautifully flawless -- words. Billy Chapata is an artist! The medium that he uses is blank pages to be filled with words... in the language that breathes new life into your soul. An incredible reading experience!

Billy Chapata also does a superb job of narrating the audiobook version. I definitely recommend that experience if you're into audio.

This authors poetry is always so moving. I enjoy reading it. This one was no different. While it does focus on some of the bad things that happen in life like grief it also tells of the good things like love. It shows there is hope. To never give up. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

I absolutely enjoyed the poetry included in Chameleon Aura and plan to read the author's other books. The audiobook, however, was done in such a way as to detract from the author's powerful words.

I actually enjoyed the background instrumentals at first... until I realized it was a loop of the same few seconds of music.

The author's voice was solid, but the editing allowed for such little time between poems that the ideas seemed to run together. Just as I had a thoughtful reaction to one poem, the next began and I lost the connection that had been brewing in my mind.

3.5 stars out of respect for the author and my belief that the editing of the audiobook is what I disliked rather than the poetry.

I like the idea of the music in the background of the audio more than the actual music. Initially it adds to the vibe, but it becomes repetitive and grating.

The poetry also becomes repetitive. It's pretty, and some of the prose hits really well, but the words and lines begin to repeat in a way that is very noticeable in an audio version.

In general, I found the poetry uplifting and light. It's kind of like following an upbeat self-help social media account. There is good advice and helpful thoughts, but it's better in small doses. A poem a day, rather than a full read through all at once would probably work better for this book.

<i>Chameleon Aura</i> is a collection of Billy Chapata’s poetry, related his experiences in life and his advice to himself and others.

I absolutely love listening to Chapata narrate his poetry. I enjoyed the poetry collection and the positivity of his works. This is how poetry is meant to be done.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

billy chapata is my favorite poetry author by far. I read a lot of poetry but have never felt the way I do when reading his. he just hits home every single time. I cannot recommend these enough!

I will read anything Billy Chapata writes. Full stop. I love his work and how he writes his poems, they are short but pack a punch. Each one seems to just work and flow seamlessly into the next.
I love that he read this collection for the audiobook. I like being able to hear how he wants it presented and I liked that it had light music playing throughout, made it feel like a performance.

There was a lot that I really liked about this poetry collection. Billy Chapata's voice is very soothing so I'd definitely recommend listening to the audio. The poems as a whole are very uplifting and empowering, with a focus on self love and healing, as well as the development of relationships with others.

I think the messages are important (if sometimes a bit cliché) but after a while it all started to feel pretty repetitive. This might be one that is best savored slowly, a poem at a time.

My favorite line is from a piece about platonic love:
"Perhaps we were not meant to be romantic, perhaps we were just meant to be."


Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Listened to this after trying the other Billy Chapata audiobook, I was hoping there wouldn't be the overpowering music over the narration of the poetry but I was wrong. I just couldn't do it. I am currently reading the ebook so hopefully I will like it better that way. This audiobook is just impossible to listen to.

Loved this audiobook, the narration was so calming and the poems themselves were beautifully written and so empowering

I really enjoyed reading Chameleon Aura by Billy Chapata. I listened to the audiobook read by the author and it was great to listen to his inflections. These poems focus on self reflection, love and self empowerment. I really liked the poems that bring forth the message of loving yourself before loving others and finding the right love that you need. I’m looking forward to reading his next book!

I wanted to love this but ultimately, did not. Different styles of poetry just aren't for everyone and that is okay, I still think this would be very enjoyable for some. I did like the general positive vibes, it just felt too much ;like repetetive platitudes. This kind of thing is very popular right now, though. I didn't hate it or anything, just felt like I gained nothing after listening. The narrator and background music was soothing so I would reccomend as an audiobook whereas if I physically read it, I would have been rather bored. I do think there was a lot of potential here and I would be happy to read more by this author in the future and see how he progresses in his writing journey.. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

"She is not glowing because she found another soul. She is glowing because she found herself."

I am deeply in LOVE with the author's poetry and his style of writing. It is so full of meaning and touches my soul so deeply!

Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Chameleon Aura.

Author: Billy Chapata
Published: 11/08/22
Narrator: Billy Chapata
Genre: Poetry

The narrator (the author) has a calming and convincing voice. It's smooth and confident.

The poetry itself is presented like dictionary pages being read in themes and not alphabetical. He could have been reading my notebook. I write down what strikes me in a way that stops my breath. Albeit, I don't have as many as in his book. I'm pleased when a snippet catches my attention. One is all I need to justify my time, this was the first: "Learn to be present in other people's lives, without becoming absent in your own." That struck me as profound.

The audiobook has instrumental music in the background. I found it distracting.

This is read one after the other in a continuous loop. I would prefer this in written format where I can read and let the words soak in. Should this be available physically I would gift this.

I'm giving 3.5 stars, and not rounding up the audiobook.

Just listening to Billy Chapata relay his message has a calming effect - you can hear the passion in voice as he tells you his story through poetry and truly relays on the image of self-worth and loving not only your closest people, but yourself.

These love letters to oneself about self-love and self-worth and understanding that past lovers were there to teach us lessons and help us grow as who we are.

DNF

Unfortunately, although there is definitely an audience for this type of poetry, I’m not it; something about the style just doesn’t work for me as well as it likely will for others.

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

Powerful, insightful, and moving. Billy Chapata speaks to my soul through his art. Filled with messages of self-empowerment and self-actualization. Accompanied with upbeat rhythms and melodies that serve as a melodic metronome that harmonizes with the poet's messages of self-affirmation. Chapters are named after colors that help enrich the elaborate emotional canvas. I found listening to this album on my morning and evening walks therapeutic and enriching as so many quotes resonated with my core. Thank you to the poet for sharing his messages and spreading love and positive energy. I look forward to hearing more of your art.

Wow! I’m not really into poetry but this author is amazing. I throughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone especially ones who could be struggling with life.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

“I am meant to be experienced differently.” There we’re so many inspiring lines in this short poetry book that a felt a deep connection to. I really loved the parts about how there are many different and beautiful aspects of women and how we should embrace all of ourselves. If you’re into poetry, I would definitely check this author out!

“Self love is the only ocean you cannot drown in.”