I don't care who you are or what kind of poetry you like - I think you should read this.

I consider a collection of poems a win if 70% of them resonate. This was almost 100 (and only because I don't think it'll ever be 100.)

One of my favorite parts was about how we have all these different words to describe the changes of the moon (waxing, waning, crescent) but the moon doesn't care. She's never anything but whole.

I've sent a few of these poems to friends and when the book comes out I will be sending a copy to them all.

Read it, savor it, feel it. THIS is my kinda poetry, man.

It's actually hard rating poetry books because we all relate to each differently. Our experiences and current circumstances more often than not affect how we perceive each line written. What may be true for me might not be for others.

I felt like someone else might appreciate this poetry book more than me. I liked it but I felt like I am not the exact target audience for the whole collection. I quite liked the undertone of hope being doled out and how the collection when from childhood to adulthood. It relied on memories and made me look back on my own past of what I liked when I was a kid, the little things that gave me joy, the simple hopes I had growing up... it was a good walk down memory lane. It made me relieve that yes, life really changed me and if I just remember all the wonderful hope I had back then, maybe it could give me more reason to find simple joys in my present too. Nice read all in all!

I always love reading poetry. The other has a unique style and enjoyed reading her thoughts.
This was very moving and emotional. It sparked a fire in me to move past the things that I have let hold me back.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the email inviting me to read this wonderful poetry debut. I absolutely loved it. I connected with each section on a different, equally-important level. From thoughts on god, on grief, on friendships, body-image and self-love, every poem gave me something to reflect upon.
This is one I would love to have for my shelves, and to read from time-to-time.

I loved this book of poems, they were diverse and interesting and easily accessible without being simple or glib. There was something so hopeful and nostalgic about the poems, even ones tackling bigger, heavier topics. The collection of poems, as a whole, feel like they follow an birth-to-death type arc.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy in March when the book is published because I enjoyed the poems that much and because the cover is perfect.

Favorite poems included: Welcome to the World, sugarcoat, I have bad news and good news, Shapeshifter, so relatable, my body's keeper, and you're going to die, so live.

I will definitely be recommending this book especially because of the nostalgia it brings about childhood and feelings of joy. The author did an amazing job at evoking feelings with every single piece. The first chapter of the book was my favorite, but all of it came together so nicely. I can not wait for the print version of this book to be published. It will be the perfect book to give annotated as a gift!

Thank you NetGalley and Convergent Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very quick read but beautifully put together. A couple of the poems caught me enough to tear up which, for me, is a great book of poetry. Of course like most books of poetry you need to be in the correct headspace and heart space to appreciate it fully, but it was right time and place for me.

Victoria's book is beautiful. I adored the way she structured the book to showcase her poetry. I felt like it was a story from a beginning to an end and beyond. This will make a gorgeous gift for a loved one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

“Tell me about the weight you gained this summer.

The weight you gained slurping vodka sprites at the gay bar the last night before your friends left town. Melting into a sea of glitter and leather, tipping your head back to get every drop.

The weight you gained soaking biscuits with molasses and gravy at your mom's kitchen table. Running your fingers over your aunt's pink fingernails in between bites. Asking the name of the color. Noticing how her fingers look just like your mom's.

The weight you gained gripping a burger on a picnic blanket with the person you love. Wiping greasy fingers on the grass. Remembering when you were too scared to really eat in front of them. Feeding fries to the dog. Asking questions that used to scare you but don't anymore:
What do you think is in the secret sauce? Where do you see us in five years? Ten?

The weight you gained celebrating pregnancies and promotions and divorces.
Squeezing red icing letters onto a grocery store cake.
Spelling out SHE'S FREE.

Tell me about the weight you gained this summer.
And then tell me-would you give it back if you could?”

A beautiful, moving, nostalgic, human collection of poetry.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review! Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again is available March 18th, 2025.

This book began to heal me in little ways from the first page. Now that I’m finished with the book, I feel so seen. I have resonated with Victoria’s online presence and this book makes me relate to her even more. The exploration of life and death, of good and evil, of sin, of self-hatred and self-expression, was incredible. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Victoria Hutchins for the ARC!

Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again, poems that left me nostalgic, hopeful and yearning, all at once.

I really adored this book from first page to last.

As Victoria Hutchins's debut book, I look forward to read more of her work in the coming days.

This wasn't quite the right collection for me. Recommended if you enjoy on-the-nose encouragement or collections like THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE.

This beautiful book of poetry made my heart ache. Poetry is supposed to make you feel things and it did just that. The way in which Victoria weaves together words and creates experiences in the reader’s mind is truly awe-inspiring. I’m excited for others to read this!

An interesting collection, great for nights in bed, resting, when you want to consume good poetry and relax.

Make believe is beautifully crafted. This collection touches on religion, sexuality, childhood, guilt, Jealousy, Rage, Body Image/self esteem, heartbreak and falling in Love in a hopeful and elegant way we don’t often see when looking back on heartache This collection perfectly encapsulates the feeling of nostalgia and taking a look at your past after having learned many more lessons. To me Make Believe perfectly encapsulates the experience of being a girl between 15 - 30.
The way Hutchins touches upon learning to love your body, learning to be gentile with yourself, and seeing your life as a whole instead of just the current moment you’re in is truly enchanting and thought provoking.

3-3.5

closer to 3.5
maybe even 4

"it'll be you, deciding your life deserves hope. making a life worth believing in."

"when i was twenty-five, i wanted to sign up for dance lessons, but i thought i was too old. that it was too late. if i could go back in time, i would shake my shoulders & say, listen to me- we are only here for a second. you will be young for every moment of your life, & then you will be gone. don't waste another second of the music wondering if it's too late to dance."

i think this may be one of the best poetry collections i've read.

it's all about life, experiences, getting through the cloudy grey days, it is so connected to everyday life & it reminds you to never stop living. this collection is such a great reminder to never give up on yourself & to never stop living. it's easy to get caught up in everyday responsibilities, but it's good to remember that you have to live your life, you have to believe in yourself and you have to try & do all the things you want to in this life because only one thing is guaranteed & it's that everyone dies. it's a very inspiring collection, this is definitely one i would flip back to to remind myself to live life to the fullest.

this was a nice collection of poems! It was a quick read since it was a short collection of poems, but I was enjoying reading them!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I flew threw these poems and absolutely loved them. The author does a great job of infusing her views and beliefs without being overwhelming with them. The collection is hopeful and bright, and a breath of fresh air.

I'd never heard of this author and don't typically read poetry but I was intrigued by the cover and the description of this book so decided to give it a tryl.

I read it in one sitting as it's really short and I've always found poetry format so much faster to read. I really enjoyed this book. Some of it isn't what I would consider poetry. More like a mixture of poetry, passages, and thoughts. The poems on body-image and eating disorders had the biggest impact on me as I've went through that my entire life so I could really resognate with it. This book was a pleasant surprise and I recommend.

This book is really lovely. Maybe it's my age, perhaps its my life experiences, but a lot of these poems resonated very deeply. Nostalgia, struggles with life, trying to be yourself in a society that tells you not to be, these poems deal with these subjects. I'm really glad I came across this book.