I believe these poems sound much more magical when they're actually read by the author. I found it hard to follow some of the poems otherwise, because most of the focus felt it was grief from a breakup and romantic in nature. I love Josie's poems from her Tiktok and IG, and I felt without her voice, the poems didn't resonate with me as much.

I Hope You Remember is a thoughtful and heartfelt debut poetry collection from Josie Balka. I went into this not knowing much about her work beyond a few viral social media clips, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many of these poems resonated with me. Her writing touches on universal themes like love, jealousy, body image, nostalgia, and hope in a way that feels relatable and unpretentious.

The poems are short and accessible but still carry weight, which made this an easy book to pick up in small moments. Some pieces struck me more than others, but overall, the collection captures emotions and experiences that feel both personal and widely shared. She has been compared to poets like Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade, and I can absolutely see that connection, though Josie’s own voice comes through clearly.

I have been slowly building the poetry section in our high school library, and this will be a great addition for students who connect with modern, conversational poetry. I can see it sparking discussions and resonating with a wide range of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for my review copy.

I absolutely love Balka's poems on Instagram and often watch them and send them to others. They are touching, poignant, and relatable. However, what I love about Josie's poems didn't translate well onto the page for me. I feel that if I read this book on audio, I will absolutely love it but without her voice--how I'm used to consuming her content--it didn't feel the same. So, this one is a DNF for me as an ebook but I hope to listen to it on audio someday. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

what a lovely collection of poems. I reads this straight through in one sitting. Sometimes the right poems find you at the right time, and that was this for me. But also it felt as if whenever I would choose to revist this work, it would be the right time then as well. Beatifuly done with real feeling.

what an incredible piece of work. i was moved in ways and for reasons i never expected to be. I never read much like this but im so glad this found me

I had no idea Josie was big in social media and after reading this book I am going to follow her everywhere! I am so glad I found this book and was introduced to her poetry. I adored every page and Josie just spoke to my soul. I'm going to my bookstore soon to see if I can find a copy to buy for myself.

This was a nice collection poetry love, hope, nostalgia, and life. This collection of poetry is separated by three parts: Loving, Longing, and Living. There were a few poems that I could relate to and a few that hit me with a wave of nostalgia. However, I wish that the poems had titles and that the flow was better executed. There were times where I couldn't tell where a poem ended and where the next one began (and I'm not sure if that was the author's intention).

While I'm sure this will be a very popular book, it's of the new wave of poets that got big on social media and feels more like short essays with enjammbement than real poetry. A lovely book, but not something I'd promote.

I Hope You Remember by Josie Balka is a beautifully honest collection of poems about love, grief, and the quiet moments that make us who we are. Some pieces are raw and emotional, others more reflective, but all feel deeply relatable. This book is the kind of collection you return to when you need to feel understood. A lovely read for anyone who’s searching for the right words to describe big and complex feelings.

This debut poetry collection by Canadian broadcaster, Josie Balka, is organized into three thematic sections: loving, longing, and living. Of these, the loving and longing sections resonated with me the most. They offered moments of emotional reflection that felt sincere and relatable. In contrast, while there were a few strong pieces in the living section, I found it less compelling overall. The experimental shifts in poetic form and structure throughout this section often felt disjointed rather than dynamic, and the reflective content veered at times into territory that echoed the language of familiar self-help rather than fresh or insightful.

The collection's format also presented some challenges. The absence of formal breaks between poems gave the impression of a continuous stream of verse, which blurred the boundaries between individual pieces. While this may have been an intentional stylistic choice, it made it difficult at times to fully appreciate each poem on its own terms. Stylistically, the poet experiments with a wide range of forms and voices, a choice that both highlighted their versatility and revealed the unevenness of a writer still discovering their creative identity. The collection feels very much like a first book—ambitious and heartfelt, but occasionally disjointed. That said, there are definite gems scattered throughout, and moments where the poet's potential shines through.

Overall, this is a debut that shows promise, even as it grapples with questions of form, tone, and cohesion. I believe newer readers to poetry would greatly enjoy this collection as it offers an opportunity to explore familiar themes of love, nostalgia, and anxiety while also showcasing a variety of poetry styles. For longtime poetry readers though, this collection may leave you wanting more cohesion.

I took this one a bit slower, intentionally, and I have no regrets. So much of this is relatable, especially if you fall into a category of feeling things deeply or being highly sensitive. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgally and S&S for this early read. I love love love Josie’s poetry and this book didn’t miss a beat!

My favorite is the last section. Those poems really hit home. I love how authentic she is.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 13, 2025

A stunning collection of poetry. It starts with a call from the author about the title—I hope you remember—and to remember the people these poems remind you of. Many musings on relationships, romantic and platonic, successful and not, breakups, connections with family, friends, pets…and yourself. This is very accessible poetry if you’re just getting into it, written so relatably, with big feelings easily conveyed in its pages. I lost track of how many poems I bookmarked to return to!

This collection of poetry is very reflective, relatable, and sentimental. The writing style is accessible as is true to the books marketing and origin. Each poem is simple, with easy symbolism that won't be cumbersome to the reader's understanding. I believe a large number of readers will find a kindship to the musings of Josie Balka.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster | Simon Element for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of this wonderful book of poetry by Josie Balka. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

While I had never heard of this author before, even though she's apparently wildly popular on Tik Tok and radio, I was absolutely blown away by how these poems about life made me feel. Divided into chapters of Loving, Longing, and Living, each one will bring up a different emotion. It's nostalgic, hopeful, full of self-love and understanding, and this is going to be my go-to gift especially for younger women making their way in the world. But trust me, no matter what your age or walk in life, these poems will touch your heart. Highly recommended!

"One of life's most cruel and unusual punishments is not being able to feel things the same way two times."

I've been on a poetry kick lately and I've followed Josie on Instagram for a while so I was super excited to read this one! You could totally hear all these words in Josie's voice (if you've watched her videos online).

There were a lot of pieces about a past relationship which would resonate with a lot of people and could be really powerful words. I enjoyed the nostalgia vibes and would bet that Josie is a fellow Enneagram 4. If you're a 4 like me you'll enjoy a lot of the poems in this collection.

This would make a great gift for anyone who needs a little pick me up after a rough period in their life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

The “Loving” and “Living” sections were good, although some of the poems felt repetitive. But the “Longing” section nearly destroyed me. It was like she was looking into my soul 🥲

A review of I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing, and Living by Josie Balka

Reading this book was my first exposure to the poet's works and I look forward to reading more from her. Balka knows how to put big feelings into words, and she does so beautifully! Her poems are very relatable, and most readers will find entries that resonate deeply for them.

Four stars, I highly recommend this book!

My thanks to Simon Element for permitting me to access a DRC of this book via NetGalley. Publication is 5/13/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

This ARC felt like I found a diary. Some pieces hit home. Some pieces felt like a secret. Some pieces made you remember and some pieces made you want to forget. It was a quick read but enjoyable. Thank you to Josie for allowing me to read her heart.

I love poetry! If you are looking for a great poetry book that is profound and relatable, this is the book for you. I will definitely get a copy for my classroom even though the poems are written for adults. I think many of them are relatable to everyone. Some of her poems were similar in idea to some that I have written over the years and it made me feel a little less alone in my feelings.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC. Receiving the copy did not impact my opinion. I really did enjoy the book.