I did really love this collection of poetry! I follow the account on Instagram and have found so much love and hope from the poems and so when I saw that there was a book I died! And it 100% lived up to my expectations. I did find myself skipping a few poems though which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5

Summer felt like that breath of fresh, warm air. A heart to heart. Seeing myself in others, feeling like those authors, those poets, saw me through their eyes and the hands that wrote. My favorites in the season of summer include: Cento for the Night I Said “I Love You” by Nicole Sealey; Tired Of Love Poems by Megan Fernandes; Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish; and Phases of the Moon / Things I Have Done by Ella Frears.
Autumn felt like that cool whisper of a breeze bringing that beginning before winter, that cardinal shift of the seasons. A child born of autumn myself, I felt at home in these. The autumn poems that spoke to me: Against Nostalgia by Ada Limón; The Wind Did What the Wind Came to Do by Luther Hughes; I love you to the moon & by Chen Chen; and [We Mention the Cat] by CAConrad.
Winter, a season of short days, of less light. Winter holds me steady like the grief and the love and the loss depicted in these poems. So many hit me in the home of my heart, in a way that hurt, a hurt that belongs to humanity. If I didn’t feel that pain and grief, then would I be human? Those that especially spoke to me include: There You Are by Victoria Adukwei Bulley; Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemerry Wahtola Trimmer; Author’s Prayer by Ilya Kaminsky; The Years by Alex Dimitrov; and Maybe in Another Life by Tiana Clark.
Spring was that accumulation of all that came before, that fresh air, the whispered breeze, and the grief and love and loss that came from those prior seasons. It almost hurt when I came to the last poem. It shocked me to my core; suddenly, this anthology was over. The summer poems that spoke to me especially were: [I want to wake up] by Bhanu Kapil; I Am the Horse by Dorothea Lasky; Truth is I would like to escape myself by Nour Al Ghraowi; and No Romance by Jacqueline Suskin.
I felt this collection was well-organized, the poems collected under each season fitting an overarching theme within the seasons as well as an overarching theme existing between them: that there is love and beauty to be found even in a broken, aching world, such as the one we are in. Poetry like this holds our hearts steady amidst such grief.
Big big thanks to the publisher, Atria Books, through NetGalley for providing the e-ARC for me to read. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have read such beautiful work.

This is one of my favorite poetry anthologies ever. There are so many that I bookmarked. Just the right combination of moving, well crafted, artistic and relatable. Love, love, love. Highly recommended.

Sample:

Why Bother?
Sean Thomas Dougherty

Because right now, there is   someone
out there with
a wound     in the exact shape
         of your words.


Read via an advance digital copy on netgalley.

First Impression Review :

The seasonal structure of this poetry collection immediately pulled me in. As someone who believes in the concept of " life happens in seasons" this aligns perfectly.

What I loved so far :
-The first season was beautiful.
-The second season held my favorite poem so far.
-I’m currently in the third season and just realized the book ends with the one we’re in now, which makes the experience feel full circle.
-I love that the poems explore both the natural seasons and love that happens within them.
-I’ve already written down several poets to look into thanks to this collection. If possible, I’ll return to name those standouts in my final review. But for now, this is exactly what I needed in this season of my reading life.

Inspired by writer and philosopher Audre Lorde’s famous claim: “Poetry is not a luxury,” this anthology proves the vitality of poetry as a crucial source of inspiration, comfort, and delight.

I have been an avid follower of Poetryisnotaluxuary for years on Instagram. Even from my personal account before I had a bookstagram, I would avidly read and share the poems that resonated in my soul. As soon as I saw it on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. And when Atria reached out asking if they could send me an advanced physical copy it was a resounding YES from me.

Because really, that’s the point. I love that poetry is the text you can read in snippets, bites, snacks. An amuse bouche for the soul if you will. Sometimes you find that perfect one you read again and again. Other times it's multiple poems; all opening yourself up to feel a connection to something more. Something and someone who understands and puts into words what you can’t.

Each season will bring a new beginning and understanding. Summer is about love and travel and joy. Autumn brings you the ideas of nostalgia and gratitude. Winter is both a cry of loneliness and an ode to comfort. Spring is the place to find all of our new beginnings and joy for what the future may hold for each of us.

If you love poetry, like me, please pick up a copy of this amazing text. And go follow Poetryisnotaluxury if you can.
This book is out now! A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy (and physical copy) in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe you're familiar with the Instagram account? Loved this collection and its dedication to Audre Lord. Also loved seasonal categories. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, pre-ordered to own, book publishes 5/6

I really appreciated this poetry collection and the concept behind it. The idea that poetry is not a luxury and should be available widely to be enjoyed. Additionally, this collection's organization into the seasons was well done. I appreciated that it began and ended with the lighter/happier seasons(Summer/Spring). I resonated the most with the summer poems (as someone who loves a love poem), but winter was also a favorite section. This collection has certainly given me plenty of authors whom I would like to look further into their body of work.

This is a 4.5 out of 5.

As someone who dips into poetry now and then, I found Poetry Is Not a Luxury to be a moving and eye-opening collection. The title drew me in right away—it suggests that poetry isn’t something extra or ornamental, but essential. That theme carries through the anthology, which brings together voices that speak to survival, identity, resistance, and joy. Even as a casual reader, I could feel the urgency and emotional depth in so many of the pieces.

What I appreciated most was the variety of perspectives and styles. Some poems were lyrical and tender, others raw and confrontational. A few made me pause and reread, not because they were difficult, but because they packed so much into just a few lines. I didn’t connect with every single piece, but overall, the collection felt purposeful and beautifully curated. If you’re looking for poetry that speaks to lived experience and inner strength, this is a thoughtful, powerful read. I loved my time with this anthology.

Poetry Is Not a Luxury which began as an account on Instagram has now created a hardcopy collection of poems to celebrate the four seasons! If you are poetry curious then this is a fine place to begin. Inside you will find verse spanning centuries and across the globe, but with a focus on some of the best working poets of our time. A collection such as this is an excellent way to launch your interest into so many different styles and genres!

Thank you net gallery for the advance copy of this book. Five stars for sending a hard copy of the book and for including a poem about Edgewater Beach. The book is divided into 4 parts, one for each season. I found the poems very enjoyable, and I would definitely recommend.

Poetry is Not a Luxury by Anonymous is an incredible collection of poems through each of the seasons. I had quite a few favorites, which I’ve listed below, and I feel that this collection is perfect for seasoned poetry lovers and those looking to explore poetry for themselves!
My favorites:
The ways of the many, On Seeing and Being Seen, I love you to the moon &, I still have everything you gave me, I Am Filled with Love, Advice, Coping, Could Let You Go, Truth is I would like to escape myself

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC and physical ARC! I loved this!

Arc review

I really really liked this one.
I think it was different from most I've read so far.
You could read it in parts (by season)
Which I absolutely love.
There is a poem for everyone in here.
4.5/5

Thank you so much for the arc! and the gifted copy.
Thank you for everyone involved.

A sumptuous curation of poetry that is a must buy for your collection - or the start of your poetry collection. Treat this collection like a buffet. Take as much as you want. Hungrily devour or savor a morsel at a time. There's something for everyone. As an added bonus, most of the poems included are rather short, so it's great when you want a quick poetry fix or if you are new to poetry. Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advance copy to review.

Poetry Is Not a Luxury: Poems for All Seasons by Anonymous
reflective slow-paced
3.0 stars

This was a beautiful collection of poetry- broken into four seasons (I was especially fond of autumn and winter sections). You can tell a lot of care went into the development of this collection.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for a fair, honest review.

Incredibly grateful to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley.

“We can read us. We are not alone.” - Brenda Shaughnessy, ‘Miracles’

A poetry anthology we all need to help us see ourselves, others and the world around us as we move through the seasons of the year and life. I have followed @poetryisnotaluxury for quite some time and am so thrilled that they have released this collection of poems from voices here and gone. Complied with such care and with honor to the Audre Lorde aphorism, it contains many familiar poems and poets, and also features many newer voices and works. Such a wonderful variety of verse!

Thanks to NetGalley and Washington Square Press/Atria for the eARC.

I've been following the @poetryisnotaluxury IG account for a while, and I love that this book came out. I loved the seasonal sections and the amazing, hand-picked poems (many by poets I truly admire). This would make a great gift to those who enjoy poetry.

I initially didn’t know how this would translate from the Instagram page to book format but, I shouldn’t have worried! The result worked out well and this was an enjoyable read!
Super thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to review this unique book! :)

For anyone who is a fan of poetry and anyone who follows the Instagram account of the same name name, not only is Poetry Is Not a Luxury: Poems for All Seasons not a luxury, it is a necessity. Starting with the striking, colourful cover, this collection stands out in several ways. It is a curated collection that divides the poetry into seasons that evoke different moods often using nature or other vivid imagery.

I loved this collection because it is diverse and wide-ranging. It includes popular and well-loved poets but often not their most popular works. It allows readers to be introduced to new voices and the common thread seems to be some very evocative imagery. It was so nice to see poems from some of my favourite poets that I was unfamiliar with and it just goes to show that this will make a wonderful reference in the future. I was sold when I saw poems by Li-Young Lee and Kate Baer. There were also several other poets that I can't wait to read full collections from. This is a book that every poetry lover should display proudly on their shelves.

Thank you very much to Atria Books and Washington Square Press for an early digiral copy of this book via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Poetry Is Not A Luxury is one of the best poetry books I have ever read.

I love how the book is divided by the seasons of the year, and how each season is represent so well with each poem.

There were poems that made cried, so deep and understanding of the feelings we all experience at some point in our lives. Other poems, though short ones but very powerful.

It makes my heart happy to have access to these type of books. I love poetry, reading it and writing it. Having a book like this as a reference, as an inspiration to my mind, heart and soul, fills me with hope, and makes me want to continue writing poetry and give my feelings and thoughts a voice.


Thank you, Washington Square Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

i'm probably aging myself here, but i love when an anthology feels like a mixtape. nothing quite tops the feeling of someone really seeing you and caring enough to curate an experience that will make you smile, create a warm ball of light in your chest, and remind you that you're not alone. this book is all that and more.

i've never been a fan of "instagram poetry," which is to say that i'm not into those super short, super generic platitudes that just so happen to have line breaks (and also happen to make a TON of money). but i also get it — poetry isn't often taught in a way that inspires or welcomes students. a lot of what you see in schools is written by long-dead white guys. meanwhile, there's an entire world of poetry that is skillful, gorgeous, evocative, fun, heartbreaking, and comforting that is being written by living poets that tons of people don't often discover. this anthology is a perfect collection of approachable poems that display a love for living poets while still honoring those who came before.

i was so pleased to see one of my absolute favorite poems ("to the woman crying uncontrollably in the next stall" by kim addonizio) in these pages. but all of these are favorite poems. there's too many to choose from. this collection is for everybody — for those new to poetry, it serves of the perfect introductory course. those more seasoned aficionados, it feels like coming home.

eternal thanks to atria books for the digital and physical copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.