I love the sequence of these poems. The Winter poems evoke such deep grief, and Spring such love and wonder! I will be re-reading this set of poems over and over. Their briefness adds to their beauty, and the selection includes some famous authors (like Audre Lorde).

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the eARC, hoping this flies off the shelves!

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems and loved the way it was structured around the four seasons — summer, spring, autumn, and winter. That framework gave the reading experience a natural rhythm, and I thought it was a really unique way to present poetry.

I also appreciated that each poem came from a different voice. The range of writing styles and perspectives made each section feel fresh, and the emotional depth — touching on love, loss, grief, joy, and more — made this such a moving read.

It’s the kind of collection I know I’ll return to again and again — depending on the season of life I’m in — whether I need a little comfort, inspiration, or just want to sit with beautiful words. I enjoyed it so much that I preordered a physical copy for my poetry shelf.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my arc. These are all my own opinions.

I really enjoyed this anthology! The theme of having poems for every season was a great choice because it created an overarching through line for each section. There's such a wide variety of poets whose work is featured in this; some were favorites of mine and others were new to me. I think this is a collection I will return to in the future because each section will provide something different. This was perfectly curated, and I'd happily read another volume.

ARC Review: Poetry is Not A Luxury

Publication: May 6, 2025

Thank you to @atriabooks for this beautiful eARC.

Poetry Is Not A Luxury is such a beautiful collection of poems. I immediately had to dive into them upon receiving Netgalley approval. And it did not disappoint.

I absolutely loved that the poems were categorized by seasons. A certain season immediately calls certain feelings and imagery to mind so it perfectly sets the tone for the collection as you read. I think this will be something I continually go back to and read a poem or two when I am in my feelings.

This anthology introduced me to poets unknown to me which I appreciated but interpreted with poets I did know like Audre Lorde and Langston Hughes. I think this would be great to take a poem a day in each of the seasons. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. For some reason, people are daunted by poetry. Maybe they worry it is complicated or hard to decipher true meaning. For me, poetry invokes a physical response because it calls to me in such a way I can almost feel my soul physically stirring. It makes my skin prickle; my eyes well with unshed tears, and can make my stomach ache with poignant longing. How incredibly is it that words on a page can invoke such feeling in us, the readers? Reading Poetry is Not A Luxury was like being reignited with an old friend. This anthology is put together in such a way, that it is easy to pick up the right poem when a certain mood strikes you.

I had a sense this was going to be well put together but it exceeded my expectations.

It's not unusual for poetry collections to be arranged by seasons— of course, this is an anthology. Perhaps that is what makes all the difference?

The organization is skillful and the transition from poem to poem reads with intention and added meaning by association.

4.25/4.5 ⭐️

I really am a poetry lover. I feel like so much can be relayed in such a creative way thats so deeply subjective to the interruption that your experiences and past form for you. It’s truly such a beautiful art form.

I really enjoyed the way this collection is organized. You truly get the best imagery and sensory experience of the seasons and the time of year they’re trying to encapsulate.

I don’t feel like there was any poems that just hit me so deeply and I walked away deeply impacted, but there was quite a few that I paused and reread because they were special to me…
-I went
-Tired of Love Poems
-Tin Bucket
-Think of Others
-To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall
-Against Nostalgia
-Passage
-Flowers
-Everything is Dying, Nothing is Dead
-Miss You. Would Love to Take a Walk with You
-Maybe In Another Life
-Romance
-Truth is I would like to Escape Myself
-We Love What We Have

Overall, this was a joy to read. I gained some new poet recs from this and truly recommend to everyone, ESPECIALLY if you enjoy poetry.

I appreciated this collection of poetry as they were poems that I would not necessarily seek out myself. I wasn't completely blown away with any of the poems, but I enjoyed them. I loved the layout of the book and the corresponding poems with the seasons. I can definitely see this book as a coffee table book and one that could be the center of discussion.

Big thank you for the advanced copy of this book!

How did I not notice poetry on NetGalley before? This was such a wonderful read. Things I adored: incredible voices in the world of poetry, the depth and breadth of this collection, the themes and arrangement by season. I am going to go back over the course of the year to read certain poems as the seasons change. Probably going to purchase a physical copy to share with loved ones!

A lovely collection of poems organized around the seasons. Read them one at a time- maybe even one a day- to fully appreciate the collection. It's a diverse group but it's wonderful. You might find a favorite or discover a new poet. I really enjoyed this. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Perfect to keep at your bedside.

Poetry is a Luxury by Anonymous is an anthology of poems categorized into the four seasons. This was my first poetry anthology and I can say I definitely liked how there were poems from different authors. I found that the poems being placed into different seasons was very neat. I really liked the poems in the Autumn section and really resonated with them a lot. Alot of the poems are quite short but I found that really helped because I was able to reread them a lot to try and get a better understanding of them. I do think this collection has something to offer everyone. There a lots of poems about love, life and relationships which most people can relate to.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A really beautiful collection of poems. I love how the sections were seperated into the four seasons, I can see myself returning to this often.

3.5/5 stars

Poetry Is Not a Luxury is a poetry collection filled with assorted poems from well-known poets.
This was a decent poetry collection, but there was no cohesive theme. Because every poem was by a different author, it didn’t feel like a collective message. It just felt like we were given these poems just to have a poem.
None of the poems were super evocative (for me). There were some that I liked, but for the most part, I read each one once and didn’t have any strong feelings.
If you want to read a poem every day, this is a great collection for you.

CW: death & grief; mild sexual allusions

I actually follow this curation account on Instagram and have always loved the poetry they post, so actually getting a curated book of poetry like this is pretty damn great. Highly recommended.

I've loved this collection of poems separated into seasons. The anonymous editor compiled some of my favorites - Kate Baer, Rita Dove, Naomi Shihab Nye - and it is the perfect size to enjoy a poem or two over breakfast or dip in and read a couple before falling asleep.

Thank you to Washington Square Press for my gifted eARC. My opinions are my own.

A thoughtful collection of poetry from different poets chosen to represent the various seasons invokes feelings and emotions within the reader. I bookmarked so many poems that caused me to feel intense emotions - happiness, sadness, hope, grief, righteous anger… and everything in between.

I highly recommend reading this collection, its curator loves words and the emotions that words have the power to stimulate in readers. The poetry included are from poets from all over the world (some are translated into English), and from authors from all walks of life, the only connecting piece is that the poems included are beautiful pieces of writing showing that there is power in diversity and also power in shared humanity.

I have loved poetry since I was a kid so reading a poetry collection that causes me to want a physical copy to highlight and mark up with all of my feelings makes me giddy with happiness.

A wonderful collection of poems, perfect for a longtime poetry lover or for someone looking to get into reading it more!

A stellar collection of poetry. I credit the Instagram account that created this book with jumpstarting my appreciation of poetry. I had let myself ignore poetry for far too long until I started reading their daily posts. Suddenly I couldn't get enough poetry. Now there's a book and it's wonderful. Organized by season, there are poems for every mood and occasion. I highly recommend this book. Don't let another day go by without some poetry in your life.

This anthology doesn’t just gather poems, it curates an emotional calendar. Inspired by Audre Lorde’s declaration that “Poetry is not a luxury,” this book reminds us how vital poetry is as comfort, as clarity, as celebration, as survival.

Divided into four seasonal sections, the collection becomes a kind of poetic almanac. Summer bursts with joy, protest, travel, and tenderness — lush, alive, and vibrant. Autumn slows things down, offering reflection, memory, and deep gratitude. Winter speaks to grief and loneliness, but also to softness and solace. And Spring feels like the deep inhale before a new beginning: rain, rebirth, possibility.

The curator (who is anonymous, which is fascinating to me) has gathered voices from across centuries and continents. Each poem feels like a hand extended, a truth offered gently but powerfully.

This is a collection to return to over and over again. For weddings and hard mornings. For mourning and moving on. For ordinary days when you just need to feel something real.

It’s not just a book of poems. It’s a toolkit for being alive.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the digital AND print arc copy of this book. I am a huge fan of the Instagram account and love the way the book is structured by seasons. The poetry is accessible, profound, and can easily be incorporated into my classroom. So grateful for this opportunity!

A wonderful poetry anthology full of many of my favorite poems. I wasn't sure how effective organizing by season would be, and it isn't my favorite, but it did not really affect the quality of the book itself.