I received a free review copy of A Rebellion of Care by David Gates from NetGalley. The publishers seemed to think that because I enjoyed poetry collections by other poets with strong social media followers, specifically Joy Sullivan's Instructions for Traveling West and Lyndsey Rush's A Bit Much, I would enjoy this one. Sadly, I really didn't.

In brief, Gates presents a collection of poems divided into almost a dozen chapters. Each chapter is preceded with a long essay that reads more like a blog post. The form varies a bit among the poems. Some are extraordinarily short. Some are nearly a page. He writes about raising a family, spirituality, and cultural concerns. I think in those ways the topic is somewhat similar to Sullivan’s and Rush’s. But there the similarities end.

I struggled with this collection for several reasons. First, there is no real variety in form in terms of stanza length. In fact, most of the poems ignore that aspect of structure. Because the structure doesn't vary at all (few couplets, one or two poems with quatrains, no use of caesura, etc.) it becomes monotonous reading. See "Sorry (Not Sorry)" and "Let Me Give You A Minute". Form could have enhanced a decent poem in this collection. I had to read many of these poems more than once and not in a savoring kind of way. When Gates does use structure, it produces some excellent poems. See "Pallbearing" for example. The variety in the alignment emphasizes the weight of the words. It's a very good poem. "Dependents" is another outstanding poem with real creativity and heartbreak. But those poems feel like exceptions, not examples. There aren't many of them in the collection.

Second, it's clear that there was next to no editing involved in these poems. For example, "Prisms” which has the line "We see each other clearer/And more beautiful than if.' There's no real reason why the grammatical mistakes in those lines couldn't have been corrected. In addition to grammar, a solid edit of the work could have enhanced the poems in terms of content. In "Where the Light is Good" editing could have corrected two lines ending in "us" which don't enhance the musicality of the poem but rather throw a big fork into them. The poems also use too often the "&". So much so that it becomes almost a verbal tick and takes the reader out of the poem. See "Old Layers," "The Font," and "Tell Me Again." I also found the lack of punctuation to be grating. Here or there it does add to the speed and velocity of a poem. But repeatedly avoiding punctuation for 100+ poems is like getting whiplash. See "The Cat Has Gone" and "Love is an Observable Phenomenon."

The titles of the poems are too often internet snappy and don't relate to the content or enhance it. In fact, a lot of the content of this collection feels like pop psychology. So much so that it feels like they've been written more for SEO purposes than for bringing companionship to the reader. See "The Variable" which includes poorly placed line breaks and discusses familial trauma and toxic pain. So too for "On Boundaries."

These were raw poems. Not in the sense of vulnerable or wounding the reader. They were raw in the sense of being unfinished. I kept reading and thinking, that's it? That's all? For example, in "I Told the Peonies About You", which is a strong poem which (again) could have benefited from a few rounds of editing (e.g., removing the last stanza). I think Gates references dashing poems into a Notes ap, which is common among poets as a way to capture good lines and good ideas. This is especially true for poets who are parents. I know many who do this. Maggie Smith has talked about using her Notes ap while stuck in traffic with her kids. And then she edits them. AND THEN SHE EDITS THEM. The poems in this collection remain, or seem to remain, unedited. See "Playing Favorites" and "Who Wears the Pants In Your Relationship."

Another reason I find this collection to be remarkably hard to read as a collection is the second person used in the poems. In Gates' poems, for example, "Michelangelo" he uses the second person as a directive "Being a parent/is the most creative calling on earth/so if you feel/like you have no energy or ideas/for anything else at all/it is because every single day/you are painting/a freakin' Sistine Chapel" (again, no punctuation). This is not a collaborative you. This is instructional, in a pop psychology kind of way. For contrast, Ross Gay's "Thank You" is full of second person references, but his work is collaborative. See the lines "you are the air of the now and gone, that says/all you love will turn to dust,/and will meet you there, do not/raise your fist. Do not raise/your small voice against it. And do not/take cover. Instead, curl your toes/into the grass, watch the cloud/ascending from your lips. Walk/through the garden's dormant splendor." Gates lacks this entirely. I think this is again a publisher issue, in that they should have considered the impact of the poems as a collection.

What I can’t understand is why there are so many poems in this book. The standard book of poetry is about 40 to 100 poems. That usually makes the book run around 100 pages. Sullivan's book was 135. Rush’s admittedly was longer. If a collection only needed to run 100 pages, why include the weaker poems, and so many of them. Why not cut the ones that needed more time to be polished and have a second collection? I truly cannot understand why a publisher who has produced works such as Black Liturgies and Universal Christ has allowed this mishmash to occur. I can only think that they are working on adding poets into their line of authors. The only other poet they seem to be working with is Victoria Hutchins, who is also an internet poet. This may be a miss on the publisher’s part in terms of knowing how to edit poems.

I thoroughly enjoyed these reflections and poems. They were thoughtful - and thought-provoking. I don't align politically or socially with most of Gate's views but the winsomeness of his observations and good writing made this a worthy reading experience.

I found myself stopping. Pausing. Thinking through the idioms and metaphors. Agreeing and shaking my head.

I recommend this for its perspective of influence as life and engagement in things that matter to us. To the prospective poet and essayist in each of us, I say, "Get a copy."

David Gate, noted poet, has published a new set of poems in the book, "A Rebellion of Care." He notes that "the mystery of life is not 'what is this all about?" The real mystery is 'how do we forget?' The beginning and end of it all is that we must take care of each other. Anyone on their deathbed can tell you that and certainly every child feels it too. To say that 'this life is beautiful' or that 'love is the answer' is not in the least bit original, but it is the truth. I believe that truth still hums with possibility. And saying something true in a world awash with lies is the first act of rebellion."

My favorite poems were "Don't Give Up on Yourself" and "Like Every Selfie." I appreciate how moving each poem and essay was, and the ease with which Gate writes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

With only a few pages in, I knew that I was going to love this book. I just finished and went straight to pre-order the book for my shelf. Highly recommend!

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

these poems are so relevant to everything going on right now
it's hard not to feel connected to the words and the author

If you, like me, have resonated with David Gate’s poetry, purchased hand-typed poems to decorate your home, gotten poems as gifts for friends and family, and shared them online, reading (and owning) this beautiful collection is the obvious next step. There are hard truths as well and it may even make you uncomfortable, but I see that as a positive thing, because I would rather be challenged to expand my horizons than stuck forever in the same place or mindset. I will reread this book over and over again and bookmark my favorites for rainy days or when I need a pep talk.

I have so much love for David’s Instagram page and his content. I have followed him for a few years now. I was so excited and honored to get early access to his book. What a delightful and thought provoking set of poetry and insights from the author. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

A solid collection of an array of poems about reflecting on life and the self. A few poems stand out with their intensity and their connection to the title "A Rebellion of Care", others are clearly recognizable as fillers from weeks where the author wanted to keep up their streak of posting once a week but the muse didn't strike. Nothing groundbreaking but a good introduction for readers curious about what rebellious care could mean.

Thank you to NetGalley and Converhent Books for providing me the ARC.

Holy shit.

Easily one of my favorite books of the year and one of my favorite poetry books of all time.

This was so beautiful, relatable, existential, cathartic, just AGH.

As a queer woman, hearing a Christian cis-man advocate for us???? Oh my GOD YES!!!

Please read this when it comes out. Pls

David Gate's Instagram poetry and Substack newsletter are always one of the highlights of my Saturday morning reading, and I am so thrilled to now hold in my hand a published collection of his work. This collection is for anyone who needs to remember that joy is an act of rebellion, that friendship will save us, and that a quiet life is a good life and a good life is a triumph. .

David Gates’ In a Rebellion of Care is a balm for the soul, offering raw, unflinching honesty about the world’s injustices while still holding space for the quiet beauty, hope, and love that persist. In this collection, Gates doesn't shy away from the ugliness of life—whether it’s personal loss, societal divides, or the harshness of existence. He confronts these truths head-on, speaking with a rawness that leaves no room for illusion. Yet, even amid the pain, there’s a tender care that invites peace and healing.

What stands out is how Gates balances the weight of injustice with glimpses of beauty, reminding us that despite the world’s flaws, there’s always something worth holding onto. His poems offer a space to grapple with the messiness of being human while also finding moments of solace and connection. Gates shows us that care—choosing empathy, love, and understanding—is a quiet rebellion against a world that often feels divided and harsh.

In a Rebellion of Care speaks to the challenges of being human, but it also affirms that beauty exists in the smallest acts of kindness, in the spaces where hope can take root. It’s a collection that invites reflection, compassion, and a reminder of the power of love in a fractured world.

David Gate’s A Rebellion of Care is a heartfelt, quietly radical blend of poems and essays that speaks directly to the disoriented soul of our age. With a voice that’s at once tender, irreverent, and defiantly hopeful, Gate offers more than inspiration—he offers a philosophy of survival through softness, creativity, and community.

Drawing from the emotional burnout of hyper-capitalism and the ache of modern loneliness, Gate doesn’t just diagnose the problem—he reaches into it, pulling out shards of grace, humor, and rebellion. His poems are deceptively simple, often Instagram-short but echoing with depth, while his essays add a personal and political backbone that grounds the collection.

There’s no toxic positivity here, no demand to smile through the chaos. Instead, Gate invites us to grieve, to rage, to rest—and then to build something better. Something slower. Something true.

Both balm and battle cry, A Rebellion of Care is a soulful reminder that choosing connection, truth, and kindness in a broken world is an act of quiet revolution.

I don't follow David Gate online, but many of my friends share his work, and I think of him as an "instagram poet" (which to me is not a bad thing at all). What I think is nice about instagram poets is that they can be responsive to the news of the world and there are a few poems I recognized because they've been shared broadly in the past.

The book is set up in ten thematic sections, each introduced by an essay. I really appreciated the structure and the framing. My personal favorite sections were "Human Becoming," which is about aging and acceptance of the self and "Friendship Will Save Us," which is about community.

I think this could be a good book for a group to go through and talk about each section, and perhaps to create something in response to the theme, or to highlight a few of the poems that stood out. It would also work as a personal reflection. Of course, some poems are always going to resonate more than others, but if you are a fan of Gate's work, I think you will find a lot to enjoy here.

I loved this. I loved the addition of essays throughout the book to usher in the themed poems. I loved the stream of consciousness in the alphabet segment. I felt like this was relevant and relatable and really on the pulse of everything that’s going on. It was smart, funny, and made me uncomfortable (which is a good thing with poetry). If poems aren’t making you stop and reflect, they’re superficial, in my opinion. I really recommend this.

Can this be the playbook for my life? I loved this collection of poetry by David Gate so much I could scream! His words are so relevant and raw and true. I love how this collection focuses on taking care of one's self, as well as those around you. But self first. His words on God and religion spoke to me so deeply, as I often struggle to find the words to describe my beliefs. And cussing during prayer?! I've totally done that too!
Thank you, NetGalley and David Gate and the publisher for this amazing creation and for the opportunity to read it.
It was incredible.

This is a very relatable collection of poetry. I think so many of us are struggling right now and this really resonates with those feelings.
He lets you know your aren't alone in what you are feeling and he uses lyrical words to get us there.
A lovely collection for everyone to read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

In recent years, I have come to appreciate good poetry and the way some people have of saying something that tells a story in so few words. This author does that in this book.

This book truly resonated with me. Things are changing so quickly in the world today. Some of the changes are good, some not so much. The headlines are often startling and it feels like we are all rushing headlong toward who knows what. It feels as if David Gate captured a bit of that feeling.

These poems resonated with me, and I thoroughly enjoyed them

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book. the incredible poetry that made me laugh and made me cry. so many truths and moments that I want to read again and again. this is my first time encountering David gate + I can certainly assure you that this will not be my last.

LOVE LOVE LOVED this. I am not someone who would typically read poetry, but I saw this recommended and I am SO glad I did. David just has a way of being able to see you through his words. He is so relatable and down to earth in his writing. I will be purchasing a copy for myself and everyone that I know- and I just don't buy books. This was an absolutely breathtaking experience and I can't wait for it to be out in the world.

The team at Convergent Books reached out to me about reading David Gate's poetry and essay collection based on past reviews of their books. Which prompted me to take a look at which other books on my shelves were from the imprint. It reads as a list of my favorite spiritual books of the past few years. Convergent is becoming (has become?) my go-to for wise, compassionate, spiritual companionship. A Rebellion of Care carries on that tradition.

I've been following David Gates on Insta for a bit - I've even reposted a few of the poems to my private socials. I picked up the book as a fan and got a little thrill seeing my personal favorites in print. I love rooting for authors. Really - any creative. Kickstarter was created for people like me! I particularly like how the poetry in the book is organized into loose categories, each introduced by a personal essay. I wish more poetry collections followed this format. If you aren't familiar with Gates, this collection exists at the intersection of social justice and spirituality. I could see it being too progressive for some Jesus people and too Jesusy for some progressives. But also, there is a large group of us who have pitched our tents at this exact intersection. Thank you to the author, Convergent Books, and NetGalley for the eARC.