Through this collection of poems, we are shown beautiful, raw and powerful insights into Parker Lee’s life and experiences. I feel like poems don’t need to follow rules or a specific format, they simply need to have rhythm and a message. These types of poems tend to feel more honest and makes me feel like I get a less polished, and edited version of the author. I feel like I’m feeling the experience right alongside them. I really like this style of informal poetry and would definitely recommend this book for fans of Rupi Kaur, R.H. Sin or Amanda Lovelace.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I struggled a bit here, because the style is so informal, and reads more like voice memos or diary entries than poetry to my eye. Someone else's review suggests that readers of Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur will enjoy this, and I think that's quite likely. I do feel like the writing style is very accessible and sincere. I personally prefer poetry that exhibits a greater interest in language, phrasing, and wordplay. I also found a lot of the musings in these pages to be fairly surface-level and, at times, trite.

That said, trans experiences are often very isolating, and I believe that trans readers in particular will find elements of Lee's work to be familiar and comforting. Lee's exploration of what it means to be a trans woman in 2020s America is earnest and direct. I know a number of people who find poetry to be intimidating as a concept, and Lee's work makes no moves toward pretension. For me, that's almost a complaint, which I mention in part because for some people that will be a point in this collection's favor.

In terms of the content/messages, this would be a good fit for reader who enjoyed Sara Soler's "US." While there's pain here, there's also a lot of affirmation and joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy.

"Dead soil can only grow other dead things, and I am tired of being a graveyard."

Typically, I am not a poetry reader, and this style of poetry is not something I've read before. Yet I don't regret the hour or so I spent with this book, cup of coffee at my side as I navigated through this, at times very familiar, collection of poems.

Raw and direct, beautifully written, I found myself more than once recognising the old feeling I have known so well myself, not in the exact way as the author, but familiar all the same. The feeling of being at war with your own body and mind and trying to use every weapon at your disposal to come out as unscathed as possible.

Not only did I recognise experiences I have felt on my very own skin, but I found myself inspired my the poet's journey. Finishing this book, I allowed myself to believe that maybe one day, I, too, would be able to love the person I might become.

This was a really beautiful poetry collection. I was intrigued by the synopsis for the collection, and enjoyed Lee's writing style. Her poems spoke of her journey as a trans woman and her relationships with the people around her and the world we live in. They touched on addiction, EDs, gender dysphoria, queerness, acceptance, and many more important topics. Overall, Starlight She Becomes was a solid collection of poetry. I look forward to reading more of Lee’s work.

raw and emotional, starlight she becomes is a collection of poems dedicated to becoming ones true self. i was absolutely enthralled with this book and the feelings it wrenched from my. as a long time fan of this authors work, i cannot wait to see what she releases next.

I could not have chosen a better poem for national poetry month. The raw and beauty of these poems written by a wonderful trans woman reclaiming her identity and joy.
Magnum opus
“ Sometimes I wonder if anyone would miss me if I just disappeared. Deleted all my social media accounts and ran off to live in the woods. I wonder if I unplugged myself from reality and let the poems I’ve written exist to my place, if I let my art be my legacy, would that be enough for me if my last poem is my last poem, would I be content with my final words? At one point, I might’ve said yes, but now, I’m not sure I’ve written my best line, let alone my best poem. In 2018, I thought I completed my Magnum OPS but now I asked myself can your great work be your great work if nobody sees it?”
Just wow
Everything about these pieces struck a cord in me. Thank you for these. Highly recommend for any poetry fan.

I've loved Parker Lee for years and wondered if we would be seeing another poetry collection from her, so I was very excited to see this one pop up on Netgalley. A really visceral and simultaneously magical book, it is raw and real and I'm better for having read it.

I appreciate the author's honesty and self-reflection on difficult topics, and I feel like this was a raw and powerful look into the experience of being trans. I think this approachable style of poetry would be popular with fans of Amanda Lovelace or Rupi Kaur, though I can't say many specific lines have stuck with me. I don't know that this title would have a lot of demand at my library, as poetry is often underappreciated, but I think there are readers who would find it very meaningful.