Kate Baer never disappoints. This collection, just like her last several collections, cracked me open and read my heart.

Harper Perennial eARC
I love Kate Baer's poetry, and this was a solid collection. While I'm not in my midlife yet, I could still easily relate to a lot of these poems. And for others, I liked how she played with the form of them. It created some interestingly deep poetry that I will revisit again and again. A couple favorites here are For My Son on His Thirteenth Birthday and One Day. She captures womanhood, motherhood, and parenting in a way that's relatable no matter what stage your in. So many beautiful ones here that I will revisit again and again.

There are some gorgeous, breathtaking poems in this book. Some of the poems took gut-wrenching turns and I really enjoyed the honesty and directness of the speaker. I felt that some of the poems felt flat, and a little contrived. But overall, I enjoyed this book and I appreciate how Baer writes about the domestic life, marriage, midlife, motherhood, and more.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

How About Now is a tender, unflinching meditation on aging, identity, and womanhood. Kate Baer’s signature clarity and emotional honesty shine in this collection, which captures the quiet power of transformation in everyday life. With poems that are both deeply personal and widely relatable, Baer continues to speak to the complexities of modern womanhood with grace and insight.

This collection of poems really seems to focus on the life of a mother with children who are growing up. The poetry primarily focuses on the overwhelming feeling of life. There were definitely some stand out poems in this collection. As a mother myself there were a few poems that really drew me in and felt like my everyday “mom-thoughts” were being brought to life on the pages I was reading. This is the first collection I have read by Kate Baer, and I don’t see it being my last.


Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Baer, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


#NetGalley #HowAboutNow

Several of these poems are ones I’ll come back to and sit with. I love these poets of my own generation that inspire me to go ahead and write a poem again.

Poetry is my favorite. Kate Baer has a way of relating to women in poetry that makes it feel as if someone has taken a peak into your own journals. Her humour mixed with reality is fantastic. I love love How About Now. This might be the best poetry I have read all year.

I was thrilled to see Baer had another collecting upcoming, as I’ve read everything I’ve read by her. This new book was no exception - while I didn’t love every poem in this collection, I really enjoyed it as a whole. There were several poems I found myself reading back over, and I especially loved the blackout poems throughout the collection, particularly College Sweetheart.

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of How About Now in exchange for my honest review.

How About Now is a powerful collection of poems brimming with insightful explorations of friendship, identity, modernity, love, and motherhood.. I loved this new collection of poems by Kate Baer, and I immediately started thinking of which of my friends to give a copy when it is published.

This is going to do really well with a certain type of poetry reader, but personally, I was underwhelmed. Some of the best work was where she (literally) played with poetry forms. I would have loved a whole collection built around that.

I have liked Kate's previous books, was excited to receive this one. It was not great for me. I almost put it down. I don't know if it was the material or just not the right time for me. I will continue with Kate Baer's writing because I do like her. This one just didn't work for me.

I think this is Kate Baer's best book of poems yet. There wasn't a note off key, and everything seemed to find the right tone. I really feel like she has matured in her writing and isn't trying too hard. Her poems reflect motherhood to growing children, and fears that have changed or persist. The past meets the present. Marriage is reexamined. But it all seems fresh. I really enjoyed this book, as I have all her others, but How About Now is my favorite!

I enjoyed reading this book. I really like Kate Baer's voice--it appeals to where I am currently. I look forward to reading more.

As I read this collection, I was so consistently drawn to individual poems that I started a list of favorites – and it grew rapidly, almost pulling me away from the immersive reading experience. Kate Baer has once again proven her mastery. This is a powerful collection brimming with insightful explorations of authenticity, hope, connection, the passage of time, the nuances of marriage and parenting, and so many other relatable themes. If you haven't yet discovered the brilliance of Kate Baer, now is the perfect time. This collection is an excellent entry point. And if you're already a fan, consider adding this work to your shelves! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read it early.

Kate Baer can do no wrong in my book. Her poems reach to the depths of womanhood and shines a beacon on your soul. I absolutely love everything she writes and will happily recommend this to customers, friends, & family alike!

To be honest this wasn't my favorite collection of poems by the author. I've enjoyed her previous two volumes much more than this one. A few resonated but I didn't feel the style/content of many of the poems. They felt a little like the author was trying too hard to be high-brow than authentic and relatable. I wouldn't recommend this for people who enjoy more accessible and easy to connect with poetry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.