I left this review on Instagram, Goodreads and Storygraph:
I read When the Soul Becomes a Garden by Chloe Poulain as an ARC from Netgalley. This book is reminiscent of Rupi Kaur’s poetry, in that each piece is short, uplifting and accessible. Poulain’s poetry is for healing, loving, losing and starting again. Her work is seeped with themes of self love and care, and femininity. Many of her poems have a spiritual bent, speaking to finding god in yourself, friends and nature rather than inside the walls of a church. I really enjoyed reading this collection, and would recommend it to people who want to wonder at poetry without feeling out of their depth.


I didn’t include this in the review:
I’ve been trying to get into poetry lately. Sometimes is difficult and the meaning of the poem escapes me. With this poetry collection, I didn’t feel that. I felt like the author wrote about concepts in novel ways and I got a kick out of seeing things in a new light. But I didn’t need to work too hard for it - it was a much more encouraging experience. Of course some poems were quite simple, but I found many to be moving.

I really enjoyed this book and felt it gave a sense of peace and calming.

I loved the way that the author referred to God as a woman and personified her in that way, it was really empowering and refreshing for me.

I think more than anything, I enjoyed the author’s originality. It didn’t seem like she was trying to imitate the style of different authors and the writing just seemed pure and from a place of truth.

The poems were very nature and earth centred which fits with the title and the cover and definitely seemed to focus on healing and growth.

There was quite a few poems that got me emotional and which I would love to revisit, as a reminder to myself and for a sense of empowerment so I do thank the author for creating poems that provide that kind of an impact

This is a beautiful and emotionally resonant collection of poetry. Exploring themes of love, healing, and self-discovery, the poems feel raw and deeply personal, as though they are written straight from the heart.

I found myself connecting with so many of the pieces, and ended up bookmarking over 30 poems that particularly stood out to me. There’s a real sense of vulnerability throughout, but also growth, which makes the collection feel both moving and uplifting.

I especially enjoyed the way the book follows a journey of transformation, with the use of Tarot cards adding a unique and thoughtful structure. It gave the collection an added sense of intention and flow, almost like being guided through different emotional stages.

Overall, this is a heartfelt collection that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys reflective, contemporary poetry. It’s the kind of book you can return to whenever you need a moment of connection or clarity.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Chloe Poulain.

Thank you to Chloe Poulain and Central Avenue Publishing for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was beautiful. It really spoke to me. It felt like it was written for exactly where I am in my life right now. It's focus is on self- love and the holiness of coming back to yourself. I almost shed a few tears because some poems resonated so deeply. I loved the style of the poems and the set-up of the book as well. Easy to read yet very impactful.

I think this poetry book is really stunning.
The poems hit close to home, which makes it better to read.
They are short, but sometimes that's more than enough.
I loved reading the poetry end went fast through the book.
Loved it!

Thank you to everyone involved for the arc copy of this book!

When the Soul Becomes a Garden is not a book designed to be read once and shelved. It is a gentle, recurring companion perfect for those moments when you find yourself caught between different versions of your life. Poulain has created a beautifully grounded, hopeful tether for anyone searching for light in the dark.