This poetry collection is extremely well written. I could relate to the poems in such a deep level that it is "insane". The writing is so inspiring that it made me want to write a book myself! However, the design was a poor choice. I can't read white text in a black background and since the colours skip so often between pages, it became nearly impossible to read those poems. In terms of poetry: 4.5 stars. Overall rating: 3 stars.

Coffee Day Whiskey Nights by Cyprus Parker opens to the sensitivity disclaimer
“coffee days whiskey nights contains sensitive material relating to the following topics: anxiety and depression, alcohol use, death, disordered eating, gender dysphoria, toxic relationships and potentially more. please remember to practice self-care before, during, and after reading.”

Just with that, I went in expecting to read a poetry collection that would be thought-provoking, disturbing, and/or memorable. I didn’t feel like I got that when I read this collection. Some of the poems became repetitive. I wasn’t a fan of the overuse of pronouns and filter/filler words because after awhile it became a noticeable aspect of the poems. I finished it thinking that it was “meh.” I’m a big fan of Amanda Lovelace’s poetry and the contemporary style so this was disappointing.
Of course, poetry is subjective and, maybe, this collection didn’t speak to me the way it might to others.

Thanks Netgalley and Central Avenue for granting my wish! I have received an eARC of Cyprus Parker’s Coffee Days Whiskey Nights in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed the contrast between each poem in this collection. I haven't seen this style done yet in this type of poetry. I enjoyed reading this collection, especially after hearing Cyrus Parker is the husband of Amanda Lovelace. However, I didn't really connect with any of the poems, and none of them left a memorable impact for me. A fun, easy read, but not heart touching.

I always love some Cyrus Parker poetry. I adored Dropkick Romance but this new collection has quickly become my favourite. I read this copy thanks to netgalley but have pre-ordered a physical copy because I love those illustrations and being able to revisit favourite poems easily. Having said that I did still get to experience the beauty of having the morning/coffee poems on white pages and night/whiskey poems in white text on black.

I also have a fondness for this collection because of the title and the format. I really feel what this writer was going for with the day and night concept but also I love coffee and whiskey and also consume a lot of it so I can appreciate these poems on that level too.

Some of the poems that I connected with most were those concerning anxiety and also those concerning the little pleasures in life. I really felt those poems in my soul and I loved the way they were worded. Cyrus Parker reminds us to ‘post that photo of your pumpkin spice latte, do all of the things that make you happy and share each one of them with the world because we could all use a little more joy in our lives’ and I love that.

I really recommend this book and I can’t wait to fully explore the physical copy soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I feel as though poetry is so personal - and this really resonated with me.
It told a story which left me feeling inspired and hopeful. I truly felt what this poet described because I struggle in similar ways so this really spoke to me. I feel as though this has helped me, too.
This book describes that over a course of a day, between your morning coffee and your evening whiskey, your entire outlook can change. I loved that there was hope and light within the darkness. I highly recommend this. It was emotive, important, honest and unexpectedly uplifting. This was a real insight into depression which I feel was explained extraordinarily well. I loved it.

Brief but powerful. Each poem contains an incredibly honest emotional charge. This book offers a look at what it is to be in a body that you don't feel like yours, an image that in some way or another you must learn to accept and deal with. It is read in one sitting, but the memory of the experience remains.

I really liked these poems. They resonated with me and my life. There were tons of relatable parts and it was impossible to stop reading until I reached the last word. Raw and honest, these poems touch you and give you all the feelings, from despair to hope.

Poetry is very subjective so I can’t say this collection spoke to me. I can see how it would be close to home for a lot of people, but it didn’t work for me.

I have to say this one fell flat for me. Im usually the first to fall in love with Cyrus' work but this one just wasn't for me. It had a few good poems I really loved but the majority of the book was disappointing.

Cyrus Parker is a non-binary author. Thank you to Central Park Publishing for granting me a wished ARC of this poetry book.

Coffee Days and Whiskey Nights is a very interesting set of poetry. One of the things I appreciated the most about this collection is that there are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. I am very pro-CW (or TW) in books and seeing the normalization of it is great!

This collection of poetry explores multiple topics such as gender dysphoria, alcoholism, and body issues. There were day and night poems that were differentiated by white and black pages. Occasionally, there is so prose mixed in. I should have loved this entire collection but unfortunately, I feel as if these great ideas that feel so reminiscent of struggles many of us face are still in its first draft.

The diction used is very straight forward and concise. I personally feel as if Parker's writing style was too polished and robotic. I can feel the authenticity of their experiences and resonate with them. However, the poetry and prose never felt elevated. I never felt as if I truly heard their voice through their works for a majority of the pieces. Such heavy topics as discussed with care but I feel as if they could have dug deeper and really sing.

This book is by no means bad but the writing style was a great disconnect that made me want more. I will be keeping my eye out on Parker and look forward to their poetry growing more passionately.

3.5/ 5 Stars

I loved the set up of this collection and there were many lines that were quite lovely. There were a few pieces that felt redundant (either an echo of previous works from Parker or other "Instagram poets"). I didn't feel inspired by it or particularly moved by the collection. This one just didn't do anything for me, but I can see why/how it may resonate with others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the advanced copy.

This poetry book was interesting. It was my first time reading Cyrus Parker’s book.
I liked the writing style :)

I gave this poetry collection 3.75 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange of my honest review

I was initially drawn to the title of this little book of poetry, "Coffee days whisky nights" , so simple and yet something that will speak to so many of us. Who hasn't had a day where it seems like coffee is the only thing that keeps you going, or a night where the only comfort that you can find seems to be at the bottom of a whiskey glass.? The author uses a clever technique of pairing poems so that the daytime or "coffee " poems are printed on the white coloured pages while the darker and more serious nighttime "whiskey " poems are printed alongside on a dark page. The poems are short but not lacking in impact , and as I read I found myself highlighting passages to come back to later, little snippets that resonated with me. There is a list of trigger warnings at the start of the book, and the poems do touch on some tough topics.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I love poetry because in a way, it relates to what the author experienced and sometimes those experiences resonated with me. There are a large amount of TW. THe poems that I was able to relate to, I adored. Now with poetry it is difficult to appeal to all audiences but Parker had some thoughts that captivated me. Overall a great piece!

Thanks Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for approving my request in exchange for an honest review.

"there is so much to life to be lived, but we must find the will to live it."

I've been a fan of Cyrus Parker since his debut poetry book, Dropkick Romance. His latest poetry collection tackles anxiety, eating disorder, gender dysphoria and more, Most poems are relatable, affirmative, honest, hopeful and personal. I didn't connect to all poems as most were written on a pesonal level, I loved the parts that encourage to be hopeful, like these parts:

"there is so much to life to be lived, but we must find the will to live it." and "do all of the thigns that make you happy and share them with the world because we could all use a little more joy in our lives."

Thank you to Netgalley & Central Avenue Publishing for 'granting my wish'. I had was not sure what I was getting into with Cyrus Parker's poetry, but I am not disappointed. I loved reading all of the poems in this book, and I have several favourites highlighted already. They did a great job highlighting emotions, the coffee bits made me smile, and diving into deeper feelings felt as though it flowed. Until the end notes, I had no idea that they were married to Amanda Lovelace, but that context is also cool to consider. Overall, I really enjoyed these poems, and I look forward to buying this book when it comes out in September!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

TW / TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Anxiety, depression, alcohol use, death, eating disorders, gender dysmorphia, toxic relationships.

This collection of poetry and the way it discussed themes of hope, was beautiful.. Some of the words resonated with me deeply and I often had to put the book down just to collect my thoughts. Cyrus Parker has an eloquent way with words and the delicacy with the topics they discuss. I wish this collection was longer.

What both love and scares me about Cyrus's poems is that they have this ability to seem like they are talking directly to me and know everything I'm most embarrassed and sad about.
I loved the duality of this edition and how the design of the book furthered the theme of the poems and how beautiful the cover is.
I didn't connect with every poem, some felt to hallmark for me but the ones I did connect with, I absolutely loved and are the reason why they are one of my favorite poets and I jump at every announcement.
Oh and as always if you want to be absolutely eviscerated, try the poems they write about their wife because those slay me every time.
Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing, NetGalley and Edelweiss+ for this DRC.

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't my style of poetry. I couldn't connect with the poems.

A pretty quick read for me. I read this at 8.30 in the morning on the couch with a blanket and a hot chocolate and read it in one sitting. Its one of those collections that you feel inspired or at peace after reading, you want to be better than you have been, and stronger than you are now. This may be a poetry collection but it is a story in itself and while i couldn't relate to every aspect in the collection, the author gives you that perspective. I think this is a great collection for anyone who likes modern poetry or anyone who is struggling at the moment. Its wild how a string of pretty and ugly words can make us feel understood like never before.