A beautiful collection of grief and heartbreak. I really enjoyed reading this book and found it to be perfect. The poems and thoughts were relatable and enjoyable. The little bits of artwork scattered in were charming and this was an overall wonderful read.

Beautifully magically written poems. This book transformed me into a magical world I didn’t want to leave. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Upon many things I like about Courtney Peppernell’s poetry collections is even if this is the fourth book of her Pillow Thoughts series you can read it as a standalone. Each of her collections are specify targeted for a reason or part of self. Her collection starts off as a story about life,
“Once there was a jellyfish
We’ll call it
You.”
Her 2nd collection is more for the heart, her 3rd collection is more for the mind, and this one is for the soul. I read her first three collections when they came out in 2019 and I recently read them again. Courtney Peppernell’s poetry I found have the ability to be there for you as time goes on. Her poems capture individual growth, such as the procedures and occasions that can develop or experience over time. Not all her poems will effect you the first time, but could affect you in another time.
For me, I find once I start her poetry collection I have a hard time putting the book down. I want to read one more poem, than one more again until I have finished the collection. Afterward I do go back and re-read my favorites and appreciate how well this poet can understand and write truthfully about the many paths human beings walk down even though most seem to walk them alone. We are in fact not.
"If you are looking for respect
tell yourself you are beautiful
every day in the mirror
If you are looking for the truth
remind yourself you are strong
every day out loud
If you are looking to be proud
remember you are not worthless
remember you are not weak
hold yourself piece by piece.
If you are looking for hope
I am telling you that the road
always start again
no matter how long
no matter how far"

Pillow Thoughts IV: Stitching the Soul is the latest in Courtney Peppernell's poetry series, and whether you're a long-time fan or new reader, you're sure to love this book. Peppernell's words speak right to the heart- the sections are laid out so you can find the words you most need to hear in the moment, and the pages are filled with beautiful verse that's emotional and comforting at the same time. These are notes for those who need healing and words of support, and I can see how going back and flipping through the book will bring great comfort.
Andrews McMeel Publishing

I've been reading this series from the beginning. I am not an avid poetry reader but i really enjoyed Pillow Thoughts series. I liked this one too. I think the message behind this book was really lovely. Everyone should heal their heart and love themselves too.

I’ve started from book 1, now this is the final book in the series.
It’s such a nice thing to grow with author as they evolve. This book is good for healing or simply to be art. It’s a beautiful take on love, heartbreak and self worth. I’m really happy with this book

The arc of Pillow Thoughts is beautiful in concept. Supportive and encouraging in message and loving and comforting in the careful choice of words. It’s also softly f/f centric in certain areas that I wish came out a little more as it had in Courtney’s past works in this journey.

However, in this installment I truly struggled to enjoy it as I had the first book. Sure there were a few pages that I enjoyed and while I think this fourth book was better than others, as a whole it was overly repetitive and beaten to death. Each work attempting to find new ways to say the same thing as the pages before it.

Additionally, none of the topics are relatively new or special. After awhile a lot of it felt superficial and exaggerated in its purpose. Potentially, this might fair better as an audio book if the option were ever made available, but even still I don’t know how much I could take in one sitting.

I have read Courtney Peppernell's previous books and I was excited to see this available on Netgalley. I enjoy how the book is split into sections so that you can pick it up and read what you need. It was definitely medicine for the soul and explored themes such as grief, loneliness and soul searching.

A lot of the poems really hit home for me, I found them profound and meaningful. Beautifully written and unique. The poems about grief I found particularly thought provoking and eloquent. I felt some fairy tale vibes to descriptions within poems which made the emotions that much more real.

Some of them were a little repetitive at times and the themes were quite similar throughout the book . I still overall really enjoyed reading this book and found the poems inspiring.

While I am delighted to be reading this early copy of Pillow Thoughts IV there is a little part of me that is sad to know that it is the last in this beautiful series of books, each one of which has reached out and touched me in so many different ways. Courtney Peppernell has always captivated me with the honesty and simplicity of her words and this latest offering is no exception. No matter what mood you are in, you can pick up this book and find something to comfort you, make you feel understood or even empower you. As I read I found myself noting down several pieces that especially spoke to me like " grief is not a singular occasion; it does not happen once and disappear. It happens over and over again, stitched into all the things I do" and " Don't make your body the enemy. It is your map, your home, your canvas, your certainty... Your body is the vessel for your soul; it is an entire earth of your being." and " life is about taking risks, jumping, even if you may fall. If you stay stagnant your whole life, you'll never grow into your full potential. "
As the finale to a wonderful and beloved series, this collection strikes a wonderfully hopeful note. I am keen to see where Peppernell goes next, and I look forward to new work, while knowing that I can always find comfort in this series.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

<i>arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

This was a good conclusion for this series of poetry. It has a very strong message about self love and how to be patient with yourself. It’s about dealing with grief in your own way, on your own time but that it won’t hold you down forever.

I really liked this overall. It did feel a bit repetitive at times but it didn’t take away from the message of it at all.

3/5 ⭐️

TW: Heartbreak, Breakup, Grief

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, I do not have the capability to read it in the protected pdf format. Thank you.

I completely love Courtney Peppernell's poetry. However, I just didn't feel it in this one. It got repetitive. I was expecting way more poetry rather than prose. Although I enjoyed reading some parts, most of the book was a bit disappointing for me. Rating: 3/5 stars.

Name: Pillow Thoughts IV
Writer: Courtney Peppernell
Genre: Poetry
Review:
A collection of intimate personal poems in the which the poetess searches for the answer for her questions. The book is divided into several parts.
The first part is Soul of Grief in which the grief of the poetess over the loss of her lover. She talks about her dreams and her memories of her lost lover.
The first thing that made me want this book was the superb amazing cover and the title which totally justifies the this collection of poetries. I really liked the illustrations in between the pages.

Truly gorgeous. Peppernell is a master with words, those familiar with her previous work have to come to expect that. It’s such a powerful collection of love, heartache and longing. This book has so much soul. I hope that those that need it, find it

There were so many essays/short story pieces in this book that it did not feel like a work of poetry. After enjoying Courtney Peppernell's previous work, I was excited about diving into this. The writing was not a strong or poetic as the first three installments of this series, and I simply did not connect with the poems as I had previously.

I would like to start off by saying that while I have not read all of the books in the Pillow Thoughts series, I have enjoyed the ones that I have read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this collection to be both enjoyable and relatable; however, it is a bit repetitive. The artwork is also beautiful.

One of my favorite lines
"We belong to different forevers. My heart and your heart were never meant to be together."

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free arc of this book for an honest review.

"Pillow Thoughts IV" caps off the trilogy of books that Peppernell began with her "Pillow Thoughts" book and if I am frank - three books was too much.

While many people love these books (good for you) I believe that the material in book 1 itself was repetitive to the point of each poem sounding the same. Book 2, in my eyes, did no better. With book 3 done and completed, I cannot tell you a single poem from my recollection that stayed with me (not just from this book but from the entire trilogy).

The basis for the collection is in itself interesting, with promising lore of a magical jellyfish called "You" being introduced in the first book. However, this was but an excuse for the word "you" to be used over and over and over again which did not help in the repetitive nature of the book(s). With that being said, there was a magical Fox, or something, in this book (at this point I really don't care) which contributed to the lore here???

Overall, this book (as its predecessors) did not do much for me. If you're looking for an entryway to poetry or are intimidated by the more literary style of Peppernell's contemporaries - then great by all means start and stay here! Love that for you!

If you are looking with something with more substance - eh, I'd say skip it unless you're curious.

2.5/5

i'm having mixed feeling about this book. i kinda love modern/insta-poetry and i have read the previous books in this serie but… i don't know, it's pretty repetitive and i got so bored at some parts. and let's be honest: i'm going to forget this soon. it's not a memorable book.

but also… some of the words really touched my heart. so, that's the reason for the rating.





stuff i liked:

We belong to different forevers. My heart and your heart were never meant to be together.



Things will feel different someday.
Your breath won't catch every time
You hear their name
and see an old photograph
or old message.
You will feel free, healed, moved on.



It's three in the morning, and we are all together in this heartache.



People tell you that you have to have everything figured out or your life won't have meaning. But it's not true. You can be lost and worthy at the same time.



All the memories
feel like broken glass on my skin
but I am shedding every layer
to start again

I have these scars
from the marks you left
all over my heart

You abandoned our love
and discarded
all our plans

People remind me to forget
about you and all the hope
I placed in your arms

But a war isn't won by forgetting
Instead I'll hit back hard
take back the air you stole
from my lungs

And remind myself
homes are rebuilt over ashes.

I love poetry, but sadly this collection of poems wasnt for me.

It felt very repetitive, all the poems were based on the same themes, the only difference that i notice was that the author used different words in each one, thats why i found myself bored on multiple occasions while i was reading it. Another thing I did not like was the way certain poems were written, as if they spoke directly to me, I felt that they were giving me a motivating speech and I really did not like it.

Even so, there were a few poems that I did like, and I really recommend this series of books because I liked the previous books a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The stars and colors you see
when you rub your eyes
are called phosphenes.
I wonder what it is called
every time I close my eyes
and I see your face in the stars
and our love in the colors."
Thank you Andrews McMeel and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc.

Divided into 8 parts: 'If your soul is grieving', 'If your soul is lonely', 'If your soul is searching', 'If your soul is whole', 'If your soul needs empowering', 'If your soul needs a breathe', 'If your soul needs a friend' and 'These are for your soul', this collection fails to hit the potential mark- lacking originality, profundity and poetical undertones in the proses which take a huge chunk in this latest addition to the 'Pillow Thoughts' series by Courtney Peppernell.
The collection explores the usual trope of themes that are mentioned in the titles of the section. The affirming reminders missed the essence of poetry and most of the pieces in this collection felt repetitive and far too simple for my taste.

I loved 'I Hope You Stay' out of all works by Courtney and I really missed the essence of her poetry in 'Stitching The Soul'. There were times when they felt like bland quotes but I cannot deny that this collection also holds few of her best pieces yet. I enjoyed the section, 'If your soul is whole', a bit as it beheld the magic that Courtney's works have! The caveat is that it doesn't talk about the main theme of the collection, Stitching The Soul, the way one would expect it to; one would presume it would be of one's existence but it just felt more like one's heart or mind. And I could have taken it any other day but since the previous works solely focused on heart and mind, I expected it to focus and portray the theme differently.

Nevertheless, it is a collection that I don't necessarily recommend but you should consider giving this a shot: it was not for me but it might be for you!