Dawn Lanuza inspires readers in "I Must Belong Somewhere" with works of relationship themes and the empowerment needing to get through it all.

Unfortunately, this poetry collection just didn't work for me. It didn't feel very fresh or moving or unique, as much as I wanted to like it.

4/5 stars!
I read another one of Lanuza's works THE LAST TIME I'LL WRITE ABOUT YOU, early in 2020 and I quite liked it. Although it did not leave a lasting impression on me, that collection was pretty likeable.
So when I saw that I MUST BELONG SOMEWHERE was available to read, I jumped at the opportunity - to see what turn Lanuza's writing had taken. Needless to say, I was quite impressed. I think I MUST BELONG SOMEWHERE was a wonderful improvement on the previous book and I was in love. The words were simply magic and really touching. The prose works were also very powerful - especially the women-centric ones. The overall tone was very nostalgia-induced and I for one was all for it! I think this one was a must-read! do check it out!

I really enjoyed this poetry collection. I found the poems honest and raw. Like most poetry collections some poems I really related to and some just missed the mark for me, however I found that the feelings of loneliness and longing really came through. I really enjoyed how Lanuza used different length and style to reflect different feelings throughout the collection. There really was a sense of longing that I think a lot of people can relate to.

I loved that a trigger warning was placed at the beginning of this collection. It was very nice to see.

I absolutely recommend this book to poetry readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an eARC copy of this book.

Oh, the never ending journey of finding home, a place where you are loved as you are- and with this collection I felt young again, hopeful, fearful and heartbroken.
It was the journey I never thought I needed to take.
Thanks Netgalley for an eARC.

I Must Belong Somewhere by Dawn Lanuza is the first poetry book I've read since.. ever. And I have to admit, I absolutely adored it.

I Must Belong Somewhere reads as a personal journal. It's a story about love, loss, fragility, longing and loneliness. The subjects aren't easy and light, but I read this novel in one sitting. The writing is beautiful and modern. It felt relatable and honest, which made me connect with the author. This is a wonderful and powerful collection of poems.

Trigger warning at the beginning of the book; death, suicidal ideation, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, sexism, mental health

In this collection, Lanuza touches on themes of longing, belonging, healing, loneliness, identity, mental health, and more. Modern poetry can often be hit or miss for me, as some of it, unfortunately, feel cliché and surface level. While I did find some of these pieces to be trite, others helped unearthed parts of me that I had pushed down or ignored. The poems within are in turns moving, raw, vulnerable, joyful, and uplifting. Even many of the shorter pieces strike powerful chords that resonate long after you've turned the page. This is the first collection I have read of Lanuza's poetry, but I now fully intend to check out the others! I also want to express my thanks to all authors and books that provide trigger/content warnings at the start; this is something that may seem small but is extremely important, and really shows that extra bit of effort and care for the reader.

My thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

trigger/content warnings: death, suicidal ideation, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, sexism, mental health.

I am a novice poetry reader and am looking for the things I connect with best. Some have been hits, some have been misses for me. Some modern poetry has felt trite, repetitive, and shallow. Other collections have hit home I suspect due to where I am in my life. I think all poetry is for someone, though. I struggle to "review" poetry because it is, at the end of the day, someone's art. Whether it resonates with me or not, it is someone's art and it will resonate with someone somewhere.

That being said, I really loved this collection and found that it was a lovely balance between the ethereal, romantic kinds of modern poetry I have enjoyed, and something a bit more down to earth. I did not feel so far removed from the experience being expressed by the words that I couldn't connect (which is sometimes a struggle for me especially with classic poetry), and it did not feel as shallow as some of the modern stuff I've been reading lately. I just thoroughly enjoyed the words of this poet.

‘Good intentions are not always enough to save someone’
This book is about yearning, wandering and love.
It’s also about depression. Basically it’s a real and honest collection of words written when your lost looking for home or depressed fighting to see the light. I think this book is just like dawn.
It’s worth reading but it’s not one of my favorites so it gets 3.5 stars

With a premise as human as existential doubts and personal problems, this collection of poems is wonderful for those who need to immerse themselves in their thoughts with comfort and understanding.

*4.5 stars
Trigger warning: This book contains discussions on death, suicide ideation, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, sexism, and mental health. As mentioned on the first page. I'm praising the author for inserting the trigger warnings.

This book is a powerful reflection on oneself's life in longing, displacement..., It is beautifully written and emotional. I think it is perfect for early teens looking back. The author shows her struggles and her journey with mental health and self-esteem.

<p>This is extremely raw which makes it all better, and it helps you to connect with the author on a deeper level. I found myself in some of her poems and prose. Excellent collection</p>

The way Dawn Lanuza weaves words and finishes with a majestic masterpiece that leaves you with a question about your whereabouts is topnotch!

I rarely read poetry books because, as a training poet, I have a rule to reduce poetry consumption to avoid duplication of style and copying of voice but when I saw this galley available for review, I immediately downloaded and devoured it.

I Must Belong Somewhere is a questioning book.

You'll see yourself asking where do you belong as you flip the last pages of this galley because as humans, we tend to seek the feeling of being home in places, people, and things we feel comfortable.

The vivid description of how the voice of the story transcended from childhood to adulthood without having definite answer to her own questioning is purely human and resonates with me in a personal level.

Overall, this coming-of-age book is highly-recommended for readers from all walks of life because at the end we are all human and the most fitting answer to our own questioning is the title of this book, I Must Belong Somewhere.

This collection of poetry is a raw, and visceral work that comes from the heart. A bleeding heart. These poems work through heartbreak, loss, health problems and depression. Along with carrying the weight of gender roles, sexism and growing into womanhood, the author pointedly explores the harm and digression of these rules have on young girl and women everywhere. She makes the case for how womanhood has made her feel and how she now feels that she belongs upon getting her period. She declares how uncomfortable growing breasts and changing affected how boys. looked at her at a young age, and how it made her feel like an object instead of a person.

The themes here are not heavy handed but they are not light either. The poignant way in which Dawn Lanuza writes about her experiences is what creates just the right touch for these hard hitting sensitive topics. Even the way she talks about travel, and how traveling light has informed the way she lives is captivating and makes you recess the things that make you feel like yourself. This collection is near perfect to me, it makes you think without making you uncomfortable, it quietly unloads poignant thoughts in an effective way. This book gets five stars from me.

Beautifully written and laid out. Self hope, self love, anxiety and depression mixed with self doubt. I felt like this book was speaking to me and for me. It was so beautifully written and resonated to my core. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I must belong somewhere is an amazing collection of poetries and prose, which talks about love, loss, acceptance, healing, changing and self-love. It is a unique, interesting and heart touching book. The poems are really relatable, some poems were touching, I felt they were talking about me, all the things I felt. Some poetries are truly feminist and empowering. The cover is really beautiful. And the illustrations in between the pages is a bonus for the readers. If I have to describe this book in one word, it would be magical. This book is perfect for the fans of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace.

Full of loneliness, beauty, and heartbreak Dawn Lanuza weaves together a haunting account of finding home, contentment, and so much more.

This was beautifully written, and at times, heartbreaking. I LOVED the trigger warning that was placed at the beginning of the book, and really wish more authors did this. My favorite had to be 95. Such a beautiful take on the wicked stepmother! I also loved how you almost seemed to go on a journey with Dawn, and towards the end, there was an optimistic light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

*Trigger Warnings: death, suicide, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, & sexism.

I can only describe this book as the feeling of being 22 and female. Of being an age where your collected memories transform into a recollection of how your life experiences are defining you as a human being.

After reading this book I feel:
* The reminiscence of teenage summer romances and heartbreaks.
*The essence of freedom, of craving more from your existence.

The poems read like a life unfolding with sorrow and self-realization. The realness of vacancy as people step in and out of your life, the sense of being the observer on the outside of a suicidal downfall, and the understanding that as a woman you have strength no matter how the world wants to suppress it.

Just as Lanuza wrote it herself, "Embrace what you have gone through."
That is the beauty these poems speak.

I really liked this collection of prose and poetry. I felt that it was a good look at mental health and how it affected her, but she also puts it in a very relevant relatable light. I felt that I could be reading about myself in some of these passages.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I Must Belong Somewhere by Dawn Lanuza is a powerful and personal reflection on love, longing, and displacement. Told in beautiful and flowing prose, Ms Lanuza ruminates on her own journey of mental health and self- esteem. The topics covered are wide-ranging and eminently relatable, and I believe that this collection will resonate strongly with many readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.