This book was another great book. First the cover, it is amazingly drawn and cute. I love the character and hopefully some merch will be made from it. Second, the recipe for a watering your soul. I felt like I was actually getting advice from a lovely plant. Not only a recipe but a lesson in how to look after the one thing we have one of: our soul. Thirdly, the poems. Her poetry always made me question and connect with myself in a deeper level. It does bring some tears when you make that connection. I really enjoy this book. I follow this author since her first book in the pillow thoughts series. I can not wait to continue reading her work. And I definitely recommend it.

Muchas gracias Netgalley por el envío de una copia de este título.

Este poemarío contiene poemas muy profundos, con mensajes importantes para la vida de cualquier persona que alguna vez se haya sentido perdida o dañada. Es una mirada compasiva a nuestra propia vida, las acciones de los demás y nuestro actuar con el entorno.

Lectura agrabable y ligera.

I don't read poetry often, but this book really captured me. It's emotional, uplifting, and all about finding your self worth and grounding yourself. I found myself screenshotting pages to refer back to later when I'm feeling down. Watering the Soul is definitely a book that I will encourage others to read.

I have always enjoyed reading Courtney Peppernell's work, and Watering the Soul was no exception. As soon as I saw this stunning cover and knew Peppernell has released a new collection, I know I had to read it.

After finishing Watering the Soul, my main reflection is the immense amount of calm I felt the entire time I read this poetry collection, which I did in one sitting as I did not want to put it down. This book is very refreshing and real, and goes through all the emotions one feels in life, whether it be related to love, anxiety, sadness, or simply existing as a human being in this world.

In the very beginning, you are introduced to a creature in the woods (a sprite, if you will) that tales your hand and help you plant your soul in the earth, telling you to be patient and let it grow. Right off the bat I was able to get a sense of how the collection would present itself, and I was very excited to continue.

Watering the Soul is a beautiful collection down to the smallest details that intertwines the entire work. Instead of a table of contents, Peppernell divides her book into a "Table of Steps" with a matching recipe for growing a soul. I really enjoyed such small details, and Peppernell focuses a lot throughout the collection on the importance of appreciating the small details in life rather than letting them float by until they are all gone.

Reflecting on this collection, I had a unique sense of a greater feeling from each section rather than a few specific poems or phrases that stood out to me, which is usually the case when I read poetry. Without revealing too much, I am left with a lovely sense of calm just from reading this collection and thoughts about becoming the light in your own darkness and seeing the dark as a comforting space to reflect and heal rather than a dungeon you cannot escape.

Peppernell does a wonderful job of guiding you through healing and helping you see the little things in life that stick with you, and the kindness and emotions that can make your day, your year, and your existence.

I also enjoyed the fact that though much of this book reflects on love (which I personally have little experience), you can also reflect the same words on your own self love and self image, which was beautiful and helpful. I was able to positively reflect on my own dark times and focus on the positives and what I could learn, rather than what I have lost.

The illustrations throughout this collection are beautiful and visually detail a magical sprite helping your grow your soul. It a beautiful visual of planting your soul and seeing it grow into a strong forest.

I would 100% recommend giving Watering the Soul a read. It was beautiful and I am so glad I decided to read it (and that Peppernell decided to write it).

Courtney Peppernell's Watering the Soul is one of those collections that feels like a cozy blanket and a cup of tea on a rainy day: comforting, familiar, soothing, and generally pleasant. I really love her metaphorical poems, personally, I think they are her greatest strength. This collection is definitely lighter on those, but her literal poems whether they're offering advice or simply self-reflective are still captivating. The illustration is lovely as always. I think it's a rather timely collection, the theme of self care and growth certainly something many can relate to. I think more than anything, Watering the Soul has made me want to go back and re-read Pillow Thoughts again, which may be a testament to the way Peppernell's poems put one in the mind to reflect on a journey. Fans will be pleased, and new readers will have an excellent introduction to her work.

Having read something of Courtney's before I was excited to pick up another of her collections. This one especially spoke to me, especially in the times we are in right now. Also, I absolutely loved the little artwork within the collection, which added to the overall theme of the collection. I really liked the way this was formatted and the subjects discussed - it's definitely a collection about self care and healing, which is important for everyone. All in all I really enjoyed the collection and will read more from Courtney in the future.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good poetry book, especially if it can make me cry. Even as a literature student, I needed to feel a connection with poetry to enjoy it. I'd say about half of the poems in this collection made me feel very deeply. I loved it. I learned a great many things while reading this collection. I learned to treat myself better. I learned about compassion and love and kindness. Above all, I learned how to water my soul every day so that one day it grows into something greater.

Dive into this collection without forethought and with an open mind. Take the advice hidden within and feel the connections that bind us all together. Watering the Soul is a fantastic collection that I will be getting a physical copy of to remind myself of these lessons.

I ADORE Courtney Peppernell and will be excited for every single book she writes so I was thrilled to get approved for early access and for the opportunity to review this new work. This book did not disappoint. This was such a motivational piece on overcoming your fears and doing get is best for your soul. I’ve loved having the book on my phone over the last few weeks to dip into every day and read an encouraging poem or two to inspire my day. I’ll definitely be purchasing my own copy to keep. Thank you for writing another winner!

Watering the Soul caught my eye initially due to the cover and title. I was sold when I read the synopsis. This is a powerful look into your greatest expression, your soul. The prose is inspirational and walks you along this journey into healing. You're soul is who you are at your core. It should be nurtured and cared for in order to stay open and unblocked. Watering the Soul encourages the reader to slow down to appreciate the healing beauty all around us.

I really enjoyed the entire book - great poetry collection for growing. I liked the sketches that went with the division of sections.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this lovely piece by Peppernell, I've just started to read poetry and I found this to be so calming that whenever I needed a peace of mind or to calm down, This copy was the first thing that came to mind to bring me back to a calm mind. I wish I'll be able to find peace on my own like that one day.

"Watering the Soul" ist ein Gedichtband, der neben kurzen und längeren Gedichten auch kurze Texte enthält. Er ist in 9 Kapitel unterteilt, welche beschreiben, wie man seine Seele "zum Wachsen bringt", und die Gedichte in den einzelnen Abschnitten passen thematisch zu den Überschriften. Sie handeln in erster Linie davon, sich selbst zu vergeben, auf sich selbst und seine seelische Gesundheit zu achten und auch gegenüber anderen Menschen rücksichtsvoll zu sein. Aber auch Themen wie Liebe, Trennungsschmerz und Verlust sowie Depressionen und Hoffnungslosigkeit werden angesprochen. Jedes Kapitel wird von einer wunderschönen Zeichnung begleitet.

Bei diesem Gedichtband handelt es sich trotz seiner teilweise schweren, traurigen Themen um ein Buch, das Hoffnung und Glück schenkt. Es vermittelt dem Leser inne zu halten, gut zu sich selbst zu sein und niemals aufzugeben. Mir haben diese Gedichte und Texte sehr gefallen. Sie waren sehr berührend und manchmal schmerzhaft, aber immer auch aufbauend und hoffnungsvoll. Obwohl jedes Gedicht für sich steht, konnte man innerhalb der Kapitel teilweise eine Entwicklung erkennen. Das Buch als Ganzes, mit seinen Gedichten und Bildern, erzählt die Geschichte einer Heilung und wie man seine Seele umsorgt und gesund werden lässt. Jeder wird hier einen Abschnitt finden, der seinen eigenen Schmerz beschreibt und ihm durch tröstende Worte Linderung verschafft.

Fazit:
Wunderschöne, heilende Gedichte, die mich tief berührt haben und Mut machen, in seinem Leben öfter mal inne zu halten und auf sich selbst zu achten. Sehr empfehlenswerte 4,5 Sterne.


In English:

"Watering the Soul" is a volume of poetry that contains short and long poems as well as short texts. It is divided into 9 chapters that describe how to "grow" your soul, and the poems in each section fit thematically with the headings. They are primarily about forgiving yourself, taking care of yourself and your mental health, and also being considerate towards other people. But also topics such as love, separation pain and loss as well as depression and hopelessness are addressed. Each chapter is accompanied by a beautiful drawing.

Despite its sometimes difficult, sad subjects, this volume of poetry is a book that gives hope and happiness. It teaches the reader to pause, be good to themselves, and never give up. I really liked these poems and texts. They were very touching and sometimes painful, but always encouraging and hopeful. Although each poem stands on its own, one could partially recognize a development within the chapters. The book as a whole, with its poems and pictures, tells the story of a healing and how one can take care of one's soul and let it get well. Everyone will find a section here that describes their own pain and provides relief through comforting words.

Conclusion:
Wonderful, healing poems that have touched me deeply and give courage to pause and take care of yourself more often in your life. Highly recommended 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

I've been a fan of Courtney Peppernell for a while now so I'm always excited when I see a new one is coming out. I loved the idea of Watering Your Soul and the cute little illustrations that went along with it. The poetry itself is okay. It has some great advice and some are memorable but some of the poems are starting to sound like stuff I've already read in previous books. I would skip or even skim some because they just fell flat for me. I can tell how compassionate and very sincere with every word shes writing but it just feels repetitive. I think this a nice little collection especially for someone that's new to her work or is a fan of self help. I'm sure they would really like it.

Watering the Soul is a powerful, inspirational guide to living your best life and drinking in the moments before they pass you by and written primarily in verse form. It encourages you to breathe, slow down and give yourself time to heal and appreciate the world around you. To live in the moment and take it all in. You can feel everything shift as each moment settles into existence. A gentle, nudging self-help guide in the form of poetry with beautiful prose and plenty to ensure this is a title you will turn to again and again when you need a little boost and in the times you may need a steer in the right direction. It's a calming read complemented by the whimsical illustrations interspersed throughout.

Admire the present. Don't worry about the future; it'll come soon enough. It focuses on breathing in life, grounding yourself, exhaling worry and anxiety, accepting yourself as you are and bringing comfort and reassurance to those in need of it. It carries a message requesting you to not only be kind and patient with others but with yourself, too, something we often fail to consider. Allow yourself time to do what matters most to you, what makes you happy. Surround yourself with positivity, supportive people and most importantly see yourself thrive as you begin to truly cultivate your soul using the recipe supplied within these pages. Highly recommended.

The concept of "Watering the Soul" is a wonderful idea and I especially loved the illustrations going with every step on the way of nourishing your soul back to life.

The poetry on itself was overall fine, some verses were put to memory and linger on, but I caught myself skimming over a few parts here and there, mostly because they simply fell a bit flat. And as much as I like this style of writing, this putting a simple text into verses with no reason whatsoever, it felt at some point like reading prose instead of poetry.

But it is a wonderful little book with a great message and I will recommend reading it to everyone I know.

I have enjoyed Courtney Peppernell's past books, but this collection doesn't bring anything new. She has good advice, and you can tell that she's compassionate while sharing it. I believe she means every word, and it comes through in her writing. However, most of this is repetitive without a ton of structure. That being said, if you are new to her work, this might be worth picking up. It would make a good gift book to somebody who’s having a hard time or who is new to the world of self-help/inspirational poetry. (I don’t think this is poetry, it’s more like small blocks of prose.) The drawings are really cute and charming. Overall, this was a miss for me, but there are definite positive qualities to this book and I believe it will find its audience. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my third attempt at reading one of Peppernell’s poetry collections, and the third time wasn’t the charm in this case.
The book was a strange mix between poetry and a self-help. The writing was pretty simple and the themes repetitive.
The sentences were chopped up at random in that classic tumblr poetry style, an absolute pet peeve of mine.
In the end I just couldn’t connect with the poetry and got bored of reading basically the same thing every few pages.

I loved this poetry collection just as much as the first time I read any collection of Courtney Peppernell. I love how much emotion I feel when I read her poetry. It evokes something inside of me. I always relate to her poems. You will never regret picking up a Courtney Peppernell collection

A collection of pieces illustrating how loneliness and darkness can creep in when a soul is left broken and without nurturing; the height of the writing though, is the small sparks of progress some so small they are hard to detect, but all eventually catch and return the soul back to its once brilliant state.

Courtney reflects on her own hardships and loss of self in a way that resonates, and reinforces the notion that a soul lost is a soul worth nurturing back to its original glory.

This book was a truly beautiful expression of what it means to nurture your heart and soul. Even in moments of anguish, when the world is bleak, there is purpose and worth, and the author does a wonderful job exploring that.

I have been, as I embark on my own path of healing, actively searching for books and other media to support that process. When I came across this ARC, I was drawn to it for that very purpose. And, it did not disappoint. It was poignant and timely and emotionally helpful.

This book was filled with bits of beauty, hope, togetherness, and wisdom. It left me feeling lighter, it made me feel seen.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book of poetry, perfect for fans of Nikita Gill and Rupi Kaur.

Thank you NetGalley and Courtney Peppernell for allowing me to read this ARC. You can find my review here, Goodreads, and Instagram at @samwisereads.