Honestly, this was a lot and I've yet to determine whether or not that is a good thing. I was not prepare for how raw and candid these poems were.

Lie down, dim the lights, close your eyes, listen and enter...
Just under 4 hours of pure bliss.
I did not know much more that this was poetry and it sounded melancholic and appealing to spend the evening. I felt completely transported to another world and yet it felt familiar. This was definitely one of the most beautiful immersive audio experience.
I purchased the book as well to dive in again, with the photos.
A must listen and a must read!

(Audiobook - via NetGalley)

I Wrote This For You by Iain S. Thomas is a collection of free-verse poetry that covered themes such as death, rebirth, love, loss. This is a collection that is best to be read slowly, to allow the message to ruminate in the mind.
I read this collection via an audiobook so it was difficult for me to separate the poems to let each one shine, but if I looked at the poems on their own, I probably would enjoy the collection more.

Absolutely love Iain S. Thomas" poetry and this book is no different. Listening to his soothing voice in this audiobook feels as though he is speaking directly to the listener and somehow it soothes your soul. There is great comfort and solace in all of his words. Thank you for the ARC of this audiobook. #IWroteThisforYou #NetGalley.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #IWroteThisforYou for this ARC of the audiobook in exchange for a honest review.

This audiobook of poetry changed my mindset as I listened through its poetic writings. I pondered what the writer meant as well as my reactions to what was written. It runs the gamut of life, love, loss, beginnings and endings and you cannot help but be moved. For me, I just listened and took it all in. I bathed in the words and I was changed for the better.

I had read this years ago and I guess it didn’t really make an impact since I didn’t remember it when I downloaded the audio. This time around I found it at the exact moment I needed it and so glad I did. A lot of it resonated with me and I enjoyed the way it was narrated.

Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio recording of #iwrotethisforyou

The pitch of this oscillated between interesting and inspiring and very , very, very, very creepy and, as you can tell by my overuse of "verys," I came down hard on the side of too creepy to give credit for the other parts. The conceit of soulmates and hidden messages that drives these poems, songs, and musings is interesting, and the fact that it covers both the romantic beginnings and the crash and burn endings of a relationship was compelling.

But.

There were some major turnoffs, to put it mildly. The first is the second person perspective. This person speaking so intimately in a mode that I have trouble reading as anything but *to me* was really disturbing, especially when mixed with the metaphysical "I've been searching for you for so man lifetimes" part of the poems. The instant forced intimacy with someone I don't know and have never interacted with before and know nothing about due to the second person perspective, the instant disclosures, and the unhinged scifi and/or delusional perspective was incredibly creepy. I listened to the whole thing, but I was glad when it was over.

I read some mixed reviews about this book but was intrigued to listen to the audio book. I’m certainly glad I did because I found this to be one of my favorite audiobooks this year! I cannot recommend this audio book highly enough.

Some reviews of the book indicated they couldn’t figure out the book itself. The only description I saw was “poetry” so I wasn’t expecting it to read like a typical story and did not approach it with that expectation and this was not disappointed.

The narration is quite lovely. The author has a beautiful accent that is quite pleasing to listen to. I found the collection to be read very fluently and not even seem like it was being read but more spoken. The authors voice has a wonderfully soothing tone and it will be one audio book I will happily listen to repeatedly. The poetry at times sounds like short stories/interactions and is beautifully descriptive. I made note of one such line - “I touch things looking for the echoes of your fingers”. Isn’t that gorgeous?!

First of all, I have to point out that the narration and the background sounds are so creepy. I like the narrator's voice though, it's rather calm, but it still sounds a little creepy, his tone.

Regarding the book itself -- this book is hauntingly beautiful, I'm not even sure how I feel about it. It's so sad right from the beginning. I think this was the best poetry book I've read this year, and I've read a few really good ones. This poetry collection is just so pure and sincere, the author is very talented.

«Because poetry is a way to take pictures of things you can't take pictures of.»

3.5
<p> Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the audiobook to review. I really enjoyed the fact that it's read by the same author. The fact is that this is an unusual book, there's no plot, not really defined characters, this is not a book for you to rush through it. It demands you to take your time with it, to enjoy it, to think about it.
<i>"And now how can I miss what has never existed? Your whisper is still here in a diary I can still hear and it says: You are so patriotic to your heart that it keeps the country together but it tears the world apart"</i>
It could be considered a compilation of thoughts about love (especially romantic) with a few interesting view sights.
<i>"I have fallen in love with love and not with a person and that's nobody's fault but mine."</i></p> <p>The only thing is that at times it feels like it's portraying a character with mental illness. <i>"I become me all at once sometimes and I'm all of me at the same time and I. CAN'T. TAKE. IT"</i> but then it has many quotes that I find a little bit damaging or dismissive <i>"I would say to them if they could hear me, I know you have great sadness, I've had a great sadness too, and I want you to know I am alive, and one day you will say the same thing to someone else." </i> Like telling someone with issues to just be happy. (Also sometimes it feels like it's not only about love but borderline stalker). Overall, I enjoyed it quite a lot, it was a nice change of pace from other books when I just wanna read the entire thing at once. </p>

This hauntingly beautiful collection narrated by the author moved me to tears on a number of occasions. Each poem feels deeply personal for both reader/listener and author/narrator.

While I'm sure this work is an absolute treat to read as a printed collection, the audio version provides an emotional tone conveyed incredibly by the author. The background score, punctuated by poignant silence, is perfectly executed and augments the work wonderfully.

This is an easy five star collection for me, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves poetry, anyone who appreciates introspection, anyone who had every loved or lost, or anyone who just needs a good cry.

This book started out very well, with me feeling all the feels. After some time it did become a bit too much the same for my taste - I've never read/listened to poetry before, so it might also just be me not being into poetry that much. There were however sentences now and then that were just absolutely beautiful!
When listening to the audiobook with headphones, whenever the narrator said words with the letter S, it became very highpitched and did not sound very pleasently. When I listened to it without headphones, there were no problems however :)

Oh. My. Heart! For heaven’s sake! After listening to this book, I’ve determined that Romeo is an amateur and his talent is minimal next to this poet.

Ian Thomas writes and reads his own poetry, His voice is so pleasant, his emotion so real, his despair whispered in shades of hope.

“I Wrote This for You’, is narrated by him with such incredible feeling, the listener can not be helped but pulled in - absolutely immersed and lost in his words - I lost track of how many times I was in awe, completely captivated in his words. The unique emotions expressed are magnified with sound effects of camera clicks and rain, soft music and an occasional song that gently stirs the listener’s soul creating a photographic magic journey that will engage your senses. A journey completely new and foreign to me. This poetry is raw and beautiful - it explores the deepest caverns of the mind, alongside the feelings that are trapped in the abyss of the heart. This is a love letter written to the one who loves and feel deeply.

I only wish the book cover would have been as beautiful as the words of this book, but the disappointment in cover choice will not sway my rating of this being 5 Star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ GOLD and earning a place on my favorites shelf.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Ian Thomas for such an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

This audiobook was just perfect! I had only read one other book by this author before, but I had really enjoyed it, so when I saw that this audiobook was available, I requested it immediately. It was every thing I thought it would be, and more.
Listening to this audiobook is an all-around unique experience. Not only is the author’s writing beautiful and relatable at so many levels, but there is also this wonderful and ethereal atmosphere, defined by the lovely musical pieces presented throughout the book, which transports us (as the reader) to this other reality, where the authors words gain much more meaning.
This was only the second work by Iain S. Thomas that I have read/listened to, but I can say that it will not be the last one.
For everyone that is still undecided about listening to this audiobook, take this as a sign that you should definitely do so!
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Audio and Iain S. Thomas for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This audiobook was unlike any I’ve listened too before. I’ll be honest, I don’t usually enjoy audiobooks with changing voices, music, or added sounds, but I can’t imagine what this book would’ve been like without it.

Within just a few minutes, I was hooked into the poetry in prose, feeling like the author was speaking directly to me. Listening to this book is an ethereal experience, something behind simply reading a book.

I think you have to be in the right headspace to listen to this book, but you’ll absolutely get something out of it. I highly recommend I Wrote This For You!

When I first started listening to this audiobook, I wasn't sure I was going to get into it. It's much different than anything I've read/listened to. After finishing, I genuinely believe it's something that has to be listened to, as to get the full effect of the writing. The words are beautifully vulnerable and somewhat intrusive. It has a mystifying effect and the ideas being explored. Agh! The careful deconstruction of time and the concept of death and rebirth, love and connection, and hope and fear. Beautifully chilling and changing. There were a couple choppy parts in the audio a little ways in, but perhaps that was on purpose. About 10 minutes in, I did not think I was going to love this. But I love this audiobook. I love it. This is something you need to listen to, or at the very least, read.