A modern poetic take from a devoted man’s perspective. A collection of poems on noticing the little things, reminders through hard times, rising above, and persevering with self confidence in strife.

I had the opportunity to read the ARC copy through NetGalley in return for an honest review. I’m pleasantly surprised that quite a few poems stuck out to me. This is the third book of Jeanty’s HER series, but my first time reading his works. I read through this in one sitting, devoured it quickly, and by the end I felt empowered and seen.

This collection can be read by anyone, although how the words effect each gender may be different, and some pieces may push you to think outside of your box. Pieces on really listening and observing, how to serve yourself and how to communicate in order to serve your person in a relationship, to be vulnerable and see where it leads.

My only downfall was I had a hard time with the cadence in a few of the poems, but there were far more that left a good impression on me than bad.

Worth picking up if you love modern poetry, need empowering words through hardship, or want to learn how to be a more present and engaged partner to your person.

One that is sure to find you when you need it most, like all poetry does.

“Women like her live in the minds of
men in her past long after she has left.”

3.85/5🌟 rounded to 4 for a whole number 💌

Her III is poetry collection marketed towards both men and women and acts more as an instruction manual on how to be a “good” woman and a “good” man in relation to romantic, heterosexual love.

As a lesbian, I didn’t connect enough with this book to call it one of my favorites, even though I do quite enjoy poetry. Some of the passages made me mildly uncomfortable, especially the ones where the author writes about God and Christianity. I also wasn’t a fan of the author defining women in his own view when he clearly isn’t a woman and has no business defining us.

However, I did enjoy some lines including:

• “Despite how they sank their teeth into her heart and attempted to rip love out of it, still she stands, still she evolves.”
• “Depression is a demon that she’s learned to grow deaf to despite how loud he catcalls her.”

The illustrations were also quite beautiful.

I think there is a market for this but it just was not for me. I also think I might have enjoyed this more had I read Her I and Her II.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to see what this had to offer, and sadly was left very disappointed.

First, I want to say that I respect the author for putting in the time and effort to create this body of work.

That said, this collection read as a group of repetitive and surface level passages. I always say that I feel hesitant critiquing poetry because it's very subjective in it's own right. Just because I don't hear my voice in their voice, doesn't mean someone won't.

Problem here, is that I didn't hear a voice at all. I've read some variation of most passages on "inspirational" or "girlboss" pages on social media; and because of that, this collection lacked authenticity and originality. There were so many passages that laid a great foundation and then just went no where with it. I love a good short poem, but it still needs to feel complete.

As others have mentioned, this book starts with a message from the author that says, "If this book ever sounds like it's telling women how to be women." Reader, it does just that.

For a work that is supposed to be, "a collection of poetry written for women in an attempt to capture true resilience", a lot of them seem to lose that narrative.

While there are some poems that are about finding empowerment in womanhood (in a book written by a man), quite a few of them seem to be directed at men. It seems to be pandering in its own way, and it borderlines on the obvious.

All that said, it does seem the author did go in to this project with a cohesive idea and the passages flowed into one another well. As mentioned before, poetry is subjective, and someone will enjoy this work; unfortunately, I can't say the same.

Her was a collection of poems that were very fun and very feminist. Loved the themes, but they lacked depth. They all fell kind of flat for me.

I had an arc of this book from NetGalley. First, the preface states, "If this book ever sounds like it's telling women how to be women, I beg you to examine it more deeply". As a woman, I think this entire book is a big red flag. It feels as if it is solely from the cis-male gaze without considering how women would actually feel. If a book like this was going to be written, a lot of research and opinions from women should have been taken into consideration. This book sounds like "one of the lads" trying to tell another "lad" that women can be tricked and undermined simply by doing these easy and basic things. Would not recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review and I'm going to very honest. I really disliked this work of poetry. I found it reductive, patronising, cliche, and just a bit empty. It's a bit of a red flag when the author starts his book with a preface stating he's not trying to tell women how to behave, feel, or simply be (cheers mate). I get the sense that there's been some feedback he didn't like. It was very hetronormative and set in the binary and basically was the equivalent of a man eavesdropping on you and your friends at a bar, interjecting himself without consent or understanding the context, putting his hand over yours, looking you dead in the eye, and saying really intensely that you deserve better, you're incredible, any man would be lucky to have you, and did you know the patriarchy sucks?. Like I know dude. Obviously. The other half of the book was the equivalent of him wagging his finger half-heartedly and preaching 'Come on men, do better. Women are really complicated but if listen and treat them with a modicome of basic decency they will be so blinded with love for you. Otherwise they get sad and cry and their entire self worth will evaporate from her body. If the 'Nice Guy' were a book, this would be it. Cringe.

Red flag right out of the gate. I did not enjoy the disclaimer at the beginning saying essentially "if this book ever sounds like it's telling women how to be women" you're wrong. He isn't a great poet guys, he's a great observer.

The synopsis of this book specifically says, "a collection of poetry written for women in an attempt to capture true resilience" but on the same disclaimer page where he mansplains that he's not mansplaining, he said "the purpose of the books in this series has always been to speak to my fellow men about HER." So is this a book written for women? Or about women? My guess is definitely the later.

I have not read the previous installments of this poetry collection and I don't think I ever will. The actually poetry in this collection isn't necessarily bad, but it's also not good. There are a couple of poems in here that were nice but most of them were pretty cliché and unmemorable.

“ Look at the way she conquers the darker days in her life, like the moon piercing through the night sky.
How could you not admire such resilience?”

As always, Pierre Alex Jeanty wrote a beautiful, empowering collection of the best poems. I will ready absolutely any poetry that my now automatic buy author writes until the end of time. Truly a work of art!

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

While this wasn't my first book from this poet, I have to admit I don't quite remember the others i've read by him.
Nonetheless, I went into this hoping to find some .. moving or powerful poems to connect with. As with any poetry book, there were some .. mediocre pieces and some pretty good ones.

I'm sad to say I didn't feel moved by any... or much of a connection. A lot of the poems didn't feel like they had a lot of emotion involved overall. And I really hate saying that or leaving less than positive reviews.

Overall, it was just okay.

I enjoyed reading this work of poetry. I liked the first quarter of the book the best, but there were more gems sprinkled throughout.

I thought that the book could have used more structure, with sections, but that’s just me.

Even though the author says that they don’t bear down on women, it still feels like they do that.

On page 151, they talk about grief after miscarriage in one poem and I disagree with their view point.

I would recommend this book. It’s in the same kind of style as r. h. Sin.

I got an arc in exchange for an honest review.

basically, I was only reading this book in one sitting. I got to read the whole book to get two points. first, the writer told every man as to how to act around women. second, the women need to be who they are, no matter how the society judge every single thing about woman. I also think that this book is the most relatable book to our society nowadays.

Repetitive and lacking of substance.

I thought the first few poems were great, but then they just worded differently and repeated throughout the book.

I’ve not read the first two volumes, but after this one, I have no interest in reading them.

I received a free copy but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I get what the poet wanted to do, but I didn't like this collection. It felt too simple and repetitive. I think it was missing emotions and a bit of originality. I have this feeling I was reading some advices on how to treat a woman and that you deserve more. Other than this, nothing.
Don't forget, modern poetry isn't always for everyone. Sometimes it will be the greatest thing and sometimes it won't.

I couldn't connect with the book, although it is about me, a woman. I mean, I felt only one time an "I totally feel that" moment, even though the book is meant for men and women alike to better understand her. The author states at the beginning that he doesn't claim to be a great poet, and sorry, but I agree. It has a nice flow and most poems are leading up to the next one in some way, but at times it sounds more like a "how to" book, which it's not supposed to be according to Pierre Alex Jeanty.
I wasn't a fan of God being mentioned (I think three times), because we aren't all religious, especially not all Christians, which made me feel even less connected to it.

*I've received an early copy of HER III from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for letting me review this book of poetry. I don’t think I have ever related to main character more, and I think that is what Pierre Alex Jeanty was going for. I love poetry, it’s a roller coaster of emotions. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

This wasn't for me. It lacked depth, felt trite, and is not something I think modern women will be able to connect to.

I want to preface this entire review with the fact that I only review books that I either enjoy the genre of or the type of lit that I personally write. I write and enjoy poetry. Please keep this in mind because I don't ever enjoy writing negative reviews.

From the beginning of the this book I was immediately hit with the ICK because he felt the need to include a preface about how he is not telling women how to act or be or feel. Bud, if you feel the need to put that in then maybe you should reflect on why women are interpreting your writing that way.
First and foremost, Jeanty is an entrepreneur. He uses pretty words to make money. Every single book in the HER collection lacks substance, nuance, and metaphor. Short form poetry or micro-poems are a legitimate writing form, but authors like Jeanty, Amanda Lovelace, and R.h. sihn have taken that and gone off the rails with lackluster, self-help, instagram quotes poorly disguised as such styles.

It's...frustrating. I hoped that in the 5 years between HER II and III that he would have developed his writing style into something a little more memorable.

I went in really wanting to love this collection. There were certainly moments and poignant lines throughout, but overall it felt a bit generic to me.

I was really wishing this would grasp me better than it did. I was not moved by the poetry in this book and the flow felt a bit flat.

I didn't love it. Some of it felt forced or a little "too good to be true"? I am not sure how else to explain it.