How dare Sophie Diener write these poems that made me cry my own tears. I’ve never related and loved this many poems in a single collection before. I received an electronic copy of this, but have already pre-ordered a physical copy so that I can re-visit these poems on a regular basis. I truly fell in love with these poems and can’t wait for more collections to be published.

Poems that made me want to cry (relationships): Something So Real, Even After, Don’t Be a Stranger, Meant to Be, I Hope You’re Happy, To Move On

Poems that made me actually cry: Have Hope and This is How Love Works

Poems that made me reflect on my life: Eighteen, Run, The Life I Dream Of, and You are Growing.

Much love and appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin’s press for placing this book in my life through an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read poetry often but I follow Sophie on Instagram, and have for awhile now, so I was excited to see her collection on NetGalley! And as I digested this collection, it also made me want to read more poetry.

This collection reads like a story in which you’re following the narrator through a tough and, somewhat, unexpected breakup of a long distance, and what feels codependent, relationship. And then you take a journey with the narrator as they heal, experiencing how that relationship triggered anxiety and depression and how the breakup marred the memories of the relationship. It feels as if it truly broke the narrator. Then we see how she confronts the anxiety through her healing and then, eventually, finds love again.

As she finds love again, we can also see the manifestation of her growth during that healing phase, as this love is more organic and healthy. She confronts her urge to pull away from the love so it can’t be taken away from her again, like her previous relationship, and allows herself to love in a healthy and trusting way.

“But I’m choosing now to stay, / because I see the way you love me. / Though I know that things can change, / it’s okay– / I’ll be okay. / I’m relearning how to love, / and that is brave.”

But this collection isn’t focused on how she loved, lost, and then loved again–it’s about how she grew throughout the experience and became better equipped to be vulnerable and maintain her sense of self, her confidence, and trust in others. And there’s also themes of self-acceptance, nature, and kindness throughout the collection that are powerful and inspiring.

Diener’s poetry is simple yet beautiful, compelling, and so, so relatable. In the preface she says: “I’ve always loved to write, and I’ve also loved to read. Over and over again, my heart has been soothed by art that has moved me to whisper, ‘You, too?’” and I found myself saying this many times while reading this collection.

Some of my favorites include:
“A Heart with Legs”
“October 5”
“Run”
“Finding My Balance”
“Vows”
“Reflections”
“Be Kind To Yourself”

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this amazing story ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

I love reading and writing poems. Every time I get my hands on a new poetry collection, I feel very curious to see what new writers/ authors are bringing to the table. Sophie Diener did not disappoint.

What I liked the most about Someone, Somewhere, Maybe is that even though each poem touches on very personal topics, however, they are topics that a lot of people can relate to.

I like the familiarity I felt while reading this book, and that I could see myself in these words, and knowing that I am not the only one who has gone through certain situations gave me some sort of relief.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the Advanced Free Copy in exchange for an honest review.


Wendy

This was stunning!

I'm not normally a poetry person, but these were so beautifully written.

We get a glimpse into Sophie's life, including her heartbreaks, finding more love, and learning how to love herself again through her struggles.

There were quite of few of her poems that actually made me cry. I could relate to almost every single one she wrote and it was simply amazing. If you like poetry of any kind, or was something simple and beautiful, please grab this book!!!

The biggest thank you to #netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own!

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a lovely poetry collection. I found the poems to be relatable and easy to follow. I don't read poetry often, but when I do I prefer that it be something I can easily follow and understand. Deiner's poems are just that. You know what she is saying and you can feel the emotion behind each of them which is exactly what I want from a poem.

This collection really leans into the author's own experiences with love and heartache as well as other topics.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Beautiful. Simple and powerful. Reading these poems was like talking with your best friend if your best friend was a brilliant poet. Pick this one up - you’ll love the experience of reading feelings we have all felt in an artful way. Thanks to St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Loved it.

I really wanted to enjoy this but ultimately don't think I am the right audience! The poems are fairly simplistic in their execution and ideas, and I had a hard time connecting to the work.

Have you guys ever read a book and been so grateful for it because what you are going through at that moment is exactly what the book is describing and it just feels like a hug to you? WELL, I have been hugged guys, I've been hugged with words if that makes any sense hahaha. This book was so beautiful and I can't wait to purchase it when it comes out!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press / St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this poetry collection, however I had problems reading it with the way it was formatting on my device but that may just be a me problem.

⭐️2.5 stars⭐️

"Your feelings are not right or wrong; they just are. They exist. Acknowledge them. Invite them in for tea. .... You’re capable of facing them and coming out the other side."

Someone Somewhere Maybe, Sophie Diener's debut poetry collection, written as a way to keep her memories in her heart while helping others to feel less alone, reflected love and heartbreak but they also guided her journey towards healing and growth. Many of her poems felt like letters written to herself as well as to others who played a significant role in her life. I did find the poems to be somewhat basic, however, not digging too deep into my emotions to feel a real connection to them although I did discover a few favorites:

💙 Feelings
💙 Looking Up
💙 Expectations
💙 Save Me
💙 The Small Steps
💙 Be Kind To Yourself

I appreciated how Sophie worked her way through the spiral of her anxiety and the uncertainty that inevitably follows. I think that is what resonated with me the most in her poetry. That is where I felt seen and understood. The poems were a great reminder to acknowledge your feelings and to let yourself feel them without running or hiding. They encouraged accepting all the parts of yourself, both light and dark, without apology and with kindness and grace, with hope and trust in the future in the midst of the unknown.

"I saw my reflection in the glass door, and she said she loves me, and I said it back."

* Special thanks to St. Martin's Press / St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available September 26, 2023. *

Melodic and heartfelt coming-of-age poems that high schoolers and thirty-five-year-olds will both enjoy. Those feelings you have at eighteen? Overflowing with romantic exploration and expectations? They come bursting forth in Sophie Diener's "Someone Somewhere Maybe" ready to unearth and unbury any shakiness in your current consciousness--and ground you back into the safe haven of sense memories and splendor.

I love poetry that makes me feel things I didn’t realize I had hidden from myself. I saw myself and my mind reflected in these poems. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I was excited about getting the poetry collection. Unfortunately I don't believe I am the audience.

“Sunday dies and Monday breathes, and faith lives in the in-between.”

It’s been a while since I read a book of poetry. I tend to want to but put them off for other genres. Thankfully the mood struck me to read some poems and the next thing I knew, I had read through the whole book. These are poems of remembrance- mostly of old loves. Sophie Diener’s words spoke to me and I hope she continues to put her work out into tue world.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
Poetry
Reflections on life

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

I admit I am not an expert when it comes to poetry. I'm all about vibes; how the poems make me feel, how they flow, how I relate. In this collection, there weren't many that really struck a chord with me, but the ones that did made me felt seen and understood. Many of the poems were, forgive me, really basic. When I say basic, I mean there was nothing really to them. They were poems with ideas I've read before, but nothing was said in a new way, in the author's own voice.

The three poems I enjoyed the most were Hidden All Over, Homebody, and Reflections.

Overall, I thought as a whole, this was okay.

"Someone Somewhere Maybe: Poems" by Sophie Diener is a delightful and heartfelt collection that resonates with the experiences of young women today. Diener's writing style is both poignant and beautiful, and it's evident why she has become a TikTok fan favorite.

This debut poetry collection takes readers on an emotional journey through various aspects of life, including first love, heartbreak, loss, identity, and self-worth. Diener's ability to explore these themes with honesty and warmth is truly commendable. Her poems provide a window into the complexities of the human condition, making the reader feel seen and understood.

What sets this collection apart is its relatability and affirming nature. Diener's words capture the essence of what it means to grow up, and her poems are likely to strike a chord with readers who have navigated similar experiences. It's a book that you can pick up on a rainy day, while sipping tea in bed, or even on a sunny beach day, and find solace in its pages.

"Someone Somewhere Maybe" offers not just hope but also healing and a sense of camaraderie. The assurance that you are not alone in your journey is a powerful message that Diener conveys effectively.

While this collection is undeniably moving and well-crafted, I reserve a four-star rating because, like many poetry collections, personal preferences may come into play. Some readers might connect with certain poems more deeply than others. Nonetheless, Sophie Diener's debut is a strong addition to contemporary poetry, and it's a must-read for anyone seeking poems that touch the heart and soul.

I LOVED this poetry collection. Direct and to the point, you won’t find a ton of metaphors and underlying meanings in this volume. Of course there are some, but this feels very “what you see is what you get” and I absolutely love that. It leaves room for interpretation and application from your own experiences, and still reads smoothly and beautifully; but I love that I don’t have to scratch my head at the end of each line and wonder what the heck I’m supposed to get out of it.

It explores first love and loss, navigating anxiety, and the process of self love. It felt so relatable to my own life experiences thus far. I couldn’t stop highlighting!

Some of my favorite pieces are below, in no particular order:
“It isn’t all golden and good and beautiful, but you’d be surprised by how much of it is.”
“I think a lot about what I might say to my younger self, but not what my older self might say to me.”
“May I never love who I could be (in theory) more than who I actually am.”
“Allow yourself to be loved as you are, both in the light and in the dark.”
“Rest in this: what you’re feeling is not permanent.”
“…abut anxiety is a liar whose very favorite pastime is to spin me into spirals.”
“…and I plant my feet so that I don’t get swept up in September breeze.”
“I also hope you don’t forget that life is not about to begin; it’s happening.”

Okay wow! This book was written absolutely beautifully! Although there were parts where I was lost and had to go re-read, I don’t fully blame that on the author, I think I may have been just distracted, BUT, this book gave me a lot to think about on my healing journey! Everything the author wrote is absolutely going to be helpful for me!
This will be one I read over and over!

Thank you bet galley and publisher for the chance to read this book!

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the ARC!

5 Stars!

I've been wanting to read more poetry this year and I am so glad I got to enjoy this one. I think the topics in this collection are so vital and so necessary, it almost breaks your heart when it is so easily relatable. I found myself highlighting and leaving little notes on almost every page with my kindle and I will be going back to those every so often. So beautiful.

This was a lovely debut! I already knew Sophie from tiktok but reading her poetry and seeing her words on the page was such a delight. She captures so many of the formative emotions and life experiences young people experience as they come of age so eloquently and with such gentle and heartfelt care and compassion. Looking forward to purchasing this for several classroom libraries and as gifts for grads!