I don't think I've ever seen poetry written in a way that is raw and real and for lack of a better word, "ugly''. Not to say that Sophie Diener's work is ugly, I think her poems are rather beautiful but what she writes about is so delicate and sensitive and the issues she takes inspiration from are real issues we face and the way she handles them is with such care.

Mental illness, body image issues, heartbreak, these are things I hadn't read in mainstream poetry but I am so glad that I have now. It's not everyday that you get to say you've read a classic in the making but I think today, I have.

Someone Somewhere Maybe by Sophie Diener is a debut poetry collection that is most impressive in its simple relatability. What I enjoy about these TikTok poets is their ability to make poetry accessible to those who might be otherwise intimidated to explore a new and unfamiliar genre. This collection flows beautifully from beginning to end, and I defy any reader to not recognize a piece of themselves in these life-affirming words. I will certainly keep a hopeful eye out for more of Ms Diener's work in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

WOW!!! I flew through this. The words were so beautiful. I felt so many of these poems in my soul. It was like I was living them! This is a must buy! I loved it!! Some of my favorites were mean it, feelings, who are you, mistakes and expectations! It was like this book of poems was wrote for me!

Very disappointed by this collection. While I hate the term "instagram poetry" this collection falls into a category of modern poetry that I'm not a fan of. It very devoid of form or artistry, and more like the musings torn from soneone's journal but lacking emotion or imagery. It was cookie cutter and read like it was trying to be meaningful and inspirational but was actually made up of sayings you'd find on a Target pillow.

This was pretty good. I think it falls into the same realm of poetry as Amanda Lovelace, Nikita Gill, and Trista Mateer where it's short yet tackle emotions well. Sophie is definitely a poet I'll be keeping on my radar.

This book of poetry was good and all about heartbreak and missing people. I enjoyed the poems, but they were a bit young for me. I think this would be very appropriate for teenagers. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

This reminded me a lot of a creshendo you see in music. The beginning was soft and timid as it explores youth and teenage love, with a mix of exploration of bieng a young woman. As you continue through you feel the build up as they begin to understand their worth in love and that love isn't always the answer. In the finale of the creshendo, we find through self exploration, failed loves, and perservierence that the main character is gonna be okay and that life is just that....life.

Over all I enjoyed the read, it was quick and fun and had depth in different degrees. Do I think it's world changing? No. But i do think it makes you think about where you've come from and where you have left to go. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Lang Leav and Rupi Kaur.

I appreciate how vulnerable the author is with her poetry. I enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it to friends/peers

This book of poetry explores the loss of love as well as the evolution of a person in their 20s. The writing is beautiful and had me reminiscing about my younger days of dating. I would have enjoyed it more if I had picked up the book 15 years ago when I was in a similar phase of life. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the poetry.

It's hard to believe that this is a debut work. Sophie Diener masterfully tells stories in her poems. My favorite was Autumn.

What a beautiful collection of poetry that I will return to many times! Diener has a wonderful perspective.

Sporadic poems on reflections on love, loss, grief, and loving yourself. Several poems resonated to me so personally I made sure to tab them to come back to, others I did not connect with, but understood the writers story and felt the rawness between those lines.
Someone Somewhere Maybe is a hand reaching out to say “I’m here and you’re not alone.” I know at least one poem will connect to a reader, which makes the title of this book echo its true meaning.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Someone Somewhere Maybe: Poems by Sophie Diener.

I really enjoyed this poetry collection and find myself to gravitate toward this type of poetry because of the way it makes me feel about heartbreak, love, and loss. I believe that this book can be relatable for many people whether they are going through this themselves or have gone through it previously. It hits all the right buttons.

Its an easy 4 stars for me.

"I hope today you remember that the sky is not humiliated by its vastness, and the mountains remain unashamed of their height [...] the sun is not concerned if someone has to squint their eyes–it will shine. And it will not apologize for its light."

Absolutely gutting and gorgeous–this highly anticipated debut collection of poems from TikTok's favorite spoken-word poet is worth the wait. ❤️

Sophie's poetry was a lifeline for me during the pandemic–to this day, I still repeat lines from Be Kind to Yourself to myself like a mantra. This collection brings us several of her most popular (and hardest-hitting) poems from TikTok, but it also expands on themes of heartbreak, healing, and growth with many poems you have not yet heard. Somehow both deeply relatable and deeply personal to the author, you'll find comfort and hope here. I immediately pre-ordered after finishing and I am so excited to have a physical copy on my shelf.

A coming of age type collection of poems that I think young readers might be able to identify with and enjoy. I think I just wasn’t the target audience and therefore unable to connect with it.

I received an eBook ARC of this collection of poetry and I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. For me poetry is about making me feel, and Someone Somewhere Maybe did that. We have all had love that was lost, and that process, while a tale as old as time, is shared here in a way that I really related to and appreciated. I think any fans of Rupi Kuar would thoroughly enjoy this book, and I look forward to purchasing a published copy to enjoy the illustrations that accompany the poetry.

Sophie Diener, thank you for sharing such beautiful poetry to the world. Any middle age child, teen or young adult will for sure be inspired by you. Your poetry will inspire others to take up poetry as well! For the readers, the free verse and ballads here show courage, relatability and a willingness to open up hearts and minds with personal experiences. A perfect tool for poetry writing classes for ages 10-18! Five of five stars!
Thank you to Martin Press via NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are voluntary and my own.

Review to be posted as per publisher’s request for timeline.

Someone Somewhere Maybe
Poems
by Sophie Diener
A good book of poetry. Plenty of poetry about the first loves, losses, heartbreak, and the transitional stages of life and growing up.Some di jump into the attention of the writing.

**I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sophie Diener for an ARC of this book! This will be available on 9/26/23!**

Have you ever read something, sat back, and wondered how the author crawled into your head and found all the things you needed to hear? That's how this was. Sophie somehow touched on all the things I needed and craved. What a gift it is to feel a little less alone.

"May I show up for myself-broken, fractured, or bruised-and may I love others like this-with grace, patience, and truth."

There is a lot of great poetry out in the world, but it is rare for a collection to stand out to me like this one did. I started to bookmark my favorite poems and highlight my favorite parts, only to realize I touched on almost every single poem in this collection.

"I'll be okay. I'm relearning how to love, and that is brave."

This is absolutely a book I want on my bookshelf or even a permanent fixture on my nightstand.
Thank you Sophie Diener for creating something that spoke to my heart and soul in a way I truly wasn't expecting.

To close out:
"Today I hope you look at yourself and you are kind."

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Someone Somewhere Maybe: Poems by Sophie Diener, her first collection which publishes September 26, 2023.

In Someone Somewhere Maybe, Diener tells a story of transitions from love to heartbreak, through her anxieties and self-doubt, to discovering her sense of self-worth and self-love. It's a coming-of-age story told through rhymes. At times, it felt like I was reading journal entries through a break-up. Which based on the author's Preface, they likely could have been. Sometimes it felt a little too "rhyme-y".
These last few years, I've found some really quality and resonating poets. And I've found that the collections that are most impactful, don't necessarily rhyme. What I've come to love and appreciate about poetry, isn't the rhyming sequence, but rather the way certain words flow together to create a verse that transcends beyond basic human emotion. There are a few passages in Someone Somewhere Maybe that flirt with that style. But overall, it was a little too methodical for me.
I do appreciate how well the author wrote a transitional story that didn't jump around a lot. And I think with this book as the author's debut, she has so much potential for creating truly mind-blowing poetry collections.

My favorite part:

It isn't all golden
and good
and beautiful,
but you'd be surprised
by how much of it is.