Thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to this set of poetry for a review.
This book was more prose than poetry, and very repetitive and not very engaging. Yes, it tackled hard subjects which I applaud, but it was not done in any way that gave any hope or encouragement. Overall, it was a very hard read to get through.

I loved this short book of poems so much that I had to go out and actually buy a physical copy! Such raw and impactful poetry! #HeavyistheHead #NetGalley

A wonderful poetry book dealing with a lot of heavy topics. I like that the author didn’t stray from what needed to be said. Very beautiful, have recommended already.

This is the kind of book you knew instantly from the beginning that you'll love it, it's full of emotions and rage as if they're screaming at you, like a bullet shoots through. Her words are like magnet and it's hard to put down, though I find the first half more captivating, this is by far one of the best poetry I have read. The way she transfer her feelings into words in a wise way, unforgettable. Would love to read more of her works!

“To defend a rapist, is to see something of yourself in them.
To doubt women, is to see nothing remotely human in them.”

A raw beautiful book I think every black woman would feel seen while reading. However, this is not a lighthearted read. She captures the truth of the struggles of being a black girl and black woman in her unique and brutally honest writings. She talks about how it feels to be sexually abused in all honesty, self esteem and self authenticity and so much more. This is a powerful book and it has impacted me deeply. Will be recommending to all my friends

Thank you to Sumaya Enyegue, Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC.

A sizzling, powerful debut poetry collection about trauma, agency, Black womanhood, and more. The poems are as intricate and spectacular as the cover. Definitely a young poet to watch!

As an emerging and shy poet, this collection struck an immensely emotional chord. This is the type of poetry I am longing to be able to write. It throws a massive punch, takes your guts to wring them hard and throw them on the ground. It’s gorgeous and powerful and heart rendering. I need to get my hands on a physical copy of this as soon as possible - for the beauty of the words and this cover!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

📚 Heavy is the Head - Sumaya Enyegue 📚

Heavy is the Head is a thought-provoking, emotionally charged collection of poetry which encompasses some very heavy themes, including womanhood, Blackness, racism, sexism, and mental health. It is bold, honest and impactful in its approach to tackling these topics and offers incredible insight into the human experience.

Whilst I am not a person of colour, I definitely resonated with so much Enyegue had to say, especially regarding topics of grief and the trauma experience. The prose is lyrical, evocative and intensely powerful in its portrayal of these themes. My heart was definitely left hurting, but yet yearning for more.

What you can expect:
🌺 #ownvoices poetry collection
🌺 An ode to Blackness
🌺 Generational trauma
🌺 Brutal honesty

An extremely vulnerable and honest exploration of some very heavy themes, so please keep that in mind before reading. But if you’re in the right space, I highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @netgalley @sumayapoetry and @centavebooks for sending me this to review 🙏🏻

Grateful for the opportunity to dive into the ARC of this book, though it didn't quite captivate me enough to reach the final page.

The poems were dark and beautiful. A bit too dark sometimes, but brutally honest in a great way. There are so many diffetent poems with similar themes that will either relate to you or make you think about your privilege.

4.5 stars.

This was written in a really lovely way, it was impactful and I felt like the majority of the poems within the collection packed a really big punch. I 'enjoyed' the collection and even though I don't think enjoyed is necessarily the right word due to the content and subject matter, I found it a really compelling read and is a collection I would recommend to anyone as long as they are in the right headspace.

Important messages, a realistic look at the world, with a not alone feeling.

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publishers Central Avenue for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this poetry collection was incredible. the language is beautiful even as it tells devastating, heartbreaking stories. this was one of those books that nestled in my rib cage and stayed there, the kind i will be thinking about for many months to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC, I absolutely loved the writing style and layout of this collection.
“Heavy is the Head” is such a powerful reading experience that must be shared with everyone, Enyegue’s words hold an incredible weight; describing the life and experiences of women of colour and women in today’s brutal society.
I think this book should be read and reread at every opportunity, sharing one’s innermost thoughts is difficult at the best of times, and publishing them for the world to read is not something everyone can do.

As a white woman, I'm not the intended audience of this, and so I'll keep my thoughts brief. The book overflows with vulnerability and pain and trauma. It confronts sexual assault, racism and violence against Black bodies, the assault on Black girlhood, and so much more. The pages bleed with pain, and call out to the reader to recognize pain and trauma and societal problems. The format/style of the poems varies throughout, which added to this being a really powerful book of poetry.

In Heavy Is The Head by Sumaya Enyegue, I delved into a powerful and unapologetic collection of poetry that bravely confronts the raw realities of life. Enyegue fearlessly tackles themes like trauma, sexual assault, racism, and mental health, shining a much-needed spotlight on the issues that often linger in the shadows of our society. Each poem is a poignant exploration of the heaviness carried by individuals, particularly Black people, as they navigate through a world fraught with adversity. Enyegue's words resonate deeply, vividly capturing the painful truths of needless violence, objectification, and the blame placed on victims of sexual assault. Her verses shed light on the struggles of mental health, showing how sometimes all we need is acknowledgment, understanding, and compassion in the battle against anxiety and depression. As I turned the pages, I couldn't help but feel the weight of these poems, the strength in their vulnerability, and the urgency in their message. Heavy Is The Head is not merely a collection; it is a call to action, urging readers to confront these issues head-on, to empathize, and to work collectively towards healing and change. Sumaya Enyegue's debut is a poetic force that leaves a lasting impact, and I commend her for fearlessly sharing these essential stories with the world.

This was an incredibly beautiful and powerful read. I felt myself completely enthralled within each poem and there was some that definitely squeezed at my own heart. A gorgeous anthology of poetry that I would highly recommend.

"Heavy in the head" seems to be a cry from the heart about the reality of being a black woman in our society. Sumaya Enyegue shares her story, her pains, her flaws, her struggles and her fears in a very personal way, revealing incisive, rhythmic poems that compress the heart. The pen is magnificent, moving and enraging, and we are carried away by the emotions shared.

WOW! Where do I even begin? This book is an absolute masterpiece, and it deserves every one of its well-earned 5 stars. "Heavy is the Head" by Sumaya Enyegue is a literary triumph that deserves all the accolades it receives. It's a rare and precious gem in the world of literature, a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. If you're searching for a book that will challenge your mind, touch your heart, and leave you in awe of the written word, look no further. "Heavy is the Head" is a must-read, and I wholeheartedly award it 5 well-deserved stars. Bravo, Sumaya Enyegue, for this extraordinary work of art!

This collection by Sumaya Enyegue is brutal and brilliant. Enyegue uses unusual structures and deconstructs language to represent her struggles with mental health as a Black woman living today. She painfully examines abusive relationships, racism, sexism and threats to women, spiralling between different times and perspectives. Although at times the style can feel overly obvious, every time it did I was swiftly reengaged by lines which perfectly evoked Enyegue’s struggles and emotions.

I really enjoyed this book. It is something I feel like I will definitely want to come back to and reread to fully absorb and understand. I found it to be beautifully written,