This book was such a quick read but for a quick read it was also interesting and held my attentions. I would definitely read more poems from this author.

A Netgalley ARC! I don't usually read poetry but gave it a try this once. And it was actually good. Even though it was not really a relatable read, it was enjoyable, short and crisp. Might even read it again

This was a quick read by a writer who clearly shows a lot of promise. The prose was very lush and readable but the metaphors tended to be rather opaque.

Retail Park exposes the tender part of grief and longing with rich metaphor and style. It was a very short read and I hope that Millar will continue to write more. The parts on religion can be a bit othering for some readers but is seamless in it's connection with the rest of the poems in my opinion.

My favorite poems are: "Jesus is coming, look busy", "I'll take that", and "The language of flowers."

This book of poetry is ripe with angst, anguish, longing and so much mental strength. The words are descriptive and alive, filled with meaning and action behind the characters on the page.

I appreciated “Language of flowers” and “ever will be” the most. Unfortunately, I could not relate to the words I read.

Retail Park is a collection that expresses deep emotion and challenges the ordinary. I really loved how the author uses imagery throughout the collection, and in some pieces uses a more immediate thought-type writing style to get inside the head of the narrator. Although it was a quick read, it is definitely a collection you want to take your time with.

So cute and short, definitely gave me a large sense of nostalgia for something that I haven’t experienced. Wish it would’ve lasted longer, but I enjoyed every poem thoroughly

Retail Park is a brief collection of poems that focus on interpersonal relations and religion. It's very possible that there is some deep connection to the title and the (admittedly cool) cover hidden somewhere in its depths, but it may just be that both were chosen solely to draw in the reader. On the positive front, it was a nice change to find a work of poetry that was concerned with material more existential than simple relationship drama, and for once we were spared the barrage of fragment sentences that haunt the modern poetry market. That said, I would need to do a thorough second (or third) reading to better grasp all that Millar was trying to convey.

I wanted to like this, but there was so much distance between me as a reader and the author. I wanted to understand their story and their relationships. I could see how writing some of these poems could be very healing for the writer, but it doesn't have the same affect for a reader. I was very much on the outside looking in, but I didn't understand what I was seeing and what it meant to the writer.

I'd recommend this to a special kind of reader: yes, not the one who expects to be blown away by prose and rhyme and the occasional appeal to emotions, but the one who is open to navigating an author's world and appreciating it for just that.
However, I understand that we experience everything based on our previous biases and lenses- and as such, this may intrigue one reader and not appeal to another.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

This is a cute little collection of poetry. All of the poems were super interesting. The cover art is also really pretty. I had never seen this concept before and I like it.

Admittedly, I'm not an expert on poetry, but this looked appealing to me based on the cover and description.

I'm really glad I checked it out. It was a short read but felt vulnerable and nostalgic. It reminded me of Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review.

2.5 "very much wanted..." stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the poet and Querencia press for an e-copy. I am providing an honest review. This was released June 2023.

The foreward written by this young poet was sincere and thankful and earnest. I wish him the best success in future.

Unfortunately I could not connect, appreciate or enjoy most of the poetry. There were three poems that I liked to a 3 star status and I will include one of them below:

Pink , like his brain

Like his favorite
salmon shirt,
like cheeks changing
hit with the wind,
stepping into the city
pink,
like his knuckles,
and the stream up his fingers
to the tip is pink
and numb
pink, because he's
embarassed
pink, because he's
pinched the inside of his
wrist,
nervous
pink, when him mum calls him perfect
and pink,
like crushed berries
up the sides of his legs