I really wanted to like this poetry collection, but each poem felt like a tweet, an Instagram caption, or a half baked thought. There were a few lines here and there that spoke to me, and while I can sympathize with the author's story, I don't think this was the medium to publically share it. I found the poems at the same time to be both incredibly vague and hyper-specific to their story which made it feel unmoored.

good Grief was a great collection of poems. I appreciated the author's vulnerability to talk about love and how it isn't always two-sided, or enjoyable. the writing was easy to read/approachable but still being emotional.

summary: so this is a poetry collection, and features poems ranging in topic from motherhood, to womanhood, to trauma, grief, loss, joy and other things

footnotes: this book was not a "hard" read, but it definitely brought up some emotions in me that were uncomfortable to sit with, especially if you have any mother issues, or womanhood troubles this may be a book to come back to later.

thoughts: i really enjoyed reading this, i loved how honest and candid brianna got while still keeping it elegant. i felt like i was having wine with a close friend, however candid the poems get, they never lose thier elegance or poise, the word choice lets you know what's happening, but is still cryptic enough that it doesn't ruin the feeling of reading it. truly, this was something i recommend to anyone grappling with questions about mothers, or womanhood, or where you fit in.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.
I have complicated feelings about this collection, as Good Grief is a mix of poetry and prose; Pastor has a clear voice, and her poems are an easy read. My primary issue is that I want to see her step outside of herself and create longer poems so there is more room for the reader to wonder. Good Grief is a good option for readers new to poetry or in the mood for something with more accessible language and more challenging subject matter.

I received a copy of this through NetGalley. I have been following Brianna’s Instagram for years now and have always related to her raw vulnerability. This collection of her poetry & prose is no different. She lays herself bare before us and speaks to so many things that many of us can relate to. I enjoyed reading this. ❤️

I'm a little torn about this book--some of the poems, especially in the earlier portion of the book, were quite moving and I connected with them deeply. But largely--and especially in the later portion of the book--they fell flat. MANY of the poems are very short--some even just one or two lines. They remind me of something you'd see on Instagram, and some of them are about as profound as that as well (not very). She also uses a sort of stream of consciousness/spoken word format at times, and then back to a more familiar format. It's kindof all over the place and can be jarring as a reader because it doesn't always flow well. The overall tone of the book strikes me as coming from someone still struggling to figure out her voice and style. I'd be willing to read later work by this author to see her growth and development, but I wouldn't recommend this book to friends.

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read Good Grief, a collection of poetry by Brianna Pastor.
What I enjoyed about Good Grief: I appreciate how this collection was a "release" for the author. Having experienced a lifetime of mental illness, I believe some of our most profound sentiments are revealed during our hardest moments. This collection read almost like journal entries. Like the author would write down her thoughts during a time of grief. Like they would help her heal.
What I didn't like: I wanted more from some of the chapters. The author referenced abuse, addressing her abuser at times. It felt too vague for me, as the reader, to truly connect or relate to many of her poems. So while I appreciated her "release", it didn't feel profound enough for me to connect at a deep level.

This is a brief but beautifully poignant read for anyone who has ever felt themselves lost in sadness, depression, grief...the heaviness of life as a whole. It speaks so deeply to my own spirals of sadness, words that could and have poured out of my own soul and makes me feel less alone in my mental health struggles.

“but we sleep, you see, and we do this marvelous thing in our sleep—we mend”

had the opportunity to read Briana Pastor’s extended collection and initially was drawn to this book from its cover and synopsis. This collection of poetry did not disappoint. Good Grief was a beautiful collection of poems covering so many different topics - grief, finding yourself and your identity, love, self-acceptance, and through it all, hope.

This is a beautiful collection, perfect for fans of Yung Pueblo and anyone committed to the tough-but-necessary work of healing--confronting the demons within and befriending them as a way of finding peace. I hope she publishes more work. My only criticism of this one is that I tore through it so quickly :)

This book immediately resonated with me. Brianna Pastor's musings deliver exactly what is promised by the title.

My favorite poem was number 88, because it speaks to me as a survivor of abuse

you had your upper "hand"
jammed so far down my throat
that i was so focused on
how i was going to breathe and
forgot i had hands of my own
to stop you

love the cover art, very intriguing, really comforting poems, interesting formatting, encouraging content.

Beautifully written and powerful poems about grief, dysfunction, finding your identity, struggling to make it, self-acceptance, love, and so much more. She touched my heart over and over again. Her words made me feel seen.

I highly recommend this book and will personally be on the look-out for more of her offerings.

My thanks to Harper One for permitting me access to a DRC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is 4/16/24. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own and have been freely given.

A beautiful collection of thoughts, prose and poetry.

These poems and words touched me deeply. Thank you for sharing your journey with us Brianna!

This was absolutely beautiful. Wow. I am really honored to have been able to read and relate with aspects of this.

It’s always difficult to review poetry collections because they are so personal. That said, this is a nice collection but it didn’t speak a lot to me.

Pastor says in the introduction that she didn’t title any of the poems because she wanted to forget them. As a poet and poetry lover, I can’t comprehend that. I love when poems hit me with a use of language or way of saying something that I’ve never seen before. I love the art of poetry. But after reading this book I get it. The poems are a bit disposable— not so much making art with words as much as releasing emotion and documenting a time.

Here is an example of one poem that sort of sums up what many of them read like:

19

i came out of the womb crying,
like most people do—
except i just never stopped.

There is nothing wrong with this poem, but it doesn’t really give me the art that I really crave with poetry. That said, it is a relatable, moving book.

I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley

Brianna Pastor has written over 100 poems that resonate with hearts broken open and hearts broken apart. She intentionally leaves poems unnamed as an act of release. For the reader, the lack of titles leaves open multi-layered interpretations that articulate the emotions that arise in the shadowed places we find ourselves. Still, hope is threaded amongst the themes of sadness, depression, and trauma:
“Trusting yourself is a
Fiery thing
How freeing it is
To let life unfold
And still feel safe”

Pastor evokes a sense of liberation and community in her poetry that stems from grief, loss, and trauma. Personally some felt a bit like mental health adages you’ve heard before, while others cut so deep, I felt them in my bones. Overall a solid collection in the theme.

Beyond being infused with honesty and vulnerability, Brianna Pastor's poems manage to also be incredibly affirming. Readers will feel both seen and supported from the poems within this collection. I look forward to this being out in the world and to be a source of comfort + care for readers all over the world navigating these tender, uncertain times.

Beautifully written!
Good Grief is a deep and vulnerable collection of poetry by Brianna Pastor. She discusses healing, mental health, and recovering in a raw, but hopeful way. I truly felt every word and the love and emotions that went into writing them. Thank you, Brianna, for "leaving the porch light on" for the world with your poems. As someone who is studying to enter the world of Clinical and Mental Health, this book will be on my shelf to help those who are hurting to help articulate their struggles.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.