A Bit Much is a beautiful collection of poems. I laughed and cried and found myself reflecting on the perspectives shared hours and days later. This is such a fun book to have on your shelf and I can’t wait to gift it to friends, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book! Lindsay Rush’s book of poems are so relatable, you’ll feel like they were written about you and for you! Bravo!

Great gifting book!

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for the early reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Insta-poetry can be a very polarizing topic. Admittedly, I am not a seasoned poetry reader so I feel I have no right to criticize art forms. It would be like comparing an impressionist painting to digital art, or Twilight to Jane Austen. In my opinion, there is space for both genres to be valued and appreciated.

This debut poetry collection is snarky and funny, with many clever slice-of-life observations and affirmations. I enjoyed how the poems were categorized so you could choose to “mood read”. However, I had trouble emotionally connecting to the work as a whole - perhaps due to a lack of vulnerability. While it was enjoyable, I don’t really see myself revisiting or reflecting on it again and again. I also felt the book was a bit too long; some poems were thematically repetitive and could have been pared down a tad - but then it may not have lived up to its title.

If you are a millennial/early Gen Z girlie and enjoy the works of Rupi Kaur, Gabbie Hanna, Lili Reinhart or Atticus, I think this would be right up your alley.

2.5 stars.

This sweet little book is full of such precious, tender poems. I loved that the poems were divided up into groups by the varied "moods" a reader may be experiencing. The overall vibe for the book both organization/poem wise really resonated with me as a reader. These poems made me smile, laugh, and cry (both happy and sad tears). I read this as a digital ARC on my Kindle and would highly recommend others purchase the book in print if they're interested in it - I can see how there would be novelty to flipping back through the book in the future to find a poem that I want to revisit based on how I'm feeling. Much easier to do with a physical copy :)

Thank you to NetGally for the ARC! This is a fun and easy read for those who enjoy poetry. The organization of the book made for an enjoyable reader experience and allows readers to easily go back to different sections depending on their emotion. Defiantly a book good to pick up if you are looking for an easy read or a gift for someone in their early 20s.

This is the collection of poetry/prose you need if you happen to have a chronic illness and are moving across the country while also figuring out a new career and your uncle dies. Or maybe that's just me? More seriously, this is a collection of work that has all of the humor and sweet sabotage of patriarchy that is the trademark of Lyndsay Rush (the Instagram poet known as @maryoliversdrunkcousin).

To the extent that the goal of this book is to "honor the strange little song that only I can sing" Rush crushes that goal. Her voice is clear and true throughout the entire collection. The collection is full of lines detailing the "communal rhythms of cringe" and "I'm here to grate fresh parm all over my life and never say 'when'". She's singing that song so beautifully in this collection that reading the pieces becomes a bit meditative at times. I felt so fully in the universe she builds, the "million little drops of love that fill the whole cup" that it was as if I'd stepped away from my own brand of chaos.

But the collection is more than a selection of thoughtful works. The organization of the sections of this collection speaks to its purpose: to be a companion; a friend in the trenches; and a cheerleader. Rush writes that she intended to create a collection sorted by "mood and emotion so that you can always find what you need, when you need it...." She delivers on that promise by including the specific mood and the type of work included. For example, Part II notes its for "inquisitive, impassioned, gobsmacked, riled up" moods.

It is a book of encouragement that, at least for me, works on many levels because it is both simple and sly at the same time, as in the lines "to face the many strange and delightful horrors/that the world keeps in its back pocket."

I electronically dog-eared so many pages and highlighted multiple lines that it's obvious I will need to have at least one paper copy. I received an early version of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I have always really enjoyed Lyndsay Rush's poetry on social media and was excited to get this ARC of her book. If you are a fan of Rush's work, you will find this book to be full of her style and wit and depth. I did enjoy it. I was not aware of her feelings regarding religion, and as a religious person - those were not my favorite.

Thank you to St, Martin's Press & Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

aren’t we all just a little bit much?

lyndsay’s poems remind me of conversations with myself, my best friend, my husband, and various family members. it’s your inner monologue made cool. made helpful. made kind.

there’s a poem for every mood you might find yourself in.

thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. all opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this since I’ve followed Lyndsay Rush on social media and was already a fan. This book did not disappoint. I just kept thinking how much I loved this. She is so funny, but also has a very beautiful way of seeing the good in the midst of the hard parts of life.

Thanks to NetGalley (in exchange for my honest review) for letting me read this as soon as possible. I feel sorry for anyone who has to wait to read it.

Great text- powerful poetry that speaks well to the experience of women. Would be great to use to teach students about free form poetry and finding the literary in everyday life.

As a long time fan of Lyndsay's notorious intstagram account, I was SO EXCITED to hear about her debut poetry collection. I spent a few days slowly devouring each poem, section by section, and am obsessed with her anew. I already know I'll be rereading this whole collection once I get my hands on a physical copy and i CANNOT wait.

Lindsay Rush takes on topics throughout this assembly at poems that many would shy away from. I felt myself relating to so many of these titles and wanted to highlight many lines to remind myself of nuggets of information I need to remember in my daily life.

She is real and relatable, and as a debut author I am really impressed with what was compiled in this book. She also uses humor which is not only entertaining, but also adds levity to some of the heavier topics she addresses, which I can appreciate.

I love the overall theme of being “a bit much” as someone who has always felt the need to hide parts of myself or be just the opposite, not much. Sometimes those who are “a bit much” get a bee reputation and I really appreciated Rush’s take on that concept.

Something else I really enjoyed was the setup and the way it was broken up into sections. This was appealing to me to be able to go back and find my favorite passages and also have an idea of what I was getting (to same extent) in each section. And, within each poem, there seemed to be a lot of comparing and contrasting of big ideas which was a really cool technique. Rush is definitely on my radar now and I look forward to going back through and rereading some of my favorite poems and sharing them with loved ones.

I really enjoy this author and her poetry writing, but I think this isn’t the format to consume it. A physical book or via social media … 5 stars otherwise.

Lyndsay Rush’s debut poetry collection, A Bit Much, is a refreshing and delightful exploration of life’s big emotions and small moments. As someone who isn’t typically drawn to poetry, I found Rush’s work to be accessible, relatable, and enjoyable.

One of the things that immediately stands out about A Bit Much is Rush’s approachable style. She openly admits she’s not an intellectual about poetry, and that’s what makes her poems so accessible. They’re written in plain language, without the need for dissecting or overthinking. This simplicity allows every reader, regardless of their familiarity with poetry, to connect with Rush’s words on a personal level.

Most of the poems are about self love and the female experience, tackling topics from motherhood to challenging societal norms with a blend of humor and sincerity. This was delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Not your high school poetry textbook.

A lovingly and humorously-crafted anthology that defies society’s directives to shrink/suck in/be quiet/be cool. Rush’s snappy verse elevates everyday millennial experiences and denounces the impulse to bemoan the aging process. Don’t miss this collection that will leave you saying “yes, this!”

Loved this! What do I know of poetry (not much) but I really enjoyed most of the poems here. It’s hard to exist in 2024, but especially as a woman, and Lyndsay Rush has a great way of getting to that point in a succinct and often funny way.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Big thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful book. It’s not often you read a book of poetry that uses humour and clever turns of phrase to uncover deep truths about the human condition. I’ll be reading this one again and again.

This is easily a new favorite of mine. It was relatable, it was real and it brought the humor. I will use this collection to convert all my friends into poetry lovers.

These were good - witty and light hearted. Usually, I read more dramatic and tragic poems, but I did enjoy these for a little break in between some heavy reading.

This was so good! As a long-time follower of @maryoliversdrunkcousin, I was so excited that Lyndsay got a book deal. I enjoyed so many of these poems, and I highlighted a lot of the second section. A few felt a bit "twee" but overall this is a lovely, thoughtful, and inspiring collection.