Free eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes!

I was thrilled to received this ARC because I have followed Lyndsay Rush on instagram (@maryoliversdrunkcousin) for a long time and her poems really resonate with me.
This collection is made up of poems, some of which were familiar to me already from her instagram, and some of which are new, ranges from silly to profound. There's often a punchline at the end of each one, but some carry more profound heaviness. Throughout the book, there is a sting of hope, of romanticizing your life, of continuing despite the state of the world.
I found many lines to highlight that I want to come back to and think about, and bookmarked many poems to return to later.
Overall, I really enjoyed this (though it does feel quite millennial targeted, I might not recommend it to my reading friends of other generations) and I look forward to more!

“a book of poetry for people who didn’t even know they liked poetry” - raises hand…I’m not a huge fan…I dream about liking and writing poetry. Yes, this is the best poetry collection for people who don’t know they like poetry and those who love poetry. I absolutely loved these poems.

I texted one of my closest friend every 4-5 poems “You have to get this book when it is released” (she will verify). They cover what it is like being a woman who grew up in the 90s, to live through 2020 and beyond, and the patriarchy. I need a few (want?..no need) of the poems on posters for my office.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for a copy. I can’t wait for more readers to fall in love with this collection of poetry.

I am not a poetry person. But these poems were so down to earth and NOT pretentious. They were colorful, youthful, unique, interesting bite size candies for the mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book and am grateful to Lyndsay for showing me a modern way in which I could actually enjoy poetry.

I got an email requesting that I check out this poetry collection so I went for it! Some of these (I am looking at you, “Caretaking Notes”) made me feel so seen. Others left a little to be desired but I think that I may be a little on the younger millennial side to relate to some of the experiences. Overall, I enjoyed this collection. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Despite the title’s suggestion of brash hedonism, Lyndsay Rush’s "A Bit Much" feels like a book that is too self-conscious for its own good.

The collection’s MO seems to be the kind of instagram maximalism that prioritizes vibes at the expense of content. You know when you see an account that is perfectly curated as a feed but seems to lose its identity when you look at a single post? It’s like that. Most of these pieces hinge on the type of spur-of-the-moment pun that is funny only in its immediacy, and while they could serve as the foundation for a poem, they are quickly brushed aside with an “OMG I need to post this now!” bravado.

It’s disappointing because some of these starting points are very funny or very thoughtful in equal measure, but they get lost in the sheer magnitude of the collection and the inherent flimsiness of its constituent poems. If a handful of these pieces had been given a little more love and attention and published by themselves, I don’t doubt that they would be excellent. As it stands, the size of "A Bit Much" feels like an embarrassed way of insisting on poetry as aesthetic—a monument to prove that this is art—and I think there’s a stronger version that is trimmed down enough to allow the poems to stand with the bareness that invites critique or appreciation.

A poem can be anything. I just wish this collection seemed more confident in that.

There are moments of excitement that break through, such as the early “Tonight I’m Doordashing” and “Loving Each Otter,” or the late, titular poem. These are brash, almost egregiously laughing in the face of what a poem “should be,” and they are a delight as a result. They feel completely unconcerned with the “poetic” trappings or gestures towards relatability that litter many of the other pieces in the book. They are simply Rush writing as she pleases, and her willingness to indulge what people might consider “fluff” feels really meaningful—truly poetic. There’s a giddy momentum pulsing through these poems and a few others throughout the book, and they feel like glimpses of the brilliance that clearly undergirds the poet’s work. I mean, there’s a line about the Brave Little Toaster that made me smile like an idiot, and I want everyone to read it. It's so blatantly joyous, and it takes a rare poet to pull that off as successfully as Rush does. Likewise, I actually think “Part III: When You Have Main Character Syndrome and Aren’t Looking for a Cure” would be an exceptional collection on its own—it just gets buried.

Poetry has room for Lyndsay Rush’s euphoric poetic voice, and I look forward to a future collection that doesn’t try so hard to elbow its way to a seat at the table. It's already open.

I'm gonna start out this review by specifying that I just don't think I was the target audience for this book. First off, I can't really blame the author for her age but this was VERY millennial from my perspective. Reminded me a lot of Gabbie Hanna style writing and that just isn't my thing. Poetry has been something I got really into in the last four-five years or so, and had no interest in before that, so it could just be that I'm pickier than most when it comes to the composition and form. Freeform is fine for poetry and I actually enjoy writing it myself, but it needs to have a certain flow to appeal to me. Additionally, while I was reading this book, only 2-3 poems really resonated with me at all, and most had me feeling like I was reading a shallow attempt to make some revelation that is already known by most. It was like reading mansplaining at times, because these are the same revelations people have been talking about and realizing for years. I think there was a lack of depth here that could have been better explored with other styles. I can see why the author was successful on social media, and this book has the potential to do well with that same older demographic on social media, but this is not something I can see interesting the younger people on social media or those who read quite a bit, because I think for them it will fail to resonate or strike any kind of chord. I think focusing on marketing this to an older audience would do it a lot of good.

A Bit Much - I could have kept reading for hours. I savored each page. Lyndsay Rush has created something special here.

I absolutely loved this book of poetry and thoughts. It's what ALL OF US women are thinking and was so relatable. I teared up and laughed, sometimes within the same poem. I adored it!

If my husband hadn’t arrive home to see me - crying, smiling, cuddling with the dog - and whisked me away to the grocery store, I would have read this entire book in one sitting. Make that, 3 times in one sitting. Lyndsay Rush has a way with words that relate to the human experience unlike any other. Some days the feelings are feeling and we don’t have a way of deciphering them. This wonderful book of poems helps, a lot. It is true that this book is for those who don’t yet know that they love poems. So literally, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Thank you very much, to Lyndsay Rush, and to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

An accessible and entertaining collection of poems with a casual and modern flair.

This was a quick and enjoyable read and I loved how the poems were organized into four parts/current or desired moods.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

The title sparked the interest for me in this book and Lyndsay didn’t disappoint with this delightful collection of poetry. Her words made me giggle and took me back to times in my own life where I could relate to the words on the page. A great read for all the poetry lovers.

I don’t read many books of poetry but this intrigued me. I’m so pleased with the writing and how entertaining each section was. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Bit Much by Lindsay Rush is a debut collection that joyfully celebrates life in all of its messy glory. From the very first lines, I felt as if I was being truly seen. The entire collection is so relatable and witty, and each verse successfully endeavours to take the reader on an unfiltered journey toward self-love and acceptance. The cover is also fabulous, it must be said. @maryoliversdrunkcousin has just gained a new follower.

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