My only previous experience of Trista Mateer's poetry is from Dragonhearts, her 2019 collaboration with Nikita Gill and Amanda Lovelace. I absolutely adored that collection, so was excited to get the opportunity to review Small Ghost ahead of its rerelease.

The collection deals with issues including depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation, so I knew it wasn't going to be an easy read, but it was engrossing, and I read almost all of it in one sitting, finishing off the final few poems later the same day. I found some of the earlier poems highly relatable, conveying perfectly the sense of loneliness, feeling of invisibility, and the loss of self that can result from a depressive episode. The arc of the collection follows a descent into deep depression and the gradual rise into hope, a hope of recovery, or perhaps even just the hope of *wanting* recovery. It feels real, and raw and powerful. Even more so when considered alongside Lauren Zaknoun's beautifully moody and evocative photography, and Mateer's own illustrations, peppered throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

Thank you to Trista Mateer, Central Avenue Publishing, Central Avenue Poetry, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Small Ghost" for an honest review. I have adored everything that I've found by Mateer, and this was no outlier. While this was a little different, and surprising, it was so rewarding to follow the arc of 'small ghost' from its hiding and invisible self to the one that was starting to claim more space for itself in the world (both metaphorically inside itself and physically outside of its house). I found this very moving and inspiring.

Cute and sad and relatable. All things I like in my poetry. And I LOVE a short poetry collection that I can revisit and re-consume over and over again. I think this one will find a permanent place on my shelf.

This is an updated and expanded version of the original 2015 chapbook, with a lot of art and photos. It’s basically a sort of stream of consciousness long poem where Mateer feels like a ghost haunting her own life. I appreciated the evolution towards hope at the end. I enjoyed it. TW depression, partial nudity, suicidal ideation, grief.

I read a digital ARC of the 2024 version via netgalley.

This discusses struggling with mental health and overcoming the effects of it along with falling back into old patterns. I thought it was very good and I loved the inclusion of photos and other art. It added to the reading experience.

Just finished this book, and wow, I needed that. Mateer writes in such a relatable way about times in life that are hard to get through; this collection covers going through an episode of depression and getting to the other side, and I'm basically trying to do that in my life now, so this felt very cathartic, very "hey here's another person who has feels like me, I'm not so alone," y'know? It's so helpful to know there are others who "get" all the unexplainable stuff that's so hard to put into words!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I honestly loved this book and I really need to buy myself a copy to revisit as needed. This definitely will get multiple rereads.

#SmallGhost #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. While I didn't enjoy this as much as previous works, it still had a lot to offer. I loved the repetitiveness in their use of "Small Ghost". It made the collection feel more cohesive. All in all, a great work on anxiety and depression.

Small Ghost by Trista Mateer is one of those collections that makes you feel understood in the quietest, most comforting way. This blend of poetry, illustrations, and photography is a beautiful, 4-star read for me, especially because it nails that bittersweet mix of humor and vulnerability around mental health. Mateer has this unique way of making you feel like you’re not alone, even in the middle of the darker, more anxious days.

The poetry is super relatable, touching on those all-too-familiar feelings—panic attacks, the days when you’re just trying to keep your head above water, and the weird comfort you can find in simple moments. Mateer’s voice is conversational, like she’s talking directly to you, which makes the whole collection feel intimate and personal. The humor woven in is subtle but powerful; it feels like she’s saying, “Hey, I get it, and it’s okay to laugh at the absurdity of it all.”

What really sets Small Ghost apart are the visuals. Lauren Zaknoun’s photography and Mateer’s own illustrations add so much depth, giving each page an added layer of emotion and whimsy. It’s the kind of book you can get lost in—both the words and the art feel perfectly paired, adding texture to Mateer’s reflections on loneliness, hope, and the everyday struggles with mental health.

If you’ve ever felt adrift or just need a little reassurance, Small Ghost is a lovely read that offers solace without feeling heavy. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to keep close by, a reminder that you’re not alone in feeling all the things you do. For anyone who loves poetry that hits home with both heart and humor, this one’s worth picking up.

Oof, where do I begin with Small Ghost? To me, it's a little bit of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it is almost freakishly relatable for me. There have been multiple times in my life where I felt exactly like Small Ghost, and the one thing I felt persistently in those times was that I was alone. Completely alone with all of my feelings, all of them ultimately negative and blue. And I would have given absolutely anything to have this shoved into my hands, just so I could feel like my loneliness wasn't so neverending. I think that's what this book does really efficiently.

On the other hand, Small Ghost feels like a glorified collection of Tumblr posts, circa 2015. The poetry, the visual elements, all of it honestly felt like I was scrolling through somebody's sideblog that they kept for their sads. Which was okay, I mean, I had a Tumblr sideblog like that too, but I don't necessarily think that it ever made for actual literature of any value.

It's been a while since I read some poetry, and this was a quick but powerfully emotional read. I went on a journey with small ghost, navigating the nadir of depression and the slow upward climb to feeling better.

Having made that climb upward from incapacitating depression myself many years ago, I found this collection extremely recognizable and poignant. Mateer doesn't try to disguise any of the extremity of the experience: the emotional and physical mess, the blank hopelessness alternating with sudden sharp anguish, the weeping in the grocery store (that one made me laugh). But neither is the slow brightening of the horizon disguised, as small ghost begins to pull herself out, gives therapy and medication a chance, starts finding or noticing or concocting things to live for, just a little bit longer.

All this blunt poetry, which is so charming and emotional on its own, is paired with fascinating photography of small ghost—a figure in satiny bedsheet—and a wide variety of other art that grows softer and sweeter as the book progresses. The combined effect feels raw to me, unpolished in a very pleasing way, a project born out of the extremity of feeling rather than any abstract idea. It's so evocative of a similar time in my life, and provides such wholesome comfort too, without any tinge of shame.

Overall, a really honest, compassionate, humor-laden take on depression and grief and slow, gentle improvement.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Central Avenue Poetry and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of poetry highlights the debilitating and maddening of mental illness. It can be really difficult to explain to people the feeling of depression and suicidality when they’ve never experienced it for themselves, and this gave a good view of what it feels like in the midst of dark and deep parts of someone’s journey.

The art throughout the book was also very beautiful.

CW: suicidal thoughts, mental illness

I think the main thing stifling my enjoyment of this novel for me was that I actually thought for most of the story that the Small Ghost and the other character in poems not titled with 'Small Ghost' in it were two different characters. It kind of skewed my read a little bit.

But yeah, okay, this is a poetry collection about mental illness when it gets to its worst. Like, the point of view character just doesn't wanna be here anymore and feels as disattached from the world as a ghost itself.

I think, if I hadn't have finished this book all the way to the end, I would have felt very differently because it was the last quarter where psychology began to work, meds began to work and things started to get better. It wasn't an easy fix so much as an acknowledgment of an uphill climb back normalcy and finding out where her life is at now.

And that was cathartic as hell, not at all simplifying mental illness, yet still showing that healing can come.

A very real and raw collection of poems with a focus on depression and isolation. As someone who has dealt with my fair share of mental health hurdles, reading this felt like reading an old diary. The first half was a bit difficult to get through, but the second half allowed for a bit of hope. I'd recommend this for anyone who's felt like giving up, as a reminder that you are not alone and you are worth trying for.

absolutely adored this. phenomenally written and so incredibly real and raw. had to take pause a few times to let what was said really sink in. the additions of the photographs and graphics really added to it, it felt like i was reading a very person journal/scrapbook.

Reading Small Ghost is like sipping tea with a melancholic Casper—endearingly gloomy yet surprisingly comforting. Trista Mateer tackles depression and anxiety with a soft, ghostly touch that somehow makes your heart both heavy and light. The mix of heartfelt poems and vintage-spooky art gives this collection a Pinterest board come to life vibe. And there’s a dog at the end? Sold! A must-read for anyone who’s ever felt like a spectral introvert wrapped in a bedsheet, searching for a little warmth.

4.25⭐
Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read "Small Ghost". I had a lovely time with the book, I'm currently in a reading slump so I did struggle with Ms. Trista Mateer's work a little.
It was extremely relatable to read and that's something I really enjoy and appreciate, I highly recommend this short book, Small Ghost feels very much like a friend now that I've finished the book.

Once again- thank you Netgalley and Trista Mateer for the chance to read Small Ghost.

In “Small Ghost” by Trista Mateer, she reveals her raw, open, bleeding heart through her poetic and profound words. Through her poetry, you can feel her intense sadness and pain that’s experienced through depression and the isolation found in anxiety.

I was not prepared for the emotions I felt with a few of the poems that I found myself connecting with. Many of the others left me sad and empathic for the author’s suffering. However, I think I understand the meaning behind Mateer's “Small Ghost.” Depression and anxiety are not seen by others, but they are there following us around, like a small ghost, frightening us at times or showing up when we least expect it. And the ghost images throughout the book are wonderful!

Thank you, #NetGalley, #TristaMateer, and #CentralAvenuePublishing, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #SmallGhost.

This collection is a visceral insight into dark topics people find hard to face on a daily basis. Told through beautiful lyrical verse, these poems were relatable making them memorable and easy to refer back to when one feels like they need visual aid for how they are feeling. The poetry goes hand in hand with the images to create a book of life struggles that every reader can relate to.

This was one of the better poetry collections I've read. I also always love a theme throughout so I was really ahppy to see the commitment to this one.

These poems are for anyone who has felt depressed, alone or isolated - so almost everyone. There is a trigger warning in the beginning which is helpful for anyone who may not be ready to examine those emotions. These poems show that mo matter how much you feel like you're the only one feeling a certain way, you are not alone.