Thank you to NetGalley and Mariss Ijaz for supplying me with an ARC copy of The Broken Few.

The Broken Few is an emotional and impactful poetry collection that I am going to hold close to my heart for a long time. I see my own mental health struggles on these pages and it’s a validating feeling to see your feelings put into words when you couldn’t. I feel the solidarity and even companionship to know I’m not alone. I received my copy as an e-arc and I will be buying a physical copy- which I don’t do very often. I’m already in anticipation to read it again and be able to annotate. I am a person to reflect on the pain in the their life to cope through it, but, please be aware of the trigger warnings before reading, including self harm and suicidal ideation.

Overall, the poetry was alright. However, the formatting of the work was extremely hard to get past. The work felt very 2015 Tumblr era. I enjoyed that the author discussed mental health in a way that truly seemed to be personal and made it their own. This made it more interesting to read and enjoy. It has been a while since I read poetry books and was so excited to jump into this one. Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me.

This collection has 'you are not alone' weaved throughout every line and every poem.
Warning for emotional trauma, depression, anxiety and struggles with mental health.
Ijaz has written a gorgeous and deeply personal set of poetry that leaves you lingering on so many lines, applying your own experiences to her verses. I read and paused and re-read several of these because they captured the darkest of feelings such as 'we all feel alone together'.. She has constructed this collection in a way that shows how un-linear the process of healing can be.
A beautiful and aching work of poetry.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐰 is one of those poetry books that wraps its arms around you and says, “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.” 💔➡️❤️ The raw honesty on every page is a reminder that recovery isn’t a straight line—it’s a chaotic, messy, 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 journey of highs and lows.

This story doesn’t sugarcoat what healing looks like, and honestly, that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s a much-needed reminder that while the road is tough, it’s also filled with moments of hope, self-discovery, and strength. 🌱💪🏼

The author’s vulnerability creates a 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 where you feel seen, heard, and understood. It’s proof that even in our brokenness, we can find the courage to glue ourselves back together piece by piece. 🧩✨ Because here’s the truth: 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 💕

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for my ARC! ✨🫶🏼

This was just not good. None of this can be considered poetry. Please get a tumblr.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this

This collection addresses the nuances and simultaneously blunt aspects of mental health. The female lens through which the reader sees the effects is profoundly effective. I do wish the form was a bit easier to follow sometimes, but overall I liked this a lot.

Overall a really nice poetry book. I’ve dipped in and out of it since being approved, as I prefer to do with poetry. It has been a lovely, emotional book to have on hand whenever I want a little burst of emotion and acceptance of myself

I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. It was beautifully written and I related to many of the poems. I think this will be enjoyed by many as it delves into the emotions and experiences of mental illness. I look forward to read more from the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cherish Editions for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

“The Broken Few” is a very personal and unflinching collection of poetry about mental illness, trauma and recovery that deeply resonated with me. I loved the writing style and how the author wrote about her struggles with mental health and would highly recommend this collection, but please note that the poems can be very heavy and potentially triggering at times.

Publishing date: 27.06.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Cherish Editions for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: Gnawing on my thoughts
The book left me: Feeling a little sad

Negatives:
Poems can be very heavy, those who has a tendency to relapse should be careful

Positives:
Very emotional and raw
Relatable subjects
Made me feel a lot

Features:
Poems that can span two pages or just a single line, subject matter that can get very heavy, themes of mental health and relationship (both positive and negative), raw emotions that will make you feel things

Why did I choose this one?
Poetry that explores emotions can be so touching and great. The title alone was enough to know this would be a spiral into emotion-land. The cover also speaks volumes to me and fits the subject matter great.

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Devourable. I ate this book up. It was almost like getting obsessed with something and not being able to stop engaging with it. It was hit after hit after hit.

What was the vibe and mood?
This collection is incredibly sad, depressing, and emotional. I would suggest those who are a little more sensitive to these things to take so caution before reading. I felt myself relapsing a little into old thoughts while reading, and I am not the most sensitive to these things out there.

Final ranking and star rating?
A tier, 4 stars. Great little collection. Made me feel things, and that's all that these collections need to do to get my approval. I would recommend this up down and sideways, but as mentioned, be aware of the heavy subject matter.

Beautiful collection of very raw and emotional poems. Some just one line, others a bit longer.

I blasted through this in one sitting but I probably could have taken a bit more time as I think the poems can be quite heavy.

I love the way the whole book was told as a story through poems.

The Broken Few by Mariss Ijaz is a raw and unflinching collection of poetry and prose that delves deep into the often-taboo subjects of mental health. The work bravely tackles anxiety, self-destructive behaviors, borderline personality disorder, hormonal disturbances, paranoia, and the impact of dysfunctional families, offering readers a candid exploration of these challenging topics.

Ijaz's writing is both poignant and stark, capturing the complexities of living with mental illness in a way that feels both personal and universal. The collection doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of mental health, and this honesty is where its strength lies. Each piece feels like a window into the author's soul, giving voice to experiences that are often silenced or misunderstood.

However, the intensity of the subject matter can make the collection a heavy read. The unrelenting focus on the darker sides of the human psyche may be overwhelming for some readers, and the lack of lighter moments or resolutions could leave one feeling emotionally drained. That said, for those who are looking for literature that reflects the reality of mental health struggles without sugar-coating, The Broken Few is a powerful and necessary work.

While the prose is sometimes uneven, with certain pieces resonating more than others, the overall impact of the collection is undeniable. Ijaz's ability to articulate the pain, confusion, and isolation that comes with mental illness is both compelling and deeply moving.

The Broken Few is not an easy read, but it is an important one. It provides a voice to those who often feel voiceless, and for that reason alone, it deserves attention. It’s a collection that will resonate with anyone who has faced similar struggles or who seeks to understand the inner workings of a troubled mind.

This was a beautiful poetry collection about mental health and relationships.
While not every poem spoke to me, most of them did make me feel things and I did highlight quite a few quotes that I related to a lot.
Sadly, the copy I got had bad formatting, which led to sometimes not being able to distinguish where a poem ended and the next one began, but I assume (and hope) this was fixed before publication.
All in all a really good collection of poetry that is well worth a read.

i.. wow. i have to just start by saying wow. the immense honestly, raw emotions, and truth in this book hit me in my heart in a way i didn’t know it would. this book spoke to me on a level deeper than any other. thank you, net galley for the arc. i absolutely adored every second, every word, every detail in this poetry book. i will absolutely be buying a copy for my shelf.

This was a very relatable collection of poetry. The proms drew you in and made you feel seen. Especially if you have struggled with mental health issues or addiction before. I was really captivated by how the poems were written and how easy they were to follow. They definitely make you feel less alone. And I very strongly think that these poems will help people.
Thanks to netgalley and Cherish Editions for the arc.

I adored this author's poetry. I found many if the poems within this collection were ones I could connect with and relate to. From toxic family dynamics and wholesome found family relationships, this poetry book is perfect for readers with similar life themes.

I honestly love poetry that is accessible and this book was brilliant for that.

It covered a lot of mental health disorders in a very respectful way I thought. I have GAD and found those poems particularly relatable

Many of these lines/poetries were really good, emotional and touching.
I would recommend reading this for sure.

"I don't think people understand how distressing it is to live with an illness that gives you answers to questions you didn't ask and questions to answers you don't have."
-generalised anxiety disorder.

"just because someone's battle scars are self-inflicted does not make them any less valid."

A lot of these felt like one-line MySpace updates- very Tumblr coded. However, some of the lines could have been woven into longer form potery and would have been effective. But as it is, it feels unfinished. Most of the 'poems' are one line/two lines a d don't feel like poetry. Most of the prose is quite waffle-y and unedited. It feels like the whole things needs to have a few more drafts but the premise is there (?)
There was one that stood out for me - "Those rare moments..." On page 17.
I also thoroughly enjoyed that monies will be donated to several mental health charities - would possibly suggest helpline numbers to be included due to the heavy nature of the context.

This book was an emotional roller coaster ride for me. It was very relatable to an extent to me. Reading this brought literal tears to my eyes. I finished this off in a day, but had to take breaks since it was so overwhelming for me.
The writing style was raw, in a good way. There were diary entries as well, so it's just not poetry. The language is simple as well, so a beginner might also find it interesting to read.
Please beware before picking this up, it contains distressful elements such as suicide, depression, insomnia and anxiety.