"She Followed the Moon Back to Herself" is an autobiographical standalone poetry collection that follows a woman's journey of self-discovery. Amidst heartbreak, struggles, and life's messiness, she felt lost and disconnected from her true self. Each bite-sized poem illuminates her experiences and how she overcame them, offering hope and a touch of magic to readers joining her on this journey back to herself.

This was my first book by Amanda Lovelace, and I have fallen in love with her poetry! Not only were these poems written so beautifully, but they resonate with so many people for so many different reasons. These poems make you feel like you're getting encouragement from a friend! The book contains simple yet meaningful words that convey lessons of pain, resilience, and triumph. It serves as a reminder that individuals have the inner strength to overcome challenges and save themselves. I fell in love with the cover and fell even more in love with the work behind the cover!

I have been following Amanda since her self publishing days. To say I am obsessed with her writing is probably an understatement. Each poem has a way to radiate with the reader to make them think and feel. While her writing isn’t always technical, it’s raw and it real. Which is what makes her incredibly talented at connecting to her readers.

Amanda Loveless has a special place in my heart ever since I grabbed her first book by chance at a local bookstore. Her poetry continues to be awe-inspiring and relatable. She mentions at the beginning of the book that the collection of poems in her newest book comes from a poetry challenge. While I love it, you will notice that there isn't an overarching theme unlike her other collections. I couldn't get into this book as easily as her other ones mainly because the tone of each poem was different and the content/overarching themes changed from one page to the next. Love the concept behind this collection, but I do find it easier to get into a book when you know what the expect.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying the cover and artwork are stunning. They capture the essence of Lovelace and her writing exceptionally well. The author greets you with a gentle trigger warning as the poems bring up difficult topics with raw honesty, something i appreciated as a reader. Lovelace shares her healing story of accepting and finding themselves, and you follow the author in her journey of self-acceptance within topics such as body image, trauma, and religion. However, while the poems expressed the empowering feelings of self-acceptance, they felt at times too shallow to resonate with me.

I had no difficulties with her empowering story; but most often than not it felt elongated. some poems had minuscule differences with each other and felt at times.. repetitive. with this said, this collection wasn't for me. if you feel like you would like to delve deeper into the struggles of being a woman and how to save yourself, i would recommend reading her prior poem collections.

I LOVE Amanda and have almost all of their books on my shelf already, so it was super exciting to have this as an ARC!

As always, Amanda has put together a real, raw, vulnerable and true collection of poetry. Some hit hard, and were extremely relatable. This specific collection felt like a weight of their shoulders and im so glad they shared this!

Definitely recommend the read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher & Author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Years ago I read Amanda Lovelace's debut poetry collection. I liked some of the concepts, but it didn't truly resonate with me. Still, it's been a long time and nine other poetry books since then, so I decided to give it another go and see if we can find common ground. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Poetry is hard to review because it's even more subjective than prose. I also recognize that this book of poems was personal and probably cathartic for the author to write, and that comes across pretty obviously. The overall message/theme is that of self-love, confidence, and not caring what others think of you. And also killing your enemies with kindness. And also being happy in your fat body (those were actually some of my favorite poems).

But I didn't vibe with it. I'm definitely not a purist who says that "true" poetry must rhyme or have a fixed structure, but I do expect some kind of rhythm or musicality. Often these poems felt to me like simple, a bit clichéd sentences with line breaks. I couldn't truly feel either the poetry or the originality, and after this book I think it's better for both of us if I accept that Amanda Lovelace doesn't write poetry I personally resonate with.

I liked the illustrations at the beginning and end of the book, though.

I was super excited to read this! Due to the trigger warnings, I was unable to read this. Thank you so much Amanda for listing the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book!

Thank you NetGalley, Amanda and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you to Amanda Lovelace, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "she followed the moon back to herself" for an honest review. Lovelace is one of the great confessional poets of our age, and I am so glad to be here at the dawn as Amanda returns to her memoir-based poetry and closes the chapter on all her fairytale series. I was glad to see her owning so many of the demons that have touched her internet words at times, but also the triumphant reclamation of her space, her body, her marriage, her right to her voice in her writing. Bravi. I loved it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!*

Unfortunately, this poetry collection is not for me. To be perfectly honestly, I don’t think that this collection is very well-written or meaningful. I could have seen any one of these poems on Tumblr circa 2007-2016. The entire collection took me about 20 minutes to read and I didn’t find a single one that had any sort of depth or meaning beyond the surface level picture. It seems to me that this collection was published because of name & popularity rather than the merit of the work being published, which does seem to be a recent trend.

If you enjoy this collection or find connection in it, I’m happy for you. But this read to me like a teenagers journal entry first attempts at poetry, not a successful, well-known poet.

Amanda Lovelace’s works have always made me feel less alone and greatly inspired, she followed her self back to the moon was no exception to that.
Very early on into reading this collection I could tell that this was going to become a favourite of mine.
This collection brings Lovelace’s work into a more self-assured and mature light then previous volumes.
She followed herself back to the moon is self aware yet still gentile, kind and understanding to her past and traumas.
Reading this collection felt like giving a hug to ones younger self, a love letter sent to your younger self who didn’t quite understand herself yet, who felt alone, and scared.
She follows her self back from the moon is a display of living life past the expiration date you had set and finding beauty in the life that exists beyond your breaking point.
This collection touches upon topics such as body image, self acceptance, depression, anxiety, heartbreak, womanhood, spirituality, Grieving, being Queer, and finding success in such a delicate yet bold and mystical way.
The art scattered throughout the book was the perfect touch to this collection. The art is gorgeous and it perfectly encapsulates the feelings the poetry brings to the reader.

The one thing I can say I didn’t fully enjoy was the occasional use of slang and cuss words tended to feel ill fitting and unnecessary. It made an other wise good poem feel messy and incomplete.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC copy of Amanda Lovelace's newest collection! First, I loved the vibes and theme of this collection, the colors, the moths, and the artwork were all beautiful. I found myself really relating to the first half of the collection, and it lost me a little in the second half, however, I still enjoyed the poems overall. Really excited to see Amanda back with a new collection! She is one of my favorite poets. Can't wait to see the finished copy in person and pick up my own! Overall, I gave this collection 3.75 stars.

she followed the moon back to herself is the most recent poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace.
 
I also really enjoy this author‘s poetry and the poems always feel very honest and relatable and that was the case here as well. This poetry collection follows a woman going through life and a lot of experiences like heartbreak. It was done in a way that you as the reader feel seen while simultaneously being uplifting and I really liked that. Some of my favorite poems include she’s been her own sanctuary all along, luna and that’s enough for her. I also really loved the formatting and illustrations that fitted the poems perfectly.
 
she who followed the moon back to herself is a poetry collection infused with life, hope and a sprinkle of magic and I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

I liked this poetry collection, I didn't connect to any of the poems in it, unfortunately. However, I think it is well written and will still recommend it to people.
I have loved this author's things before so I will continue to read her stuff.

Thank you Netgally, Andrews McMeel publishing, and the author Amanda Lovelace for providing this ARC.

Amanda Lovelace’s latest poetry collection is a beautifully raw and heartfelt journey of self-discovery and healing. In She Followed the Moon Back to Herself, Lovelace explores themes of love, loss, and finding your way back after life’s challenges. Her words are simple yet powerful, resonating with anyone who’s ever felt lost or broken.

While some poems may feel familiar to longtime readers of Lovelace, this collection still shines with its honest reflection of personal growth. The accompanying artwork adds another layer of emotion, making it an uplifting read that many will return to for comfort and inspiration. Fans of her previous work and new readers alike will find something to connect with in this book.

Amanda Lovelace’s latest poetry collection, She Followed the Moon Back to Herself, is an incredibly beautiful and raw portrayal of the modern woman’s experience in 2024. Known for her powerful and evocative writing, Lovelace once again delivers a masterful work that explores themes of heartbreak, healing, and the journey toward self-love.

This collection dives deep into the everyday struggles faced by women today—whether it’s societal pressures, emotional turmoil, or the process of reclaiming one's identity. Lovelace’s words resonate with readers, making each poem feel personal yet universally relatable. She captures the emotional spectrum of a woman's life with such honesty that it's impossible not to find pieces of yourself in her work.

What sets this book apart is its unique blend of lyricism and storytelling. Lovelace’s poems flow effortlessly, inviting the reader into her world of vulnerability and strength. The way she uses simple yet profound language creates a rhythm that makes the book hard to put down.

Equally captivating is the striking artwork that accompanies the poetry. The illustrations are not merely decorative but integral to the overall experience of the book, enhancing the emotional impact of the words. Each piece of art seems to mirror the emotions in the poetry, making the book not just a reading experience but a visual journey as well.

She Followed the Moon Back to Herself is both a celebration and a meditation on the complexity of womanhood. It's a book that encourages reflection and invites readers to embrace their own personal struggles with grace and self-compassion. A delight from start to finish, this collection is a testament to Lovelace’s talent and a must-read for anyone who enjoys poetry that is heartfelt, raw, and deeply empowering.

Simply put, I couldn’t put it down.

Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. And equally as heartbreaking.

This little book of poetry feels like we are given a little window into Amada's soul and I feel like we can all relate to at least a handful of her words. It truly felt like this book was placed in front of me right when the universe needed me to hear some of these poems and if that was the point - to provide a companion and validation for our inner thoughts and feelings - then Amanda Lovelace hit the nail on the head!
The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning as well, I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this to display and tab my favorite pieces that really resonated with me.

All in all, this book give divine feminine energy and I have already reached for it multiple times as a comfort read and I can guarantee I'll be recommending it absolutely everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amanda Lovelace for the ARC in return for my honest thoughts.

I used to love Amanda Lovelace. In 2017 when I was going through some incredibly tough times, Amanda's poetry brought me solace and made me feel less alone. I read volume after volume, always preferring it over the more "mainstream" Rupi Kaur. So when I saw Amanda Lovelace had a new collection coming out and it was available to request on Netgalley, I was thrilled.

I hadn't read any of Amanda's work for a few years and I was hoping to experience more of the same fondness and comfort in her words. What I failed to take into account I guess is the passage of time and how my own tastes have matured. It's been seven years since Amanda's debut work and yet 'she followed the moon back to herself' follows the exact same formulas and shows a rather alarming lack of sophistication and development on Lovelace's part.

I was unfortunately taken aback by the immature and frankly, juvenile style of writing. For a poet now in her thirties, I had hoped to see some semblance of evolution from her early days but this collection read like some angsty teenage Tumblr post circa 2007. Half the book was a wallpaper-style repeat graphic so the actual collection took me about 15 minutes to read. It was shallow and lazy and I sadly believe that it's work like this that gives poetry a bad name and is why many poets struggle to be taken seriously.

I'm disappointed to have to give such a harsh review but I honestly hoped for much much more than this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Lovelace’s She Followed The Moon Back To Herself offers another beautifully crafted collection of poetry, showcasing her signature style of raw emotion and authenticity. This collection leans more into themes of healing and empowerment, with an uplifting tone that stands apart from some of her previous, more somber works.

However, while the poems are undeniably well-written and thoughtful, I found myself struggling to connect with them in the same way I have with Lovelace’s earlier collections. Her poetry still carries that familiar sense of vulnerability and strength, but for me, it lacked the deeper resonance that her past works have often invoked.

Despite this, Lovelace’s gift for weaving words remains apparent, and I’m sure this collection will deeply resonate with many readers, especially those seeking hope and self-discovery. While it may not be my favorite of her works, it still embodies the qualities that make Lovelace’s poetry so beloved.

I will always pick up a book written by Amanda Lovelace. I loved that we can see her identity growth; even if you haven't experienced the same things, the writing is easily digested and relatable. I did like their fairytale trilogy more, but I loved the self-accepting light this book was written with.

The poetry in this book was soooo good! I have a few of her other books and absolutely loved them! Amanda Lovelace is an auto buy for me! Thank you Netgalley!