Make Believe is a modern "poetry" collection that just feels like all the other poetry that is getting published these days and I'm feeling over it. I would like to see something different coming out in the poetry world.

I was unfamiliar with Hutchins before reading this lovely collection. We tend not to read poetry these days, which is too bad, Take these poems, which move through the phases of life, one at a time to savor the language and appreciate the message Hutchins is sending. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC. For fans of both poetry and Hutchins.

I am not usually one for poetry of any kind but I adored this so much. It is so gorgeous written and I cannot wait for the book to be officially released so I can post quotes because I highlighted so much in my arc copy. I very rarely highlight in books and I was highlighted so many lines because this book was beautiful and so many lines were so impactful and I will be thinking about this book for the rest of time. It is getting bought as soon as it comes out because I need to share with the world this book. I need to get everyone I know a copy of this because of how much I loved it

I enjoyed this collection and think it will be perfect for those who are just getting into poetry! I like the themes and that I could understand and relate to most of it. There are quite a few poems that I really liked, but a lot of it was just ok/not as memorable. I think it could have been shortened and still gotten its point across.

My favorite poems were:
- welcome to the world
- come out, come out, wherever you are
- birthday cake recipe (feeds none)
- shapeshifter
- what peace weighs
- let her eat cake
- reasons to stick around for a while
- that’s cringe
- object permanents
- things I don’t say to strangers I used to know
- for the one you don’t know how to help
- playing god
- what heaven spells like
- don’t save joy for last

I also enjoyed the passage “Open the door when pain knocks, but leave the porch light on for joy.” And “We forget: From outside the cocoon, it looks like nothing is happening.”

When I heard that The Daily Victorian was writing a poetry book I didn't imagine that I'd actually be approved for it. I've had two of her poems saved on insta for God knows how long and they've helped me through so much that I was fully planning on just getting the book in March.

I guess I'll be getting the audiobook then.

The five star review is a good summary of what I feel for this book; I adore it. I read some of the poems while having a cry. I needed a bit of hope and something to keep going; and I'll keep coming back to them. Victoria Hutchins says all the things I used to believe in when I had hope. It feels like a hug in a book.

I will say that you should check out some of her poems on insta before reading the book or even just go for the audiobook directly. Being able to read them in her voice does help a lot.

Thank you NetGalley and Convergent books for the chance to read and review this ARC!

Was so happy to get the e-ARC of this poetry collection, as I am a huge fan of the author's wonderful hopeful social media presence! I loved the second person narration. Interesting reflections on childhood/ girlhood and how we can keep those versions of ourselves alive. Would be a great collection for people getting into poetry. Overall a great pick me up collection.

I am newly getting into poetry as I have seen some collections on bookstagram and have found myself really resonating and expanding my thoughts by them. This is the first poetry book I have read and it did not disappoint. This is a beautiful collection of reflection on childhood, on what was lost along the way, and of nostalgia. It really made me reflect on some many self beliefs and and "shoulds". This book gives messages of healing and self discovery, and finding joy and I think we could all use that in today's world. Thank you so much to the author for sharing her words with us. Thank you to the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this. I look forward to having a physical copy on my shelf some day.

Make Believe is a beautiful collection of poems that takes you through a journey through life. First we start out asking ourselves to bottle up the magic and wonder of youth, then move to awkwardness of growing up. Eventually the collection comes around to thoughts about Heaven and even Death. While it is often very difficult to connect with EVERY poem in a collection, this collection, as if reflects on life, likely has something for everyone.

There are several themes through ought the collection including the questioning of religion, sexuality, performative womanhood, growing up in the digital age and the meaning of life. If you are someone interested in exploring the these ideas, I would recommend giving this collection a read. Again, some poems didn't land as hard as others for me, but I tend to expect that when I'm reading a collection. I pull out what resonates and leave the rest for someone else to love.

Personally, I found that these poems were well written, poignant, and became my overall favorites;
1. Sugarcoat
2. It's not too late
3. is the party dead already
4. shapeshifter
5. so relatable
6. you can work when you're dead
7. same love. different language

Overall, I enjoyed Hutchins' take on these deep and meaningful topics and her use of metaphor throughout her work. While there were entries that did not resonate directly with me, I hope that the intended audience finds those pieces.

I don't read a lot of poetry, but I follow Victoria Hutchins on social media and love her thoughts on life so I was hopeful I'd like her book of poetry, too.

I didn't just like it, though, I loved it. The poems in Make Believe touch on mental health, body image, falling in (and out of) love, sexuality and so much more. They're thoughtful, heartfelt and sometimes even a bit dark, but never without hope.

If you've ever felt nostalgic for what was, heartbroken, lost, or confused about who you are or your place in this world, then this book is for you. I bookmarked and highlighted so many of the poems and I'll be going back to this book over and over again.

Favorite quote: "I have so much to do, you always say. But the doing always gets done. It's the living you should keep an eye on."

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for providing this book for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I recently read a book of poems that was empowering and a little angry. It felt like that was what this was trying to be but came off as someone with depression venting. Having said that, I feel like when I was depressed, I might have found this more relatable/likable but at this point in my life I did not relate to these poems and found it hard to read.

this book?? highlight-worthy as heck. i swear i was fighting for my life not to underline every other sentence. victoria hutchins has this way of making you feel like she’s sitting next to you, reading your mind, and putting your exact emotions into words. it’s not the kind of poetry that tries to be all deep and complicated—it’s simple, raw, and relatable in a way that hits straight to the chest. like, ow.

what to expect:
✔️ nostalgia & childlike wonder
✔️ soft existential crises (but in a hopeful way)
✔️ poetry that feels like a hug
✔️ themes of healing, self-discovery & joy

the poems feel like diary entries—sometimes messy, sometimes repetitive, but always honest. there were a few that confused me, a few that felt like they were saying the same thing in different ways, but honestly? i didn’t mind too much.

if you’re in a weird place in life, feeling lost, or just need a little reminder that hope still exists, this book is for you. nothing extravagant, nothing overly profound—just simple, beautiful words that remind you to believe again.

thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publishing team for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Final review to come in the future, maybe, but here's the short of it at 3am after finishing Make Believe.

Sometimes you come across something at the right time, and it makes you cry and feel like the world isn't quite so unsightly and impossible. That was this little book of poetry.

Like most (if not all) poetry there were lots of poems that didn't resonate for me, but there were a few that did and that is special. The whole experience was consistent - easy but not inane. I have had a difficult time with poetry from "instagram poets". I find Rupi Kaur's poetry atrocious, for example. This was a risk but it paid off in pleasantness. There's nothing groundbreaking; it's not going to echo in your mind as poetry that changed the words and the world because of it. But, it might just make you take a breath and feel the air there and be in the moment, and that's enough.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Convergent Books for a free e-arc of this title in exchange for a review.

I really enjoy how nostalgic this book makes me feel! Would definitely recommend reading, fast paced and enjoyable

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely read TWs before reading, mention of eating disorders, body image, etc.

Overall I loved the feminist and body-positive prose in this book. Some of the poems will definitely stick with me for a long time such as “unbiting the apple,” about the creation of women, “natural remedies” on body image, and “digital whiplash” on the constant stream of information we’re getting.

I also loved the perspective on God outside of being a man, etc. and what that can look like from a spirituality perspective.

Definitely would recommend, especially for someone in their 20s going through it (as someone in their 20s going through it).

These poems really got me thinking. I enjoyed the way it was written, and some of the poems really caught my attention and felt relatable.

Sentí que quizá alguien más podría apreciar este libro de poesía más que yo. Aunque me gustó bastante el trasfondo de esperanza que se transmite y cómo la colección evoluciona desde la infancia hasta la adultez, hubo algo que no logró engancharme del todo. La obra me hizo reflexionar sobre cómo la vida realmente me ha cambiado y cómo, si logro recordar toda la maravillosa esperanza que tenía en aquel entonces, tal vez podría encontrar más razones para disfrutar de las pequeñas alegrías de mi presente. Sin embargo, algunos pasajes se sintieron un poco demasiado nostálgicos o idealizados, lo que en ocasiones hacía difícil conectar plenamente con las emociones que el autor intentaba transmitir.

It has been such a long time since I related so closely to a book of poems like I did to Make Believe by Victoria Hutchins. Make Believe managed to be both nostalgic and hopeful, deep and uplifting, and beautiful and yet still dealt with ugly topics. It touches topics such as religion, body image, heartbreak, falling in love, sexuality, guilt and jealousy. Even if you don't read poetry, please read this book if you've ever questioned life and where you belong. I definitely will be going back to this book, and will be purchasing a shelf trophy once it releases.

Favorite passage: "Welcome to the world. You're going to get hurt here, and then you'll beg for seconds: Can I have just a few more seconds?"

I received an ARC from Netgalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful debut collection of poems from Victoria Hutchins, full of hope, nostalgia, and resolve. Several poems brought back childhood and teenage memories, and echoed many of my sentiments about love and the divine.

I liked Hutchins' writing style, which evoked the poetry of Joy Sullivan, a favorite poet of mine. I also liked how the poems were organized in the book. I wished that there was more variety in the style of poetry she wrote. Most poems were essay-style, and it would have been nice to have had the other styles sprinkled in throughout the book instead of reserved for the last two chapters. A few poems seemed a little wordy and could have been whittled down further to make the meaning more concise.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this lovely collection, which comes out in March 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a beautiful collection of poetry. I’m not sure how Victoria Hutchins seemed to capture the thoughts of my mind and soul, but she did.

In fact, much of it resonated so deeply that I needed to immediately share it with my husband.

In Unbiting the Apple, I was captivated by these lines:
“You know how when Eve bit the apple, she suddenly became aware she was naked and felt ashamed? What was your biting-the-apple moment? The moment when you were taught your body is something to be ashamed of.”
So many women have a love/hate of their body, so many people altogether, but where did we learn that? Someone had to tell us that.

The poems about sticking around, when all you want to do is die, were some of the most powerful. Because yes sometimes the reason to stay is an advent calendar, a package in the mail, or something small. Sometimes we have to start there to build up again.

Her poems about the bisexual experience will make so many feel seen and heard. I consider myself demisexual more than anything else, but would be inclusive of bi as well. My husband is bi. The concept of bi-erasure is so big. You painted the beauty of it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has felt like they didn’t belong. I’m sure you will find yourself in its pages.

This poetry collection just had me in tears throughout the read. I’ve never had too many poems make me cry. I think everyone should read this 10/10