Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The poems themselves were fine but the formatting seems to be off. The title and author name was huge on every oage

These poems moved me. They made me want to cry sometimes.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so happy I ran into this poetry collection on Netgalley because I loved it! The title and cover first got my attention, but then I fell in love with the poems as well.
I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO by Raquel Franco is a poetry collection about grief, getting older, motherhood, womanhood, biracial identity, healing, learning, and so much more. It is comforting, meaningful, and relatable, and such a joy to read. It felt like reading a diary from a friend in the best way. The poems flowed and had the perfect balance of pretty writing and clear understanding.

The collection is filled with vulnerability and raw emotion, and it is sure to make you feel your own feelings deeply. It is honest and straightforward, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for poems that will make you feel less alone and a little better about life and the world. I can't wait for any collections Raquel Franco will write in the future.

Thank you for the ARC!

This collection seems to be designed to be accessible, which is both its strength and its drawback. The poems have a conversational, social media-friendly vibe that could appeal to newer poetry readers or those who prefer straightforward reflections that don’t require too much unpacking. There’s a lot of pop culture in here, including references to Taylor Swift fandom (which I’m not part of), and that contemporary feel might hit the mark for some, but I felt like I missed out on some of the references.

For me, the simplicity of the poems felt like a bit of a double-edged sword. While the themes of self-discovery, relationships, and aging are relatable, the execution often lacked the depth I was hoping for. A lot of the poems felt more like personal thoughts rather than fully developed pieces with lasting impact. If you’re looking for poetry that’s more thought-provoking or pushes boundaries, this might not be it, but if you're in the mood for something easy to relate to and reflective of everyday life, it could still be worth checking out.

I’ll cry if I want to is a hard hitting set of poems. Despite the relatable content, that covers numerous parts of life, the poems work more a spoken word. Regardless, I loved reading it.

A heartfelt exploration of womanhood, motherhood, mental health, and identity, this collection weaves together raw, honest reflections on life’s complexities. Through evocative poetry, it captures the joys and struggles of being biracial, the weight of grief, and the resilience found in vulnerability—offering readers a sense of solace and shared understanding.

The best way to describe this? A dainty, meandering collection of girly-girl musings on the joys and sorrows of womanhood. It’s light, but in a way that makes you feel seen. Not everything has to be deep—sometimes, a girl just wants to soak in the beauty of the everyday moments that make us who we are.

She touches on deep topics—marriage, motherhood, God, mental health, even periods—but instead of dwelling in heaviness, it feels like a gentle, grateful reflection. I loved that. As a proud girly girl myself, I absolutely ate up the appreciation and joy woven into every page.

If you're a self-proclaimed girl's girl, you’ll adore this. It’s got Barbie, Taylor Swift, and the best Lesley Gore sleepover vibes.

Thank you to the author for the cutest PR package I can’t wait to sit with these poems again.

Perfect for you if you like:
Taylor Swift
Feminine, introspective poetry with a light, reflective touch
Thoughtful musings on motherhood, marriage, faith, and mental health
A mix of gratitude, sentimentality, and everyday beauty
Cozy, feel-seen reads that don’t require emotional exhaustion
Soft, feminine aesthetics with a touch of melancholy

Similar to:
And Yet by Kate Baer
A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush (I have not read)

⚠️a couple illusions to explicit language

This book reminded me that I don't read enough poetry. I can go without poetry for months, but then suddenly a poetry collection comes along that sweeps me off my feet and reminds me that I love this!

This collection of modern poems can be read as a whole, as they are nicely connected in theme, language, and structure. But it is also the kind of poetry where you can open the book to any random page and just read, enjoy, and relate. I, for one, related very much to Raquel Franco's poems. The themes: womanhood, love in its good and bad forms, motherhood, friendship, the good days and the bad days, heartbreak, family, summer, the color pink, turning 40... It was as if these poems spoke directly to me, and I loved, loved, loved the entirety of this work. Franco's poems made me feel powerful, happy, sad, and all the feels in between.

If you haven't read poetry before but love Taylor Swift, this is a perfect entry into the world of poetry. I recommend this book to all women! I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this book, and I will buy a physical copy that I will read again and again.

I really enjoyed some of these poems, but a lot of them were just okay. Nothing really stood out to me as new or unique.

4/5 ⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Raquel Franco for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This feels like a collection of poems about the journey of settling. Not settling for something, but rather settling into yourself, your body, your relationship, etc. There’s a lot of good here with honest reflections on how life changes as you age, how relationships change when you add kids to the mix, your own relationship with your body, and just life as a woman. My own personal feelings on the poems were generally positive and I was able to relate to many of them, but I could have done without all of the religious aspects of many of the poems. That’s a personal choice and if I had known there was so much God-talk, I might not have requested it. I still recommend it though, hence the rating.

This is a great collection of poems around womanhood, motherhood, mental health, identity, her biracial experience and just life. She goes deep with some of them and lets us into her world. But also the joy of the above. She goes off other poems of poets, Taylor, and others that are a joy to also read. There are some religious undertones. And towards the end a little repetition happened, but overall look forward to more of Raquel’s work.

Overall, I didn’t like it. I found it extremely long, and we’re talking about poetry. Plus, "pretending", "salty tears" are words the author repeatedly uses throughout this compendium of poems, which started to feel like a loop. I would have kept the selection much shorter and removed the ones with a journaling taste. Here are the ones I enjoyed:
- Anniversary dinner
- Tell me you’re alone without telling me you’re alone: « We are pretenders wearing wedding bands »
- Things I leave behind
- Barbie girl
- Hazard signs
- No evidence

The illustrations are nice; I loved the cover and the bold title.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Raquel Franco for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was the second book I’ve read by Raquel. Her poems are well written, often relatable and enjoyable to read, I’d recommend her work to anyone who enjoys reading poetry

For fans of Kate Baer and Lyndsey Rush, Raquel Franco’s collection deals with the struggles of motherhood and womanhood with a touch of whimsy. I have seen more “serious” poets turn up their noses at this simpler, more earnest style, but I know I never would have gotten into poetry if I hadn’t had accessible poets like this to read, and I think Franco’s words will resonate with many woman and provide and entry point to poetry. Every so often she hits on the perfect image… and for the moments in between, I can’t help being delighted by the Taylor Swift references and sweet sentiments.

I'll Cry If I Want To by Raquel Franco is a beautiful poetry collection set to release next week, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Among the many short, flash-style poetry collections I've read, this one stands out for its depth and substance. These poems truly have more "meat on the bones," offering thoughtful reflections.

The collection explores themes of identity, family, friendships, love, aging, and ultimately the celebration of life. I’d definitely pick up more of her work in the future. This collection is perfect for curling up with on a cold January night, a warm cup of tea in hand, and a scented candle to set the mood.

This read like someone's Notes App.
I don't think poetry needs to be revolutionary to be touching. At the same time, I'm not interested in reading random people's Iphone Notes that sounded so deep at the moment but never got shaped into something worth sharing.
Maybe we all should start using personal diaries again and leave the world of poetry to those who have at least one friend with the guts to tell us if a thought we so need to let the world hear is, in fact, tired and uninspired. Let them be a filter. There are thousands of people out there who can express simple thoughts in a beautiful way, and this was not one of them.

I really enjoyed reading this work. As a young woman and as someone who enjoys modern poetry, I found this book to be really enjoyable. I found the Taylor Swift references to be easily understood and relatable. As someone who also has a child, I could relate at times. Some of the poems seemed a bit similar overall, but I was still enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend to my friends who enjoy this genre.

thank you to netgalley, central avenue publishing and author raquel franco for allowing me an epub of this book in exchange for an honest review and read.
personally, i didn’t like this much. it feels like another modern day poetry book with all the same tropes, and i didn’t really feel like it was done particularly strong.
the poems that shine in this collection are the nostalgic looks and i can feel the authors excitement and i really wish there was more of that. that was unique and fun. the book cover is fabulous.
thank you for the opportunity, this book comes out soon- january 21, 2025.

I really enjoyed and connected with this collection of poems. They encompass everything about womanhood, femininity, connecting with our inner feminine energy while also talking about issues that affect us and may be difficult to address. Some of my favorite poems were:

Im Done Adulting
What's In My Bag
When I Think Of Salt
Not Today
Body Love
Lost Appetite
Love And Regret
If I Lived In A House With No Mirrors
Portrait Of A Sunday
This Is Forty

"If they find you terrifying, let them be terrified"

"Decide that your reflection is not for counting flaws"

Highly recommend to everyone!

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful ARC!

Extremely accessible, at times a bit shallow, poetry that leans heavily on the Taylor Swift fandom. These poems didn't particularly speak to me, but I think for an audience new to poetry or who are looking for something super approachable and social media friendly this might work for them.

3/5

Raquel Franco's *I’ll Cry if I Want To* is a collection of poetry that dives into the raw emotions surrounding heartbreak, healing, and empowerment. Franco's writing is undeniably evocative, capturing moments of vulnerability and resilience with a poignant simplicity.

While some pieces resonated deeply, offering a sense of connection and solace, others felt overly familiar or difficult to relate to on a personal level. The recurring themes of self-discovery and emotional independence are powerful, but at times the collection leaned heavily on universal tropes, making some poems feel less distinctive.

That said, Franco's ability to convey the messy, nonlinear nature of growth is commendable. Readers who’ve navigated heartbreak or significant change might find this book cathartic. For me, it was a mixed experience—moments of connection balanced with sections that didn’t quite land. Still, it’s worth exploring for its emotional authenticity.