Thank you to Netgalley, The Unnamed Press, and Emma Ruth Rundle for an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

I have been a fan of Emma Ruth Rundle's for just under three years now. Her music has been the soundtrack to so many moments in my life, a voice that reaches back beyond time and space. Every time I take off in a plane, 'May Our Chambers Be Full' must be playing—an almost superstitious ritual, as if the chords themselves might hold the aircraft aloft. I’ve often likened myself to Pavlov’s dog in my reaction to many of her songs (especially 'Heaven' and 'Killing Floor'). I even own a first edition of her previous art book, Dowsing Voice—a prized possession that holds a place of honor on my nightstand.

When she announced this collection of poetry, I waited with bated breath. Seeing it appear as an ARC in the middle of the night a few weeks ago was like glimpsing Gatsby’s green light on the far-off shore—distant, shimmering, not quite real. I was ecstatic. And yet, to be fair, this is not an easy book. Not because it is poorly done—far from it—but because it demands something of you. It is the kind of work that must be sat with, turned over, read and re-read, its weight felt in full. Rundle has always had a gift for words (see: her entire discography), but here, stripped of melody, her poetry stands alone—stark, haunted, and utterly arresting.

This is not a collection to be rushed through, nor one to be read lightly. It lingers, much like her music—shadowed, raw, beautiful, haunting. Some lines cut deep; others unravel slowly, revealing their weight over time. It is not always a comfortable read, but then again, the most honest things rarely are. What Emma Ruth Rundle has given us is not just a book of poetry but a kind of reckoning, a quiet exhale in the dark. And like all things she creates, it demands to be felt.

The Bella Vista by Emma Ruth Rundle is a short, reflective collection of poetry that showcases her unique voice, blending her songwriting background with great prose. For people who have enjoyed Emma Ruth Rundle's haunting melodies and guitar work will appreciate how those elements are translated into a poetic form, giving them new layers of meaning. Whether you're a fan of her music or new to her work,
The Bella Vista invites readers into a reflective space.

I am a huge fan of Emma Ruth Rundle’s music, so when a friend of mine brought her upcoming poetry book to my attention, I was pleasantly surprised to find it available for request on NetGalley. So close to publication, I honestly expected a denial, but was blessed to be accepted today and well, safe to say I consumed this book rather quickly, and am left with mixed feelings regarding the taste.

Poetry is always tricky to review, and I do not envy poets in awaiting feedback on their works, because poetry is such a deeply personal genre that relies quite heavily on relatability and understanding. The lyricist in her really shows its face in this collection, but sadly the first half felt a bit slow and did not resonate with me personally.

However, the second half is where it really picked up, and I began to find myself in her words. Having gone through a breakup myself a few months ago, it is the first time a poet has truly captured how I felt about it, and in some ways how I still feel.

So, for that, I decided on 3 stars, which is my go-to rating for a mixed bag such as this. When it shined, it truly shined, and that tended to be when Emma deviated from the (for lack of a better description) Tumblr-style poetry.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced copy, and thank you to Emma Ruth Rundle for being a bountiful source of wonder to me. You have a forever fan in me!

In The Bella Vista, her debut collection of poetry, multidisciplinary artist Emma Ruth Rundle maps the topography of a relationship. The poems are lucid and drunk with the swoony romance of Leonard Cohen’s poetry (another songwriter and poet). Like Cohen, most of this collection is fixated on a singular Other though there are moments where the gaze turns to the external world. This seems to be mostly by force, as some of the collection was written while on tour as a musician. The poems that come out of this transitory state are my favorite and are more experimental and interesting to read as well as see on the page. “The Tarmac at PSP” is more straightforward but still a favorite with the lines: “All the drinks of a lifetime cannot slake that/need and the addict’s soul is a sieve/which cannot hold you.” The structure of “From Strawberry Moon to Strawberry Moon in Miles” is more experimental in a way that makes it a perfect introduction to the poem that follows it, which is also the culmination of the whole collection. The Bella Vista feels like both a literal and lyrical location and the book itself feels like Rundle took all the braids of “Hallelujah” and separated them into thin strands of poetry. There are so many lines that stand out but this collection feels like one that doesn’t need me to betray it by sharing too much of it. The Bella Vista is one to read and savor languidly like a lover on a Sunday.

<i>Thanks for the ARC</i>

I enjoyed some of the poems, but I thought it started out a bit slower-- some of the poems relied a bit too heavily on religious metaphor but didn't elaborate on them. But some were really good. In particular I liked "Baci (pg 33)": "Art will require sacrifices/ you really can't/ imagine/ when you first/ pick up her tools/ and summon the unseen."

I prefer her songs to her poetry. It's not bad but the other dimension with the singing and music makes it more takeable. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

*The Bella Vista* by Emma Ruth Rundle is a raw, beautifully tangled collection of poems that captures the highs and lows of romantic love. Written while touring, these poems feel like a confessional diary, tracing a relationship from its passionate start to its heartbreaking end—and, ultimately, finding a sense of peace. It's a blend of love, loss, and personal growth wrapped up in lyrics and images that hit hard. Equal parts memoir, love letter, and concept album, Rundle uses language to explore everything from music to womanhood to self-discovery. A must-read for anyone who’s ever loved or lived through a stormy relationship.

3 ⭐️

I found The Bella Vista to be relatively enjoyable, but not a collection of poetry I expect to return to often. It charts a personal and emotional journey through the wreckage of love, memory, and nostalgia. However, I struggle to pull my favourite poems from the book because, truthfully, whole poems didn't resonate with me and often weren't consistently strong enough, from start to finish, for me to attach to a single one.

For my tastes, Rundle veers too often into the confessional, quasi-deep, second-person drama and confusion of Instagram poetry. It detracts from the parts of her writing that I prefer. I realize this style is very popular among most readers. Selfishly, I wish she wouldn't go there. When she avoids that style, as in the poem Paloma, I think that her writing shines, with strong language that evokes visceral and unique images. Those moments, when Rundle allows herself to settle into a style that feels all her own, are really what have stuck with me after reading. For example, the book's opening is, in my opinion, truly beautiful:

rip up this book, my love / i wrote it for you / so that / crumpled pages of refuse worthy / thinking might lift from the floor and bloom peony and chrysanthemum / rightfully placed upon your shoulders. words and thoughts aren’t enough. / they aren’t even close to right. / i wish i’d never known any language at all other than the giving of simple gifts.

I was also struck by the image of dwindling love as a series of Matryoshkas jewels, each one smaller and less sparkling than the last. I wish Rundle had let herself sit with and explore these beautiful thoughts for longer.

Love the authors work in other facets and was very intrigued by this poetry collection. Some latched on to me more than others, but a definitely good read.

"all things in equal measure
half in pain half in pleasure"
Emma Ruth Rundle’s The Bella Vista is this beautifully raw mix of poetry, memoir, and travel journal that dives deep into love, addiction, and the search for self. Written over a year on the road, it captures her reflections on music, family, and life’s big questions. What hit me most is how some poems resonated with me; her style is both grounded and poetic, revealing layers of our social selves and relationships with startling honesty. Some passages reminded me of Bukowski's style and directness, and I appreciated the words' layout inspired by the futurism movement, floating on the page.

The Bella Vista is an interesting collection which captures a moment in time. It is cohesively structured with the black and white photographs transporting then grounding the reader in the speaker's time and place.

Rundle's work is enjoyable to read but not very memorable - it wasn't a collection I found my thoughts lingering upon after reading.

Struggled a bit to connnect at the begining. More or less some poems were relatable to certain extent.

thank you so much to the publisher for giving me an electronic advance readers copy of this collection of poetry ♥️

𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈’𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝐸𝓂𝓂𝒶 𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝑅𝓊𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒, 𝒰𝓃𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

Description:
Singer-songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle writes poetry about a troubled relationship, getting older, being on the road.

Liked:
Obviously heartfelt, and meaningful to the author and her lover. I thought the best poems were about the discomfort of getting older and being in the body. The shorter poems were often starkly humorous in a way that I appreciated.

Disliked:
It’s very allusory, in a way which feels a little wooden, rather than erudite. I really wanted to like this, but I found it didn’t move me in the way her songs do.

this didn't start off strong for me, but ended far stronger. the literary imagery was beautifully handled, not to mention the stunning pictures and cover

"La Bella Vista" es una colección que explora las emociones complejas relacionadas con el amor, tejiendo escenas inquietantes y nostálgicas a lo largo de sus páginas. Aunque no resonó conmigo personalmente—demasiado de esa estética de Tumblr y nostalgia—tiene algunos poemas destacados como "Paloma" y "Goodbye Horses."

Me pareció especialmente interesante la imaginería relacionada con el espacio lineal y las drogas; esos elementos añadieron profundidad e intriga a la colección. Creo que este libro podría atraer a lectores que disfrutan del estilo de Rupi Kaur, ya que comparte un paisaje emocional y una calidad visual similar. Si te gusta la poesía que evoca una estética específica y captura las sutilezas del dolor del amor, esto podría ser para ti.

This is a beautifully and emotional collection of poetry. It feels like each one tells a story I can see myself in. Beautiful!

The bella vista is a poetry collection that depicts the pains and strains of love. Each poem creates a scene that is eery and mournful. This is amplified by the images that accompany the poems.

I am very fussy when it comes to poetry and I do not think this collection was for me. It gave the tumblr aesthetic and nostalgia factor that I don’t love in poetry, but had a few stand out poems like ‘paloma’ and ‘Goodbye horses.’

I enjoyed the depictions of lineal space and drugs, thought these were the most interesting aspects of imagery within the poetry.

I would recommend this to readers who are fans of Rupi Kaur.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

So, let me start by saying it is not by any means the worst body of poetry I've read. Some of the imagery was very interesting and creative. I could definitely tell the author was trying (unlike, say, Gabbie Hannah or somebody.)

I did not, however, think this was a particularly special collection. While the poetry was fine it often just fell flat or came off as pretentious. Then, there was one poem which I absolutely hated which I will show you all.

"the 27 club are alive and well and singing

people don't really kill themselves over things like that

but i read you can die from a broken heart"

Yeah. It just kind of rubs me the wrong way... Anyways. The photography included was a nice touch but kind of bland. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Favorite Poem: Poem From An Unsent Postcard