Some may love this book it feels like a journey of one’s life from the point of view of someone young and continues as they get older but This book just wasn’t for me. Maybe I need to learn more about poetry. Others may really enjoy this one.

An incredibly introspective collection that felt deeply personal and meaningful. I found it so well written and thought provoking.

This collection of vignettes is beautifully written and made me feel like Anna had a window into my life, my past and my present with the stories she told. In the end, it had me wondering if my own experiences are what most other women also experience yet we don't talk about. There is a growth and change that happens throughout our lifetimes and an incredible movement within around age 40 and for me, especially after I had my children. This book brought all of that to light in a beautiful way.

"They Will Tell You The World Is Yours" is a collection of short stories about growing up, where the author describes all the experiences and emotions that accompany her. I liked that she writes about the differences between what she is told and what she feels and experiences. It shows real problems, among them her relationship with religion, school, boyfriends, work and children.

I give this book 4 stars.

I found this to be beautiful and compelling. It’s poetic without being poetry. Discussing and dissecting the human experience in vignettes. It was a really interesting style choice that drew me in from the beginning.

I hope to get a physical copy of this book so that I can spend a bit more time with it. I did feel a bit rushed because of the time limit on my NetGalley copy and I think this is one that really asks you to take your time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC

Good bones, and some beautiful lines. Overall, not a bad poetry novel at all but still rough around the edges, which is refreshing but also hard to follow at times.

I recieved a digital ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for reciew.

This book is filled with short vignettes of the author’s life about things she was told and things she was not. She shares how the things have either seemed to be true or not true depending on her experiences. Overall, this book is relatable and there are many lyrical quotes and passages. However, for a short book one would likely read in one sitting, it felt a bit repetitive. I enjoyed the book and some passages I will definitely go back to.

They Will Tell You the World Is Yours is a beautifully written, reflective collection of thoughts and vignettes about identity, purpose, and finding your own truth beyond what the world tells you to chase. Anna Mitchael’s lyrical style and gentle wisdom give this book a warm, meditative vibe — perfect for readers who enjoy quiet, introspective reads.

Anna Mitchael’s They Will Tell You the World Is Yours is a lyrical, introspective journey through the human experience, told in a series of poignant vignettes that chart the stages of life—from childhood wonder to the quiet reflections of old age. Each vignette opens with the refrain “they will tell you,” framing the chapters as pieces of inherited wisdom, societal expectation, or deeply personal truth.

This format gives the book a meditative rhythm, almost like a collection of prose poems or a philosophical diary. Mitchael’s voice is intimate and reflective, clearly drawing from her own life and emotional truths. While this personal perspective adds authenticity, it may not resonate equally with every reader. Some may find it deeply moving and relatable, while others might feel slightly distanced by its subjective tone.

That said, They Will Tell You the World Is Yours is not trying to preach or instruct—it’s an invitation to reflect on your own journey, the lessons you've been told, and the ones you’ve learned yourself. It’s a quiet, thoughtful read that’s best approached with patience and a willingness to pause and ponder.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return of an honest, unbiased review.

Dnf at 28%. I just wasn’t connecting to this collection. I did enjoy the way it’s told in chronological order, though, with each poem starting with the same line. I also enjoyed the illustrations that accompanied some of the poems.

I struggled to enjoy this book, even as a poetry lover, Mitchael's style falls flat, and is about mid way point becomes repetitive. Starting the majority of the poems with the refine "they will tell you" is at first charming and feels like the method to understand the world around you and the structure of the religion you where brought into. I wish Mitchael had taken a risk with her writing, as it feels like nothing more than a run-of-the-mill poetry book.

This was a bit of a hit and miss for me. I really appreciated the author mentioning in the foreword that she had no intention to capture universal experiences because you will only get some of those in passing, here and there. When you do though, you really get some beautiful thoughts worth pondering for a while. Fundamentally, this is a collection of very personal and intimate moments from the life of a woman starting with her as a baby all throughout her childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, as a grown woman and there are even a few glimpses of motherhood and middle-age. Sadly, there is not much in the way of rebellion in here, though, I would really have enjoyed to see more of that. In the grand scale of things her life is pretty run-of-the-mill: she grew up, found a solid job, married a man, had a daughter. The details, of course, are completely unique but if it was the word "rebellion" that caught your attention in the title, please take it with a grain of salt.
Many thanks to Convergent Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rating poetry is always a strange thing for me, because how can you rate someone’s heart felt words as good or bad?

I was fortunate to read an advanced copy of They Will Tell You the World is Yours by Anna Mitchael and I enjoyed the spiritual journey she took me on. Her book is a collection of poems that follow a guided timeline beginning at birth.

Each poem is a reminder of how no matter where we are in life…the world will be waiting for us to take the next step… pushing us to continually be an even better version of ourselves.

But at what cost? For what purpose? When are we fulfilled as we are? When are we enough?

Follow along Anna’s story of one woman’s life and how she navigates through all of its ups and downs.

Arc review! :

I did enjoy this book full of poems.
I do think there are parts which are more enjoyable for parents.

It is about growing up, and split in sections.
In the middle there are more relatable poems for me personally which I liked.
The beginning was a bit hard for me to understand somehow, since it's about young children.

It is a fast read, and there are really good poems in there.
It is not my favorite poetry book but I did like it.

I like to thank everyone involved for the arc!

This book is odd. I was really looking forward to it, but the cadence is clunky and strange. The author was obviously going for super quirky and "look how unique I am", and it falls extremely flat.

Reading about the authors life, birth on, was a very interesting take that I felt fell a little short of what I was hoping. It was a good book and the concept was great! I just personally feel as though the poems are a tad odd. Some of the key foci were on things that I was not expecting - knowing it is all of the authors perspective is what pushed me to keep reading. The illustrations in this book were my favorite part - so beautiful and corresponding with the poems.

I was really excited for the poetry in They Will Tell You the World Is Yours and was very disappointed. It feels just like every other poetry book out there these days, I'm looking for something different and can't wait until the tides change in the poetry world.

This book was a delight, thought provoking and engaging all at the same time. I enjoyed the journey Anna Mitchael took me on through her vignettes of They Will Tell You the World is Yours. I will be purchasing this book for friends and family as a gift.

They Will Tell You the World is Yours: On Little Rebellions and Finding Your Way by Anna Mitchael.

This is a collection of essays on growing up and finding your way in the world (particularly as a female). Each one shows a lesson learned from experience by the author in comparison to what others had led her to expect.

I like how all of the essays are tied together by the first line of each one - "THEY WILL" (tell you, give you, show you, say, not tell you, etc.) which gives a certain rhythm and unity overall. I also like the wide variety of topics presented. The essays are well written, and thoughtful. As with any collection of essays or poetry where the writing is so personal and subjective, some entries resonated with me more than others.

I enjoyed the read and look forward to reading more from this author.

My thanks to Convergent Books for allowing me to read a DRC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is 5/20/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for an ARC of They Will Tell You The World is Yours.

These poetic vignettes of growing up through the authors eyes were profound and touching. Some essays spoke to me so personally that they felt as if they were written just for me, while others were less relatable. A lot this felt like a book written from a parent to a child, and for me, I think that's where the disconnect was, as a woman in mid 30s, I just haven't gotten to that point in life, and couldn't relate to the latter half of the insights just yet. One day.

Then there are the illustrations that are scattered throughout, adding a delicate atmosphere to the book. Which are just lovely and add just enough whimsy to the book.