A well put together collection of poems relating to the human experience.
Some were relatable. Others were clearly very personal to the poet. A few went completely over the top of my head, but someone else would relate to them.
Would highly consider readings next years collection

A good collection of poetry that, at its core, is about being human. The three sections do a good job of capturing the evolution of the self, the art of loss and grief, and the enduring bonds that connect us as humans. None of the poems feels out of place in the collection, and each evokes a feeling of human experience. The art introducing the sections is simple but really good, and fits well with the poems inside it.

This collection is a powerful showcase of 21st-century form and rhythm, capturing raw voices and emotions in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Each piece brings something unique to the table, offering a variety of perspectives that feel deeply personal yet universally resonant. The range of styles keeps the collection engaging, making it a testament to the evolving landscape of contemporary literature. While some pieces stood out more than others, the overall impact is undeniable.A thought-provoking and beautifully crafted read.

This is a marvelous collection of poetry. There were so many moods and places and situations, with every writer evoking some new experience. Maybe I was just in the right mood, but I loved every poem here. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

A collection of poetry put together for the second annual Central Avenue Poetry Prize. I was a feeling a little disappointed with this collection as last years was much more robust and put together. I find the collection this year wasn't as well curated but despite that I did find many poems I did love. The collection is split into sections and poets may have multiple pieces in the collection. There were many that I thought would have been better choices for the winner or runner ups but alas, it comes down to opinion I suppose!

My favorites from this collection are:
"Tender Flesh" by Elise Powers
"Listen, It's Very Simple" and "Melissa Asks Me If I Were An Animal What Would I Be" by Sophie Morelli
"In Order To Sleep At Night" by John Weirick
"Lent On The Ruscom River, 1939" by Romeo Desmarais III
"If God Was Time" by Isabella Leigh
and
"The Pomegranate Is A Grenade" by Maha Hashwi

These sorts of books always have resonated with me. “The central Avenue poetry prize 2025” was a perfect book for me, thank you.

I’m finally in my poetry era, and I’m loving it! This collection is full of incredible people sharing their stories in the most beautiful ways. I’m always amazed at how much emotion can be packed into just a few lines.

One that hit me hard:

"I wish that some right decisions didn't ache as deep as the wrong ones." — Did I Metamorphosis Wrong

That feeling? Yeah, I know it well. This book is definitely one to sit with.

Finding poetry is a journey probably similar to the one writing it. Over the years I tried out different styles of poetry and I am still on the search for those poems that nest themselves into my heart and stay with me. As one can imagine it is a very difficult search and a rating of a collection by different poets can be especially hard.

"The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025" is a collection that talks in the summary about diversity. And I found this diversity from time to time in the poets even if the themes were not always. I liked to read the little biographies even if they were sometimes quite short.

Unfortunately most poems of this collection didn't hit the mark with me. Often enough I had problems with the structure that made me lose the connection to strong starting verses. Maybe it is because English isn't my first language and I read a lot of different poems in my mother tongue German. But I already read a lot of poetry in English which I connected with so maybe it was simply this particular collection.

In my opinion the strongest poems were in the third and last part. "I don't think on him on Fathers Day" and "4:45 AM Haunting" resonated on a personal level with me.

It's always a gamble with poems and I think you did a wonderful job of taking the ones send to you and structure them into this collection. Unfortunately it isn't a collection for me as a reader.

This is an eclectic anthology of entries from the 2025 Central Avenue Poetry Prize. Subjects range from mythology to grief and everything in between. The poets are from across the world, adding a nice flavour to the voices on offer.

I enjoyed reading this very much. Some of the poems that stood out for me include Emily Jean's ‘Medusa’, with its brilliant ending: “Perseus can have my head / i've got a garden full of them”

Amy Levitin Graver's ‘Ghost Apples’ is a beautiful and tender poem, with a fantastic image of a “Our coat of arms / are ghost apples”

Victoria Spires’ ‘I Don't Think of Him on Father's Day’ is a moving elegy to a father the speaker has never really known. The use of precise details such as “The Generation Game”, “Penguin biscuits proffered from a worn / plastic tub” and “made ball bearings” helps paint a wonderful picture of the man.

Maha Hashwi’s ‘The Pomegranate’ Is a Grenade’ is a powerful piece, exploring the idea that a pomegranate is more than a fruit since it can also mean “Ruman is pomegranate or shell / Protective covering or explosive artillery”. The contrast between an innocent fruit and a tool of war is done well in the poem.

Interesting collection with very many hits and not that many misses. I have reread some of the pieces a few times and they really talk to me. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful collection of poetry. Each one is different and brings out it's own feelings.
I really enjoyed all of them and will continue to read Central Avenue poetry.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

There are so many poems, so many poets. All thrown together in one book where you can; not only read their captivating and hard hitting poems, but also read a little bit about each poet and what else they’ve written.

How do you review a collection of poems by dozens of poets, each pouring their hearts onto the page? To me, a good poem makes me feel something, while a great poem leaves a lasting impression, stirring something special within me. But what feels special to me might mean nothing to someone else. Poetry is so subjective, how do you even begin to rate it? Well, let’s try.

This anthology evoked a wide range of emotions in me. With its variety of styles and themes, I believe anyone reading it would find at least one poem that stays with them.

The collection is divided into sections, Journeys, Phantoms, and Bonds, each separated by a simple yet elegant illustration. After each poem, there’s a brief section about the author. While informative, I found that it disrupted the flow of reading. I imagine if that information were placed at the beginning or end of the book, many readers might skip it altogether, I certainly skimmed through it.

The Phantoms section stood out the most for me, with dark and intense themes that deeply resonated. Although I found myself highlighting quotes from poems throughout the entire collection.

Overall, this is a fantastic anthology. While some poems weren’t to my personal taste, they were all skillfully crafted. I think anyone interested in poetry, especially those seeking fresh, emerging voices, would enjoy this book. These poems undoubtedly capture the pulse of the human experience.

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

*****My enjoyment rating is 4.5/5, and I’ve given it a 5 star rating on Goodreads, which I’ll also add to Amazon once the site permits.

There are some really good poems in this collection, and I liked that they were separated into different themes.

I did find it a bit odd how the same information was repeated for recurring poets. I think it might have made more sense to link all the poems up rather than giving the poet's background multiple times over.

Overall, it's a good collection and I would recommend it to fans of poetry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC