to drink coffee with a ghost

Amanda Lovelace turns her attention to her relationship with her mother and with herself in this book or poetry. What does it mean to lose someone you love and loathe? How do you change? What changes do you make and how does it effect your future relationships? These are all topics that Lovelace faces head on in a collection which is a soul bearing love letter that doesn’t hold back the punches. Even if you have an awesome relationship with a very alive mother, there are poems in this book which will speak to your soul. They are aside a smattering of beautiful illustrations. Worth a read and spot on any reader’s shelf!

3.75 Stars

In this new poetry collection author Amanda Lovelace mostly explores the relationship she had with her mother, who has passed away from cancer. All the poems about this theme are quite bittersweet since her mother is a person she loved but in part she also hated. I particularly enjoyed this new book by Lovelace and I must say I liked it more than some of her other works.

This was beautiful and painful and hopeful and made me feel so much.

To drink coffee with a ghost focuses mainly on toxic mother-daughter relationship. Even if I personally couldn’t relate, because I won the lottery in case of my loving and caring mum, these poems touched me somewhere very deep.

“i only ever wanted to keep you safe,“
you screamed.
“then why didn’t you?“
i cried .

- lucid

The book is divided into three parts, ghost-mother, ghost-daughter, and sun-showers. First part talks mainly about painful relationship with the mother, second about reality of living without her and slowly becoming your own person and the third part (my favourite, even if the whole book was incredible), about letting go, about sisterhood, loving yourself and being free. It felt like I got to be a part of this family story, to have a look behind the doors, to get to live all the pain and worry, but also the healing and love.

Even if I couldn’t relate to mother problems, I definitely related to having a sister, having other half of me I unconditionally love. I had tears in my eyes while I read these poems.

when i think
of my life
without a sister,
i suddenly
understand
what they mean
when they say
people can die
from broken
hearts
- the worst tragedy of all


to
underestimate
women
is bad enough
by itself,
but
i imagine
anyone
who does
must not know
many sisters
- together, we are strong as hell.

The book also has gorgeous illustrations which makes the feel of the book somehow complete and magical. I will definitely be buying this book when it is published in September.

Thank you so much Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for letting me read this amazing book sooner. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I just finished this collection (I haven’t read the first book but I will) and I’m I so much life reflection it’s scary. This book is about pain but also about perseverance. It’s about Grief, but also joy. It’s about Love but also hate. It was so heart felt and there was one that really got to me.

“i’m afraid i’ll be just like you,
i’m afraid i’ll be nothing like you.”
-my empress in reverse

Just . . . This woman, Amanda Lovelace, has no idea how impactful she is. She digs up your memories, she makes you cry but in the end . . . You laugh.

Every one of Amanda Lovelace's books make me cry and this did too. The writing was so raw and absolutely brilliant. She is a person who knows how to play with words and write her story with the most interesting style. Loved the book and would definitely recommend it!

I love this. Having recently lost my mom, many of these pieces resonate with me. Thank you Amanda Lovelace for your writing. And - Thank you NetGalley.

I am a huge fan of poetry and I can honestly say that Lovelace is one of my absolute favorite modern poets. There is something about her poetry that strikes a chord with me. Lovelace’s critics have accused her of being a hack and overly simplistic, but I would argue that there is an authenticity to Lovelace’s poems that is so deeply raw and real that it resonates with thousands of people who have survived some form of brokenness or trauma in their own lives.

The experience of grief. So is the appeal of Lovelace’s prosaic verse.
Lovelace’s ouevre is not for the faint of heart and her latest offering is no different. In this collection, she explores her feelings surrounding the death of her mother. How does a person mourn the passing of someone who caused them both physical and emotional harm? What does it mean to be shaped by a history of abuse? How do we at last lay the past to rest and find peace?

The process of mourning is complicated. Lovelace helps readers to process their pain by turning their anguish into art.
Even readers who are not survivors of trauma will be able to appreciate Lovelace’s story. Her poems are deceptively simple. Although her writing seems straightforward, she manages to pack a great deal of emotion into just a few words. Sometimes books come to us at just the right time in our lives. I recently lost a loved one with whom I had a very complicated relationship. Like Lovelace, I prefer to find my solace in the pages of a book. Although Lovelace’s story is not my own, reading about her journey from heartbreak to healing helped me to begin to find words to process my own grief. If you are fan of modern poetry, especially poetry with a feminist/womanist emphasis, you will appreciate the haunting beauty of Lovelace’s latest book.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

to drink coffee with a ghost explores Amanda Lovelace's relationship with her late mother and all the things she did not have time to say while she was still with her. I enjoy every one of her books and I look forward to reading more of her works.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book of poetry is primarily about grief for the passing of the poet's mother, who was at times the poet's best friend and at times very toxic. I loved the way that this dichotomy was explored, and how the grieving process was depicted in a myriad of different ways—reminiscing, anger, fear, love, hate, sorrow—it was all very real and raw, yet magical throughout. No feeling was too big or too small, too personal or universal to include, and I always appreciate that about Amanda Lovelace's writing. I'll definitely keep reading whatever she writes!

With her new poetry collection Amanda Lovelace delivers as always. This collection in particular deals with mother-daughter relationship, the toxicity and anger as well as love and forgiveness. A couple of the poems took my breath away, but now as many as I usually expect from poetry collections,so 4* from me.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am coming to the conclusion that I would be read anything Amanda Lovelace writes. I had the pleasure of reviewing this author's earlier works and it was my pleasure to read a digital review copy of to drink coffee with a ghost. Here is experience, memory, and emotion -- all powerfully wrapped up in verse and decorated with attractive images.

Recommended literary reading for a wide audience. If you enjoy poetry, check out Lovelace's work.

I loved this new work from Amanda Lovelace, the poems were hopeful, painful and beautiful and bittersweet as she explored the relationship with her mother who has passed away from cancer. I enjoyed the third part of this collection the most, easily five stars.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by Lovelace before, and I am floored. This is beautifully written and the illustrations throughout are amazing.

This collection of poetry focuses mostly on the relationship between Lovelace and her mother, who sadly passed away from cancer. It was not relatable to me in that aspect but there were several passages that touched me in some way.

I believe that it takes a lot of courage and strength to present yourself openly like that to the world. I think Lovelace did an amazing job expressing what it can feel like to lose a parent.

Highly recommend.

Let me start off with saying. Amanda Lovelace hasn't let me down yet! I was jumping for joy when I was able to read another one of her works. This collection is a continuation of "to make monsters out of girls" that deals with the feelings of confusion, grief, and loss after the death of a loved one (her mother specifically). What always stands out to me in Lovelace's work is that she is able to capture such raw emotion in such small spaces in words. The lines are never over-flowery or pompous, but never boring and repetitive. As the reader continues through this work they get to see the recovery and strength that comes with navigating through hardships. This is a great work for teens and up!

Wowowow I absolutely adored this. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't pull myself away. I have read all of Amanda's works and each one shares a new story. This one is definitely up there with my favorites by her, but also probably one of my favorite poetry collections of all time.

The writing is incredible, of course. Amanda always writes incredible poetry. But her ability to tell a story with her poems is unmatched. Every time I pick up her book I expect greatness, but I am always given perfection.

I seriously can't think of any way this book could be better (except if there were more of it!). If you've never picked up any of her books before, you 100% need to. You won't be disappointed.

Trigger Warnings: child abuse, grief, death (of a parent), self-harm, eating disorders

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Every time I think, I can’t love Amanda Lovelace anymore than I do already.
Every time, I end up a liar.
To drink coffee with a ghost is Amanda’s exploration of her fraught relationship with her mom and finding peace in the good times and bad, and exploring how hard it is to go on afterwards.
I had a good relationship with my mom, but her words still spoke to me for the person I did have a tough relationship with. She spoke to my heart of how hard it is to forgive but want to get to that point. About how perception can change as you get older, how you can look back at that relationship and see it differently now. How sometimes that doesn’t really change the hurt, just how you view it. How we haunt ourselves with all the what if’s, could haves, should haves, and maybes.
I loved this collection and I can’t wait for it to go on sale so I can add it to my poetry shelf where I can bookmark my favorite pages and sink back into the words.

To Drink Coffee with a Ghost is Amanda Lovelace's second installment in her Things that Haunt Series. In This series of she explores her complicated relationship with her mother, who died of cancer, grief, and healing. I was enthralled by her writing once again, and the drawing between chapters in their autumn colors is such a beautiful touch.
I truly adore Amanda Lovelace's poetry. I have written every single book she has published. She has such a way with words, and how she shapes each poem to be related to an overarching theme is simply beautiful. I found myself relating to this one so much, as someone who has also lost a parent I loved reading the ones about grief and healing as I felt like it spoke to my soul.

As usual, Lovelace does not disappoint! I love Lovelace's storytelling and the way that she conveys her emotions and makes you feel them too. A few triggers, but it to read some real and raw you have to overlook the triggers. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

Amanda Lovelace is back, and while I admit to never being that into poetry, something about her work guts me, puts me back together again, and inspires me to get her words tattooed on my skin. Seriously, this collection of poems, which deals with similar issues to the first few of her books and also with the death of her mother, is powerful and beautiful and I can't recommend it enough. 

I love Lovelace's style of writing, the simplicity of her poems and how they pack a punch more than any sonnet ever could. The illustrations in this book are also amazing. While this book deals with a lot of things I've never experienced firsthand, I still couldn't stop reading and I can't wait for her next collection. She's a real gift for female readers, I know that.

Amanda Lovelace never fails in a fun amazing book full of poetry. She is one of my favorites. Can’t wait til her next one.

I am giving this book 4.75 stars!! This poetry book was so good!! I love this author so much and I can’t wait to have the finish copy in hands!! The book was also red for the reading especially for the challenge 6 which was Pick a book that has 5 or more words in the title !! Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange of my honest review!!

chills.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for letting me read this piece of art.

I read this poetry collection in a very short amount of time, but let me state that it gave me enough to think about for days. I teared up, this is so important.

The Trigger Warnings section in the front reminded me that maybe literature today is headed in the right direction, with more and more authors including them in their works. I count myself fortunate for being able to start anything without even worrying about what's inside.
This fact and the book reminded me how fortunate I really am. For having parents who support me, and not having lost anyone really close to me, for having a relatively easy time while others have it terribly hard.

to drink coffee with a ghost made me think about how crucial it is to think twice before you talk: to avoid affecting those who look up to you in a harmful way.
Words hold endless power. As someone studying psychology, considering myself an empathic person, and trying my way of spiritualism I am well aware of how much it matters.

Please take care of others. Please be careful yourself.

The author showed me how much has happened to her and I rooted for her to get that happy ending, because some cases you just know that someone's a good person and they deserve it.

The art work in this poetry collection is absolutely gorgeous. Witchcraft, tarot and COFFEE are incredibly important things to me which means that I felt an even stronger connection to this on top of everything.

I'm so grateful to have been able to read it.

This was a beautiful collection of Lovelace's poetry touching topics such as grief, abuse, self-harm, and trauma. I really enjoyed this collection. The words of Lovelace touch my soul. She writes in a way that pulls the reader in especially if you've been victim to any of the experiences she illustrates. Her poetry is tragically beautiful. Lovelace is an auto-read author for me because of how emotional connected one gets to her words. If you have trouble connecting to your emotions, just read an Amanda Lovelace work and you'll find your connection real quick.

I've read all of Amanda's previous works and I've always been a fan of her writing style. I must say that "To Drink a Coffee with a Ghost" is by far my favourite of her publications. I was really excited to get an ARC for it and it did not disappoint!
This book deals mainly with the topic of losing a parent prematurely. It also explores the intricate relationship the author had with her deceased mother. On a deep level, Amanda Lovelace puts herself in a vulnerable position for the greater good. She shares with her audience the conflict of loving her mother while resenting her for being an abusive role-model.
She also shares the hopeful and joyful moments she felt and how to navigate the ups and downs life has to offer.
I connected even more with Amanda Lovelace as she was able to put into words some of my past experiences.
I've always had a profound appreciation for Amanda and this book confirmed it even more so!
I would 100% recommend anyone to read this.

This was by far my favorite, and in my opinion, Amanda’s best poetry collection as of yet and i have read and loved them all!

There wasn’t anything that I didn’t love about this book. I mean, what’s not to love? The writing, the illustrations, & did I mention the writing?

I have always loved Amanda’s writing and poetry, and something from each of her books has stuck with me in some way, but I feel that this collection really shines a spotlight on just how good of a writer she is, and shows that she has only gotten better at her craft.

This collection is written in an ethereal and raw manner and is centered around grief, family, trauma, love, complicated mother/daughter relationships, and the ghosts that haunt and affect us.

This is very obviously a deeply personal collection for Amanda, as it is about her own deeply rooted trauma and life experiences, and because of that, surely, also a very cathartic writing experience. As a reader, I have to say that it was a very cathartic reading experience for me as well. While my past, trauma, and ghosts may differ from Amanda’s, I still related to this book so much and there were so many instances where I felt like Amanda had read my innermost thoughts and felt everything I had ever felt during the worst of my grief and bled them onto the pages of this book.

This book, just like her previous ones, was so inspiring, and while it may sound like this is simply a very dark poetry book about grief and all the horror and sorrow it brings, it is also equal parts about healing and coming out of the darkness and finding both yourself and happiness again.

Grief is suffocating. Grief is heavy. It is a ghost that will follow you around in one way or another for the rest of your life, But that doesn’t mean that you have to let it consume you and take over your life. You are allowed to be happy and find peace, and this book is a hopeful reminder that healing is real and it is possible no matter what trauma may lay in your past.

Thank you for delivering yet another uniquely, beautifully written poetry collection Amanda, and i cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next.

In "To Drink Coffee with a Ghost", Amanda shows once again her power to transform memories and feelings into beautiful poems.

Like her other books, this isn't an easy one to read, I would recommend you to take your time with it, and not attempt to read it in one sit because there is a lot of heavy, emotional content that could be a lot to take all at once.
One thing that caught me by surprise in the best possible way is the gorgeous illustrations by Munise Sertel (@mns_art ). They look so alive and full of colors. This was a great addition to an already amazing book.
a couple of my favorites poems are:
-what’s truly important -life is not a pass or fail
-your own future -finding new meaning
-the letter i cannot send - not before i mend my own wing
-this has always been the secret to our survival
-because you’re never truly alone with a book
-never will i forget again.
-sun-showers.
-chasing emily.
-maybe that’s why i write.
-my ledger

"the ways in which they suffer themselves is not an excuse to make you suffer in return."

This book! Wow! I am never more thankful to Netgalley than I am now. Her previous poetry books immediately went on to my to-read list. As soon as I saw this book on NetGalley, I took it! I finished this in 20 mins but every single second with this book caught me in a spell and kept me spellbound!

The second in the duology of 'the things that h(a)unt', to drink a coffee with a ghost unravels the memory of the complicated relationship the author had with her now-deceased mother. She talks about how her mother was not present to her in the time of need, and now, her mother is gone before she can redeem herself and maybe, forgiven by her daughter. The book is divided into 3 categories: ghost-mother, ghost-daughter and sun-showers. Every poem has a sense of pain, strength and hope. Ghost-mother explores the complicated relationship with her mother, ghost-daughter explores the sense of healing and becoming her own person and sun-showers explores the healing, embracing love and freedom.

I am literally in the loss for words for this book! The illustrations are so pleasing. I loved the imagery and metaphors. I loved how each poem struck a chord in my heart and intrigued me. I found this book to be empowering, mainly the third part which had some really remarkable pieces, one of them being:
"to underestimate women is bad enough by itself, but i imagine anyone who does must not know many sisters - together, we are strong as hell." I love how every writers, artists and cast/crew of the movies are focusing on this sort of empowerment in women because it is needed! Everyone tries to get us against each other but we have to stand united, we are strong as hell. It feels like the world is becoming beautiful, bit by bit, day by day. This is the content I live for! I found the first two sections relatable of to an extent and it made my journey through this book a magical one! I also loved the part where she talks about books. That turned out to be the most relatable poem! I have said this before and I will say it again: I love it when I get to have a glimpse of something personal in writing. It reminds me that everyone suffers in a way and to be a gentle and kind soul. This book made me feel more of that!

Lovelace says so little but has the knack of saying it compellingly. She is definitely one of the best writers of our time. I feel like she is so underrated! I will surely be reading her other works now. This book has scored a place in the nooks of my heart! This is just the best! I love it!

Recommended: To every single one of you out there, read this! This might be the book which you would have not known it is needed until you read this! It has triggering content and it is mentioned at the beginning of the book.

Amanda Lovelace does it again! This series is still not my favorite next to her women are some kind of magic series but I also just can’t get enough of her words and this series is still amazing no doubt about it!

[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious Blog on 9/17/19.]

This is going to be a far more personal review than I ever thought I would be comfortable sharing, but here we are. This poetry collection hit me right in the feels and I shed many a tear while reading it. There is something about Lovelace's poetry which resonates with me and I need to have a shelf dedicated to her work.

Just as I needed the mermaid's voice returns in this one, I needed to drink coffee with a ghost. "What happens when someone dies before they're able to redeem themselves?" is the main question that Lovelace investigates with to drink coffee with a ghost. I think it's safe to say that we are all haunted by some parts of our past: people who caused intense and lasting hurt or events which changed us forever.

"lately, it seems like everywhere i look, i find daughters haunted by something their mothers did to them. we tell each other we would raise our daughters differently. we would do this while wondering if our mothers made the same promises to themselves.
- ghost-mother"

This duology's installment explores Lovelace's complicated relationship with her now-deceased mother. While my own mother is still alive on this planet, her general disinterest in being a mother and subsequent abandonment when I was thirteen has largely shaped my life. I don't know that words will ever adequately express the twenty-two years of pain and feeling like something was wrong with me. I just wish that I had some positive memories, too. But complicated we have in spades, my friends.

"the little girl was so desperate to feel loved, to feel like she existed at all, that she took anything that she could get, even if it was nothing but a bunch of make-believe.
- don't accept scraps"

When a toxic person is no longer in your life, either through death or just cutting them out completely (or them running off), there are a lot of unresolved feelings. What ifs. Thousands of conversations you would have if given the chance. But at some point we become shackled by those unspoken words and decades pass us by, irrevocably changed.

While I loved the entire collection, I particularly appreciated sun showers and the hope that comes from acceptance. The fact that we cannot change what has happened but do have control over our own futures is something I need to focus on more in my life.

There are illustrations by Munise Sertel throughout the collection which are absolutely stunning, I love their art style! I also really loved how Lovelace's love of books and adventure through them is a running theme through the three sections of this collection. I think a lot of us read to escape the pain of real life.

Lovelace's poetry collections speak to me on a very deep level, unearthing hurt long since buried and healing as I read. That's the thing about trauma: it stays with you, shapes you and your life, with or without your recognizing it. And while my experiences never edged on the abuse she writes about, I see myself and my suffering through her words.

Content warnings: (provided by author) child abuse, eating disorders, sexual assault, self-harm, violence, cheating, death, gore, blood, trauma, grief

Many thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me an eARC via Netgalley for my honest review! Quotations are from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change in final publication.

I really liked this book and the duology in general. It definitely made me feel a variety of emotions and even brought a tear to my eye a few times.
I didn’t entirely connect with each page and each poem but I felt a strong connections to the poems that I did relate and connect to.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and Amanda Lovelace’s writing. I’m excited to see what else they have in store in the future!

3/5 stars

Disclaimer: I was given an advance reading copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity.

Amanda Lovelace has done it again! I keep falling in love with her poetry and I can now say that I'm really adding her to my favorite poets of all time! to drink coffee with a ghost was written in the same style that really screams Amanda Lovelace!

This time she lets out another side of her to the world. It's personal, moving and emotionally-driven. I wouldn't be shocked if others will also relate to her and her words. This is one of her best works and this deserves a spot on my shelf!

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking collection looking at parental relationships and loss. I cried even though I could not personally relate to almost anything in this collection. Lovelace's grief and pain ooze off the page and the reader can truly feel it.

I am such a fan of Amanda's poetry and really enjoyed this one.

* I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

I fell in love with Amanda Lovelace and her poetry when I read The Princess Saves Herself in This One. However, it definitely set the bar high and the rest of her work was sometimes harder to relate to and it didn't always live up to her first work. When I began this one, I was worried that might be the case because I couldn't directly relate to the experiences she was writing about. I quickly found though that that didn't really matter. Her style and message spoke beyond the actual subject matter and moved me in the same way things I can directly relate to do. That is not something that happens often and is what causes me to read only what I can directly relate to. This was a very nice surprise and speaks to the power of Lovelace's voice. It was also a nice reminder of the universality of the human experience, whether we have direct experience or not. Lovelace's feelings were real and were ones I could identify in my own life.

Also reviewed at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2989717273?book_show_action=false

I enjoy modern poetry and Amanda Lovelace's work has been some of my favorite. Her new book "to drink coffee with a ghost" is a collection mainly inspired by her difficult relationship with her late mother .

While Lovelace's work often touches on difficult and topics, it is beautiful, relatable and deeply poignant. She uses poetry as a way to work through the things she's dealt with in life, and while my own experiences are different from the author's I found it relevant and believe it could be for anyone who is dealing with or has dealt with loss and strained family relationship.

Her poetry is raw and lyrical at the same time, and can be quite emotional to read.

Usually I like to savor poetry and will leisurely flips through a book rather than reading it all at once However, I was lucky enough to be given this ebook to review and read it straight through in an hour or so. But, let's be real; Lovelace's work and is compelling enough to devour in this way, though it is definitely something I will enjoy revisiting later.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance copy.

This is one of my favorite book of poems that I read this year. The book itself is a journey. It’s a commemoration of love, self love, respect and embracing the flaw you.

This book deserves a recognition for being genuine and raw. Totally worth it!

This collection was touching. There were parts that were devastating and parts that were so wholesome. She really poured her heart into this one, but it didn’t come across as shouty. It was simply a letter to a mother who wasn’t there anymore and maybe never was there in a way that she needed it. And the artwork is stunning!

I really Loved reading To Drink Coffee with a Ghost! I have read some of her other poetry and loved it and this collection was just as good. Her poetry collections always make you feel so many emotions when you read them. I can't wait to read more poetry from her!

I LOVE Amanda Lovelace's poetry collections and "to drink coffee with a ghost" is no different! Another brilliantly written set of poems that deals with the nuances of everyday life that many readers can relate to. I don't usually by books of poetry, but I am really wanting to get the whole set of Amanda Lovelace poetry collections! Anxiously awaiting any other books she has planned for the future!

Thanks NetGalley for providing a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review

This is the second volume in the things that h(a)unt series. The first volume was dedicated to the relationship between the author and an abusive ex-partner, whereas this one focuses on the one between the author and her mother. She died some years ago and the author gives closure to their relationship through poetry, as she could not have it while her mother was alive (thus the reference on the title, the "ghost" being her mother).

It is divided in three parts: ghost-mother, ghost-daughter and sun-showers. Respectively, they consist of cathartic poems related to the bad aspects of her mother as such, of herself as a daughter, and her final coming to terms with her death and their relationship.

The poetry in itself was good. I cannot personally relate very much, but some poems touched me more than others. I can relate to the middle part, seeing myself as a daughter, and some of the poems in the other parts, regarding a not-so-good relationship between a mother and a daughter. I do not know what it feels like to have a parent passing; I can only imagine it and yet I wouldn't be even close to the real thing.

I would recommend it to people struggling with the death of a mother, or parent, or people who have a bad relationship with them, so that they can act before it is too late, when the chance to say either sorry or goodbye is gone forever.

I don't read poetry that much, so it's always hard for me to rate/judge a poetry book.

I like Amanda Lovelace's writing and I do think she's a very talented writer, whose works are very creative and intense.

In this one, even though it's a very raw and dense portrait of toxic relationships with your loved ones since childhood and how that might have an awful impact in adulthood, I loved how she gave a voice for people who want a chance, for people who won't conform and who want to change toxic patterns, and that it's possible to love yourself and others even when there was only dark in your path.

I love Amanda Lovelace's poetry so much! This book mainly focuses on her relationship with her mother. This topic was a bit difficult for me, but I still really liked the book.

Amanda Lovelace is the epitome of poetic greatness and I will read anything and everything she writes until the end of time. Period.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review which has not altered my opinion of this book.

This is such an interesting way of going, and it isn’t something that I feel as though I have read an extensive amount about. This follows ms. lovelace as she reflects on her bad relationship with her now-deceased mother. This is something that many people can identify with, I am not personally one, but I still found myself completely getting drawn into the prose. It’s so well done! 5 out of 5 from me.

"you cannot
have a funeral
for your mother
without also
having a funeral
for yourself."
- it's time to begin the procession.

I gotta admit, I cried when I read this. I'm a crybaby when it comes to sad family matters and I even tear up at the happy ones.

Anyways, this was really good and I loved it a lot compared to the first book. It mostly focuses on the relationship of the author with her mother that had passed away. It's filled with hurt but love for her mom regardless of all the things that happened between them. Some parts is her relationship with her sister filled with healing each other and other parts are self worth and small parts are her typical love poems/broken self poems.

Some of my favorites:

"i wish
i had known
i was never
going to
see you again
because i would have
spent more time
clinging to the good
we did have
instead of
clinging to the bad
i couldn't
change."
- what eats me alive.

"i'm afraid i'll be just like you.
i'm afraid i'll be nothing like you."
- my empress in reverse.

"people keep asking me if i love you or hate
you. the answer has never been as simple
as a yes or no. of course i love you, but i hate
so much of what you did."
- tug of war.

and finally:

"your
comfort
is not
more
important
than
my journey
to
healing."
- i will never live a life of quiet again.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

“…one minute you were here; the next, you had already gone.
now i’m terrified to leave a room without
saying goodbye to everyone inside of it first.
– what if they disappear like you did?”

I’ve read many of Lovelace’s books and, perhaps because of preferences and high expectations when it comes to poetry, I have found myself unable to love them and unable to hate them. I must admit I criticize them with more ease than I applaud them, but there’s a lot in her work I truly enjoy. After all, there’s nothing that I appreciate more than a poet that bares itself thought their words; Lovelace always does. Besides, I know there’s a growing audience for this kind of poetry: it reaches them in ways it fails to reach me —and that value is undeniable, whether I get it or not.

However, what I mean to say is that “To Drink Coffee with a Ghost” was a different experience. Don’t mistake me; this is Lovelace, and the book will be familiar to her fans, both in structure and wording, with its franks, brutal rawness. But this collection touched me in a way Lovelace hadn’t before. As the conclusion to her newest series, a duology titled “the things that h(a)unts”, the book explores the poet’s complex relationship with her mother and her death. The product is a cathartic confession, that feels so personal, sometimes I wanted to look away. I couldn’t, though. The book held me trapped by its sincerity, and I read the whole thing in a single sitting.

There’s something about grief in the hands of a poet. Lovelace doesn’t hide from it, still undressing her heart in ways I would think impossible, after having read so many of her books. There’s something about grief, and Lovelace drags the word and all its stages through every page.

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS*

• The book opens with a trigger warning. Lovelace’s decision to always include this first, formatted to look like a poem, is commendable. Prioritizing the reader’s well-being through such a simple gesture, even at the risk of losing a reader, says a lot about the person behind the pen.

• The illustrations were gorgeous! Each drawing matched the preceding poetry and their palette, black and reddish, seemed to inhabit the very soul of Autumn’s colors. I loved them.

• The titles at the end of the poems; it made the reading experience feel a little like a mystery —like going blind into a movie, having not seen its trailer. It made me read most poems more than once, taking the title into account during the second and third readings, thus enchanting the overall experience.

I think I’ll be conflicted about “insta-poets” and what they are or aren’t for a few more years, maybe forever… but this book made me feel and cry. Will there ever be a better compliment?

Trigger warnings (as stated by the author): child abuse, eating disorder, sexual assault, self-harm, violence, cheating, death, gore, blood, trauma, grief, and possibly more.

(*I’ve mentioned some of these in other reviews.)

Amanda Lovelace is one of my favorite poets. In fact, her books are what spurned my love of poetry. After reading The Witch doesn't burn in this one, I quickly devoured all of her books. When I heard that she had a new book coming out, To Drink Coffee With a Ghost, I knew I had to read it. It came as no surprise to me that I loved it.

To Drink Coffee With a Ghost was extremely personal to me. It felt like Amanda Lovelace took a peek into my life over these past few years and wrote my story. I also had a mother that I had conflicts with. She passed away two years ago, and I've been struggling to deal with the grief and emotions that I've had. This book actually helped process those emotions, and helped deal with some of my grief. Reading Amanda Lovelace's experiences taught me it's okay to feel the way that I'm feeling, and most importantly that someone else has had the same experience AND survived it. I'm not the only one that has gone through that specific situation.

I will always be grateful for Amanda Lovelace's To Drink Coffee With a Ghost. It was an emotional journey reading through her poems, but one I desperately needed at a time I needed it. Thanks to this book, I have begun to heal from my grief and experiences. This solidified Amanda Lovelace as one of my favorite poets in my mind.

Amanda Lovelace never disappoints me!
I follow her on social media and I am always excited to hear about her new releases because I LOVED her other books. I remember I was so happy and thankful that I got to read this book before publication.
Her writing was as amazing as ever and the focal point of the poems, the relationship between her and her dead mother, was tear-jerking and very heartfelt. It was such a beautiful way to end the duology she started with ”To Make Monsters Out Of Girls”. Can't wait to read more in 2020!

Another great book of poetry. There is just something haunting about this poems and I find myself unable to stop reading them.

I've loved Amanda Lovelace's previous poetry collections, so I definitely had to read this one! For personal reasons I found myself relating to many of the poems regarding her loss. I wish I could have time to say some stuff to the person I lost as well. I think it's her most personal work, yet. It explores grief, joy, hate, love, toxic relationships in a raw, unapologetic way that completely blew my mind! Her writing is simple, yet so authentic and effortless that resonates with us readers.

Grief is so complicated and grieving someone that has been emotionally and physically abusive to you or your family members is something you cannot get past easily. However, Amanda manages to convey her feelings of brokenness and her traumas so lyrically and that's what makes the book so special. She even takes it a step further by advising the readers to turn their angst during their mourning into art.

All in all, I read this during a time where I needed to hear Amanda's words and her poetry helped me a lot. I will definitely be buying a copy of her book! And I do encourage anyone that loves modern poetry full of honest emotions and a feminist point of view to read this one!

as always, i was instantly smitten with this title. to drink coffee with a ghost was incredibly moving and took me on an emotional whirlwind that left me breathless and heartbroken and yet still yearning for more. i have read everything that amanda lovelace has ever written and will continue to do so.

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the complimentary advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW from the author: child abuse, eating disorders, sexual assault, self-harm, violence, cheating, death, gore, blood, trauma, grief, & possibly more. Remember to practice self-care before, during, & after reading.

Full disclosure, none of Amanda Lovelace's collections of poetry are fun to read. They're not. They can be the opposite, in fact, and be really difficult to read. But I really love getting to read them non-the-less. This author has a way of taking really difficult topics and making them accessible and readable both for people who have experiences related to the topics, and people who don't, and in a very modern way. I will also say that she makes poetry feel very accessible as well, since I know that there are quite a few people who avoid poetry since they aren't sure that they will understand it. Anyone can understand Lovelace's collections, and can get a lot out of the reading experience.

This collection is mainly centered around grief, a mother's love, a mother's pain, generational trauma, and the idea of found family. One thing that I love about Lovelace's collections, and this one is no exception, is that while they can be difficult to read and deal with difficult topics, by the end you are always left with a powerful feeling of belonging and growth, and togetherness. I never put down one of these books after finishing reading them and still feel alone, even if I might have in the beginning. That goes for this collection, To Drink Coffee with a Ghost, as well as the Women are Some Kind of Magic series that I have also read from this author.

As the author states at the beginning of all of these collections, and I have listed above, these collections all deal with very sensitive and potentially triggering topics. So I wouldn't necessarily recommend them to every person off the street. If you will be triggered at all by these topics, or if this poetry would at all be harmful to you, don't read Lovelace's collections. But if you are able to read them safely, I would always highly recommend them. Amanda Lovelace and her work came into my life at a perfect time, and I was able to learn about myself and my past through reading her collections.