This was a book that I saw the cover for, saw that it was poetry, and decided, why not? It’s likened to Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (which I read LONG before I started this blog), and while I do agree with this statement to an extent, I think Josie Balka’s voice is a little more hopeful than Rupi Kaur’s (but that could just be me. 

This collection of poems has poems that grieve, but a lot of them are about how wonderful it is to be human. The whole title is about how the author hopes you remember those feelings of life, longing, and love. I really enjoyed a lot of them, and they made me reflect on my own life with a lot of gratitude for what I have. 

I think what I enjoyed the most about this book of poetry is that it forced me to slow down. It wasn’t a “let me sit and finish this” kind of book. It was a “I have time to read a few” or a “let me take a breath” kind of novel. I was in no rush to finish it, and it was honestly a breath of fresh air to have something that didn’t need to be analyzed or thought about in a way that I’m reviewing the plot, or character arcs, or chemistry on the page between two lovers. 

Overall, if you’re looking for something short that will be an amazing palate cleanser, this is the novel (or poems) for you. It will remind you of how it feels to hurt, love, and so much more, and when you’re finished, you’ll look up and see how lucky we truly are to be alive. 

Source: Personal Copy

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