Shannon O'Connor's Blog, page 13

10 Indie Poetry Books you should be reading

I’ve been asked this question a lot recently so I thought I’d put out a list of recommendations. These are 10 poetry collections written by indie authors that were released in 2020 that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Click through to grab some of these amazing collections.

Home Body

Home Body by Rupi Kaur

5/5 Stars

I was only halfway through when this collection made me cry. Rupi Kaur’s work always hits me hard because it is so utterly raw. She writes of her own anxiety, depression, and relationship issues that I could all too personally relate to. It made me feel valid in my feelings I’ve had in the past, that I wasn’t alone in this. But it also made me realize how far I’ve come, as like Kaur I’ve had these issues in the past but was able to work on myself and love myself. Even if Kaur’s work doesn’t personally relate to you as it did for me she still writes beautiful poetry that doesn’t miss in her newest collection. I would definitely grab a copy if you can.

Raven’s Grove

Raven’s Grove

by Victoria Ellis & Cady Verdiramo

5/5 Stars

Wow. Okay so I finished reading this book last night and I absolutely devoured the ending. I was at 70% and I just couldn’t help but finish despite fighting sleep to know what happens. As it turns out this is just part one of two so I need to read Raven’s Grove: Redemption to find out what happens next. Trust me you’ll be glad I told you this and not thinking you’re at the end and boom there’s more. I’m already halfway through that novella but this is about Raven’s Grove. This story had so many twists and turns you start to question everything you know. You become paranoid reading and honestly a little frustrated with her inconsistencies of being paranoid and then being all too trusting in some ways. But nonetheless you need to find out what happened to her and how this ends. It was a page turner until the very end so you will not be disappointed. Ellis and Verdiramo deliver a beautifully chilling story from start to finish. Be sure to check this one out.

44 Chapters About 4 Men

44 Chapters About 4 Men

by BB Easton

5/5 Stars

I had heard great things about this book but I genuinely wasn’t sure what to expect. In the first few pages I realized this book was not for the faint of heart. Easton is candidly raw and honest in her encounters with her husband and her exes. This is a memoir that reads as journals but it should be categorized as a comedy. I was laughing out loud on almost every page. Even if you can’t relate to her outrageous stories, it can be read as a hilarious tale between husband and wife in a self reflective journey through her past. She has excellent comedic timing and delivers a hilarious novel from start to finish.

Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit by Wanda Deglane



5/5 starsAs always Deglane's collection is raw and impactful. I am always left longing and questioning after reading her poetry. This book is the perfect mix of melancholy and lustful poetry. It is short but it is the perfect amount of poems to leave you wanting more. She delivers a beautifully descriptive collection that keeps you on the hook until the end. She tells stories in her poetry that are so raw and personal you feel like you are right there with her. Her work is always amazing but I absolutely loved this collection.

Verity

Verity by Colleen Hoover

5/5 stars

I’m not going to lie, this book started off a little slow for me. I had heard such good things and I wasn’t really pulled in but I prevailed and I’m so glad I did. Because what the actual hell did I just read? It was 3am when I finished this book because I genuinely just couldn’t put it down at the end. Without giving anything away I’m still so amazed by what I just read. It is a roller coaster of emotions that I had to put down sometimes because it was just too much. I was angry and confused and sad and every emotion possible. I felt like I was right there with Lowen at every turn. I’m still reeling in from what I just read. I absolutely loved this book. It is dark and twisted and gave me an array of emotions but it also surprised me completely. It had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

You’re still in my passenger seat…and other ghost stories

You’re still in my passenger seat…and other ghost stories by Maddie McGlinchey

5/5 stars

Okay ouch. This book honestly hit way too close to home at some points. It was beautifully written and all too relatable for me. The poems mainly focused on heartbreak and a lot of self reflection. It made me feel nostalgic, it made me sad, it made me feel a lot of things. I really loved this collection.

September Love

September Love by Lang Leav

4/5 stars

I really loved this collection. It was the perfect combination of melancholy and soft. It had poems that made me reminisce in a way that made me feel validated- it’s okay to miss those that left, you loved them once. It was beautifully put together and I never tire of Lang’s metaphors. Her soft spoken poetry always leaves me part heartbroken and part put back together. A wonderful new addition to Lang’s expanding poetry collection.

October 2020 Wrap-up

5/5 stars

I honestly didn’t know what to expect, i grabbed this book because of a book club and figured it couldn’t be bad. Immediately i was hooked! I would’ve read it all in one sitting if i wasn’t so busy. I read a chapter every chance I got just because I loved it so much. It was honestly amazing. Every twist and turn you truly don’t expect the ending but I loved it. 

3/5 stars

I liked this book. I feel like it felt a bit rushed at times. If it was longer I think I would’ve liked it better, giving more backstory and a bit more of the characters instead of rushing through. I really liked the plot idea and the twists it had though

4/5 stars

5/5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this collection as many celebrity poetry books have been disappointing but I was happily surprised. I love this book. I haven’t resonated and related to a poetry book like this in so long. She touched upon so many topics but I could feel each one. She made the words on the page evoke so much in me. There were so many times i was bookmarking favorites. I will definitely be rereading this collection sometime soon.

0/5 stars

This book is actually terrible. I’m convinced it was published bc she’s famous and they wanted to make more money. The poetry is absolutely horrible. I’m literally returning the book to get my money back it was so bad.

5/5 stars

5 stars if it would be continued! Seems like a really great teaser/sneak peek to a novel.

5/5 stars

I loved this book! Oh my god it’s so sexy and steamy and made me want to find my own Ezra. It’s been on my TBR forever i wish i read it forever ago lol

5/5 stars

This was the perfect balance of sexy and sweet. The way it started off and the way it ended was so different than what i expected but I’m so glad. Rogue surprises me and makes me fall in love with Sophie and Sloane and the beautiful ending to this trilogy.

5/5 stars

Okay ouch. This book honestly hit way too close to home at some points. It was beautifully written and all too relatable for me. The poems mainly focused on heartbreak and a lot of self reflection. It made me feel nostalgic, it made me sad, it made me feel a lot of things. I really loved this collection.

3.5/5 stars

It had really good parts and then others that were meh. Overall it was kind of all over the place and I felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep up. Not one of my favorite Tarryn Fisher novels.

4/5 stars

I really loved this collection. It was the perfect combination of melancholy and soft. It had poems that made me reminisce in a way that made me feel validated- it’s okay to miss those that left, you loved them once. It was beautifully put together and I never tire of Lang’s metaphors. Her soft spoken poetry always leaves me part heartbroken and part put back together. A wonderful new addition to Lang’s expanding poetry collection.

5/5 stars

I. Want. More. Give me more of Creed & Eloise! It seems like their story is just starting out and I need to know more. I loved this so much and I’m hoping Victoria decides to expand this at some point

October Wrap-up

5/5 stars

I honestly didn’t know what to expect, i grabbed this book because of a book club and figured it couldn’t be bad. Immediately i was hooked! I would’ve read it all in one sitting if i wasn’t so busy. I read a chapter every chance I got just because I loved it so much. It was honestly amazing. Every twist and turn you truly don’t expect the ending but I loved it. 

3/5 stars

I liked this book. I feel like it felt a bit rushed at times. If it was longer I think I would’ve liked it better, giving more backstory and a bit more of the characters instead of rushing through. I really liked the plot idea and the twists it had though

4/5 stars

5/5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this collection as many celebrity poetry books have been disappointing but I was happily surprised. I love this book. I haven’t resonated and related to a poetry book like this in so long. She touched upon so many topics but I could feel each one. She made the words on the page evoke so much in me. There were so many times i was bookmarking favorites. I will definitely be rereading this collection sometime soon.

0/5 stars

This book is actually terrible. I’m convinced it was published bc she’s famous and they wanted to make more money. The poetry is absolutely horrible. I’m literally returning the book to get my money back it was so bad.

5/5 stars

5 stars if it would be continued! Seems like a really great teaser/sneak peek to a novel.

5/5 stars

I loved this book! Oh my god it’s so sexy and steamy and made me want to find my own Ezra. It’s been on my TBR forever i wish i read it forever ago lol

5/5 stars

This was the perfect balance of sexy and sweet. The way it started off and the way it ended was so different than what i expected but I’m so glad. Rogue surprises me and makes me fall in love with Sophie and Sloane and the beautiful ending to this trilogy.

5/5 stars

Okay ouch. This book honestly hit way too close to home at some points. It was beautifully written and all too relatable for me. The poems mainly focused on heartbreak and a lot of self reflection. It made me feel nostalgic, it made me sad, it made me feel a lot of things. I really loved this collection.

3.5/5 stars

It had really good parts and then others that were meh. Overall it was kind of all over the place and I felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep up. Not one of my favorite Tarryn Fisher novels.

4/5 stars

I really loved this collection. It was the perfect combination of melancholy and soft. It had poems that made me reminisce in a way that made me feel validated- it’s okay to miss those that left, you loved them once. It was beautifully put together and I never tire of Lang’s metaphors. Her soft spoken poetry always leaves me part heartbroken and part put back together. A wonderful new addition to Lang’s expanding poetry collection.

5/5 stars

I. Want. More. Give me more of Creed & Eloise! It seems like their story is just starting out and I need to know more. I loved this so much and I’m hoping Victoria decides to expand this at some point