Book Review for everything in between: from a to z by Arianne Laporte
I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.
everything in between you: from A to Z by Arianne Laporte is a poetry book about a woman’s struggles with moving on from a toxic relationship. The poems in the collection are organized into 26 parts, each corresponding to a letter of the alphabet, and thus providing a kaleidoscope of emotions that come with a harsh breakup. Within each of these parts, Laporte delves into the pain that love, infatuation, and at times, codependency, have caused her. Nonetheless, albeit tentatively, she chooses to move forward, despite the agony she carries with her .
Poems are incredibly relatable, and illustrates how someone who, after losing someone they love, may become vulnerable to mental illness, unsafe environments, ect. Although we’re supposed to have a support system in place, there are times when we have to learn how to go at it alone. It’s scary being independent, and though we want to fall back on the familiar, there comes a time when we have to learn to fend for ourselves. Life isn’t some fairy tale that we can just lose ourselves in, especially if you’re a woman. The poems in the book just solidify that. Still, I did find some humor in the book; one of the chapters is called Xia, which was the name Laporte gave to the girl her ex was seeing. Interestingly enough, my dog’s name is Xia, and while I might not be able to vouch for the girl, I can certainly defend my dog’s character.
The poems are a bit repetitive at times. I would’ve liked to see more poems written about her family and friends, since there are implications that her heartbreak from this current relationship stems from her interactions with other failed relationships. Despite this, everything in between you captures the emotional complexities of getting over a loved one. As such, I would give this collection a 4 out of 5 stars, and, because of the similar writing styles, would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Rupi Kaur and Courtney Peppernell.
