I Swear Somewhere This Works: Selected Poems 2013-2023

by Trista Mateer

A manifesto on love, poetry, and heartbreak. Essential for modern poetry readers.

“A time capsule of Mateer’s most beautiful work.”
— Catarine Hancock, author of Shades of Lovers

Titled after her viral poem about lovers in a parallel universe, in I Swear Somewhere This Works , ex-Tumblr poet Trista Mateer offers up a raw retrospective of the last decade of her career. The poet retraces her steps back to 2013 when she first began posting work online and she drags the reader along for the ride.

Featuring the best of Trista Mateer, alongside a look at the poet’s first pieces published online, and new work—this moving collection of over 200 poems is introduced with a foreword by Caitlin Conlon, author of The Surrender Theory. In her words, "To read Mateer’s early work is to remember what it is to be a teenage girl. You are messy with desire, thick with sentimentality. Everything feels like the end of the world because it is. [...] This is what Mateer’s work does to its readers—validates and comforts all in one fell swoop."

"I'm so sick of reducing lovers to how to let go, how to stay, how to ask for what the heart wants."

Hardcover and paperback editions feature different covers. The hardcover is drawn by the poet herself. The Kindle & paperback share a cover drawn by poet and artist Arch Budzar. Additionally, both the paperback and hardcover versions have some personal annotations from the author, extra poems, and photos. (The Kindle version does not.)

Genres: Poetry

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2023

About the author

Trista Mateer is the bestselling author of multiple poetry collections, including Aphrodite Made Me Do It and Honeybee. She is a passionate mental health advocate, currently writing in South Carolina. Connect with her on Instagram and Tiktok @tristamateer or at tristamateer.com.
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Her newest collection, Artemis Made Me Do It, is available for preorder now and releases in September 2022!

Reviews

[Holly (The GrimDragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRAGMENTS #13: "sweet thing​ soft thing internet sad girl

haunting my own house
looting the past for grocery money

Girl with violets in the bags under her eyes. Girl who used to forgive until it rubbed her heart raw. Skinned-knees-on-gravel girl. ​doesn’t understand why people keep running from the blood​​ of course there’s blood

I built my own kingdom on paper, a whole new world where no one could keep up with me.

I made a myth out of myself in my youth and never found a way home."

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 5 out of 5]

What good are prayers
if God has cast me from paradise
for seeing stars in her eyes?

[andrea.f · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75!
el vuelo a Ibiza ha dado para mucho ❤️

[Courtnee Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Swear Somewhere This Works is a collection of poetry by Trista Mateer. Many of the author’s viral lines and poems are within the pages as the Tumblr poet shares her works in a variety of ways, including brief lines from affirmations, Twitter, and Snapchat. The focus of Mateer’s work centers on love, identity, pain, remorse, and soul-splitting heartbreak, and some pieces give a nod to popular television shows, like Friends and How I Met Your Mother with an urging for a more empowering ending. Complete with photos, writing prompts and suggestions, and a playlist, Mateer discusses her feelings in free-form verse and some prose about a Thistle Witch.
In a set of poetry that will have readers underlining relatable lines, Trista Mateer provides glimpses of her life over a decade. The author communicates disappointing lovers and longing that reflects a tortured soul that’s ready to release the shackles of love but keeps the fetters in a box to try on later. The artist’s words are universal, as she has affected those who have shared her work. Mateer’s words will inspire other artists, stirring emotions that motivate them to reach into their minds and re-evaluate their experiences. Mateer’s book appeals to both readers and writers, as she aids fellow artists with a full month of writing prompts. I Swear Somewhere This Works should be read and enjoyed by mature audiences, and the resonating pieces should be rolled around in the mind fully until the reader feels every reaction to them.

[Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh trista you’ve done it again, <3. i first read tristas books when i was in high school and probably 13 or 14 and have been avidly following her work since i’m now going into my 3rd year of university. she writes things the way i feel and it’s a wonderful thing to be able to read that as a fellow poet. it was especially lovely to read this new work as it had pieces of writing from before i started reading her work (such as small ghost that i couldn’t read now even if i wanted to) and some newer stuff as well. i also loved the idea of the fragments in this book because sometimes writing and feelings feel like that. fragments #33 and unspeakable times have a special place in my heart. the playlist at the end was cool too. music can be everything. tristas work just has had a permanent place in my heart since i first read her books and i’m so glad. they write like no one else does. the poems have everything - love, friendship love, happy, sad and everything inbetween. i hope trista gets the recognition she deserves and that they know how truly inspiring they are.

[Paula Macena · Rating 3 out of 5]

GRRR SUCH A FRUSTRATING READ!!!!! AND NOT FOR THE REASONS YOU THINK!!!!!
i expected trista to be another rupi kaur-esque writer just judging from the title “persephone made me do it.” what i was NOT expecting was for her to have such INCREDIBLE poems mixed within the rupi kaur bs. which is why i’m frustrated!!!! how do you have “i hope whatever is eating you alive does it as slowly as possible” (BEAUTIFUL) in the same poem as “this is a love poem until it isn’t anymore” (corny) like COME ONNN!!!!
i could’ve LOVED this book if it weren’t for the scattered works in here i really hated. if this author could commit to writing more breathtaking poems instead of marketable instagram poetry, she’d potentially be one of my favorite poets. “i swear somewhere this works” is a great title because it’s true! this really does work in some places!!!

[Cassandra Bumford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trista Mateer has a poetic voice that, to me, embodies tumblr poetry during its absolute prime. That has always attracted me to her writing, and keeps me coming back for a familiarity and comfort. She speaks like 14 year old me that just started writing poetry to sound like the girls I read on the internet. She was one of them. I love to see the continuation and growth in her work, and am always stunned by her writing. This collection is already dog eared to hell.

[Casey Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this collection (mostly in one sitting) it was so cool to see a decades worth of Trista’s writing! Trista is my favorite poet/writer/author/word magician. She never disappoints and she certainly delivered with this collection! It is loud and messy and staggeringly brave. Definitely going on my shelf of favorite books (where all her books are)
Don’t sleep on this, friends!!!!

[chey | bibliochey · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the fragmented poetry in this book, as well as all the older poems finally getting their time in the spotlight. to see poems from the first edition of my favorite poetry collection ever, honeybee, was a personal treat. i will definitely be buying a trophy copy for my shelf after reading this on kindle unlimited.

[࣪ ִֶָ☾. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Everywhere I look, I only see you."

i read this 'cause i saw a quote from tiktok and it immediately reminded me of my crush, who is unfortunately straight and therefore, will never be interested in me. why is this always happening to me

[Jasmine Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love it *quite* as much as I expected but still really enjoyed. Like it’s not my favourite book of hers but some poems still really struck a chord and I loved the notes about writing in the back!

[Linda Belmudez · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first official book from Trista, but l've seen her work all over the internet & never even knew! Most of the book made me sob, from the things I never tell anyone about. The kind of poet, that makes you always always alwaysss want to let love in again. The kind of words that make you feel magical & powerful. Will definitely be reading more of her work. ♥️✨

[Ferran Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful demonstration of how mateer has grown as a person and poet. infinitely grateful she’s chosen to share another piece with us <3

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF around 33%. I don't think I was in the right mood for this book right now.

[Karly Greno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trista, you never disappoint 🩷

[Mike Vlaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

I love Trista’s writing and own almost all her books. But I just couldn’t connect with this one. I don’t know why.

[ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m so incredibly thankful for people full of emotions that make art out of them
thank you

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mateer comes at us with another masterpiece that manages to be a unique collection of greatest hits and newest masterpieces, weaving them all together with the mastery of a writer wise beyond her years. If you’re familiar with Mateer’s work, this will be a delightful trip down a heartbreaking memory lane with new connections that will send your mind spinning; if you’ve never read a word of Mateer, I can think of no better place to start than this dazzling peek into the life and love and loss of over a decade’s worth of poems. My personal favorites are the thistle witch series, but every piece is notable and quotable in that effortlessly Instagrammable way Mateer has of capturing the most convoluted human emotions. With a wonderful forward by another talented writer, Caitlin Conlon, every piece of this book shows such art and love.